Research Interests

Open to PhD applications in:

• Fluorescent sensors
• Supramolecular chemistry
• Molecular logic
• Molecular machines and devices

Make a PhD enquiry

Current Research Opportunities

• Integrating molecular memories with molecular logic

Public outreach & key achievements

• The DNA of Innovation, vol. 4, ‘Our Global Impact on Society’, Queen’s University Belfast Publication, 10 November 2014, p 24. “Supermolecules from the Land of Serendipity”

• Chemistry World, 23 March 2015, (reported by P. Ball) “Simple Chemistry Mimics Animals' Predator Spotting Method”

• ChemistryViews, 7 April 2015,(reported by D. Bradley) “An Outline for Molecular Edge Detection”

• Nature Chemistry, 22 April 2015, Print version May 2015 volume 7, number 5, p 368 (reported by A. Pichon) “Detection on the Edge”

• Materials Today, 15 June 2015, (reported by D. Bradley) “Genuine molecular drawing package”

• Presentation by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) to Parliamentarians and Policymakers, Churchill Room, Houses of Parliament, London, 7 July 2015, (one of only 9 studies featured) “Inspirational chemistry for a modern economy”

• RSC News July 2015 (Cover story)(reported by V. Marshall and R. Walker) (one of only 2 studies featured) “Making the Case for Chemistry”

• Belfast Telegraph, 17 July 2015, Print version 17 July p. 17 “QUB prof de Silva's blood pressure device is worldwide hit”

• Authorea 20 December 2017, Backstories “How Fluorescent PET Sensors/switches Happened and What They Do”

• Materials Today, 26 January 2019, (reported by D. Bradley) “Sensing molecular logic”

• SpectroscopyNOW.com 1 February 2019, (reported by D. Bradley) “From NIR to eternity: Logically speaking”

• Nature Research interactive periodic table to celebrate its 150th anniversary, 6 February 2019, (invited by C. Hansell and produced by G. Marsh) “Mini-podcast on sodium”

• ChemViews 10 July 2019, (reported by S. Uchiyama) “Probing Nanosized Micelles with Fluorescent Sensors”

Research students

PhD title	Application of Molecular Switching and Logic
Years of study	2017-2019
Country	P.R. China
PhD title	Indicator Displacement Assays with Cyclophane hosts
Years of study	2018-2020
Country	Northern Ireland
PhD title	Synthesis of an expanded cyclophane for switchable guest capture/release
Years of study	2018-2020
Country	P.R. China

Alumni: Where are they now

PhD title	Fluorescent sensors based on various hosts
Years of study	1994-1996
Country	Ireland
Current Position	Professor, Trinity College Dublin
PhD title	Switches based on crown ethers, cyclophanes and amino acids
Years of study	1999-2001
Country	Northern Ireland
Current Position	Vice-President, Almac Sciences, Craigavon, Northern Ireland
PhD title	Application of fluorescent molecular logic to edge detection
Years of study	2013-2015
Country	P.R. China
Current Position	Assistant Professor, Nantong University, P.R. China

Discover More

• Faculty of Engineering And Physical Sciences
• School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering