Doctoral Program of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering (EDCH ...

Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering (EDCH),EPFL
Image created by PhD student Basile Curchod
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EPFL Doctoral Award 2012
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Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering (EDCH),EPFL
Abstract: Complexity and size of organic molecules in chemical and
pharmaceutical research grows constantly, making their synthesis more
and more challenging. Recent developments in the transition metal catalyzed
cross coupling reactions make this method an efficient and fast
way of synthesizing organic molecules. The coupling of non-activated
alkyl halides however is still very problematic. Efficient solutions for this
important class of compounds were found during our research work. We
prepared a well-defined and easily synthesized nickel pincer complex
[(MeN2N)Ni-Cl]. This complex is an efficient catalyst for Kumada and
Sonogashira coupling of non-activated alkyl halides and direct C-H alkylation.
The activity and selectivity of the catalyst was checked on a wide
range of substrates. The products of the reactions were separated in
good to excellent yields. The reactions are chemo-selective and tolerate
many important functional groups. Moreover, in the presence of different
halide atoms in the molecule, several coupling reactions can be done
consecutively, allowing access to compounds bearing several functional
groups. One of the biggest advantages is the versatility of this catalyst,
allowing the use of the same catalyst for a wide range of coupling reactions.
Utilization of this catalyst and developed methodologies in the laboratorial
and industrial processes can improve and facilitate the synthesis
of important organic compounds and pharmaceutical products.
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� We are one of the best European postgraduate programs in
Chemistry with a high quality and impact publica�on record.
�� We have more than 175 PhD students with excellent academic
and research record.
�� In 2011 and 2012, two students from our program received the
EPFL thesis award, the highest graduate student dis�nc�on in
EPFL (only 2 awards are given every year).
�� In 2011 and 2012 around 30 students won awards for best
presenta�ons or posters at different interna�onal events.
�� Our postgraduate students provide important teaching service to
the students at EPFL and UNIL, and they receive excellent
teaching evalua�ons.
�� The EDCH has a very well organized structure and it has
demonstrated a con�nuous improvement in almost all
performance metrics.
�� EDCH promotes and financially supports students to follow
conferences and workshops outside the EPFL.
�� Research in the laboratories of the EDCH faculty members is at
the forefront of all modern research areas in chemistry and
chemical engineering, and our faculty are leaders in their areas
of exper�se as it is demonstrated by their publica�on record and
its impact factor, and the number of awards they receive every
year.
�� The students can select from a large number of advanced and
interdisciplinary courses in EPFL and abroad.
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Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
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Ren Peng
PhD advisor Prof X. Hu
Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
SCNAT/SCS Chemistry Travel Award 2012
Contributions towards the cost of conference participation at an international
conference in the chemical sciences will be awarded to selected
PhD students. Selections will bemade based on scientific accomplishments
and on the conference abstract.
Nickel and copper catalyzed cross coupling of
secondary alkylhalides, ISHC-18, Toulouse, FR
Aurélien Bornet
PhD advisor Prof G. Bodenhausen
Ultra High-Resolution NMR in Inhomogeneous Magnetic Fields:
Two-Dimensional Long-Lived Coherence Correlation Spectroscopy
and Boosting Sensitivity of Ligand-Protein Screening by
NMR of Long-Lived States, EUROMAR 2012, Dublin, IE
Catherine Clavel
PhD advisor Prof P. Dyson
Thermoresponsive Organometallic Arene Ruthenium
Derivatives for Tumour Targeting, ISBOMC 12, Toronto, CA
Jérôme Gonthier
PhD advisor Prof C. Corminboeuf
Intramolecular Symmetry-Adapted PerturbtionTheory 14th
ICQC International Congress of Quantum
Chemistry, Boulder, USA
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Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Aleksander Tskhovrebov
Prof K. Severin
Activation of nitrous oxide by N-heterocyclic carbenes,
ICOMC 2012, Lisbon, PT
Francoise Borcard
PhD advisor Dr MER S. Gerber
Functionalization and adhesion of human cells for the development
of bone implant, ISACS7, Edinburgh,UK
Swiss Aleksey Chemical Vorobyev Society Meeting /Best poster
PhD advisor Prof Y. Tsybin
A mechanistic study of activated-ion/electron capture dissociation
