Neil Champness

Neil Champness is the Norman Haworth Professor of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham. He holds a prestigious academic position following roles at the University of Nottingham, including Professor of Chemical Nanoscience (2004-2020). His research focuses on supramolecular chemistry, crystal engineering, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Champness leads a group pioneering studies on molecular self-assembly, surface chemistry, and functional materials.

Education & Career
- Began academic career with Teaching Fellowships at the University of Nottingham (1995) and Southampton (1994).
- Became Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry at Nottingham (1998), progressing to Reader (2003) and full Professor (2004).
- Currently heads the Champness Group at Birmingham, established in 2021.

Research Interests
Champness’s work spans:
- Design of porous materials (MOFs, HOFs) for gas storage and catalysis.
- Surface self-assembly of 2D supramolecular frameworks.
- Photoresponsive materials and molecular rotaxanes.
- Chemical synthesis under constrained conditions.
His group emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, linking chemistry with materials science and nanotechnology.

Awards & Recognition

• 2019: Elected Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences
• 2020: EPSRC Established Career Fellowship
• 2016: Royal Society of Chemistry Surfaces & Interfaces Award
• 2011: Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher
• 2006: Corday-Morgan Medal (Royal Society of Chemistry)

Advisory Roles & Grants
- Editorial roles include Chem, Crystals, and CrystEngComm.
- Served on Royal Society panels, Irish Research Council, and IUPAC.
- Secured major grants from EPSRC and Royal Society.

Labs & Collaborations
His Birmingham group collaborates globally, with visiting professorships in Japan, Australia, and Brazil. Research is supported by advanced facilities in crystallography and surface chemistry.