Saidul Islam

Dr Saidul Islam is a Lecturer in Chemistry at King's College London, part of the Department of Chemistry within the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences. He specializes in prebiotic chemistry, focusing on understanding the chemical origins of life and systems chemistry. His research explores pathways for nucleic acids, peptides, and organic cofactors under prebiotic conditions.

• Joined King's College London in 2022 as part of the Department's expansion program.
• Previously held postdoctoral positions at Queen Mary University of London and UCL.
• Teaching roles include leading 'Organic Chemistry 2' and guiding postgraduate research.

Research interests center on prebiotic systems chemistry, including catalytic peptide ligation, chemoselective synthesis, and the role of cyanide in early metabolism. The Islam Group investigates chemical pathways that could have led to life's emergence on early Earth, employing synthetic organic chemistry and advanced analytical techniques like NMR spectroscopy.

Key contributions include studies on pantetheine synthesis, peptide ligation mechanisms, and the enrichment of prebiotic molecules via heated gas bubbles. His work bridges organic chemistry with the origins of biological systems, addressing fundamental questions about life's chemical beginnings.