Confirmed Speakers

Christian Grünanger studied Chemistry at Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg, Germany and at the University of Washington in Seattle. After he obtained his PhD at Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg with Bernhard Breit he performed his postdoctoral research at Caltech with Brian Stoltz. In 2011 Christian joined BASF in the field of amines research. After positions in production and technology Christian became competence lead of the Nutrition & Health R&D chemistry group in 2020. In this position he is currently leading a group of 25 chemists and technicians.

Francisco González Bobes received his BSc in Organic and Analytical Chemistry from the Universidad de Oviedo (Spain). He earned his PhD in organic chemistry at the Instituto Universitario de Química Organometálica Enrique Moles under the supervision of Professors José Barluenga and José Manuel González, where his research focused on oxidation chemistry and C–H/C–C bond functionalization enabled by iodine reagents. He then carried out postdoctoral research as a Merck Fellow in the laboratory of Professor Gregory C. Fu at MIT, where he advanced asymmetric nickel‑catalyzed cross‑coupling reactions of alkyl electrophiles using amino alcohols and diamines as chiral ligands.

Francisco joined Bristol Myers Squibb in 2006 and has held positions of increasing scientific and leadership responsibility within Chemical and Process Development. Over his career, he has led and contributed to the development of more than twenty pharmaceutical candidates across multiple therapeutic areas, spanning route and process design, scale‑up, technology transfer, and external manufacturing strategy. His experience includes complex molecule development, metal‑catalyzed transformations, green chemistry, and early CMC strategy.

He is currently a Scientific Senior Director in Chemical and Process Development at Bristol Myers Squibb, leading global chemistry teams with portfolio responsibility for commercial route development and leadership of the drug substance organization at the Biocon BMS Research Center (BBRC) in India.

Philippe Schwaller received a bachelor's and master's degree from EPFL. While working for IBM Research, Philippe completed an MPhil degree at the University of Cambridge and a PhD in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences with the Reymond group at the University of Bern. In February 2022, Philippe joined EPFL as a tenure-track assistant professor at the Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering. He leads the Laboratory of Artificial Chemical Intelligence (LIAC), which works on AI-accelerated design and synthesis of molecules and materials. Philippe is on the steering committee of the NCCR Catalysis, a Swiss centre for sustainable chemistry research, education, and innovation. For his work, Philippe received numerous awards, including the QCMS Hansch Award, the Latsis Foundation University Award, and the Novartis Early Career Research Award.

Stefan Mix was born in Berlin / Germany, where he also completed his primary and secondary education.  After graduation with a Diploma in chemistry, he received his doctorate in 2004 from the Technical University of Berlin after working in the group of Prof. Siegfried Blechert on stereoselective synthetic methodology and olefin metathesis.  He is the author of numerous publications and joined Almac Group as a process chemist in 2005.  Tasked with developing manufacturing processes for optically pure chiral active pharmaceutical ingredients, he quickly built significant expertise in techniques and methods ranging from classical salt resolution to asymmetric catalysis. He was a founding member of Almac’s dedicated biocatalysis group in 2007 and in 2015 became leader of this thriving business area which today employs ~40 scientists. He is responsible for development and scale up of enzymatic reactions, enzyme discovery, enzyme immobilisation, enzyme engineering for improved catalytic performance and enzyme supply, alongside delivering some teaching of chemistry students at Belfast’s Queens University. His hobbies include walking, hiking and cycling, as well as sourdough bakery and cooking.

Elodie BRUN studied Chemistry at the Ecole Normale Supérieure and obtained a master from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie. She completed her PhD in 2015 at the ESPCI ParisTech (Paris, France), working on the development of synthetic methodologies towards 1,3-polyols and their application to natural products synthesis, under the supervision of Prof. Janine Cossy and Prof. Véronique Bellosta. She then moved to the University of Geneva as a postdoctoral researcher in the group of Prof. Jérôme Lacour, working on the development of transition metal catalyzed reactions, synthesis of macrocyclic structures and study of their spectroscopic studies. In 2019, Elodie joined the Chemical & Process Sciences team at dsm-firmenich (Geneva) as a Scientist in the New Ingredients discovery group and recently transitioned to her current position of Senior scientist in New ingredients process R&D team, working on the development of the next generation of fragrances.

