Dr Gilian Thomas

Profile

• Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Victoria, Canada (2018-2021)
• M.Sc., Chemistry, Carleton University, Canada (2016-2018)
• B.Sc., Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Carleton University, Canada (2012-2016)

I earned my PhD at the University of Victoria under the supervision of Professor Scott McIndoe, primarily focused on real-time reaction monitoring of catalytic reactions using mass spectrometry. During this time, I received an award to work with Professor Guy Lloyd-Jones at the University of Edinburgh studying reaction mechanisms using NMR for a short time. In 2022 I then went on to conduct postdoctoral research at the University of Ottawa with Professor Stephen Newman, working on nickel catalysis, reaction discovery using high-throughput experimentation, as well as flow chemistry. In 2023 I undertook postdoctoral research at the University of Victoria with Professor David Leitch developing innovative Ni precatalysts for HTE, with applications in sustainable pharmaceutical production. I joined the University of Leeds as a Lecturer in the Digital and Sustainable Chemistry Section of the School of Chemistry in September 2024. 

Research interests

My research group is focused on base-metal precatalyst development. Our multifaceted data-rich approach incorporates HTE, mass spectrometry, and flow for identifying leads, examining catalytic intermediates, and efficient reaction optimization. 

Qualifications

• Ph.D., Chemistry
• M.Sc., Chemistry
• B.Sc., Biochemistry & Biotechnology

Student education

I deliver course material primarily in the Digital and Automated Chemistry M.Sc. program. I also act as an academic tutor, and offer research projects for MChem students. 

Research groups and institutes

• Institute for Process Research and Development

Projects

<li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/2050-a-data-dense-approach-to-catalyst-development-for-sustainable-synthesis.">A Data-Dense Approach to Catalyst Development for Sustainable Synthesis.</a></li>