Catherine Holden

Dr. Catherine Holden is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), where she conducts cutting-edge research in photo-organocatalysis and excited-state reactivity. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Manchester (UK) and is supported by a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship, highlighting her role in advancing innovative organic chemistry methodologies.

Her research focuses on developing enantioselective radical reactions using photo-organocatalysis, particularly involving unactivated olefins. Her work bridges synthetic organic chemistry with photophysical principles to enable sustainable and selective bond-forming processes. Key areas include photoredox catalysis, asymmetric synthesis, radical cascade mechanisms, and the study of transient organocatalytic intermediates in excited states.

The publications reflect a strong trend in merging visible-light photocatalysis with organocatalytic strategies to access complex chiral molecules, emphasizing green and efficient synthetic routes. Her contributions are primarily in high-impact journals and authoritative book chapters in photochemistry.

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (IF)

As a Marie Curie Fellow, Dr. Holden operates with significant research independence while contributing to collaborative projects at ICIQ. Although no formal students are listed, her position implies mentorship within research teams. There is no mention of external grants beyond the MSCA-IF, but this fellowship itself provides substantial funding for research, training, and international collaboration.

Dr. Holden is part of the broader research ecosystem at ICIQ, likely collaborating with the Melchiorre Group and other teams specializing in sustainable catalysis and molecular design. While not explicitly leading a lab, she contributes to a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment equipped with advanced scientific core facilities.