Congratulations to 3rd year PhD student and MChem alumna Justyna Losiewicz, who has been announced as the third winner of the Charles Rupert McIntyre Prize. Justyna Losiewicz has been selected as the 2025 Charles Rupert McIntyre Prize winner in recognition of her outstanding work with the Ingleson group at the University of Edinburgh and the Macgregor group at the University of St Andrews. She will be presented with the prize at the Joseph Black Conference in June.A winner is selected each year by the School’s Postgraduate Committee based on their research outputs and scientific contributions to the field of research. Students must also demonstrate their own intellectual contribution to the project, and their role in enhancing exchange of knowledge with collaborators, partners, and the wider academic community, including those outwith their immediate field of research. 3rd year PhD student Justyna Losiewicz with her dog Research summary Justyna describes her research area and project aims below:"In the Ingleson group, we work towards replacing precious metals (such as platinum, palladium, gold, silver, etc.) in established chemical transformations. As these metals are becoming increasingly more expensive and their sources are depleting, we’re aiming to use more Earth abundant elements. However, this is challenging as such elements tend to be more stable thus less reactive. My research is focused on converting bonds between carbon and hydrogen to provide a “chemical handle” which can be more easily transformed further into useful and more complex chemicals (including pharmaceuticals). I work with air- and moisture-sensitive materials on a daily basis which involves a lot of skill, precision and patience. In addition to “wet” lab work, I also run computational calculations aiming to gain a better understanding of how these chemical reactions proceed. An important part of my PhD is to navigate experimental and computational chemistry to get the best of both worlds to efficiently guide my research." I am so thrilled my hard work and efforts have been recognised. It was also a great confidence boost ahead of my 1st conference talk later that very same week! Justyna Losiewicz We are delighted that Justyna has received this prize in recognition of her efforts over the last 2.5 years working with both our groups. It is a well-earned achievement – managing two bosses isn’t easy! Huge congratulations to Justyna! Professor Mike Ingleson and Professor Stuart Macgregor The Charles Rupert McIntyre Prize The prize has been established in memory of Dr Charles Rupert McIntyre, an alumnus of the University of Edinburgh School of Chemistry, to reward the research excellence of postgraduate students in the School. The School of Chemistry is grateful to Fujifilm Imaging Colorants for generously sponsoring this prize in Dr McIntyre’s memory. Publication date 14 Apr, 2025