mass spectrometry of peptides, 60th ASMS Conferenceon
Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Vancouver, CA
Shiyu Chen
PhD advisor Prof C.Heinis
Structurally diverse cyclisation linkers impose different backbone
conformations in bicyclic peptides, 32EPS 2012, Athens,
GR
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AMPERE student grant to attend the EUORMAR conference
Dublin, 2012
Takuya Segawa
PhD advisor Prof G. Bodenhausen
Swiss Embassy in Dublin grant to attend the ESOF 2012,
Dublin, July 2012
Lisa Pollaro
PhD advisor Prof Ch. Heinis
Chinese government award for outstanding self/financed
students abroad, March 2012
Ren Peng
PhD advisor Prof X. Hu
Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Various awards 2012
Poster Prize, MOLEC 2012 in Oxford, 13.09.2012
"Towards merged-beam experiments of neutral particles"
Benjamin Bertsche
PhD advisor Prof A. Osterwalder
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Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Various awards 2012
Swiss Chemical Society Meeting
Inorganic chemistry
Weijia Gan, PhD advisor Prof G. Laurenczy
Runners-up > Best presentation award nomination
Swiss Chemical Society Meeting
Inorganic chemistry
Aleksander Tskhovrebov, PhD advisor Prof K. Severin
Runners-up > Best presentation award nomination
Swiss Chemical Society Meeting
Computational chemistry
Basile Curchod, PhD advisor Prof U. Roethlisberger
Runners-up > Best presentation award nomination
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Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Prizes for Teaching Activities at EPFL 2012
Takuya Segawa, Laetitia Souillart, Pablo Perez, Stephan Steinmann,
Aurélien Bornet, Aleksandra Zabuga, Davide Staedler, Florian
De Nanteuil, Catherine Clavel, Charline Berguerand (absent)
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Teaching Committee
Françoise Borcard
Basile Curchod
Hamideh
Ahmadloo
Charline
Berguerand
Jean-Baptiste
Gualtierotti
Victoria Vita
Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Doctoral Program of Chemistry & Chemical
Engineering Committee representatives
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Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Graduates of 2012 - At least 70% has found a
position during their year of graduation
Dr Fabrice Avaltroni
PhD advisor Prof C. Corminboeuf
Date of private defense 23.4.2012
Dr Jonathan Brand
PhD advisor Prof J. Waser
Date of private defense
22.6.2012
Dr Olivia Baud
PhD advisor Prof H. Vogel
Date of private defense 28.9.2012
Dr Jan Cornelius Brauer
PhD advisor Prof J.-E. Moser
Date of private defense 7.9.2012
Dr Jérémie Minh-Châu Brillet
PhD advisor Prof M. Graetzel
Date of private defense
28.9.2012
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I found a
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Industry
I found a
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Industry
Travelling

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Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Graduates of 2012 - At least 70% has found a
position during their year of graduation
Dr Francoise Borcard
PhD advisor Dr MER S.Gerber&
Dr MER L. Juillerat
Date of private 17.12.2012
Dr Chen Li
PhD advisor Prof R. Beck
Date of private defense 17.8.2012
Dr Filippo De Simone
PhD advisor Prof J. Waser
Date of private defense 20.01.2012
Dr Daniel Filipe Dos Santos
PhD advisor Prof C. Corminboeuf
Date of private defense 16.08.2012
Dr Luigino Grasso
PhD advisor Prof H. Vogel
Date of private defense 21.09.2012
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I found a
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Inst. Göttingen,
(Germany)
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Academia,
Oxford, (UK)
I found a
position at
EPFL, (CH)
I found a
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EPFL, (CH)
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Dr Daniel Merki
Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Graduates of 2012 - At least 70% has found a
position during their year of graduation
Dr Weijia Gan
PhD advisor Prof Gabor Laurenczy
Date of private defense 30.11.2012
Dr Icli Burçak
PhD advisor Prof K. Severin
Date of private defense 12.10.2012
Dr Yu Lu
PhD advisor Prof H. Girault
Date of private defense 18.7.2012
Dr Vera Janowski
PhD advisor Prof K. Severin
Date of private defense 17.8.2012
PhD advisor Prof X. Hu
Date of private defense
27.7.2012
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Nanjing,
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ZH, (CH)
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position as
teacher,
Winterthur
(CH)

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Dr Cesare Mollica
Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Graduates of 2012 - At least 70% has found a
position during their year of graduation
Dr Ray Marcel Marin Florez
PhD advisor Prof J. Vanicek
Date of private defense 3.8.2012
