Spring ’25 Department Seminars with Dr. Nisar Ahmed
Title: Fluorescent Probes for Selective Molecular Recognition and Molecular Synthesis via Enabling Chemical Technologies
Speaker: Dr. Nisar Ahmed
Date: 09/04/2025, Wednesday
Time: 12:30 (Turkiye Time)
Place: Zoom
Zoom Meeting ID: 729 064 5404
Zoom Password: 723291
Abstract:
This seminar will provide an overview of my research journey, with a focus on key advancements made during my Ph.D. and postdoctoral research in the area of Fluorescent Probes for Selective Molecular Recognition. I will then present a detailed exploration of my current work in modern synthetic chemistry, particularly highlighting the application of Enabling Chemical Technologies for Molecular Synthesis. These innovations, such as flow electrochemical reactors, automation, and green catalytic technologies, are central to addressing complex organic chemical transformations. My research aims to develop sustainable methods for synthesizing valuable organic molecules. By emphasizing the activation and cleavage of inert chemical bonds, my work integrates renewable energy sources with advanced techniques such as electrocatalysis, electrophotocatalysis, and flow chemistry. These approaches provide a more energy-efficient, waste-reducing, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional synthetic methods. I will also outline my future research plans and discuss the broader implications of these technologies for advancing sustainable and green applications.
Short Biography of the Speaker:
I am a modern chemist specializing in enabling chemical technologies. I earned my Ph.D. in Organic Supramolecular Chemistry from POSTECH, Korea, where I was awarded the prestigious Brain Korea Fellowship (BK21) and the Best Publications Award. After completing my Ph.D., I served as a Research Assistant Professor at POSTECH, supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea. My postdoctoral journey includes a competitive Novartis Innovation Fellowship at the University of Zurich, followed by advanced research at the University of Bristol in iterative and automated chemical synthesis.
My career continued as an Independent University Research Fellow with a Marie Curie COFUND Fellowship and a Sêr Cymru COFUND Award for innovative research in flow electrosynthesis at Cardiff University. I was later recognized as a Royal Society Global Talent. As an Academic Faculty in Molecular Synthesis and Cardiff University Research Fellow (EPSRC), with an additional appointment as an EPSRC Investigator (UKRI), I have supervised numerous undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral researchers.
I have authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to five book chapters. I have been invited to more than 85 international conferences as a keynote speaker and participant. Additionally, I serve as a reviewer for prominent research councils, including EPSRC, and am on the editorial boards of leading research journals in chemistry. I have also been a visiting academic at institutions like the University of Cambridge, the University of Bristol, and served as an Adjunct Faculty at the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry (ICCBS).