Chemistry Admissions - University of York
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Department of Chemistry
Chemistry Admissions
NEWSLETTER February 2021
Excellent NSS 2020 Results
We’re delighted to learn that our frontiers of the subject.
chemistry students rated their learning We are delighted to
experience highly in the National Student see that our students
Survey, and are some of the happiest in value this rather
the UK. special environment,
The Department of Chemistry has appreciate the learning
received 91% for ‘Overall Satisfaction’ in opportunities and
the 2020 National Student Survey (NSS). resources we provide,
The Department placed first out of the and rate our teaching as some
surveyed Russell Group universities in six of the very best in the country.”
of the eight individual areas: The NSS is a nationwide survey of final-
• Teaching on my Course year students in higher and further
• Learning Opportunities education that encourages them to
• Academic Support give honest feedback about a variety of
• Organisation and Management aspects of their university experience,
• Learning Support including their department and course.
• Learning Community This helps prospective students to make sits above the national average of 82.65%.
Head of Department, Professor Duncan informed choices and also influences real Of the Russell Group universities included
Bruce said: “We really believe that the change in future students’ experiences, in the survey, the results position York as
Department of Chemistry in York is a from institution-level to course-level. first for ‘Academic Support’ and ‘Learning
unique learning community in which As a whole, the University of York scored Opportunities’, and second for ‘Teaching
staff and students work together at the 85.39% for ‘Overall Satisfaction’, which on my Course’.
Royal Society of Chemistry Awards Department of Chemistry
for Chemistry Academics retains position in the
UK top five
Three scientists from the University of and sustainable In rankings released this week the
York’s Department of Chemistry have chemistry, Department continues to be among
received prestigious Royal Society of helping them the UK’s most highly regarded
Chemistry (RSC) awards. address real-world problems as outlined departments for the subject of
Dr Glenn Hurst has been named the by the United Nations Sustainable Chemistry. The Department is
winner of the RSC’s Higher Education Development Goals. ranked 5th in the UK in the Complete
Teaching Award - the fourth member The Walton-Davies team won their University Guide 2021.
of the chemistry department at York to award for ground-breaking research into Published annually since 2007, the
win the award. Professors Paul Walton the extraction of sugars from cellulose Complete University Guide ranks 130
and Gideon Davies have been awarded to provide a rich source of sustainable UK universities, 14 Arts, Drama and
the RSC’s Rita and John Cornforth biofuel known as cellulosic bioethanol. Music colleges and conservatoires,
Award. Cellulose is naturally resistant to and 70 subjects by quality measures
Dr Hurst won his award for impactful breaking down into its constituent sugar important to students.
work in green chemistry teaching molecules, which hinders its use as a The Department’s ranking is based
resulting in national and international feedstock for bioethanol. However, the on a range of measures including
renown, and particularly for the team has focused research on a group graduate prospects, student
innovative use of social media in higher of enzymes called lytic polysaccharide satisfaction and research quality.
education. His work is centered around monooxygenases which significantly
using innovative approaches to help enhance the breakdown of cellulose,
students engage with and contextualise enabling it to be used as a feedstock for
chemistry with an emphasis on green fuel production.
www.york.ac.uk/chemistry 1
MChem Year Abroad
We support students in various ways both prior to, and during,
Drilling down into placements at a university abroad. Students in years 1 and 2
are invited to attend information sessions at the start of each
academic year. This gives an overview of the programme and
final year research what students need to do to prepare. Students interested in
spending a year in a country where English is not the first
opportunities
language are encouraged to take part in language courses
via the LFA (Languages for All) programme. The Department
covers the fees for these courses for students enrolled on
the MChem (Abroad) scheme. At the end of year 2, students
submit their preferences for the different destinations/research
An overview of our final year topics. The MChem (Abroad) coordinator works with students
projects – how they are organised during year 3 to organise nominations for placements. The
focus is on finding placements and research projects that fit
and what is involved with students’ interests. Although some destinations can be
oversubscribed, the Department uses a transparent/fair system
to make decisions on nominations. It is usually possible to
secure placements for most students interested in the
programme at one of the destinations they are
BSc Projects keen to visit. The coordinator offers support
to students preparing to spend year
including Chemical 4 abroad, with assistance from
our Centre for Global
Communication Programmes.
