St John’s Student to present Chemistry Research in Parliament

STEM for BRITAIN is a major scientific competition and exhibition which has been held in Parliament since 1997, and is organised by the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee. He will be joined by other finalists to present his work to a panel of judges and parliamentarians on 6th March at Portcullis House in Westminster, London.

Rob, originally from East Yorkshire, progressed to obtain his first degree from the University of York, has undertaken international research experience at the Institute of Organic Chemistry & Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague and is currently a PhD candidate in Organic Chemistry at Durham University. He was shortlisted from numerous applicants to make it to the final of the STEM for BRITAIN competition 2023.

Rob said: “I’m delighted to be selected as a finalist for STEM for BRITAIN 2023. It’s a unique opportunity to present and discuss my research with MPs and policymakers. Moreover, I’m very privileged to be representing St John’s College and Durham University. I cannot wait to network with some of the very best early-career researchers in Great Britain.

STEM for BRITAIN exists to raise the profile of Britain’s early-career researchers by engaging with Members of both Houses of Parliament at Westminster with current science, technology, engineering and mathematics research being undertaken in the UK. Rob will discuss his current research which focusses on shapeshifting molecules as a new method in chemical sensing, with potential applications in drug discovery.