Current Members

	Ms Cecilia Anderson Cecilia grew up in Oxford before moving to Cambridge to study Natural Sciences. In the final year of her undergraduate degree Cecilia joined the Hunter group to study hydrogen bonding interactions for her research project and then graduated with an MSci in summer 2022. In October 2022 Cecilia continued with the Hunter group to start her PhD and she is now working on automated oligomer synthesis. Outside the lab Cecilia enjoy running, arts and crafts and trying out the Cambridge cafes.
	Mr Haochen Bai Haochen (also known as Howard) was born in Liaoning province of China, where he grew up before taking his high school in Beijing. He obtained his BSc. in Biochemistry with first-class honor from McGill University, with most of his research done under the supervision of prof. Hanadi Sleiman in SNA crosslinking and supramolecular chemistry for drug delivery. In October 2023, Haochen joined Hunter group for his PhD to (try his best to :P) achieve a high sequence fidelity for InfolMol molecular replication. In his spare time, he likes cooking, traveling, watching movies, and remotely petting Xiaowu, the cutest “Quebecoise” cat in the world.
	Dr Federica Balduzzi Federica was born and grew up in the north of Italy. She obtained her Bachelor‘s and Master’s degree at the University of Pavia and for her final year project she worked on the recognition of a benzene biomarker in water and micelles. After an internship in GSK, she joined the Davis group at the University of Bristol for her PhD, working on the synthesis and study of receptors for high-affinity binding in water. She then joined the Hunter group in 2023 to study recognition-encoded synthetic information molecules. In her spare time, she enjoys watching sport, hiking, and playing volleyball.
	Ms Laura Beale Laura grew up in Padfield in the Peak District before coming to Cambridge where she graduated with an MSci degree in Natural Sciences in 2024. During her studies, Laura completed a summer project at Brown University before coming back to Cambridge to complete her fourth year project under the supervision of Prof. Chris Hunter. Laura is continuing in the Hunter group for her PhD investigating the templated synthesis of macrocycles. Outside of the lab she enjoys hiking, camping, music and travelling.
	Dr Ana Belenguer Ana was born in Madrid, where she studied her BSc in Chemistry specialising in Organic Chemistry at the University Complutense. She obtained her PhD from The City University (London) under the supervision of Professor Stephen Matlin, developing HPLC methodologies to analyse male and female contraceptives and to isolate the contraceptive active ingredients for in-vivo animal studies. She has worked in management positions in the analytical sections of the Research and Development departments in the pharmaceutical industry in the UK. She moved in 2002 to the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge joining the group of Professor Jeremy Sanders where she is still working. She is the HPLC and LCMS expert for the Hunter group. When not in the lab, Ana likes walking, science, natural history, listening to classical music and visiting museums.
	Dr Rafel Cabot Rafel was born in Mallorca, where he studied Chemistry at the UIB. His research career started in Barcelona for a Masters in Organic Chemistry, and then carried him to Sheffield, where Rafel completed his PhD studying solvent effects on molecular recognition. After several postdoctoral experiences, he covered posts as Teaching Technician in the Physical Chemistry and Synthetic Chemistry undergraduate laboratories at the University of Cambridge, before re-joining the Hunter group in late 2022. It is when his day in the lab ends, that Rafel starts his real job of (trying to) being a dad to his twins. Besides his family, Rafel loves hiking and photography… and a nice pint of beer too!
	Dr Tim Chisholm Tim was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, before moving to Australia for his undergraduate studies at the University of Sydney. There he completed his honours and MPhil under Professor Richard Payne where he developed methodology for chemical protein synthesis. He then moved to the UK to join the Hunter group for his PhD, where he worked on developing chemical methods to better understand protein aggregates. He now remains in the Hunter group as a Henslow Fellow, where he is continuing his research and hopes to develop a diagnostic for Parkinson’s disease. Outside of the lab Tim enjoys cooking food that takes longer than it should, getting unreasonably lost while hiking, and going on his annual trip to the gym.
	Mr Ronan Cons Ronan grew up in Salisbury, a massive, ancient stone’s throw from Stonehenge. But unlike Stonehenge, Ronan is at his best every day except the Summer and Winter Solstice. In 2019 he joined Robinson College Cambridge to study Natural Sciences for his undergraduate degree. 5 years on and Ronan has completed his MSci degree including a Master’s project under the supervision of Professor Chris Hunter and is now undertaking a PhD with the Hunter group, in covalent templating of synthetic information molecules. Outside of the lab, Ronan talks, plays and watches sport, with anyone that can tolerate incessant chatter, which results in him being very good in his own company.
	Ms Anca Cotirlan Anca was born and raised in Bucharest before moving to the UK for her undergraduate studies, where she graduated with an MSci Natural Sciences degree from the University of Cambridge in 2023. During her studies, she undertook a summer project in the Barker/Boss group, gaining experience in inorganic synthesis techniques. Her fourth-year project was under the supervision of Prof. Chris Hunter and she is now continuing in the Hunter group to complete her PhD. Anca is developing methods for studying the folding and binding properties of synthetic information oligomers. Outside of the lab, Anca is currently captaining the university archery club, CU Bowmen, and can be found in the Sports Centre at unreasonable hours.
