James graduated with a first-class degree in chemistry from the University of Warwick in 2022, where he also worked on new cage-catalysed reactions under the supervision of Professor Michael Ward. In October 2022, he moved to Cambridge to complete his MPhil degree under the supervision of Professor Jonathan Nitschke, further developing his understanding of supramolecular cage chemistry with a particular focus on woven capsules and other complex molecular architectures. He was awarded a full Trinity Hall Postgraduate Studentship to fund his studies, in conjunction with an award from the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry. 

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In 2023, following the completion of his MPhil degree, he started his PhD in the Nitschke group, funded by the Vice Chancellor's and Trinity Hall Scholarship. His research focusses on the synthesis of complex supramolecular topologies and the development of novel post-assembly modification strategies.

 

Outside the lab he enjoys cycling, cooking, and watching Formula 1.

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Publications:

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1) Dobson JTF, Kurz H, Nitschke JR, A new hope for crystallization, Chem, 2024; 10, 1038-1040.

2) Massad I, Dobson JTF, Teeuwen PCP, Ronson TK, Nitschke JR. London Dispersion Governs Stereochemistry, Stability, and Self-Sorting in a System of M4L4 Cages. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026 Jun 3;148(21):22253-22262.

3) Dobson JTF, Davies JA, Ronson TK et al. Assembly of a bifurcated knot via sequence selective imine condensation. Nat. Synth. (2026).

4) Dobson JTF, Synthesis of a 524-atom bifurcated molecular knot. Nat. Synth (2026).