Our BSc research projects give our
students the opportunity to do an
original piece of work, covering a wide
spectrum of different types of research,
from the synthesis of novel compounds, other science lessons. The second style of
to designing new analytical methods, to project involves designing and running an
completely non-lab-based projects. One outreach event for visiting school groups.
option for our final year BSc chemistry The activities that the participants take
students who are considering a career part in are based on areas of chemistry
MChem Year such as teaching, is to undertake a research at the University of York. The
Chemical Communication project in chemical communication projects have
in Industry place of a more traditional lab-based been running for 15 years, and several
research project. There are two styles of of our former students are now teacher
Our recruitment process for
project to choose from. One is school- mentors for our current cohort. If a
year 4 placements starts in
based, in which a student spends a student is considering teaching, this is an
the Summer Term of year 2.
minimum of ten days across two terms excellent way for them to dip their toe in
A handbook is issued containing
in a local secondary school, observing the water to see if this is the career for
details of at least thirty regular
and helping with (mainly) chemistry and them.
placement companies. Students
research these companies to find
out the sort of chemistry they do and
their location (companies are based MChem Year in York
throughout the UK and some in western
Europe). At the end of the Summer Our research projects are ‘real world’, open-ended and as tailor-
Term students select their 8 favourite made and individualised as possible. By the end of year 3, many
companies and register their interest in students will have clear, informed ideas about their research
the scheme. After the summer exams we interests/future plans, and we offer and support a wide range of
organise CV writing and interview sessions projects supervised by academic staff. We start the process with
so that students can brush up on these skills. an introduction session, early in Spring of year 3. Students then
Over the vacation, students prepare CVs/ explore opportunities for projects by talking with academic staff.
supporting letters for their chosen companies If students have suggestions of their own, we are usually able
and submit these at the start of year 3. The to accommodate these. At the end of the Spring Term, students
Department attaches a reference from the submit four project choices, in order of preference. Typically,
College tutor, then forwards this information to we assign at least 90% of projects according to first or second
the companies, who hopefully offer our students preferences. When oversubscription issues arise, the module
interviews, starting in October. New companies coordinator brokers the best possible alternatives between
usually become available throughout the year. It is a students and academic staff, but we never assign projects that
competitive process and we cannot guarantee every did not feature on the students’ project choices. Assignments are
student will secure a placement (students will always usually completed around the middle of the Summer Term, when
have the opportunity to complete their MChem degree the module coordinator shares all choices and final assignments
at York if they change their mind or if they don’t secure to ensure maximum transparency. Students are asked to contact
a placement) – on saying this, we typically place around their project supervisor(s) to discuss the latest developments/
50 students per year. plans, and collect reading for the summer, to prepare for a
smooth start in the next academic year.
2 www.york.ac.uk/chemistry Chemistry Admissions February 2021
R
Research
Undergraduate projects
leads to publication success
highlights
Laura Berga and Isobel Bruce (bot
h MChem 2020)
achieved publication of their ground-b
reaking project
work in the international journal Cellu
lose in the
September following their graduati
on. Cellulose is a key
component of biomass but utilising
it is a challenge.
Mastering the structural E Strong hydrogen bonding makes it
insoluble in many
solvents. Ionic liquids can readily diss
olve cellulose, but there are many
chemistry of a new with using them, such as their high
costs, sensitivity to water and diffi
challenges
regenerate the solvents after their culty to
gallium catalyst use. Their research project, supervise
d by Dr
Seishi Shimizu, shows the challeng
A team led by Dr John Slattery es of cellulose dissolution.
