Joseph Wright

Joseph Wright is a Senior Lecturer in Energy Materials at the University of East Anglia (UEA), based in the School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology. He holds affiliations with the Chemistry of Light and Energy, Chemistry of Materials and Catalysis research groups, and leads the Energy Materials Laboratory. Wright completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge (2003) and postdoctoral research at Southampton and UEA before joining UEA's faculty in 2012.

His research focuses on metal-mediated activation of small molecules, particularly modeling [FeFe]-hydrogenase active sites and developing CO-releasing therapeutic agents. He has authored/co-authored 75+ publications (2400+ citations, h-index 30) and currently oversees a research group with one PhD student and a Leverhulme-funded postdoctoral researcher. Key projects include synthesis of dithiolene ligands for CO-release molecules, formate dehydrogenase models, and molybdenum complexes for nitrogen activation.

Wright collaborates internationally and leads projects funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry and Leverhulme Trust, including studies on redox-switchable polyoxotungstates and carborane-based hydrogenase mimics. His work integrates advanced spectroscopic techniques like muon spin spectroscopy to study catalytic intermediates.