NUI Maynooth - Chemistry Department

STAFF

Organic Chemistry

Dr. John Stephens
Phone: + 353 –1- 7086942
Fax: + 353 –1- 7083815
Email: john.stephens@nuim.ie

Research:

Synthetic Organic and Medicinal Chemistry

Biographical Details:

NUI, Galway, BSc, 1999
NUI, Galway, PhD, 2004
University of Nottingham, Postdoctoral Fellowship with Dr Simon Woodward, 2004-2005
University of Nottingham, Temporary Junior Lecturer, 2004
NUI, Maynooth, Lecturer, since 2005

Research Interests:

The Stephens group carries out research in synthetic organic chemistry with a focus on medicinal chemistry and asymmetric synthesis.

Medicinal chemistry involves the design, synthesis and development of new pharmaceutical drugs that are suitable for therapeutic use. Dr Stephens has a particular interest in diabetes, neurological disorders and microbial infections and is currently investigating new routes to novel chemical therapies.

Dr Stephens’ interest in asymmetric synthesis lies in the efficient control of selectivity (enantio-, diastereo, regio-, and chemo-) in bond making reactions, particularly C-C bond making processes. The demand for new and economical asymmetric reactions is being driven by the pharmaceutical industry due to the chiral nature of many pharmaceutical products.

Dr Stephens is also interested in the design, synthesis and application of novel fluorophores (fluorescent organic molecules) and investigating and elucidating biosynthetic pathways in microorganisms.