PhD advisor Prof J. Vanicek
Date of private defense 2.7.2012
Dr Georgios Papadopoulos
PhD advisor Prof T. Rizzo
Date of private defense 28.9.2012
Dr Adriana Paracchino
PhD advisor Prof M. Graetzel
Date of private defense 15.6.2012
Dr Mohammad Reza Pourhaghighi
PhD advisor Prof H. Girault
Date of private defense 3.2.2012
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UNIL (CH)
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Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Graduates of 2012 - At least 70% has found a
position during their year of graduation
Dr Erin Sheepwash
PhD advisor Prof K. Severin
Date of private defense 15.6.2012
Dr Nicolai Stefano
PhD advisor
Prof Jérôme Waser
Date of private defense
Dr Stephan Steinmann
PhD advisosr Prof Clémence Corminboeuf
Date of private defense
Dr Jérémy Touati
PhD advisor Prof Christian Heinis
Date of private defense 19.10.2012
Dr Claudia Trefzer
PhD advisor Prof Kai Johnsson
Date of private defense 17.8.2012
I found a position in
Academia
(Technische
Universität
München, Germany
I found a
position in
Academia (Duke
University, USA)
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I found a
position in
Industry,
Canada
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Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Graduates of 2012 - At least 70% has found a
position during their year of graduation
Dr Veronika Vitzthum
PhD advisor Prof G. Bodenhausen
Date of private defense 30.3.2012
Dr Aleksey Vorobyev
PhD advisor Prof Yury Tsybin
Date of private defense 27.6.2012
Dr Anastasia Masharina
PhD advisor Prof Kai Johnsson
Date of private defense 8.11.2012
Dr Peng Ren
PhD advisor Prof Xile Hu
Date of private defense 16.11.2012
Dr Menno Berend Tol
PhD advisor Prof Horst Vogel/Dr Andreas Engel
Date of private defense 7.11.2012
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I found a
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specialized
in Medical
Physics
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Academia
(MIT)
I found a
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Academia
(Oxford)
Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
TIPS FROM PHD STUDENTS
Swiss Course on Medicinal Chemistry
There are mainly pharmaceutical Companies and about 10-
20 PhD students out of 150 participants.
It takes place every two years. The subject is the discovery
of new drugs and there are many conferences on different
drug classes, with examples (eg. How this drug is now used
on the market - since the discovery of the active molecule
until the final drug ).
The lectures are very clear and well presented. There is
much to learn and perhaps it is good to encourage PhD
students to participate. It helps to give a purpose for those
involved in Synthesis that may not see the aim sometimes.
It can of course also create some links with people already
working in Pharma Industry either in Switzerland or
elsewhere.
Cindy Fellay (PhD student in Prof K. Johnssons group)
Scientific Writing (EDCH course)
What did you find useful?
�� Peer review of our own texts
�� Everything was very useful, in particular practice in
writing the title, abstract and introduction.
�� Good discussion in the group about scientific
writing.
�� I learned a lot about how to structure an article and
how to write clearly
Course Participants 2012
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Groups by Research Area
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Prof S. Arey
Environmental Chemistry
Modeling
Laboratory
Prof R. Beck
Laboratory of Molecular
Physical Chemistry
Dr MER O. Boyarkine
Laboratory of Molecular
Physical Chemistry
Prof Ch. Ballif
Photovoltaics and thin
film electronics
Laboratory
Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Prof D. Bonvin
Automatic control Laboratory
Prof G. Bodenhausen
Laboratory of Biomolecular
Magnetic Resonance
Prof F. Carbone
Laboratory for ultrafast microscopy
and electron
scattering
Dr MER A.-S. Chauvin
Laboratory of Photonics and
Interfaces
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Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Prof C. Corminboeuf
Fondation Sandoz Chair
in Computational
Molecular Design
Prof M. Chergui
Laboratory of Ultrafast
Spectroscopy
Prof M. Dal Peraro
Prof. Dal Peraro Group
Prof E. Dubikovskaya
Neva Chair of Bioorganic
Chemistry and Molecular
Imaging
Prof P. Dyson
Laboratory of Organometallic
and Medicinal
Chemistry
Dr MER S. Gerber
Laboratory of synthesis
and natural products
Prof M. Graetzel
Laboratory of Photonics
and Interfaces
Prof Ch. Heinis
Laboratory of Therapeutic
Proteins and
Peptides
Prof N. Cramer
Laboratory of Asymmetric
Catalysis &
Synthesis
Dr MER M. Drabbels
Laboratory of Molecular
Physical Chemistry
Prof B. Fierz
Fondation Sandoz
Chair in Biophysical
Chemistry of
Macromolecules
Prof P. Fraering
Merck Serono Chair in
Neuroscience
Prof H. Girault
Laboratory of Physical
and Analytical
Electrochemistry
Prof V.
