David Mills

David Mills is a Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Manchester, leading the Inorganic Chemistry Group within the Department of Chemistry. His academic journey includes a MChem (1st class) and PhD from Cardiff University (2004 and 2008, respectively), followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Nottingham (2008–2012). He has held roles as Lecturer (2012–2017), Senior Lecturer (2017–2019), and Reader (2019–2021) before becoming a Professor in 2021.

His research focuses on synthetic chemistry of f-elements (lanthanides and actinides), emphasizing the synthesis of complexes with novel geometries and physical properties. Techniques include advanced Schlenk/glovebox methods, X-ray crystallography, EPR, NMR, and computational modeling. Applications span materials science, catalysis, and magnetic materials like single-molecule magnets. Notable contributions include studies on dysprosocenium cations and lanthanide phosphide complexes.

• Education: MChem and PhD (Cardiff University)
• Postdoc: Prof. Stephen T. Liddle (University of Nottingham)
• Research Groups: Crystallography, Electrochemistry, Radiochemistry, Spectroscopy

Awards include the RSC Harrison-Meldola Memorial Prize (2018), RSC Horizon Prize (2021), and Blavatnik Awards Finalist (2021). His work has been featured in Chemical Science, JACS Au, and Chemical Society Reviews. He advises students like Gui (MChem 2025) and collaborates on projects involving over 300 datasets and multiple international conferences.

His lab explores f-element applications in energy storage, nuclear fuel cycles, and magnetic materials, with ongoing studies on lanthanide reactivity and actinide chemistry. The Mills Group website (millsgroup.weebly.com) highlights recent activities and collaborations.