Lukas Gierlichs

Inorganic Chemistry PhD student in the Melen group and frisbee fanatic @ChemistryCU. I am known to slap the bass occasionally

[Boron-Chem-Research @Boron_Chemistry]

Rapid Iterative Syntheses of Unsymmetrical Di- and Triarylboranes from Crystalline Aryldifluoroboranes (@MarcALegare): https://t.co/JBPX8c2D9k (@ChemicalScience).

[Boron-Chem-Research @Boron_Chemistry]

The Active Encounter Complex in Frustrated Lewis Pair Chemistry (@ChemRxiv): https://t.co/GcZ2msPsbN (@JuppLab).

[Boron-Chem-Research @Boron_Chemistry]

Selective synthesis of boron-substituted enynes via a one-pot diboration/protodeboration sequence (@ChemCommun): https://t.co/cnh4Imzm00

[Lukas Gierlichs @LGierlichs]

Mental 🤯

[Rowan Cheung @rowancheung]

AI-generated QR codes using ControlNet are insane.

This is going to be increasingly common in ads in the near future.

These examples blew my mind (try scanning them):

1. Ancient Village

[Boron-Chem-Research @Boron_Chemistry]

Association of Pyramidal Boron Lewis Superacids with Pyridines: Bending Collidine with the Sulfonium-9-boratriptycene (@Dr_Berionni): https://t.co/lMy9qHwwzK (@Wiley_Chemistry).

[Andrew Akbashev @Andrew_Akbashev]

As a professor, pursue the careers of your PhD students and postdocs instead of pursuing your own.

I know it may sound strange and even provocative. But in fact it is how it’s supposed to be.

Unfortunately, a personal gain is the biggest motivation for many professors. More publications, more awards, more invited talks…

Why? In addition to personal recognition, it can result in more funding and higher salaries (especially in the U.S.).

Many PIs say that their personal growth also helps their students get a better visibility. Plus, more funding brings in more students, which is (kind of) “great” for those students.

Others will say that their “tenure requirements are too demanding” and if they stop focusing on personal gain, they will be denied tenure.

In either case, I want you to think about the following:

1. When we focus on personal achievements, we lose track of the wellbeing and personal preferences of team members. Although it often feels like we still track it, in fact we become far less efficient at it. Students' progress and personal development are impeded. Their career opportunities become less diverse or even missed.

2. Concentrating too much funding in one big lab is NOT a good idea because it leads to PhD students receiving far less mentorship and research advising (than in smaller labs).

3. Tenure requirements often look intimidating to young professors. However, in reality, very few professors are denied tenure. Why? First, because any university invest big resources into TT professors and don’t want get rid of them without a big reason. Second, because departments often exaggerate the tenure challenges to ensure their young hires are “hard-working faculties”.

Many PIs think I am too idealistic and propose unrealistic ideas. And a lot of people will never agree with this post. Even myself, I can easily come up with bitter criticism over it.

However, idealism is among the biggest driving forces. It can drive you through challenging times and help improve.

In either case, I want you to think about the following:

1. When we focus on personal achievements, we lose track of the wellbeing and personal preferences of team members. Although it often feels like we still track it, in fact we become far less efficient at it. Students' progress and personal development are impeded. Their career opportunities become less diverse or even missed.

2. Concentrating too much funding in one big lab is NOT a good idea because it leads to PhD students receiving far less mentorship and research advising (than in smaller labs).

3. Tenure requirements often look intimidating to young professors. However, in reality, very few professors are denied tenure. Why? First, because any university invest big resources into TT professors and don’t want get rid of them without a big reason. Second, because departments often exaggerate the tenure challenges to ensure their young hires are “hard-working faculties”.

My message is:

If we all pursue the careers of your students/postdocs in the first place, this shift in priorities will make academia a much better world to live in.

I see an increasing number of faculties trying to genuinely care for their team members, in all countries and academic environments. It is all possible. Just do it. Make science better.

Oh, and don’t forget: 
Growth of your team members = Growth of yourself.

#AcademicTwitter #research #phdlife

[Lukas Gierlichs @LGierlichs]

@rebecca_melen @nfchilton @GroupWebster @cardiffuni Congratulations Rebecca, well done! 👏

[Lukas Gierlichs @LGierlichs]

@lukiedookiex @MappyPoop They‘ve labelled Crete as Malta

[Lukas Gierlichs @LGierlichs]

@DrHadlington Congratulations!

[Inoue Group @InoueGroupTUM]

Our paper “Ligand Assisted CO2 Sequestration and Catalytic Valorization by an NHI-Stabilized Stannylene” has just been accepted by @ChemCatChem!

Many congrats to @DebotraSarkar & Lisa!

Huge thanks to @MunzDominik for all of your support!

https://t.co/47FI8M4Vy6

[Lukas Gierlichs @LGierlichs]

@VijaykumarAkaVJ @Boron_Chemistry @Sat0rial_vxxx @angew_chem Selectfluor is used to oxidise the arylated B(III) intermediate to a reactive Bi(V) cation. The overall reaction sequence is B-Bi transmetalation, solvent exchange, oxidation (with selectfluor) combined with anion exchange, and finally α-arylation ☺️

[nagib lab @nagiblab]

Excited to share our new strategy for accessing carbenes!

… unstabilized, diazo-free, & catalyzed by CoCl2 or FeCl2.

Kudos to Lumin, Bethany, Alyson, & Joy on their awesome new @Science paper!

https://t.co/EEiQJxs1JX

[Lukas Gierlichs @LGierlichs]

@chitnislab Congratulations!

[Lukas Gierlichs @LGierlichs]

@callum_mcintyre @WillChandlr @driventwr @jacksonbrxb @scottkmansell Really cool series so far! Looking forward to seeing you beat the Lambo! Have you managed to get a cheeky sponsorship from @huel on the number plate yet?

[Chemistry World @ChemistryWorld]

‘Regardless of how cool it is to fire femtosecond laser pulses at single atoms, those questions still nag at me when I reflect on ‘the point’ of my own work’

https://t.co/Cxk6hYdIEU

[Boron-Chem-Research @Boron_Chemistry]

Toggling the Z-Type Interaction Off-On in Nickel-Boron Dihydrogen and Anionic Hydride Complexes (@ChemCommun): https://t.co/RCi2j37oHt

[The Innovation Materials @Innov_Materials]

JACS online:

A Porous π–π Stacking Framework with #Dicopper(I) Sites and Adjacent #Proton Relays for #Electroreduction of #CO2 to C2+ Products

@J_A_C_S @isciverse @CHNSci #Chemistry #Science #Catalysis #Technologies

https://t.co/ySHNnXzavo

[Lukas Gierlichs @LGierlichs]

Not what I thought would come up, but I’m not disappointed - maybe this is what’s happening in the solution state?! #craiyon #FLP #RealTimeChem

[Cardiff University School of Chemistry @ChemistryCU]

Translational Research Hub Opens for Business as Magnet for Innovation https://t.co/3dn07Aw2ta

[Lukas Gierlichs @LGierlichs]

@TimEasun Stars!