Dr Selena Lockyer - 2024 Dalton Emerging Researcher Prize winner

Dr Selena Lockyer AMRSC

Winner: 2024 Dalton Emerging Researcher Prize

The University of Manchester

For synthetic and spectroscopic studies of molecular magnets, particularly supramolecular assemblies that could be used in quantum information processing.

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Just being part of research and wanting to contribute something to the world and what people have discovered before us, I find very motiving.

Dr Lockyer investigates the properties of individual electrons at the molecular level and how they can interact with one another and relay or store information. This is done at the National Service for Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Manchester.

Apart from making devices smaller, quantum devices possess other advantages. One such phenomenon is known as a superposition state that can be used in quantum bits (qubits), which a standard classical bit – the ones in our laptops – is unable to achieve.

A quantum computer will help us address society's challenges by modelling and developing solutions for climate change, sustainability and energy sources, medical conditions, and how to make a more efficient and better quantum computer.

Read winner biography

Dr Selena Lockyer completed her MChem at the University of Manchester in 2015. During that time, she participated in a summer project investigating the stabilisation of subvalent lanthanides using bulky ligands, under the supervision of Professor David Mills. She also completed a third-year project at the University of British Columbia investigating hydroaminoalkylation, and her fourth-year research project investigated the coordination of different-sized heterometallic rings around secondary amine-based threads/templates.

Selena went on to complete her PhD with Professor Eric McInnes at the University of Manchester. Her doctoral research investigated the exchange coupling between dissimilar paramagnetic centres in supramolecular structures.

As a Research Fellow, she continues to focus on supramolecular structures based on heterometallic rings in the Molecular Magnets Group, led by Professor Richard Winpenny. These studies have focused on synthesising and investigating molecules for use as qubits for quantum information science purposes via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques. This work has resulted in Selena developing a five-qubit system possessing independently addressable qubits with dissimilar exchanging coupling, which can be used for simulating the decoherence of maximally entangled Bell states that could be used in quantum teleportation. Other projects Selena has focused on include a system that targets quantum error correction and scaling up qubits to a record of 10¹⁴ polymetallic rotaxanes on a polymer bead.

Q&A

How did you first become interested in chemistry?

Ever since a young age, I’ve always been inquisitive about how everything works or what things are made from. I found it fascinating learning about all the different elements that make up our world. Starting from a broad interest in science, chemistry became a natural path to pursue.

What motivates you?

Just being part of research and wanting to contribute something to the world and what people have discovered before us, I find very motiving. Standing on the shoulders of giants and forging the next steps would be a dream for me. There are so many challenges our world currently faces, and we have the opportunity to try and make a difference.

What has been a highlight for you (either personally or in your career)?

Completing my undergraduate at The University of Manchester was definitely a highlight, it's where it all started for me. Personally, it gave me so much: like-minded friends who were passionate about chemistry and many sporting families for support and motivation. It was such an enjoyable experience all around, and it opened the path which I’m on now.

What does good research culture look like/mean to you?

A good research culture will come from working together across all scientific disciplines, collaborating with other researchers within our own field, but also with others so we can bridge gaps and forge new opportunities we may not have otherwise considered.

What is your favourite element?

Every element has its unique properties and interests, hence the beauty of the periodic table. So, it’s very hard to have one stand out from the rest. However, I cannot get away without mentioning chromium since it is our chromium-based rings that have led to so many publications. Though I am currently enjoying working with titanium, which coincidentally also has the best song to feature an element as the title – sorry, lithium!

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