discovered that a wide range of
gallium-containing compounds can, S
Possible broad spectrum drug
in fact, be isolated from catalytically-
active solutions of ‘gallium(I) triflate’. izon
This catalyst is simple to prepare and treatment for viruses on the hor
has been shown to promote carbon- e have shed new light
Researchers from York and Melbourn
carbon bond forming reactions, key gue and SARS-CoV-2
on how viruses like hepatitis B, den
steps in the formation of valuable ntial anti-viral drugs to
hijack a cell paving the way for pote
molecules such as pharmaceuticals, Like prod ucts on a factory assembly
stop the virus in its tracks.
agrochemicals and polymers. Careful lity control’ checkpoints where they
line, all proteins pass through ‘qua y out their
structural analysis in collaboration with sported to their destination to carr
are inspected before they are tran k this manufacturing
Dr Adrian Whitwood demonstrated that some viruses could hijac
functions. The researchers showed the cell’s mac hine ry to copy their
that this seemingly simple catalyst The virus can use
and distribution process in the cell. selves and
is actually a complex mixture of eins they need to make copies of them
DNA or RNA and produce the prot to harn ess a step in this
compounds containing gallium in onstrated that viruses tend
take-over their host. Research dem proteins . The team was able
several different oxidation states. newly assembled
process where sugar molecules coat s, checks, and mod ifies the sugar-
me that trim
to develop inhibitors to block an enzy path way .
the viruses’ ability to hijack the
coating process, which can disrupt
Compounds synthesised in E
York could provide clue in
A R
the hunt for new treatments York academic leads York academics help
against Coronavirus UK government uncover the oldest ever
Researchers at York have synthesised effort to understand human genetic evidence
compounds that can bind to one of Genetic information from an
key proteins in the COVID-19 virus.
the impact of air 800,000-year-old human fossil
discovery could pave the way for new
The
pollution changes tooth has been retrieved for the
drug treatments to fight the virus.
The during Covid-19 crisis first time. The study retrieved
team, led by Professor Peter O’Brien, the oldest human genetic data
A York academic is leading a national
made the discovery as part of thei scientists set from a tooth found in Spain
r scientific advisory group calling for
research programme synthesising on air belonging to the species Homo
and researchers to share their data
3-dimensional molecular ‘fragmen navi rus pand emic. antecessor. By using a technique
ts’ pollution during the Coro
for use in drug discovery. Professo has seen unp rece dent ed called mass spectrometry,
r The pandemic
O’Brien said “It was great to see our researchers sequenced ancient
changes in living and working patterns
3-dimensional fragments turn up as but proteins from dental enamel,
hits and is likely to have had a significant,
in this screen. , effec t on air pollu tion. and therefore more confidently
as yet unquantified
r Alastair Lew is is the Cha ir of determined the position of Homo
Professo
science antecessor in the human family
the UK Government independent
Vitamin boost for
C advisory group on air pollu tion . tree. Dr Marc Dickinson and
Professor Kirsty Penkman from
green solvents the Department of Chemistry
Enhancing the visualisation H
analysed ancient proteins to
Naturally-occurring determine if the protein was
analogues of vitamin C have
been used to form deep
of aromatic molecules original. Dr Dickinson said:
“Finding original organic material,
eutectic solvents for the first A computational method developed in
which has survived for
time. These environmentally- York provides an easy way of visualising
millions of years is
friendly solvents may have the aromaticity of important polycyclic
fascinating. It is
applications as natural antifreezes aromatic hydrocarbon molecules and
incredible
ctic gives new insights into their bonding.
or antibacterial agents. Deep eute that these
(DES s) are form ed whe n two Dr Peter Karadakov from York, working
solvents samples
phase.
solid materials mix to give a liquid with Professor Brett VanVeller and Bryan
are still able
environm enta lly- Lampkin from Iowa State University
If the two solids are to provide
friendly, then the resulting solvents in the USA have developed a method
n to create a better visualisation of scientific
are one of the most promising gree information”.
in recent year s. aromaticity in polycyclic systems.