Véronique Michelet completed her graduate studies at Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris and received her PhD degree in 1996 from the University P. et M. Curie in the group of Pr. J.-P. Genêt. After two years of post-doctoral research in the groups of Pr. J.D. Winkler (University of Pennsylvania, USA) and A.G.M. Barrett (Imperial College, UK), she was appointed at ChimieParisTech as CNRS Associate Researcher in 1998, promoted Director of Research in 2007 and obtained a Professor position at the University Côte d’Azur in 2017. Her research efforts have resulted in more than 180 publications. She received the CNRS Bronze Medal (2006), the ACROS prize (2010, French Chemical Society) and Grammaticakis Neuman prize (2023, French Academy of Science). Her research interests combine fundamental and applied aspects of catalysis for the development of new synthetic methodologies for carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom formations. They involve asymmetric catalysis, and the development of novel catalytic systems for atom- and step-economical reactions. Gold catalysis is one of her favorite research topic. Website of the group:

https://icn.univ-cotedazur.fr/axes-de-recherche/synthese-proprietes-innovation-catalyse-environnement/catalysis-methods-for-organic-synthesis-fine-chemistry

Paula Gomes is an Associate Professor, with Habilitation in Chemistry, at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Portugal. She graduated in Chemistry (1993) from the same institution, where she also completed her M.Sc. in Chemistry (1996) with a dissertation focused on dipeptide-based prodrugs of classical sulfonamide antibiotics as potential antimalarials.

Paula pursued her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at the University of Barcelona (1997–2000) under the supervision of Professor David Andreu, employing solid-phase peptide synthesis and surface plasmon resonance to develop novel peptide-based vaccines. In 2001, she returned to her Alma Mater to establish and lead a research team dedicated to the development of bioactive compounds for diverse biotechnological applications within a One Health framework. Recent work from her team addresses the integration of peptides, ionic liquids, and biopolymers towards innovative topical agents for skin disorders. She has co-authored 220 papers in internationally indexed scientific journals, accumulating more than 6700 citations and an h-index of 43. She participates/d in 20 interdisciplinary projects funded through competitive research calls, serving as either Principal or co-Principal Investigator in most of them. Her scientific service includes roles such as Secretary of the European Peptide Society (2016–2024) and Associate Member of Division VII – Chemistry and Human Health of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (2019–2024). She currently serves as the National Representative and Vice-Chair of COST Action CA23111 (2024–2028). Starting in February 2026, Paula is the President of the Division of Organic Chemistry of the Portuguese Chemistry Society for 2026-2028. Paula is also the founder and coordinator of “POP-UP”, the peptides and peptide–nucleic acid synthesis facility of the University of Porto, which is unique in Portugal and integrates the excellence core facilities network of EUGLOH – European University Alliance for Global Health.

Kevin Campos received a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Virginia Tech in 1993.  In 1999, he obtained his PhD from Professor David A. Evans at Harvard University after which he joined the Department of Process Research at Merck.  Over the last 27 years, has held a diversified set of roles spanning drug discovery, CMC development, and Strategic Operations, and he is a well-known advocate for scientific and cultural excellence.  He is currently Vice President and Head of Process Research and Development at Merck, responsible shepherding programs across all modalities from Discovery to Commercial Filing.  Under his leadership, commercial manufacturing processes for a total of 15 novel products have been launched, including WELIREG™, LYFNUA™, LAGEVRIO™, WINREVAIR™, CAPVAXIVE™, and ENFLONSIA™.  His team has been recognized by the US EPA with the Green Chemistry Challenge Award 8 times since 2017 and in 2022 he was recognized with ACS Earle B. Barnes Award for Leadership in Chemical Research Management.

