Luke Whitaker Email & Phone Number

Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom

Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom

- Tutored GCSE students in leading up to their final exams for maths, chemistry and physics.- Planned sessions and demonstrations of the course material for particularly challenging topics.

Stevenage, United Kingdom

- Designed and evaluated reaction parameters as part of a project to develop heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysed etherification reactions.- Performed hydrogenation reactions on mg to g scales within a high throughput setting, utilising high pressure multi-vessel reactors such as Biotage Endeavor, HEL CAT 96, ChemSCAN, and AutoMATE.- Utilised in-situ analysis techniques such as ReactIR and EasySampler reaction sampling.- Proven track record of independently performing reactions with air sensitive and pyrophoric reagents safely, often within the setting of hydrogenation reactions.- Interrogated processes through Design of Experiment, optimising reactions to improve yield while also taking into account factors such as cost, safety and environmental impact.- Visualised large sets of high throughput screening data through Spotfire. - Proficient with maintaining a high standard of laboratory data collection and storage.- Participated in and contributed to synthetic route brainstorm sessions for GSK compounds.- Implemented, organised and led weekly group meetings for fellow PhD students.- Supervised work experience students and directed them in lab-based problem-solving experiments.- Led industrial placement students in synthetic chemistry problem sessions to support their academic development.- Mentored apprentices within the department through lessons and workshops on various areas of chemistry to facilitate their distance learning.

Chapel-En-Le-Frith, Derbyshire, United Kingdom

- Synchronised with chemists in other labs and departments on site to synthesise many novel products from lubricants to pharmaceuticals.- Optimised and developed a novel one-pot Suzuki coupling reaction as part of a methodology project. This is to be submitted for publishing.- Produced compounds for shipping which met the required purity standard of 98% and a specified, pre-agreed mass.- Analysed the compounds through NMR spectroscopy, IR, UPLC, GC and LCMS.- Utilized apparatus such as automated purification (SP4 and Isolera), microwave and freeze drier.- Performed reactions with air sensitive and pyrophoric reagents.- Trained in the use of autoclaves and performing reactions at high pressures.- Developed research methods and learned how to record lab book data to a very high standard.- Undertook a research course on Reaxys.- Worked on milligram to multigram scales, often scaling up and optimising reaction conditions for larger scale.- Attended internal seminars from employees and academics on their work and observed presentations on numerous areas of chemistry.- Presented my own project work to other employees as part of an internal company seminar, and to other placement students and their supervisors at the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Organic Chemistry

Thesis title – Novel catalytic approaches to etherification reactions. Supervisors – Dr K. M. P Wheelhouse, Prof W. J. Kerr - Undertook.

Master'S Degree, Chemistry, First

Activities and Societies: Participating member of ChemSoc, University of Manchester Brass Band and University of Manchester Choir.

A Level, Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Further Maths (As Level), A, B, B, A

Activities and Societies: Member of NEW College Jazz Band, Wakefield Youth Symphony Orchestra and Wakefield Youth Jazz Orchestra.