technologies to emerge
www.york.ac.uk/chemistry Chemistry Admissions February 2021 3
Using TikTok to teach chemistry 2020 Award Winners
Dr Jamie Blaza
Recently graduated BSc Chemistry Future Leaders
students Clare Hayes and Katie Stott Fellowship (UKRI)
performed research into developing Professor Simon Duckett
new and innovative methods to Gunther Laukien Prize
aid with chemistry education and
public dissemination, as part of Professor Ian Fairlamb
their research project under the Royal Society Industry
supervision of Dr Glenn Hurst and Fellowship
Dr Katie Lamb. By utilising a systems Dr Glenn Hurst
thinking approach to contextualise RSC Higher Education
theoretical concepts, Clare and Katie Teaching Award
created new learning resources
including a YouTube video on carbon the creation of ”Green Tycoon”, a free Professor Kirsty Penkman
dioxide utilisation, which won a CO2Chem mobile phone application that teaches Blavatnik Foundation Young
video prize. fundamental green chemistry principles Scientist Award for Chemistry
A major component of this research to undergraduates. Considering the Professors Paul Walton
involved investigating the use of the recent transition to online teaching due
mobile phone application TikTok for to COVID-19, the use of social media to
and Gideon Davies
RSC Rita and John
teaching chemistry as well as a public aid teachers with chemistry teaching
Cornforth Award
dissemination tool. Systems thinking has and communication is now extremely
been used with numerous online teaching important.
tools and mobile phone applications. Using an online TikTok account, “The
Previous work at the University of York Chemistry Collective”, 16 chemistry York scientist
has highlighted how Snapchat can be outreach and educational videos (15-60 part of team
used to facilitate contextualization of seconds long) were created, reaching
undergraduate chemistry and led to approximately 8,500 views.
awarded £8m to
unravel breakdown
of carbohydrates
By royal appointment A team of scientists – including an
The pioneering work of the University academic from York – has been
of York’s Structural Biology Laboratory awarded more than £8m (9.1m euros)
(YSBL) in the Department of Chemistry for a major research programme into
has received royal recognition at a how enzymes work on complex sugars.
prestigious ceremony at Buckingham The research, funded by the European
Palace. Vice-Chancellor Professor Research Council (ERC), is expected to
Charlie Jeffery formally received the have major implications for improving
Queen’s Anniversary Prize on behalf of human health in the fight against
the Laboratory at a ceremony in the diseases and finding green solutions to
Ballroom of Buckingham Palace on energy production. Professor Gideon
Thursday 20 February. Professor Jeffery Davies will work with Dr Carme Rovira
was presented with a medal, engraved YSBL over the past 40 years in studying from the University of Barcelona and
with the Queen’s signature, while protein molecules. It is unique in the Professor Hermen Overkleeft from
Professor Tony Wilkinson, current leader honours system in that the honour is the University of Leiden to form the
of YSBL, collected a scroll on behalf of conferred on an institution rather than “Carbocentre” synergy team. They
the University. The prize, the highest an individual. Professor Jeffery said: will develop novel chemical entities
national honour awarded in UK further “This award is a fantastic achievement to study the enzymes involved in
and higher education, is for the work of and richly deserved”. the synthesis and breakdown of
carbohydrates and design compounds
that inhibit and visualize each of the
Online chemistry course proves highly effective glycol processing enzymes – eventually
applying them in the areas of
A free online course developed by the over 15,000 students from a wide biomedicine and biotechnology.
Department of Chemistry has been range of backgrounds. Students visited Many viruses, including Influenza
shown to have excellent educational around 232,000 steps, completed almost and Covid-19, use carbohydrates
outcomes, with positive student attitudes, 203,000 of them and posted over 10,000 (glycans) for cellular entry and as part
high levels of learner engagement comments. Evaluation of the four course of their structure. Professor Davies
and a significant impact on students runs demonstrated very positive student said: “Carbohydrates (glycans) have
making the transition to university. The feedback, as evidenced by weekly learner mind-boggling chemical diversity. They
four runs of the Exploring Everyday experience ratings. Distinctively, the study are the most abundant and diverse
Chemistry (eeDc) course have attracted also analysed the impact of the course on class of biomolecules on Earth. It’s a
university applications to study Chemistry great honour to obtain this European
at York. In 2018, over 20 per cent of funding, especially at this time. Our
applicants mentioned the online course collaborative work will provide truly
in their UCAS applications, as a way of disruptive technologies for health
demonstrating evidence of commitment (cancer, genetic disease and viral
beyond the standard pre-university invasion)”.
