Nelson Lam
Position
Status
Joining in Summer 2024
Contact
Credentials
PhD (Cambridge), Postdocs (Scripps Research Institute, Cambridge)
Area of expertise
Organic synthesis, selective catalysis, radicals, photoredox, total synthesis
Nelson Lam
Dr. Nelson Lam will be joining the UVic Chemistry Department in Summer 2024.
The Lam Lab aspires to develop catalytic strategies for the selective functionalization/derivatization of ubiquitous functional groups such as alcohol and amines. We are motivated by current deficiencies in organic synthesis, and are especially interested in developing selective variants of “bread-and-butter” chemical transformations—simple transformations where a selective variant does not (yet) exist.
To achieve this, the Lam lab will use emerging methods in radical chemistry and leverage proximity effects to impart reaction selectivity. Method translation will be a continual goal in the Lam lab; we are especially keen on applying new methods to shorten total syntheses of natural (and unnatural) products.
Dr. Lam has a BSc (Hons) in Medicinal Chemistry and BMus in composition from the University of Auckland (New Zealand), followed by a PhD in Cambridge (UK) and Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Scripps Research Institute (US) and Cambridge.