Hatzimanikatis
Laboratorzof Computational
Systems Biotechnology
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Prof L. Helm
Laboratory of Inorganic
and Bioinorganic
Chemistry
Prof J. Hubbell
Merck Serono Chair in
Drug Delivery
Prof K. Johnsson
Laboratory of Protein
Engineering
Prof H. Lashuel
Laboratory of Molecular
Neurobiology and
Neuroproteomics
Prof L. Kiwi
Laboratory of Chemical
Reaction Engineering
Prof S. Manley
Laboratory of Experimental
Biophysics
Prof F. Nüesch
Laboratory of Composite
and Polymer
Technology
Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Prof A. Osterwalder
Group Osterwalder
Dr MER R. Hovius
Laboratory of Physical
chemistry of Polymers
and Membranes
Prof Ch. Holliger
Laboratory for Environmental
Biotechnology
Prof X. Hu
Laboratory of Inorganic
Synthesis and Catalysis
Prof G. Laurenczy
Laboratory of Organometallic
and Medicinal
Chemistry
Prof P. Leiman
Laboratory of Structural
Biology and Biophysics
Dr MER T. Meyer
Group of Chemical and
Physical Safety
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Prof J.-E. Moser
Laboratory of Photonics
and Interfaces
Prof A. Osterwalder
Osterwalder group
Prof C. Pulgarin
Pulgarin’s group
Prof T. Rizzo
Laboratory of Molecular
Physical chemistry
Prof U. Roethlisberger
Laboratory of Computational
Chemistry and
Biochemistry
Prof F. Radke
Radke’s group
Prof M. Schwartz
Laboratory of Lymphatic
and Cancer
Bioengineering
Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Prof K. Severin
Laboratory of Supramolecular
Chemistry
Prof K. Sivula
Laboratory for
Molecular Engineering of
Optoelectronic
Nanomaterials
Prof F. Stoessel
Chemical Process Safety
Group
Dr. MER. I. Tavernelli
Laboratory of
Computational Chemistry
and Biochemistry
Prof S. Takahama
Atmospheric Particle
Research Laboratory
Prof Y. Tsybin
Biomolecular Mass
Spectrometry Laboratory
Prof J. Vanicek
Laboratory of Theoretical
Physical Chemistry
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Dr Kathrin
Dr Oleg Vechorkin
21
Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Updates from ex/PhD Graduates
Private defense 16.6.2010
Private defense 17.5.2011
Prof H. Vogel
Laboratory of Physical
chemistry of Polymers
Dr MER C. Wandrey
Merck Serono Chair in
Drug Delivery
Dr MER. G. Wagnières
Group Van den Bergh
Prof J. Waser
Laboratory of Catalysis
and Organic Synthesis
and Membranes
Prof J. Zhu
Laboratory of synthesis
and natural
products
After a few months of a marin
conservation project in Mexico, I
did a Masters in Environmental
Science in Sydney. Now I am travelling
before seeking a job in the area of Envi
ronmental Science/Chemistry
I am postdoc at MIT
(USA).
Dr Puneet Ahuja I am postdoc at the University of
Private defense 3.6.2010
Lille (France).
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Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
News from 2010 and 2011 PhD graduates
Dr Frederike Zaubitzer
Private defense 3.6.2010
Dr Ulrich Lorenz
Private defense 19.8.2011
Dr Davinia Fernández
Private defense 13.10.2011
Dr Ilaria Biondi
Private defense 19.7.2010
Dr Sylvain Laclef
Private defense 19.6.2010
Dr Claudia Exner
Private defense 23.07.2010
Dr Matt Welling
Private defense 28.01.2010
I am working in Industry.
Pharmaceutical Company, Bern (CH)
Quality Department .
Postdoc at Caltech in Pasadena , CA (USA).
Postdoc at the University of Boston (USA).
Postdoc in Trinity College Dublin (IR).
Postdoc at the University of
Rouen (France).
I am working in Industry, Basel
(CH).
I am working as teacher at the
British School of Geneva (CH).
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Basile Curchod (6)
Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering(EDCH), EPFL
Aurélien Bornet (4)
Totally
120
�� 12 PhD students had (3)
Elizabeth Brunk, Peiyu Ge,
Jerome Gonthier, Rudolf Griss,
Anton Koyhinov, Magdalena Marszalek,
Dmitry Momotenko, Astrid Olaya, Davide
Staedler, Aleksander Tskhovrebov
�� 19 PhD students had (2)
�� 36 PhD students had (1)
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Doctoral Program of Chemistry
& Chemical Engineering
2012 EDCH Events—Thank you organizors!
H. Ahmadloo S. Andreozzi A. Gasperini
20.12.2012 Anne Lene Odegaard
disclaims all legal responsibility for errors or omissions or typographic errors.
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