curriculum.
www.york.ac.uk/chemistry Chemistry Admissions February 2021 4
Meet a tutor
Professor Kirsty insights not only into the past, but also
Penkman teaches into degenerative diseases.
core and option We’ve developed a technique for dating
modules to our samples by tracking the breakdown
undergraduate reactions of fossil protein trapped in
students. Her crystal time-capsules. One set of key
research involves reactions is the change in chirality of Through data, we can see our
developing methods to amino acids, which shift to their mirror assumptions confirmed or overturned
images over time. This method covers - either way the science and our
chemically analyse complex
the last 3 million years. It’s a period that understanding is moving forward.
samples. She focuses particularly is particularly challenging to date, but it’s Sometimes it’s not until your whole
on the analysis of biomolecules critical for understanding both climate dataset is processed that you start to see
found in fossils - and what change and human evolution. the beauty of the overall pattern. Other
they can reveal about an times you get a chromatogram straight
organism’s life and death. Sharing knowledge off the printer and you can immediately
see its importance. I have been found
through teaching hopping around the lab in excitement at
I love teaching at York - from the great just the first glimpse!
discussions in tutorials, to the buzz of a
workshop, to the excitement of seeing
Chemistry can take you anywhere.
the first data from an undergraduate Science as a reflection
project. I’m motivated by the enormous of society
I’ve always loved the sciences, but I’m also
practical applications of chemistry,
fascinated by archaeology and geology. I have a young daughter so I’ve been
which are woven through the core
At A level I had been thinking about working part-time for a few years now.
lectures, helping you to see the authentic
taking history, but the timetable was It’s still unusual for an academic scientist
applications of what you are learning.
awkward, so I ended up doing sciences to work part-time, but my colleagues
It’s exciting to be able to design a
and maths. I really fell in love with have offered loads of encouragement
course focusing on the latest and most
chemistry at that point - I think because and support. Having to think harder
important science, and to see my
it sits as the central science, reaching out about what I do and when I do it has
students fired up by it. I’m also a big
to answer all sorts of other questions in actually resulted in some really creative
fan of using peer-supported learning:
other fields. approaches to my work, so I am really
the engagement, professionalism and
It wasn’t until the final year of my degree pleased to have had the opportunity.
collegiality that the students show in
that all of my interests suddenly clicked There have been huge advances in
their constructive feedback to each other
into place, when I was lucky enough to awareness of equality and diversity
is inspiring.
work on a project in an archaeological issues in science. I feel incredibly lucky
research lab. A couple of months in I to be working in a department where
knew that I’d found the perfect job for Valuable insights
these issues are taken seriously. Science
me - using chemistry to help understand The research project in your final year advances through new ideas, and the
the past. lets you really focus on an area you’re greater the diversity of backgrounds and
interested in. You’ll work with one of perspectives we can encourage into the
Finding solutions our research labs, helping them to ask field, the better chemistry we will do.
broader questions. Our students’ work
Working with fossil material is analytically
provides valuable insights and has even
very challenging. The molecules that
led to published papers.
you are interested in are incredibly low
in concentration. They are often badly
degraded, and there is a whole load of
other stuff in there - both organic and
inorganic, original and contamination -
that will complicate your analysis.
The trick is being able to isolate the part
you want to look at without altering it
in the process. The challenge makes it
so interesting from my point of view as
an analytical chemist, and so supremely
satisfying when you do eventually get
your data!
