Team Members

Dr. Roopender Kumar

Group Leader

PhD

Islam Araar (3^rd year)
Islam is from Canada (Montréal) and Algeria (Algiers). He received a 1st Class Honours degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Kingston University and was awarded for outstanding performance. In his final year, he conducted research under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Wren, developing synthetic methodologies for accessing bioactive fluorenes. He carried out his MSc by research degree at the University of York and his master thesis with Professor Peter O’Brien, working on the synthesis of heterocycles for fragment elaboration in 3-D to produce medicinally relevant compounds. In September 2023, he began his PhD in the Kumar Lab at UCL, where he is focusing on the discovery and development of new radical reactions using visible-light. Outside of the lab, Islam enjoys doing many sports including weightlifting, long/short distance running, and Judo.

Stefan Chakarov (4^th Year)
Stefan was born and raised in Ruse – a small town in the north of Bulgaria, where he attended the High School of Mathematics ‘Baba Tonka’. During this time, his passion about chemistry flourished and his deep interest in the field led him to enrol on an integrated master’s course (MChem) at Lancaster University. He graduated with first-class honours in July 2022. In the summer of 2021, Stefan underwent a project under the supervision of Dr. Susannah Coote where he explored the photochemistry of 1,2-dihydropyridazines and the flow hydrogenation of their photoproducts. As part of his final year research project, Stefan worked with Dr. Vilius Franckevicius on the development of an asymmetric palladium-catalysed strategy to prepare enantioenriched azetidines. Both research experiences fueled his desire to learn about new chemistry, and he is now pursuing a PhD in the Kumar Lab at UCL, with the goal of developing sustainable C-O bond activation strategies.

Master student

Joshua Sykes
Joshua (Josh) Sykes is from Hertfordshire, England. From an early age, he developed a passion for chemistry, particularly organic chemistry, which he carried forward taking an A-Level and then a BSc. He graduated with first-class honours in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery from London Metropolitan University in July 2023. As part of his undergraduate research, he investigated the enantioselective synthesis of isoxazolines using cinchona alkaloids under phase-transfer catalysed conditions. Currently, Josh is pursuing an MSc in Organic Chemistry: Drug Discovery at UCL, where he is undertaking his master’s thesis in the Kumar Lab.

Rajvir Soori
Rajvir was born and raised in East London, where he attended sixth form and studied Chemistry, Mathematics, and Computer Science. In his third year, he researched the use of plasmonic nanomaterials as catalysts. He is currently pursuing his MSci at UCL and undertaking his master’s thesis in the Kumar Lab. In his free time, Rajvir enjoys sports, playing video games, and spending time with his friends.