Dr. Amélia Messara: Harnessing Photochemistry to Master Molecular Geometry of Alkenes
Hi, my name is Amélia Messara, and I am a French chemist. I completed my PhD at the University of Strasbourg, where I worked on the synthesis of small fluorinated molecules that could serve as useful building blocks in medicinal chemistry.
Now, I have decided to embark on a new challenge by conducting research on photochemistry under the supervision of Prof. Ryan Gilmour here at the University of Münster. Photochemistry allows for chemical transformations to be carried out using light as an energy source. I am utilizing this process as a tool to control the geometry of alkenes, which are molecules commonly found in natural products and drugs.
Fun Fact: Despite having a phobia of snakes, I managed to overcome my fear during a 4-month internship at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where there are approximately 40 different species of snakes. Needless to say, I discovered this fact after I had already arrived there!