Picture of Prof. Scott J. Dalgarno MChem PhD FHEA FRSC

Prof. Scott J. Dalgarno MChem PhD FHEA FRSC

Scott J. Dalgarno is Chair of Supramolecular Chemistry at Heriot-Watt University and Director of the Virtual Centre for Energetic Materials Processing. His research interests are in self-/metal-directed assembly, crystal engineering, host–guest chemistry and energetic materials. He has been the recipient of the Royal Society of Chemistry Harrison-Meldola Memorial and Sir Edward Frankland prizes, and the Chemical Communications Emerging Investigator Lectureship. He recently took on the role of Head of the Institute of Chemical Sciences and also Chairs Heriot-Watt University’s Research Degrees Committee. He has authored >200 peer-review publications and book chapters, has acted as a Volume Editor for the 2nd Edition of Comprehensive Supramolecular Chemistry (a Major Reference Work), and currently acts as the Crystallographic Editor for Supramolecular Chemistry.

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Picture of Dr Cameron Campbell MChem PhD

Dr Cameron Campbell MChem PhD

Dr Cameron Campbell is a KTP Research Associate developing advanced flow synthesis processes for energetic materials and fluorescent sensors in a collaboration between The Falcon Project and Heriot-Watt University. Their research builds upon a strong foundation in supramolecular chemistry, by completing PhD and postdoctoral research position in the synthesis and host-guest behaviour of methylene-bridged calix[4]arenes under Prof. Scott J. Dalgarno.
Picture of Dr Armando Berlanga

Dr Armando Berlanga

Armando was born in Mexico City and obtained his PhD from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). His doctoral research focused on metallocalixarene macrocycles for applications in homogeneous and electrochemical catalysis. He subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at the Institute of Energy Research of Catalonia (IREC), contributing to the HEALING BAT project. His current research interests include the design and study of highly symmetrical polymetallic cages of paramagnetic transition and lanthanide metal ions supported by calix[4]arene ligands. In his free time, Armando likes photography and playing chess.

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Picture of Leonardo Amicosante MChem

Leonardo Amicosante MChem

Leonardo Amicosante received his MChem in Chemistry degree with honours of the first class at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland in 2022. He is currently working towards the Philosophy Doctorate in Chemistry under the supervision of prof. Scott J. Dalgarno and Dr. Filipe Vilela at Heriot-Watt University. His current area of interest focuses on the development and design of novel organic photocatalysts based on benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (BTZ), with concomitant employment of supramolecular Calix[4]arene scaffolds and porous polymer (PIM) supports for environmentally sustainable applications in photosensitisation, photoredox catalysis of bioactive moieties, employing flow technology for automation and analysis. Furthermore, he participated to a 3-month polymer biodegradation research project with BASF outside of his PhD curriculum, focusing on GPC analysis in flow. When out of the lab, he enjoys training in full-contact martial arts and at the gym, playing both table top and video games, as well as drawing with pencil and digital.
Picture of Abigail Bidder BSc MSc AMRSC

Abigail Bidder BSc MSc AMRSC

Abigail graduated from Lancaster University with a BSc in Chemistry in 2022, and with an MSc by Research in Supramolecular Chemistry in 2023. During the final year of her BSc and for the entirety of her MSc, Abigail worked in Prof. Nick Evans’ group investigating the binding of lanthanides in supramolecular architectures such as rotaxanes and calixarenes. Abigail joined the Dalgarno group in January 2024 to research the use of CuAAC click chemistry at the methylene bridge positions of calix[4]arenes. When she’s not in the lab, Abigail enjoys reading, drawing and playing video games.

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Picture of Daniel Lambden MChem

Daniel Lambden MChem

Dan graduated with a MChem from the University of Southampton in 2016, including a 6-month placement at the University of Calgary working for Prof. George Shimizu, focusing on formulation of MOFs into materials for CO2 capture. In 2021 Dan moved into industry, spending time working at flow reactor start-up StoliChem and multinational AkzoNobel as a coatings chemist before moving to The Falcon Project as an energetic materials chemist. Dan’s work in the Dalgarno group focuses on using carboxycalix[4]arenes as ligands to template metal frameworks and clusters with applications in single molecule magnets (SMMs). In his free time Dan is a keen rock climber and can be frequently found in the mountains.
Picture of Fiona Gordon MChem AMRSC

Fiona Gordon MChem AMRSC

Fiona graduated from the University of Strathclyde with an MChem in Chemistry with Drug Discovery in 2024. This included a year in industry within the process development team at Veranova, Edinburgh. During the final year of her undergrad, Fiona worked in Prof. Nick Tomkinson’s group to investigate alternatives for fluorine in small molecule chemistry. Fiona joined the group in July 2024 with a focus on automating the VFD for organic transformations. Outside the lab, she enjoys dog walks, running and going on city breaks!

ORCID
Picture of Ellis Corrigan MChem

Ellis Corrigan MChem

Ellis graduated with a Master of Chemistry in Chemistry from Heriot-Watt University in 2025. During her time as an undergraduate, she completed two summer internships in 2023 and 2024. The first project, funded by Athena Swan, investigated tethered fluorenyl dipp-imidazole complexes and there use in catalysis. The second project focused on developing tolerant nickel catalysts for ethene polymerisation, with funding provided by AWE. Her final year research project was completed under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Mansell and investigated the use of phosphinoalkynes in directing bimetallic coordination. Ellis joined the Dalgarno group as a PhD student in 2025 with a project focusing on the synthesis of supramolecular molecules designed with guest-binding pockets for the selective sensing of energetic materials. During her free time, Ellis enjoys running, knitting, and baking.

Previous Group Members

  • Dr Cameron Campbell, PhD followed by 1-year PDRA post sponsored by the Falcon Project
  • Dr Dominic Taylor, PhD (Currently employed as a PDRA with Prof. Neil McKeown, University of Edinburgh)
  • Mawgan U. Main, MPhil (Currently employed in H&S in industry)
  • Dr Angela Fong, PhD (Currently employed by the Falcon Project and based at the University of Edinburgh)
  • Dr Alexander Ovsyannikov and Ms Mariia Kniazeva (visiting PDRA/PhD student from the Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry, Kazan)
  • Ms Tse Le Loh, MSc (Monash Malaysia, SJD acting as remote co- supervisor)
  • Dr Marco Coletta, PhD (Undertook a PDRA with Prof. Euan Brechin at the University of Edinburgh before taking up a post at the Cambrex Corporation)
  • Robyn Fairbarn, MPhil
  • Dr Piotr Cholewa, PhD (Cambrex Corporation)
  • Dr Ross McLellan, 3-yr PDRA (Undertook PDRA posts with Dr Stuart Robertson, Prof. Eva Hevia and Prof. Robert Mulvey at the University of Strathclyde, and is now a Team Leader in solid form screening at the Cambrex Corporation)
  • India Dodgson, MPhil
  • Dr Ruaraidh McIntosh, 3-yr PDRA (now independent academic in the Institute of Chemical Sciences, HWU)
  • Dr Stuart Kennedy, PhD (undertook PDRA positions with Profs. Jerry Atwood, Jon Steed, Colin Pulham and now CTO at Falcon Project Ltd.)
  • Martin Stindl, MRes