Kroto JRA students and Margaret Kroto, with Dr Davis on the screen

Students sharing details of their research projects with Dr Davis and Margaret Kroto

On Thursday 13 July 2023, an event took place in the School of Life Sciences to celebrate the first year of the Kroto Junior Research Associate (JRA) scheme. This programme, which is designed for Chemistry students, was established in honour of the Nobel prize-winning chemist, Professor Sir Harry Kroto.

Sussex alumnus and donor of the programme Dr Graham Davis, who lives in the USA, connected through a videocall with the four undergraduate students on the Kroto JRA scheme. Students shared insights of their research projects with Dr Davis. He expressed delight in witnessing the students' passion for chemistry and shared his hope that the Kroto JRA will continue to nurture future generations of chemists. Lady Margaret Kroto, wife of Sir Harry Kroto, also attended the event, joining the students in the Kroto room in the JMS building.

Dr Davis shared his experience at Sussex, where he pursued a Chemistry-by-Thesis undergraduate degree in Sir Harry Kroto's group from 1976 to 1979. In addition to the famous discovery of buckminsterfullerenes or “buckyballs”, and other remarkable scientific contributions, Professor Sir Harry Kroto deeply inspired his students through captivating lectures and workshops. To pay tribute to his former mentor, Dr Davis established the Kroto JRA scheme, generously supporting the expenses of four Chemistry students. This programme offers undergraduate students a unique opportunity to refine their research skills during the summer by working on a project of their interest. 

Wendy Brown, Professor of Physical Chemistry and Head of Department of Chemistry, says: “Chemistry is hugely grateful to Dr Graham Davis for his generous support of four Kroto JRA positions at Sussex this summer. We are delighted that these positions enable our students to get first-hand experience of working in a research laboratory – an experience that will provide them with invaluable skills for their future careers.”

After completing the Chemistry-by-Thesis programme, Dr Davis pursued Science and Technology Policy Studies at the University of Sussex Business School from 1979 to 1980. Subsequently, he embarked on a D.Phil at Oxford. A decade ago, the Royal Society of Chemistry honoured his collaborative research with Allen Hill and Tony Cass on glucose sensing at Oxford by awarding them a prestigious blue plaque. Their innovative electrochemical methodology paved the way for the creation of personal testing devices for diabetics.

Kroto JRA 2023 students:

• Tom Baird-Taylor, supervisor Hazel Cox. Topic: ‘Apparent emergence of vibrational frequencies from non-Born-Oppenheimer calculations of 3 particle molecular ions’.
• Ahmed Elzein, supervisor George Kostakis. Topic: ‘Salpyran and its analogues: potential new chelating agents for the treatment of Wilson's disease’.
• Roxanne Ifill, supervisor Storm Hassell-Hart. Topic: ‘The Development of Acid-Mediated Synthesis of Thiazoles from Sulfoxonium Ylides’.
• Kathryn Stacy, supervisor Deborah Sneddon.  Topic: ‘Synthesis of novel manganese contrast agents for use in magnetic resonance imaging’.