Josh Walsh Hired by the University of Manitoba

Josh received his BSc, MSc, and PhD under the supervision of Prof. Graham J. Bodwell at Memorial University, Newfoundland. The main focus of his research was the design and synthesis of pyrene-based molecules for organic electronics which led to several collaborations with Prof. Yuming Zhao.  A serendipitous discovery of high molecular weight oligopyrenes that were liquids at room temperature instilled a love for liquid chromophores that still exists today. Two months after completing his PhD in March of 2021, Josh headed to Zurich to work under Prof. Michal Juríček as a postdoctoral researcher. At the University of Zurich, Josh helped in developing a π-radical cascade reaction that led to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) interesting for applications in singlet fission solar cells and was awarded two fellowships, the Swiss National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship and the University of Zurich postdoctoral grant. After exactly 2 years in Zurich, Josh will join the University of Manitoba as a tenure track assistant professor of organic chemistry. His future research will combine his love of liquid compounds from his PhD and a fascination with unpaired electrons gained from his postdoctoral work. Merging these two interests, Josh plans to synthesize and study liquid materials for singlet fission and spintronics. Outside of the lab, Josh runs marathons and spends as much time as possible in the Swiss Alps with his wife, Nicole, and dog (Sofia). At home they spend their time cooking and watching movies with their cat (Leo).