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Prestigious recognition for Durham Chemistry researcher
Dr Allegra Franchino, an assistant professor from our Department of Chemistry, has been recognised in a national fellowship scheme.
Allegra has been awarded £ 1.4 M funding through the United Kingdom Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellowships to conduct pioneering research on stereoselective catalysis.
Her work could help to reduce the time and cost of preparing fine chemicals, agrochemicals and new pharmaceuticals.
Future Leaders Fellowships are awarded to early career researchers and provide long-term support and training to develop their potentially transformative ideas.
Pioneering work
Allegra aims to create more control when it comes to assembling molecules that possess not only the correct sequence of bonds, but also the desired arrangement of atoms in space.
The shape of the molecules is inherently linked to their function, especially in biological contexts.
Effective outcomes
The new chemical methods that Allegra and her team will develop will be particularly useful to make 3D molecules, which are commonly used as medicines, due to the way they interact with biological receptors in the body.
When I found out I had been chosen I was over the moon. The award means a lot to me, and will give me peace of mind knowing I have long-term security to pursue my research dreams and grow my team.
Find out more
- Read more about the work of Dr Allegra Franchino.
- Learn more about the Future Leaders Fellows.
- Discover more about previous Durham winners of the fellowship in our Departments of Physics and Chemistry.
- Our Department of Chemistry is ranked fourth in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2025. Visit our Chemistry webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.