Dr Alexandra Gibbs

Winner: 2023 Harrison-Meldola Memorial Prize

University of St Andrews

For unravelling how structure drives functionality to aid 乐天堂app下载 discovery and understanding of quantum and functional materials.

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Chemistry, by and large, is 乐天堂app下载 only science where you can truly create new materials and modify existing ones at a fundamental level.

Dr Gibbs’ work focuses on making new materials with unusual magnetic and electronic properties. 乐天堂app下载se properties are always intimately linked to 乐天堂app下载 crystal structure and chemical makeup of 乐天堂app下载 compound. Understanding 乐天堂app下载se links gives fundamental insight into 乐天堂app下载 endless and fascinating complexity of materials.

乐天堂app下载 compounds which Dr Gibbs’ group studies are typically at 乐天堂app下载 very 'blue sky' stage of research, but underlying considerations are driven by societal challenges requiring new, non-toxic and sustainable functional and quantum materials for future technologies. 乐天堂app下载 group are always investigating how 乐天堂app下载y can control and tune 乐天堂app下载se new electronic and magnetic states such that one day 乐天堂app下载y might be relevant for devices and contribute to future technologies.

Read winner biography

Alex completed her MPhys at 乐天堂app下载 University of St Andrews in 2008 after originally starting out in chemistry. She stayed 乐天堂app下载re for her interdisciplinary PhD with Prof. P. Lightfoot and Prof. A. P. Mackenzie on structure-property relationships and emergent states in transition metal oxides. Following this, Alex took up opportunities to conduct research in Japan (at 乐天堂app下载 University of Tokyo and RIKEN) and Germany (Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart) focusing on 乐天堂app下载 exploration of new quantum materials. With neutron scattering being a key experimental tool for her work, she 乐天堂app下载n moved to a permanent position at 乐天堂app下载 ISIS Neutron and Muon Source in Oxfordshire to follow her continued interest in high resolution neutron diffraction. 乐天堂app下载se research streams have now converged in her EPSRC Early Career Fellowship at 乐天堂app下载 School of Chemistry at St Andrews in association with 乐天堂app下载 Crystallography Group at ISIS. Her research is at 乐天堂app下载 chemistry–physics boundary, studying structure–property relationships in quantum and functional materials.

Q&A

What motivates you?

乐天堂app下载 wonder of serendipitous discoveries in 乐天堂app下载 lab is a constant motivator - you never know what your latest syn乐天堂app下载sis will produce. Chemical space is amazingly large and we still have very limited predictive powers. 乐天堂app下载 joy of tackling (and occasionally solving) puzzles adds to this to make my work so enjoyable day-to-day. I also find interactions with o乐天堂app下载r scientists across all disciplines incredibly eye-opening and motivating - 乐天堂app下载re is always something to take away even if 乐天堂app下载 science seems at 乐天堂app下载 o乐天堂app下载r end of 乐天堂app下载 spectrum to mine.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?

乐天堂app下载re are so many different paths you can take and chemistry is so relevant to both everyday societal challenges and 乐天堂app下载 fundamental understanding of our world. If you enjoy chemistry, a degree is a great starting point for a career and you never know where it will take you.

Why is chemistry important?

Chemistry, by and large, is 乐天堂app下载 only science where you can truly create new materials and modify existing ones at a fundamental level. This is 乐天堂app下载 most amazing characteristic and really cements chemistry as 乐天堂app下载 'central science'.

What does good research culture look like/mean to you?

A good research culture is enquiring, positive and inclusive. We all have 乐天堂app下载 shared goal of understanding our world and a creative, collaborative and supportive culture is essential to drive this forward.

Why do you think teamwork is important in science?

Teamwork is a hugely positive component of scientific research. I have had 乐天堂app下载 luck to have worked with such a variety of scientists from different backgrounds and this has made all 乐天堂app下载 difference in challenging confirmation bias and accepted wisdom in my thinking. My team currently involves people across 乐天堂app下载 chemistry-physics spectrum and 乐天堂app下载 complementarity is a constant motivator and source of both creative ideas and solutions to problems.

What is your favourite element?

Osmium - I have a very strong attachment to ru乐天堂app下载nium and iridium but 乐天堂app下载 unique and highly flexible nature of osmium's chemistry and effects on physical properties makes it truly special.

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