	Dr Mohit Dhiman Mohit was born in London before moving to Kent where he grew up. He graduated with an MSci Natural Sciences degree from the University of Cambridge in 2019, receiving an examiners prize. During his undergraduate studies, an internship at AkzoNobel gave him the opportunity to investigate quantitative NMR spectroscopy in the context of novel paint formulations. His final year project was under the supervision of Prof. Chris Hunter and he is now continuing in the Hunter group to complete his PhD. He is working on the design of synthetic information oligomers using solid-phase synthesis. Outside of the lab Mohit is actively involved with the Emmanuel College MCR committee and can often be found playing various sports, practising piano or watching England play test cricket.
	Mr Oliver Evans Ollie was born in Brighton. In 2017, he joined St Catharine’s College to start his undergraduate degree in Natural. During his final year he completed a project in the Hunter Lab investigating computation methods to predict solvent effects on tautomeric equilibria. For his PhD, he has stayed on at Hunter Lab working on developing an information oligomer which can undergo replication. Ollie is passionate about teaching. He is involved in both undergraduate teaching and chemistry outreach. Outside of the lab Ollie enjoys windsurfing and cooking.
	Prof Chris Hunter Chris was born in Dunedin in New Zealand and lived in Nigeria before his parents settled in Ireland at the seaside town of Portstewart. After a PhD in supramolecular porphyrin chemistry with Jeremy Sanders at the University of Cambridge, Chris started his independent academic career at the University of Otago in New Zealand in 1989. He moved to the University of Sheffield in 1991, and 23 years later, Chris returned to the University of Cambridge. Chris likes spending time with my family, cooking for friends, and when he gets the chance he surfs.
	Mr Ben Iddon Ben was born in Reading in 2000, and just as his birth was at the beginning of a new millennium, his science is at the cutting edge of a new future of synthetic information molecules. He came to St. Catharine’s College Cambridge on a whim in 2018, and has ambled his way through his studies there, only pausing to become an occasional fire risk to his friends and colleagues. Professor Chris Hunter was lucky enough to secure Ben’s services for a summer project in the group in 2021, and following that Ben was hooked, staying in the group for a Master’s project and now a PhD, in a historic transfer deal rumoured to include perks such as occasionally being allowed to DJ , and deciding when and where the lab take their lunch breaks. Outside of his time in the lab, he spends his time undertaking ambitious sewing projects and learning how to complete cryptic crosswords.
	Ms Qinyi Li Qinyi was born and grew up in southwestern China before moving to Zhejiang province in eastern China for her undergraduate studies. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Zhejiang University and for her final year project, she worked on the synthesis and characterization of topological molecules. In October 2023, Qinyi joined Hunter group for her MPhil and is working on developing high affinity binders for protein aggregates. In her spare time, Qinyi enjoys walking, visiting museums, and capturing beautiful moments in life.
	Dr M Cristina Misuraca Cristina was born in Cosenza, a small city in the south of Italy, where she studied Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology. After obtaining her Masters degree, she moved to the UK where she gained her PhD from the University of Sheffield under the supervision of Prof C. A. Hunter studying cooperativity in supramolecular systems. She spent 2 years in the group of Prof N. Giuseppone (CNRS, Strasbourg) where she focused on dynamic combinatorial chemistry applied to material science. She then returned to the Hunter group to investigate polarisation effects on H-bonding. In her parallel life, Cristina is a mum who likes reading with her children, baking, hiking and playing piano.
	Mr Alexander Root Alex was born in North West London where he spent the first 18 years of his life before coming to study Natural Sciences at Pembroke College Cambridge. His proclivity for mixing things together and seeing what happens led to him studying chemistry, and he graduated with an MSci in 2022. In his fourth year, Alex worked under the supervision of Prof. Chris Hunter for his final year project and has stayed in the Hunter group for his PhD. His work is on investigating polarisation effects on small molecule H-bond parameters for different functional groups. Outside of the lab Alex enjoys reading, walking, and can often be found playing, watching, or talking about a multitude of sports.
	Prof Jeremy Sanders Jeremy Sanders was born in London, and studied Chemistry at Imperial College. He did his PhD in Cambridge with Dudley Williams, and after a postdoctoral year at Stanford he was appointed to the academic staff in Cambridge. He was Head of Chemistry and then Pro-Vice-Chancellor before his formal retirement. His research interests have included the use of NMR spectroscopy to solve chemical and biological problems, and many facets of supramolecular chemistry, particularly templating methods and dynamic combinatorial chemistry. His role in the Hunter group is to ask awkward questions in group meetings, offer whatever help might be useful, and provide occasional giant carrot cakes.
	Mr Joseph Smith Joe was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where he grew up before coming to Cambridge to study Natural Sciences. During his undergraduate degree, Joe did his Masters project in the Hunter group, working on synthetic information molecules. Joe has stayed in the group for his PhD, continuing to study information transfer between synthetic oligomers. Outside of the lab Joe enjoys walking, baking, and following the cricket.
	Mr Daniil Soloviev PhD
	Mr Sam Wallis-Riches Sam was born and raised in Norfolk, before coming to Cambridge to study Natural Sciences at Robinson College. His passion for the lab led to him studying chemistry through to his fourth year, graduating with an MSci in 2024. In his fourth year, Sam joined the Hunter Group to study hydrogen-bonding chameleon base pairs for synthetic information molecules and continued on to start his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Chris Hunter in October 2024. His work focuses on using a mixture of covalent and non-covalent base pairs within the oligomeric framework in order to enhance their fidelity in replication and expand the scope of the chemical landscape. Outside of the lab, Sam enjoys motorsport, programming, travelling and reading very long books.