Michinori Suginome graduated from Kyoto University, where he received Ph.D in 1993 under the guidance of Prof. Yoshihiko Ito.  He started his academic career as an Assistant Professor at Kyoto University in 1993.  He spent one year at Massatusetts Institute of Technology as a visiting researcher during 1998-1999 with Prof. Gregory C. Fu.  He has been a Professor at Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Kyoto University since 2004.  He has received awards including The Chemical Society of Japan Award for Young Chemist 1999; The Society of Silicon Chemistry Japan Award for Young Chemist 2001; Nagoya Silver Medal 2005; Mukaiyama Award 2005; JSPS Prize 2010; Asian Core Program Lectureship Award 2011 (Hong Kong, Korea), 2013 (Taiwan), 2024 (Singapore); The Chemical Society of Japan Award for Creative Work 2013; The Humboldt Research Award 2015; SCS Lectureship (Swiss Chemical Society) 2016; Nankai Organic Lectureship 2016; Boston College/Boehringer Ingelheim Lecturer 2017; Molecular Chirality Award 2020; University of Illinois/BMS Lecturer 2020; Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award 2021; The Award of the Society of Polymer Science, Japan 2021; MIT/Organic Synthesis Lecturer 2023.  He served as a chairman of international conferences including The 15th International Kyoto Conference on New Aspects of Organic Chemistry (IKCOC-15) 2023; The 34th International Symposium on Chirality (Chirality-34) 2024; The 22ndIUPAC Symposium on Organometallic Chemistry Directed toward Organic Synthesis (OMCOS-22) 2025. 

His research interest has been always in new molecular/reaction design for new molecular functions and transformations.  He started his career from the study on catalytic intramolecular bis-silylation, then shifted to boron chemistry with his first utilization of silylboranes in catalytic silaboration, which further brought him to the study on catalytic carboboration.  He also established 1,8-diaminonaphthalene (DAN) as a boron-masking group, convertible directing group attached to the boron atom (AAM and PZA), unsymmetrical diboron reagent (Bpin-Bdan), and enantiospecific and enantioconvergent Suzuki-Miyaura coupling.  In addition to boron chemistry, catalytic C-H activation chemistry has been his major research focus.  From the beginning of his career, he has been involved in stereoselective synthesis of helical polymers.  In 2004,  he initiated a new research program on dynamic control of helix sense and new functions of helical poly(quinoxaline)s PQX.  Until recently, he has established their new molecular functions as chirality-switchable chiral catalysts and chiroptical materials, as highlighted by highly enantioselective catalyses using chiral solvents, e.g., limonene, or additives, e.g., amino acids, as only sources of chirality while using achiral PQX as catalysts. 

Fernanda Duarte is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Oxford. She obtained her PhD from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in 2012. As a postdoctoral researcher, she trained in biomolecular modelling with Prof. Lynn Kamerlin at Uppsala University and in computational organic chemistry with Prof. Robert Paton at the University of Oxford as a Newton Fellow. After a brief period as a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, she returned to Oxford in 2018. Her research combines software development (e.g. autodE, Cgbind and mlp-train) with practical applications, from small molecules to enzymes, focusing on mechanistic modelling and molecular design. Fernanda has received several awards, including MGMS Frank Blaney Award (2020), OpenEye Outstanding Junior Faculty Award (2021), Harrison-Meldola Memorial Prize (2021), and Novartis Early Career Award in Chemistry (2022). She was also Finalist for Chemical Sciences in the 2024 Blavatnik Award in the UK

Rebecca GOSS, is a full professor of Biomolecular/Organic Chemistry (first female to hold this role)  at the School of Chemistry (since 2018), and a researcher at the Biomolecular Sciences Research Complex (BSRC) at the University of St Andrews. She obrained her PhD from the University of Durham, carried out post-doctoral research at the University of Cambridge, and prior to her current appointment was a Lecturer then Reader at the universities of Nottingham, Exeter, UEA and St Andrews.

The Goss group are noted for their pioneering work in GenoChemetics and precision molecular editing using halogenases in complement with aqueous cross-coupling methodologies that they develop. The Goss group also have active programmes in the complementary areas of natural product and biocatalyst discovery and development. 

