Dr. Oliver R. Maguire

I became an academic because:

I am fascinated by Chemistry and in understanding how to use it to construct life-like systems from the bottom-up.
I find it a tremendous joy to help people grow and develop in chemistry via my teaching and mentorship.

Our two greatest impacts as academics are the research we do and the people we develop. I am passionate about both.

I received my Masters from Durham University, UK (MChem). I remained at Durham University for my PhD in Physical Organic Chemistry supervised by Prof. AnnMarie O’Donoghue. In my PhD I studied proton transfer reactions in peptides and explored the mechanisms of bioconjugate reactions. I did a computational chemistry placement in the group of Prof. Lynn Kamerlin, Uppsala University, Sweden.

After my PhD, I moved to the Netherlands and joined the group of Prof. Wilhelm Huck at Radboud University, Nijmegen as a postdoctoral researcher in Systems Chemistry. Here, I worked on how Life-like chemical reaction networks could have arisen at the origins of life, how enzymatic reaction networks behave in dynamic environments and on the design of an organocatalyst-based oscillator for enhancing selectivity in organic synthesis. As a postdoc I had the privilege of mentoring 13 Masters and Bachelor students internships with one of my Masters student winning a national Dutch award for her Masters project.

In 2024, I was awarded an European Research Council Starting Grant to begin my group at the University of Birmingham School of Chemistry. My research will focus on introducing decision-making into soft materials.

In my free time I love go on long walks with my wife, listen to far too many current-affairs podcasts and practice my Dutch language skills.