I obtained a Master’s degree in Chemistry from The University of Manchester, where I graduated with first-class honours in 2017. My Master’s thesis focused on transition metal-free C‒H functionalisation using hydride-borrowing catalysis. During my studies, I completed a research internship at Bayer AG, where I investigated high-throughput photochemical methodologies for drug discovery.

I began a PhD at The University of Manchester under the supervision of Professor David Leigh. My doctoral research, completed in 2021, explored fuelled, artificial molecular machines and their applications in macroscopic functions. After my PhD, I continued as a Postdoctoral Research Associate developing autonomous molecular machines for nanoscopic logic gates and cargo delivery.

In September 2022, I joined the University of Glasgow as a Postdoctoral Research Associate with Professor Lee Cronin, where I focused on the development of Chemputers for the automated synthesis of hazardous molecules.

My research interests center around advancing Digital Chemistry, with a strong focus on reliability & reproducibility, safety & sustainability and autonomous operations. I work on developing future technologies that integrate, for example, artificial molecular machines and functional materials to push the boundaries of automation and chemical discovery.

Research groups

• Complex Chemistry
• Functional Molecules & Assemblies

Selected publications

Ashworth, S., Mackie, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0505-705X and Nixon, W.J. (2004) The DAEDALUS project, developing institutional repositories at Glasgow University:the story so far. Library Review, 53(5), pp. 259-264. (doi: 10.1108/00242530410538391)

Ashworth, S. (2003) The DAEDALUS Project. Serials, 16(3), pp. 249-253.

All publications

List by: Type | Date

• Foresight Institute Molecular Nano Fast Grant, 2025, Chemputing Machines Making Machines, Prof. Leroy Cronin (PI), Dr Dean Thomas (Co-I), Dr Robert Rauschen.

• Glasgow Crucible Seed Fund, 2024, Connecting Programmable Chemistry to
  Biochemical Systems with BioChemputation, Dr Dean Thomas (PI), Dr Jessica Perochon (Co-I), Dr Kristine Laws