Dr Charlie McTernan is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Chemistry at King's College London and Physical Sciences Group Leader at the Francis Crick Institute. He is a supramolecular chemist, investigating how artificial molecular machines and metal-organic capsules can be applied in biomedical science.

Charlie studied Chemistry at Hertford College, University of Oxford. His Part II project was conducted under the supervision of Prof. Tim Donohoe, investigating the synthesis of isoquinoline motifs using palladium-catalyzed α-arylation.

He joined Professor David Leigh’s group in 2013, funded by a University of Manchester Dean’s Faculty Award. His doctoral research included the synthesis of artificial molecular machines, switchable catalysts, and rotaxanes.

In September 2017 he joined the Nitschke Research Group as a postdoctoral researcher. In September 2018 he began his Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellowship, jointly funded by the Isaac Newton Trust, and joined Sidney Sussex College as a Research Fellow, where he investigated the synthesis and post-assembly modification of diverse metal-organic capsules, and ways to tie molecular knots in single molecules.

He started his independent career in 2021 at the Francis Crick Institute and King's College London, exploring how interlocked architectures and metal-organic capsules can be applied in biological settings.

Research interests

• Supramolecular chemistry in biology
• Host-Guest chemistry
• Mechanically interlocked molecules
• Molecular capsules and degraders
• Translational research
• Organic/inorganic synthesis

Teaching

• Advanced Topics in Synthesis and Reactivity
• UG Research Methods Literature Review
• MSci Research Project & Dissertation
• MRes Research Project in Interdisciplinary Chemistry 

Research profile

For more information on Dr McTernan's research please see his Research Portal page

The McTernan Group

Research Associates

• Adinarayana Bellamkonda
• Aisha Bismallah
• Ellen Jamieson
• Javid Malla
• Leah White

Postgraduate Researchers

• Ben Barber
• Karen Junhans
• Laia Cano
• Michael O'Sullivan
• Nick Gallagher
• Tom Jepras

The McTernan Group is a synthetic chemistry group working in supramolecular and biological chemistry, and nanotechnology.

Their research looks at how to apply Supramolecular Chemistry in Biological settings. Supramolecular Chemistry is the study of intermolecular, non-covalent interactions. These non-covalent interactions are critical to protein folding, DNA base pairing, and cellular signalling. Supramolecular Chemistry applies these same principles to create artificial systems capable of performing complex tasks.

The McTernan Group aims to apply recent breakthroughs in artificial molecular machines and metal-organic capsules in biologically relevant settings. They work with rotaxanes, catenanes and capsules to synthesise functional architectures, creating de novo catalytic enzyme analogues, artificial cellular receptors, and generating targeted drug delivery vehicles.

Visit the McTernan Group website to find out more.