Associate Prof. Graham de-Ruiter

Research in Sustainable Organometallic Chemistry. Our laboratory is dedicated to advancing inorganic and organometallic chemistry through the lens of sustainability. At the core of our research program lies a fundamental question: how can earth-abundant metals, such as iron, cobalt, and manganese, be harnessed to perform transformative reactions traditionally dominated by precious metals like palladium, iridium, or rhodium? By addressing this challenge, we aim to redefine the boundaries of catalysis while promoting chemical processes that are both cost-effective and environmentally responsible. We view our mission as building a foundation for sustainable catalysis that reduces reliance on scarce, expensive, and often toxic elements. In doing so, we seek to open new pathways for small molecule activation, selective bond transformations, and solar energy conversion. These advances are critical not only for academic discovery but also for enabling greener and more scalable technologies across the chemical, pharmaceutical, and energy industries. To achieve these goals, our research program is structured around three key pillars. First, we design and synthesize bespoke ligands that fine-tune the reactivity of base metals, enabling control over electronic and steric environments. Second, we uncover and probe novel catalytic mechanisms, using kinetics, spectroscopy, and computational chemistry to reveal new modes of reactivity that can rival or even surpass those of precious metals. Third, we integrate photochemistry, developing light-driven catalytic systems that merge energy harvesting with selective transformations. We invite motivated students in their final year of a B.Sc. or beyond to join our laboratory for a summer research experience in inorganic and organometallic chemistry. Our program focuses on developing sustainable catalytic processes with earth-abundant metals, combining ligand design, mechanistic studies, and photochemical catalysis. Participants will gain hands-on experience with advanced techniques, explore the frontiers of catalysis, and expand their scientific skills in an international research environment. This opportunity is ideal for students with a background in inorganic chemistry, organometallic chemistry, or catalysis who are eager to perform research abroad and contribute to cutting-edge projects in sustainable chemistry.

Required Background: synthetic chemistry

For more info visit our website:https: www.deruiterlab.com