Professor of Inorganic Chemistry
Charlotte Williams OBE FRS is a Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on the synthesis of novel catalysts with an expertise in organometallic chemistry and polymer materials chemistry.[1]
Early life and education
Williams studied chemistry at Imperial College London, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in chemistry. She completed a PhD with Vernon C. Gibson and Nick Long.[2][3]
Research and career
Williams joined the University of Cambridge as a postdoctoral research associate working with Andrew Bruce Holmes and Richard Friend.[4] Here she focused on the synthesis of electroactive polymers.[4] She then moved to the University of Minnesota, working in the group of Marc Hillymer and William Tollman on zinc catalysis.[5]
In 2003 Williams was appointed to Imperial College London as a lecturer.[6] She was appointed a Senior Lecturer in 2007, a Reader in 2009 and a Professor in 2012.[4] Here she developed sugar-based biodegradable polymers that were produced from lignocellulosic biomass.[7][8] During her time at Imperial she was an inventor of several granted patents.[2]
She joined Trinity College, Oxford, in 2016.[9] Her research focuses on metal complexes for use in homogeneous polymerisation catalysis.[9] She identified catalysts that could use of carbon dioxide as a raw material for polymers, which prompted Williams to start Econic Technologies.[9] Econic Technologies has received more than £13 million in funding.[10][11][12][13] She also identified transition metal complex catalysts, biorenewable polymers and liquid fuel production.[14] She has developed switchable catalysts that allow the combination of monomers into block copolymers.[15][16][9] Working with Milo Shaffer at Imperial College London, Williams uses nanoparticles in polymer composites.[17] She is a member of the London Centre for Nanotechnology.[18]
She appears regularly in the media, including on BBC Radio 4's In Our Time[19] and at museums and festivals.[20][21] In 2015 she won the WISE Campaign research award for her eco-plastics start-up.[22]
Honours and awards
Williams was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to chemistry.[30]
