Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · 10d

With @leicesterucu.bsky.social we’re fighting to protect staff, research and teaching - and to push the University to choose alternatives to job losses.

There are other ways to save money than cutting the people who ARE the university. We strike because we care about its future.

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · 10d

I don’t want to be on a picket line today. I’d rather be teaching my students or in the lab with @kilpatrickgroup.bsky.social - not standing in the rain outside my own workplace.

But the threat of compulsory redundancies and cuts to @leicesterchem.bsky.social 🇬🇧🥈leaves us no real choice.

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Reposted by Sandy Kilpatrick

Ed Hollox @edhollox.bsky.social · 11d

@ucu.org.uk @leicesterucu.bsky.social can't cancel Chemistry (or Modern Languages or Biomedical Sciences or History or Geography....) #nojobcuts

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · 11d

Thanks @edhollox.bsky.social ✊… more from this “homologous series” to come, if I can get access to a printer!

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Reposted by Sandy Kilpatrick

Leicester UCU @leicesterucu.bsky.social · 17d

A great turnout to our amazing rally today, with emotional speeches and incredible support from students, staff, and trade unions.

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Reposted by Sandy Kilpatrick

KretschmerLab @kretschmerlab.bsky.social · 19d

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student to join our ERC project AGILE at the interface of inorganic, organic and organometallic chemistry. A vibrant Team, cool chemistry and everything takes place in the cultural capitol of Europe CHEMnitz. Apply now: www.tu-chemnitz.de/verwaltung/p...

Personal | Dezernate | Verwaltung | TU Chemnitz

Dezernat Personal: Personal

www.tu-chemnitz.de

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · 15d

Jamie’s paper on bulky [S,N] zinc catalysts for aldehyde hydrosilylation just published doi.org/10.1002/zaac...
… part of the #ZAAC special issue celebrating @christianlimberg.bsky.social’s big 6️⃣0️⃣🎈🥳

Aldehyde Hydrosilylation with Ethylzinc Complexes of Bulky β‐Thioketiminate Ligands

A sterically demanding β-thioketiminate ligand supports a monomeric ethylzinc complex that catalyses aldehyde hydrosilylation with phenylsilane (PhSiH3). In the presence of methanol (MeOH), high sele...

doi.org

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · 28d

Great result for @leicesterchem.bsky.social ranked 2nd for Chemistry in UK in @theguardian.com University Guide 2026. Hopefully helps sustain our bright future!

Leicester Chemistry @leicesterchem.bsky.social · 28d

@leicesterchem.bsky.social Ranked 2nd in UK 🥈… 1st in England 🥇 - @theguardian.com University Guide 2026 - Universities ranked by subject area: Chemistry www.theguardian.com/education/ng...

The Guardian University Guide 2026 - UK Universities ranked by subject area: Chemistry, showing Leicester in 2nd place overall

The Guardian University Guide 2026 - showing Leicester in 2nd place for Chemistry

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Sep 10

This application is a bit of a departure for @kilpatrickgroup.bsky.social, but the idea was sparked after my mum’s breast cancer diagnosis (incl. chemo, tho not titanocenes!). She is thankfully doing much better now. Very rewarding to see our former MChem 🌟 Olympia drive this project to publication.

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Sep 10

We report two new titanocene–NSAID complexes that show: 🔹 strong activity against breast cancer stem cells (CSCs), with one rivaling cisplatin & salinomycin 
🔹 improved safety when delivered via nanoparticle encapsulation
This is the first study to explore #titanocenes in anti-CSC therapy.

Titanocene(IV)-NSAID complexes Cp2Ti(mefenamate)2 (4) and Cp2Ti(flufenamate)2 (5) show enhanced redox stability and potent cytotoxicity against breast cancer stem cells (CSCs), with 5 rivaling salinomycin and cisplatin. Complex 5 induces DNA damage and apoptosis, and its nanoparticle encapsulation improves biocompatibility. This is the first report targeting breast CSCs with titanocene-based metallodrugs.

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Sep 10

Olympia & Ginevra’s paper “Anti-Breast Cancer Stem Cell Activity of Titanocene Complexes of NSAIDs” is out in @daltontrans.rsc.org 👉 doi.org/10.1039/D5DT...

A tidy @leicesterchem.bsky.social collab: titanocene synthesis in our lab & bio from Rama Suntharalingam’s group — a great friend & colleague

Anti-Breast Cancer Stem Cell Activity of Titanocene Complexes of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Titanocene(IV)-NSAID complexes Cp2Ti(mefenamate)2 (4) and Cp2Ti(flufenamate)2 (5) show enhanced redox stability and potent cytotoxicity against breast cancer stem cells (CSCs), with 5 rivaling salinom...

doi.org

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Sep 10

😣 First rule of lab: hot glass looks like cold glass

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Sep 1

I’ll have you know the chemistry I teach is very woke indeed!

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Aug 21

Am making plans for next year’s!

Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Aug 21

Thanks Jose, big indeed! I got some great intel on Team GG post-viva traditions 🍩 🍩

Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Aug 21

Massive congrats to Jamie Allen - the first @kilpatrickgroup.bsky.social PhD over the line! Humbling moments & still processing what this means to be a Doktorvater. Thanks to Prof. Adrian Chaplin & Dr Alex Pulis @leicesterchem.bsky.social for doing the honours #VivaForever

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Reposted by Sandy Kilpatrick

Michael O’Neill @michaeloneill.org · Jul 31

The RSC has some good un-pushy webpages for school leavers considering Chemistry as clearing looms. edu.rsc.org/future-in-ch...

A Future in Chemistry | RSC Education

Real-life career stories and articles to inspire and inform you about your future in chemistry

edu.rsc.org

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Aug 12

Lovely stuff 🔺🔻

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Aug 12

S’in the post!

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Aug 10

Recommended holiday read for radiochemists. And everyone else…

@joedunthorne.bsky.social Children Of Radium

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Aug 2

Amazing first visit to Karlsruhe @kit.edu, thanks @townrowresearch.bsky.social for hosting and putting me through my paces! 🧪🍻🏃‍♂️🏃

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Aug 2

congrats Kike, sounds like you’re gona have a lot of fun!

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Reposted by Sandy Kilpatrick

Shockat Adam MP @shockatadam.bsky.social · Jul 28

Universities are the backbone of our future.

With hundreds of jobs and vital faculties at risk in Leicester, we must demand long-term investment, not short-term cuts.

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Jul 19

Indeed… Fe just wouldn’t play ball until Sam Binding cracked it! pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Synthesis, Structure, and Bonding for Bis(permethylpentalene)diiron

The synthesis of the first homoleptic double metallocene complex of iron, Fe2Pn*2 (Pn* = permethylpentalene, C8Me6) is described. The structural and electronic properties of Fe2Pn*2 have been characte...

pubs.acs.org

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Sandy Kilpatrick @sandykilla.bsky.social · Jul 19

Depressing Leicesterchem had a 🔫 aimed at it’s head… now it’s a waiting game