Molecular Devices @ UoL

Dr. Amit Sil
Research Coordinator 2024-
PDRA 2021-2024

Amit obtained his M.Sc in Chemistry from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur in 2012 where his dissertation focussed on the synthesis and catalytic studies of active Sn(0) nano-particles for the Barbier reaction. He was awarded a PhD (2018) from the same institution for his work on the synthesis and characterization of functional polypyridyl conjugates and emissive polymers for applications as near infrared (NIR) absorbing materials, sensors and in optoelectronics. He later accepted a postdoctoral position in the same group on the topic of developing metallocene catalysts for olefin polymerisation. In 2019, he moved to Durham University (UK) as a PDRA with Prof J. A. Gareth Williams where he worked on the synthesis and characterization of functional luminescent Pt(II) and Ir(III) complexes for NIR–OLEDs.

In October 2021, he moved to University of Liverpool (UK) for a PDRA position in the field of single molecular electronics and, in particular, to investigate the piezoresistive properties of molecular devices. In 2024, he was promoted to Research Coordinator of the group.

Dr. Linlin Hou
PDRA 2024-

Linlin obtained her BSc in Polymer Materials and Engineering from Zhejiang University and her MSc in Advanced Materials from Imperial College London. Following this, she completed her DPhil at the University of Oxford under the supervision of Professor Jamie Warner, focusing on 2D material-based electronic and optoelectronic devices. Her DPhil studies involved the growth and characterization of 2D thin film materials, as well as the nanofabrication and measurements of 2D material-based nanodevices, such as field-effect transistors (FETs), photodetectors, light-emitting devices (LEDs), and photovoltaic devices.

In January 2024, she moved to the University of Liverpool for a PDRA position and started her research on Molecular Photonics.

Dr. Matthew Hight
PDRA 2025-

Matthew completed his BSc in Chemistry at California State University Channel Islands in 2018. Here, he worked under the supervision of Dr. Ahmed Awad to synthesise novel nucleic acids and explore their potential as anticancer agents. Afterwards, Matthew obtained his PhD in Organic Chemistry in 2024 at the University of California, Riverside under the supervision of Dr. Timothy Su. His work here was multifaceted and involved STM-BJ device manufacture, chemical synthesis, and single molecule electronic measurements with a focus on the conductance behaviour of silicon clusters, LDF rich oligo(dimethylsilmethylene)s and acid-sensitive molecular switches.

Following this, Matthew moved to the University of Liverpool for a PDRA position as a synthetic chemist in the Vezzoli Lab researching molecular photonics.

Mx. Ruby Barry
PhD Student 2024-

Ruby graduated with a masters in chemistry from the University of Central Lancashire in 2022. This work concluded with a year long project working on the synthesis and characterisation of super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for use in DNA/RNA binding and elution. Following this they completed a PGDE in secondary science education at LJMU, graduating in 2023. Immediately after this they spent 6 months working in the industrial waste management industry until January 2024.

As of February 2024, Ruby has started their PhD, working on the synthesis of molecular wires under Andrea’s supervision.