Paul Saines

Dr. Paul Saines is a Reader in Chemistry (Inorganic Materials) at the University of Kent's School of Chemistry and Forensic Science, leading the Materials for Energy and Electronics (MEE) research group. His work focuses on designing coordination frameworks with tailored electronic and magnetic properties for energy and electronics applications. He holds a BSc (First Class Honours) and PhD from the University of Sydney, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge (Anthony Cheetham group) and University of Oxford (Andrew Goodwin group), including a prestigious Glasstone Fellowship at Oxford. He joined Kent in 2015 and was awarded the Institute of Physics Physical Crystallography Prize.

Research interests include low-dimensional magnetic frameworks, multiferroic materials, and magnetocaloric effects. His group explores crystal structures and their relationships to functional properties using advanced characterization techniques like neutron diffraction. Key projects involve hybrid perovskites, formate frameworks, and geometric frustration in materials.

Teaching encompasses inorganic and materials chemistry, including phase diagrams, solid-state synthesis, and magnetic/electronic materials. He supervises PhD/MSc students in experimental inorganic chemistry and condensed matter physics. Notable achievements include developing magnetocaloric materials for low-temperature cooling and elucidating structural dynamics in ferroelectric frameworks.

Scientific awards: Institute of Physics Physical Crystallography Prize (2015), Glasstone Fellowship (Oxford, 2013).

Labs/Teams: Materials for Energy and Electronics (MEE) Group at Kent, collaborating with international networks in crystallography and materials science.