Through the looking-glass
My colleagues and I use liquid
chromatography and mass spectrometry
to understand the chemistry of
biomolecular degradation. We’ve gained
5 www.york.ac.uk/chemistry
Professor Paul Walton receives USEFUL LINKS
Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Award Student Finance
The award, which recognises excellence Panel recognised www.york.ac.uk/students/finance/
in teaching and learning support, the tremendous www.gov.uk/browse/education/
was conferred at one of the 2020 impact you student-finance/
graduation ceremonies. Professor have made on The University’s Student Financial
John Robinson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor how teaching is Support Unit will be able to help
for Teaching, Learning and Students, organised and with any student financial queries
wrote to Professor Walton: “The panel delivered in the that you may have.
was impressed with your exceptional department that is felt
and sustained contribution to teaching positively by all students and Student Societies
within the department, including small staff.” In nominating Professor https://yusu.org/student-life/clubs-
group teaching innovations that have Walton for the Award, Dr Derek Wann and-socs
entered into the culture of the wider said: “Throughout his career Paul has York University Students’ Union
department. Your support for students introduced innovations in teaching and (YUSU) offers an array of societies
and quality of feedback are exemplary; learning that have gone on to become covering a huge range of activites
you are renowned amongst current and part of the furniture of the Department ranging from the Murder Mystery
former students for going the extra mile of Chemistry. The extent to which Society to award-winning media
to demonstrate what you are teaching his teaching is valued is borne out in societies.
in front of a packed lecture theatre. The comments from students.”
Student Sports Clubs
York chemistry undergraduates publish https://yusu.org/student-life/clubs-
and-socs
world-leading research paper Enjoy more than 60 different sports
clubs.
Work carried out by eight University major challenge, with applications to
of York Chemistry undergraduates areas as diverse as pharmaceutical
results in a major publication in an
University Library
synthesis, polymer synthesis, graffiti www.york.ac.uk/library/
international open access chemistry removal and plastic recycling. The The Library is open 24 hours a day,
journal. The students, led by Professor complex 3D structure of polymers 7 days a week, 362 days a year.
Michael North and Dr Anne Routledge, makes this a challenging area to study.
investigated how physical and chemical The results of the students’ work
characteristics associated with polymeric indicated that the chemical properties Chemistry Review
resins affect their ability to interact of the polymer had a larger influence www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/schools/
with 15 sustainable solvents. The work on the solvent interaction than the chemrev/
has been published in open access physical properties. This is particularly Chemistry Review, a magazine for
chemistry journal, ChemistryOpen. important for the solid phase multi- post-16 chemists, is commissioned
Understanding how polymers step synthesis of pharmaceuticals (e.g. and edited at York.
interact with solvents - antiviral drugs) because the chemical
especially with new, properties of the polymer change as Departmental video links
environmentally the synthesis proceeds. In particular, https://www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/
friendly and the results show that the optimal undergraduate/studentprofiles/
sustainable solvent may be different for each step student-talking-heads/
solvents - is a of the synthesis. See our undergraduate students
explain why they decided to study
The development of low-cost and non-hazardous methods for their Chemistry degree at York.
removing graffiti is an ongoing area of research. Image: Pixabay.
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=3bQmh45rVhU
Lockdown lectures Our Life of a Chemistry Student video
Take a look at our videos featuring academic highlights the journey from preparing
staff that showcase how our world-leading to study, to progression through the
interdisciplinary research influences our four years of our MChem degree.
teaching – see www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/
undergraduate/howtoapply/lockdown- Social icon
Circle
Only use blue and/or white.
For more details check out our
lectures/
Brand Guidelines.
Free online course For example, in lecture 1, Dr Victor Chechik
A prizewinning contribution discusses his interest in detecting and
from a learner on our free online studying radical intermediates, such as using Find out about the latest news in the
Chemistry course. The next EPR spectroscopy to probe hair bleaching. department using twitter:
course, which is designed to aid Our staff continuously push the boundaries of http://twitter.com/chemistryatyork
the transition from school/college knowledge
to university, starts in June/July and their Admissions enquiries
2021. Ahead of this, the course is research please contact:
available as a self-guided course. informs Telephone: +44 (0) 1904 322545
For more details see: what you Email: chem-ugrad@york.ac.uk
www.futurelearn.com/courses/ learn. Website: www.york.ac.uk/chemistry
everyday-chemistry.
www.york.ac.uk/chemistry Chemistry Admissions February 2021 6
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