26 Jun 2009
Fionn was born and grew up in Aberystwyth, Wales. After studying A levels in maths and science at Penglais School, she moved to Trinity College, Cambridge to study Natural Sciences. During her time at university, Fionn spent her summer vacations in research labs in the UK and the USA, gaining experience in biochemistry, biological chemistry and organic chemistry.
These experiences led to her choosing to specialise in chemistry, and after undertaking a Nuffield Undergraduate Research Bursary funded project in organic chemistry during the summer between the third and fourth years of her degree, she decided to apply for a PhD.
She is currently a first year PhD student in the Gaunt group at the University of Cambridge, where her research involves the use of transition metal-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization techniques in organic synthesis - specifically the application of iterative metal-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization reactions in the total synthesis of the telomerase inhibitor, dictyodendrin B.
In her spare time, Fionn enjoys travelling and working with young people. She is interested in communicating science to children and has helped run a school science club through the STIMULUS scheme, and demonstrated fun hands-on-science activities in the Cambridge Science Festival and CHaOS (Cambridge Hands on Science) events. She has also volunteered at 'Over the Wall' and Barretstown - the British and Irish 'Hole in the Wall' camps for children with serious illnesses.
Fionn has since beeen awarded a Syngenta Postgraduate Scholarship in Organic Chemistry
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