Sebastian Cosgrove

Biography

Originally from Bradford in West Yorkshire, I moved to the University of Manchester for my undergraduate degree. I spent a year working for Syngenta at Jealott’s Hill before a final year project with Prof David Procter working on samarium diiodide reductions. I then moved to the University of Leeds to undertake a PhD with Prof Steve Marsden, working on metal-free photochemical C-N bond formation. This was followed by 3 and a half years in the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology. I moved with an EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship to work with Prof Nick Turner, looking at the combination of biocatalysts with precious-metal catalysis. After spending another year or so working with Nick and Prof Sabine Flitsch, I joined Prof Nigel Scrutton in the Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub to work on continuous flow biocatalysis. I came to Keele as a lecturer in organic chemistry in November 2020.

Research and scholarship

I am interested in the application of enzymes in organic synthesis. Biocatalysis is an ever-expanding research field that exploits the highly tuned catalysts that perform the chemistry of the natural world. The way in which enzymes are used in synthesis, however, can leave them operating below their optimum. Flow chemistry offers an alternative way to apply biocatalysts in synthesis. It offers multiple benefits, including increased stability (via immobilisation), faster rates of reaction and improved downstream processing (see Org. Proc. Res. Dev., 2019, 23, 9). Some examples of recent research include using new reactors for improved oxygen supply for oxygen-dependent biocatalysts (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2018, 57, 10535; ACS Catal., 2019, 9, 11658), combination of chemo- and biocatalysis (ACS Catal., 2018, 8, 5570; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2020, 59, 18156) and the use of flow processing to improve reductive aminase enzymes (Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 5052; Org. Proc. Res. Dev., 2020, 24, 1969). I currently have projects funded by the BBSRC (with Dr Gavin Miller and Johnson Matthey) and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

If you are interested in any of my research or anything associated with flow biocatalysis and would like to work with me (DPhil, PhD or Postdoctoral), then please get in touch with me via email to discuss potential funding options. Follow me on Twitter for research updates (@scosgrove123).

Teaching

• CHE-30037/44: Topics in Chemistry/Medicinal Chemistry
• CHE-40024: Research Topics in Chemistry