Current Group members

I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Cambridge, working under the supervision of Dr M. Nappi and Prof. M. Gaunt to develop a metal-free strategy for the photochemical activation of alcohols. I then moved to Oxford for my DPhil, where I joined the group of Prof D. Dixon to research the total synthesis of complex Daphniphyllum alkaloids. Following my studies, I joined the Donohoe group, where my research focusses on the development of novel heteroarene dearomatisation reactions and their application to total synthesis. Outside of the lab, I am an avid football fan and musician. 

Originally from Bedfordshire, I obtained an MChem degree from Newcastle University, which included a final year project under the supervision of Dr Fabio Cucinotta. I subsequently moved to the University of Edinburgh to complete my PhD, investigating boron catalysis with Professor Stephen Thomas, with funding from AstraZeneca. After a short postdoc in the Thomas group exploring iron-catalysed transformations, I received a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship to develop Spns2 inhibitors to treat renal fibrosis with Professor Webster Santos at Virginia Tech. I returned to the UK to work on an EPSRC funded project with Dr Mark Greenhalgh at the University of Warwick, researching halogen and chalcogen bonding, and completed a short computational-based placement with Professors Mercedes Alonso Giner and Frank de Proft at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). In my spare time, I enjoy playing and watching sport, hiking, and playing and listening to music.​

I am from Barcelona and completed both my BSc and MSc in Organic Chemistry at the Universitat de Barcelona. I worked under Prof. Xavier Vergaduer and Prof. Antoni Riera on synthetic chemistry, focusing on asymmetric hydrogenation and catalyst design. I am also very interested in outreach, which is why, for the last two years, I have been working at a science museum. Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading, travelling, and going to (a lot of) concerts.

I graduated with a BSc in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver in 2020. I completed my MRes degree with Prof. James A. Bull. at Imperial College London, working on C-H activation. In the Donohoe group, my research focuses on hydrogen borrowing catalysis. Outside chemistry, I enjoy reading and travelling.

Originally from north-west London, I completed my MChem at Wadham College in 2023, undertaking my masters project in the group of Prof. Darren Dixon in total synthesis. Prior to this, I spent a summer working in analytical chemistry and biosciences for Procter & Gamble. I then joined the Synthesis for Biology and Medicine Centre for Doctoral Training where I hold the Derek-Calam graduate scholarship at Wadham College. After a rotation project in the group of Prof. Darren Dixon, I joined the Donohoe group as a rotation student investigating dearomative annulation cascades of isoquinolines in total synthesis. I have ultimately decided to stay in the Donohoe group to complete my DPhil. My hobbies include synthesis of organic compounds, purification of organic compounds, and catching up with the literature. Outside of the lab, I am a keen hockey player and also enjoy playing squash, running, and cooking.

I am a third-year graduate student at St Catherine's College studying for a DPhil in organic chemistry in the Donohoe Group. I previously completed my master's degree in the Donohoe Group; my master's research focused on the synthesis of five-membered rings through the application of alumina catalysed C-H bond functionalisation processes. When I am not in the lab, I can be found playing the classical guitar or rowing on the River Isis.

Originally from Kent, I undertook my undergraduate (MChem) degree at the University of York. During this time, I undertook summer placements at Jazz Pharmaceuticals and subsequently in the Willems’ group at the University of York, exploring the synthesis and testing of novel covalent inhibitors. I completed the final year of my degree in industry at Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Oxfordshire, exploring organozinc chemistry in continuous flow as a platform for library synthesis. In 2026, I started my DPhil in the Donohoe group, exploring aluminium-mediated [1,5]-Hydride shifts. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing Dungeons & Dragons, collecting vinyl albums, bird-watching and nature photography

Originally from Lithuania, I finished my MChem degree at Newcastle University. During my studies, I spent my year abroad at University of Ottawa (Canada) under supervision of Prof. Louis Barriault and studied total synthesis of plumerallide via one pot domino Au (I) catalysed transannular Diels-Alder reaction. My final year project with two summer projects under supervision of Dr. Michael J. Hall focused on total synthesis of siderophore enterobactin and its 'Trojan Horse' antibiotic derivative synthesis. In 2024, I've started my DPhil in Donohoe lab as "Kitas 100" laureate focusing on total synthesis of natural products via hydrogen borrowing catalysis. Outside of the lab, I enjoy going to various art galleries and gigs, reading and embroidery.

I'm originally from Milton Keynes, I completed my MChem at the University of York, where I carried out my final year project in the Weller group, looking at ruthenium catalysed dehydropolymerisation of amine boranes and subsequent base mediated depolymerisation. In 2025, I joined the CSHP CDT and am now working in collaboration with Donohoe and Neidig groups in Oxford, as well as the Lynam group in York. My project focuses on the development of iron catalysts for hydrogen borrowing reactions by taking a synergistic approach combining synthetic, mechanistic and computational studies. Outside of the lab, I enjoy riding horses, painting and baking.

I'm a DPhil student doing a joint project between the Donohoe group, and the Jiang group in the Department of Oncology. My DPhil is all about a cancer-associated protein called survivin. I've been making small-molecule drugs in the Donohoe group that aim to degrade survivin, and evaluating their efficacy by biological and biophysical assays in the Jiang group. I have an integrated master's in biochemistry from Oxford, so although I'm the only member of the Donohoe group without a chemistry degree, it's come in useful to link together the chemical and the biological sides of my research. When I'm not in labs I enjoy playing squash, bicycling everywhere, and going to the opera (especially Gilbert and Sullivan). I'm also not a half-bad juggler!

Originally from London, I completed my undergraduate degree at Oxford, joining the Donohoe group for my Part II project in 2021. In 2022, I joined the SBM CDT, and after rotations in the Donohoe and Fletcher groups, returned to the Donohoe group for my substantive project. I'm currently working on the application of a [1,5]-hydride shift - aldol cascade reaction in the total synthesis of octahydronaphthalene containing natural products. Outside the lab, I enjoy rowing for my college and cooking for friends.

I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Oxford with my final year project, working in the Donohoe Group, focussing on the synthesis of PROTACs targeting the survivin protein. I continued in the group for my DPhil and now work on the enantioselective dearomative functionalisation of nitrogen heterocycles. Outside of chemistry, I enjoy playing the piano, programming and catching up with friends.

I'm originally from China and now i have a MPhil project supervised by Prof. Tim Donohoe related to 1,5-hydride shifts in the synthesis of tetrahydropyridines. Outside of  chemistry, I enjoy music, board games, basketball and frisbee.

Roxana Zhang completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Liverpool and obtained her Master's degree from the National University of Singapore, where she worked on Pd-catalyzed cycloadditions to construct medium-sized rings. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Oxford, exploring dearomative functionalization. Outside of lab, she enjoys playing video games, discovering pubs and browsing vintage boutiques.

Originally from Midsomer Norton, I am a fourth-year undergraduate at St. John’s College with research interests in methodology and synthesis. Outside the lab, I am an avid photographer and play table tennis for the university.

Originally from south-east London, I’m currently a fourth-year undergraduate studying at Worcester College with a strong interest in synthesis. Outside the lab, I enjoy baking, going to the gym and solving cryptic crosswords.

I have finished three years of my MChem degree at the University of Oxford and I am looking forward to doing my first long term project in synthetic chemistry, working towards natural product synthesis.  Outside of the lab I enjoy streetlifting, bouldering and hiking.