Dr Mandeep Kaur Chahal

Dr Mandeep K Chahal completed her PhD at the IIT Roorkee, India, in 2017, working in synthetic chemistry of substituted porphyrins and their applications in sensing. She then worked as a post-doctoral research fellow with Dr Jonathan P Hill, Professor Katsuhiko Ariga and Dr Shinsuke Ishihara at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan, working on a large array of supramolecular systems targeting different applications, going from sensing to catalysis and artificial-photosynthesis as well as development of Chemiresistive 'detect-to-warn' sensors. 

In 2021, she moved to the University of Southampton, in the UK, where she completed a Royal Society Newton International Fellowship working with Professor Steve Goldup on mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs), such as rotaxanes and catenanes. 

From 2023, Mandeep has been working as a Lecturer at the University of Kent. She is exploring diverse applications in the functionalization of tetrapyrrole macrocycles.

Mandeep's principal research interests focus on the functionalization of tetrapyrrolic chromophores with an aim to develop them as advanced functional materials for (a) asymmetric catalysis and (b) solution processable porous materials. These applications are strongly dependent on the availability of compounds with adequate and specific structural features.

Synthetic tetrapyrrolic macrocycles such as porphyrins are considered strong candidates in different fields, such as sensing, medicine, materials science or in the development of advanced biomimetic models. The research themes combine my experience in modification of synthetic tetrapyrrolic systems with that of developing supramolecular systems for various applications such as sensing, catalysis and porous networks.

We welcome enquiries by email from potential PhD students in the UK and around the world who have a good undergraduate degree in Chemistry or a closely related subject.