She has received a number of awards which include: 2024 EPSRC Open Plus Fellowship, 2022 RSC Corday Morgan Medal,  2022 CEFIC: Solvay, selected to join 32 of the best European Chemists, and specifically selected for panel discussion joining 3 others: CEO BASF, CEO Solvay and Ben Feringa, 2022 Converge Challenge Award: top prize for best Scottish University Spinout, 2021 Award for Disruptive Innovation, AccelerateHer, 2021 Royal Society Industrial Fellowship, 2020 Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 2014 ERC consolidator award, 2013 Natural Product Report Emerging Researcher Lectureship, 2011 Thieme Chemistry Journal Award, 2011 JSP award to participate at the Burgenstock Stereochemistry meeting, 2011 Selected as the UK’s under 40 Organic Chemistry delegate for EuCheM’s Young Investigators’ Workshop,  2003 Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship, 2007 RSC Meldola Medal “distinguished for excellent contributions at the interface of organic chemistry and molecular biology”.

Website: https://rjmg.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/category/goss-group/

https://x-genix.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-rebecca-goss-frsc-frse/

Frederic Buono is the Director of Technology & Process Research – Drug Substance USA at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Buono earned his chemical engineering degree from the Ecole Centrale de Marseille (1997) and his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Marseille (2000). He completed postdoctoral research with Prof. Donna Blackmond at the University of Hull (2000–2003), focusing on physical organic chemistry and mechanistic studies of asymmetric autocatalysis. Prior to joining Boehringer Ingelheim, he spent eight years at Bristol Myers Squibb in Late‑Stage Development, contributing to the advancement and commercialization of multiple drug candidates. Dr. Frederic Buono joined Boehringer Ingelheim in 2012 to establish the Continuous Flow Group within Chemical Development (US), driving innovation in early‑phase development projects. In 2019, he assumed leadership of the Catalysis Group, later expanding his responsibilities to also lead the new Digitalization Group. Since 2024, Frederic has served as Director of Technology and Process Research for Drug Substance US, overseeing strategic advancements in process development, technology integration, and scientific innovation. Throughout his career, Dr. Buono has authored more than 60 scientific publications and patents spanning catalytic methodology, continuous processing and digital innovation. He is recognized for advancing modern technologies from concept to implementation for drug substance development.

NAZARIO MARTÍN is Full Professor at University Complutense of Madrid and former vice-director of the IMDEA-NanoscienceInstitute. He is Doctor h.c. by La Havana university (Cuba) and Castilla La Mancha University (Spain) and full member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Spain (RAC) and corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Doctors of Spain (RADE). He has been visiting professor at the universities of California in Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Los Angeles (UCLA) and at the universities of Angers and Strasbourg (France). His research interests are focused on molecular and supramolecular chemistry of carbon nanostructures in the context of chirality, electron transfer and biomedical and photovoltaic applications. He has published over 650peer reviewed papers and supervised 55 doctoral theses. He has been co-editor of 7 scientific books and guest editor in 14 special issues of important scientific journals.

He has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Materials Chemistry (A, B and C. 2015-19) of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). He held the Presidency of the Confederation of Scientific Societies of Spain (COSCE, 2015-19) and the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (RSEQ)(2006-2012).

Prof. Martín has been distinguished with several national and international awards. Among them, the DuPont Award for Science, 2007; the Gold Medal and Research Award of the RSEQ, 2012; King Jaime I Award in basic research, 2012; the Miguel Catalán Award of the regional govern of the Madrid Community, 2015; the Alexander von Humboldt Award (AvH Foundation) in 2013; the Richard E. Smalley Award (ElectroChemical Society, ECS) in 2013; and the EuChems lecture in 2012. He held the ERC Advanced Grant “Chirallcarbon” (2013-2019) and, more recently, he has been granted with the Synergy-ERC Grant with the project “TomATTO” as well as the most prestigious Spanish National Award in Chemistry “Enrique Moles” given by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation (MICINN) of Spain, both in 2020. More recently, he has just received the Nanotechnology National Award in June 2025.

He is a member of several international and national committees, including international awards. He is currently a member of the Scientific-Technical Committee of the Statal Research Agency of Spain. He is a fellow of the RSC, fellow of the Electrochemical Society (USA), fellow of the Academia Europaea and a fellow of Chemistry Europe.