Jonathan Ward

Dr. Jonathan Ward serves as Lecturer in Chemistry within Lancaster University's Faculty of Science and Technology, where he teaches CHEM201 (Alkenes and Alkynes) and acts as Disability Officer for the Chemistry department. His research bridges organic synthesis, materials design, and molecule-surface interactions with applications in optoelectronics and photocatalysis.

Education:

• MChem from University of York (2010)
• PhD developing light-activated therapeutic carbon monoxide-releasing molecules under Prof. Fairlamb

Research Focus: Leveraging expertise from Durham University's HyperOLED consortium (2017-2020) and Liverpool surface binding studies, Ward develops surface-organized materials for directional emission control and robust pi-conjugated photocatalysts for flow chemistry. His work integrates photophysical analysis with single-molecule conductance measurements to advance molecular electronics and sustainable chemistry applications.

Publication Trends: Recent work (2018-2024) shows strategic progression from CO-releasing molecules toward thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials for OLEDs and single-molecule electronics. Key themes include molecular junction engineering, donor-acceptor photophysics optimization, and photocatalyst design inspired by optoelectronic principles.

Research Leadership:

• Supervises PhD candidate Ben Clarke
• Secured three active grants: RSC Undergraduate Research Bursary (2024), Brick-stable photocatalyst project (2023-2026), and Robust Photo-Bleach Resistant Photocatalysts (2023-2024)
• Active in Chemical Synthesis, Electrochemical and Surfaces Research Group, Molecular Scale Electronics, and Organic Research Group

Collaborative Impact: Ward's HyperOLED project with Merck/MicroOLED demonstrates industry translation capability, while recent activities include Lancaster Chemistry Academia-Industry Symposium and RSC Organic Chemistry Community events, reflecting strong academic-industry engagement.