Christopher Murnaghan

Christopher Murnaghan is a Senior Lecturer at Queen's University Belfast with expertise in Chemistry and Biology. His work focuses on catalytic biomass conversion and sustainable chemical production.

• Senior Lecturer in Chemistry & Biology
• Programme Director for MSc in Biopharmaceutical Engineering
• Active in biomass valorization and photocatalysis

Research interests: Specializes in biomass reforming through enzymatic, photocatalytic, and reductive catalytic fractionation methods to produce monoaromatics. Explores photochemical reactions like UV-induced transfer hydrogenation and Norrish reactions, while modeling biomass with synthetic organic chemistry for catalytic optimization.

Recent work trends: Focuses on lignin model compounds, photocatalytic conversion mechanisms (β-O-4 and β-5 linkages), and chiral synthesis from biomass-derived substrates.

Professional roles: Leads teaching in aromatic chemistry, spectroscopy, and pharmacology. Engaged in projects like seaweed macronutrient analysis (2024-2025) and maintains collaborations with institutions like Queen's University Belfast.