Meet our new researchers from the Department of Chemistry

In this next instalment we spoke to Dr Clare Bakewell, Dr Saidul Islam, Dr Micaela Matta from the Department of Chemistry. 

Dr Clare Bakewell is a Lecturer in Chemistry. Clare’s research interests lie in the application of organometallic chemistry to challenges related to sustainability and the environment. 

What first attracted you to the field of Chemistry?

I remember as an A-level student loving all the different colours involved, it made learning the subject much more visual and tangible – and gave me an early interest in inorganic chemistry.  

Tell us about something you are working on at the moment - what is exciting about it?

The current focus of research in my group is the development of metal compounds with unusual chemical and electronic structures. This is primarily focussed on using cheap, abundant metals with a view to expanding their reactivity – eventually we hope to use these compounds to replace expensive precious metals commonly used in many chemical processes!

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about Chemistry?

Outside of the science bubble, when talking to a new acquaintance about what I do, you say ‘chemist’ and they hear ‘pharmacist’. Which is honestly a world away from my research interests. I think this stems from a general lack of understanding about how much chemistry infiltrates our day-to-day lives – it goes far beyond the more obvious medicinal uses.

Aside from Chemistry, what do you do in your spare time?

Outside of work I’m a mum to a 2 year old, with a second on the way and I seem to spend a lot of time in soft play centres and drinking coffee in parks. But to unwind I love swimming, cooking, eating great food, holidays – as well as a bit of DIY!

Dr Saidul Islam is a Lecturer in Chemistry. He has made important contributions towards understanding the formation of nucleic acids and peptides at the origin of life.

What first attracted you to the field of chemistry?

I stumbled into chemistry through biology at school, when we started to learn about the biochemical reactions that sustain us, where chemicals bonds are continually being made and broken on unimaginable scale. When I went to university, I expected that I would eventually end up working in pharmaceutical or biomedical research, but I became drawn towards studying the chemical origin of life. That is, what chemical reactions kick-started life on Earth or elsewhere in the solar system. Trying to recreate life in a laboratory – from scratch – was too appealing to pass up, and this is what I do now at King’s.

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about Chemistry?

The word ‘chemicals’ conjures up negative connotations in one’s head, but people may not realise how important chemistry is to their daily lives. The medication you may take, the food you are eating, the water you are drinking, the computer you are reading this on – it’s all chemical!

What advice would you give to someone considering studying Chemistry?

Choose a subject that you will enjoy and that will get you out of bed in the morning. Chemistry is a broad science and it caters for all tastes and strengths, ranging from physics, mathematics, biochemistry and more. It is a wonderful subject, it’s a central science, and chemists will always be needed!

Aside from Chemistry, what do you do in your spare time?

I like reading books that are far removed from my work life. Reading novels has also made me a better writer and speaker. I think it’s important to switch off and enjoy your life outside of work, which is why I love spending time with my partner.

Dr Micaela Matta is a Lecturer in Chemistry. Her work leverages molecular simulations to explore the structural properties of conducting polymers and bioinspired materials for applications in biosensors and bioelectronics.

What first attracted you to the field of Chemistry?

My school science teacher had a degree in Chemistry and was very invested in the subject. I still remember the first time she explained the concept of resonance in benzene, it was so fascinating. I love chemistry because it’s truly the central science.

Tell us about something you are working on at the moment - what is exciting about it?

I’m very interested in melanin, our natural sunscreen. We don’t know what the chemical makeup of melanin is, and we still don’t understand how it’s so effective at protecting us from UV radiation. I am working on developing better models of melanin to understand its properties at the molecular scale. Besides sunscreen, unlocking the relationship between melanin's structure and its properties could also lead to new and exciting applications in the field of biomedical devices.

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about Chemistry?

The belief that natural equals good and chemical equals artificial or bad. Everything is a chemical!

Aside from Chemistry, what do you do in your spare time?

I’m always looking forward to the next show, whether it’s music, theatre or comedy. I really enjoy practicing yoga and cycling, and I’m also getting into weightlifting. On a normal day I’ll just be walking my dog, listening to a podcast or an audiobook.