Group Leader
Professor Jianliang Xiao received a B.Eng. in chemical engineering at the Northwest University in Xian in 1982. This was followed by a M.Eng in catalytic engineering with Profs Wu Chi and Wang JunYu at theResearch Institute of Petroleum Processing in Beijing. Feeling a chemistry background would benefit his interest in heterogeneous catalysis, he went to the University of Alberta for a PhD in organometallic chemistry under Prof Martin Cowie. After a two-year postdoctoral appointment with Prof Richard J. Puddephatt (FRS, Canada & UK), he joined the ERATO Molecular Catalyst Project as a Researcher to learn homogeneous catalysis under Prof Noyori (Noble Laureate 2001). In 1996, he took up a Principal Scientist position at the Leverhulme Centre for Innovative Catalysis in the University of Liverpool. He was appointed to a Lectureship in the Chemistry Department in 1999; this was followed by promotion to Reader and then Professor of Catalysis in early 2005. Apart from searching & researching in catalysis, he enjoys reading and music.
Thanks to his students and collaborators, his work has been recognised by the UK Prize for Process Chemistry Research (2008), Excelling at Innovation Award (University of Liverpool 2015) and the Tilden Prize 2020. The work has led to his students Drs Jianjun Wu, Paul Colbon and Jiwu Ruan and him to found LCC, a company specialised in specialist chiral compounds. LCC won the Merseyside Innovation Award 2015 and the Bionow Startup Company of the Year Award 2015.
Post Doctors
Sydney Williams
Email: sgswill6@liverpool.ac.uk
Postdoc 2024, University of Liverpool
Ph. D. 2020, University of Liverpool
M. Chem. 2017, University of Liverpool
Graduate Students
Leiming Qi
Email: l.qi5@student.liverpool.ac.uk
4th Year Ph.D. student
M.Sc. 2021, University of Liverpool
Guanhong Chen
Email: sggchen4@liverpool.ac.uk
4th Year Ph.D. Student
M.Chem. 2019, University of Liverpool
Former Ph.D. Students
Ph.D. Sydney Williams, 2020-2024
Ph.D. Renpeng Guan, 2019-2023
Ph.D. Zhenyu Chen, 2018-2021
Ph.D. Yuxuan Liu (Joint supervision with Prof Chao Wang, SNNU), 2017-2020
Ph.D. Naomi Ritchie, 2015-2019
Ph.D. Wei Ma (Joint supervision with Prof Chao Wang, SNNU), 2015-2019
Ph.D. Ahmed Aboo, 2014-2018
Ph.D. Xue Jiang (Joint supervision with Prof Chao Wang, SNNU), 2014-2018
Ph.D. Yuxia Liu (Joint supervision with Prof Chao Wang, SNNU), 2012-2017
Ph.D. Gang Zhou (Joint supervision with Prof Weiping Chen, Fourth Military Medical University)
Ph.D. Lingjuan Zhang (Joint supervision with Prof Lijin Xu, Renmin University), 2014-2015
Ph.D. Piyada Taboonpong (Joint supervision with Prof Warinthorn Chavasiri, Chulalongkorn University), 2014-2015
Ph.D. Dinesh Talwar, 2010-2014
Ph.D. Angela Gonzalez de Castro, 2009-2014
Ph.D. Zhijun Wang (Joint supervision with Prof Can Li, DICP), 2012-2014
Ph.D. Jianjun Wu, 2009-2014
Ph.D. Yawen Wei (Joint supervision with Prof Chao Wang, SNNU), 2010-2014
Ph.D. Yang Li (Joint supervision with Prof Dong Xue, SNNU), 2011-2014
Ph.D. Steven Johnston, 2009-2013
Ph.D. Paul Colbon 2008-2012
Ph.D. Barbara Villa Marcos, 2007-2011
Ph.D. Chao Wang, 2007-2011
Ph.D. Yunfei Luo (Joint supervision with Dr Andrew Carnell), 2006-2011
Ph.D. Nelson Martins (Joint supervision with Prof Amadeu Brigas, U Algarve), 2004-2011
Ph.D. Matthew McConville, 2006-2010
Ph.D. Chaoqun Li, 2005-2009
Ph.D. Zeyn Hyder, 2005-2009
Ph.D. Lin Zhong (Joint supervision with Prof Can Li, DICP), 2002- 2007
Ph.D. Hong Wang (Joint supervision with Prof Can Li, DICP), 2001-2006
Ph.D. Xiaohong Li (Joint supervision with Prof Can Li, DICP), 2002- 2006
Ph.D. Xiaofeng Wu, 2004-2007
Ph.D. Ourida Saidi, 2002-2006
Ph.D. Jun Mo, 2002-2006
Ph.D. Nuno Mateus, 2003-2006
Ph.D. Daniele Vinci, 2002-2005
Ph.D. Colin Baillie, 2000–2004
Ph.D. James Ross, 1999–2003
Ph.D. Jeff Eckhard, 1999–2003
Ph.D. Anna Banet, 1997–2001
Ph.D. Craig Chatteron, 1996–2000
Former Post Doctors
Dr. Ilkan Calisir, 2021-2024
Dr. Elliot bennett, 2017-2023
Dr. Zhenyu Chen, 2021-2023
Dr. Aysecik Kacmaz, 2019-2020
Dr. Süleyman Gülcemal, 2015
Dr. Derya Gülcemal, 2015
Dr. Jonathan Barnard, 2010-2013
Dr. Xiaofeng Wu, 2010-2013
Dr. Jiwu Ruan, 2005-2011
Dr. Xiaofeng Wu, 2007-2008
Dr. Jun Mo, 2005-2006
Dr. Xiaohong Li, 2005-2006
Dr. Shifang Liu, 2004-2005
Dr. Zhilong Chen, 2003-2004
Dr. Susanne Lange, 2002
Dr. Xiaoguang Li, 2002-2003
Dr. Yulai Hu, 2000–2001
Dr. Weiping Chen, 1998–2002
Dr. Lijing Xu, 1998–2000
Former Visiting Scholars (2010-Now)
Associate Prof. Hongyan Zhou, Northwest Normal University, 2019-2020
Lucas Danilo Dias, University of Coimbra, 2018
Dr. Zahoor H. Farooqi, University of the Punjab, 2018
Robina Begum, University of the Punjab, 2017-2018
Wacharakul Laoasoke, Chulalongkorn University, 2018
Posawat Fongsmut, Chulalongkorn University, 2018
Margarita Ruiz de Castañeda Álvaro, University of Castilla La-Mancha, 2017
Dr. Yuan-Yuan Han, Huaqiao University, 2016-2017
Dr. Ya Wu, Xi’an Shiyou University & Shaanxi Normal University, 2016-2017
Dr. Jingya Yang, Northwest Normal University, 2016-2017.
Prof. Yuqin Fu, Luoyang Normal University, 2015-2016
Dr. Weiyou Zhou, Changzhou University, 2015-2016
Prof. Jun Jiang, Wenzhou University, 2015.
Phornphit Manageracharath, Chulalongkorn University, 2013
Lalita Radtanajiravong, Chulalongkorn University, 2013
Noemí Poyatos Salguero, University of Granada, 2012-2013.
Shen-Luan Yu, Xiamen University, 2013
Prof. Longzhen Zheng, East China Jiaotong University, 2011-2012
Xiaowei Zhou, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 2011
Dr. Yan-Yun Li, Xiamen University, 2011-2012
Nattaporn Saensinrangsee, Chulalongkorn University, 2011
Nuttavut Chaiarrikij, Chulalongkorn University, 2011
Prof Ming Yan, Sun Yat-sen University, 2010