Dr Anastasios Polyzos awarded Grimwade Prize for Industrial Chemistry

Dr Anastasios Polyzos has been awarded the Grimwade Prize, which recognises the best original research in industrial chemistry undertaken in Victoria during the past five years.

His research ‘Continuous flow chemistry and catalysis’ explores the development of new methods for the synthesis and manufacture of complex molecules through photocatalysis, the acceleration of a chemical reaction by light, and continuous flow chemistry.

Dr Polyzos’ research will develop a powerful tool to activate traditionally unreactive yet abundant chemical bonds in organic molecules. By establishing these new bond activation reactions, the research can aid in the advancement of new pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and chemical manufacturing processes.

Dr Polyzos was awarded his PhD from La Trobe University in 2006 and appointed to Research Fellow at the national research agency, CSIRO.

In 2008 he pursued post-doctoral research at the University of Cambridge under the guidance of Professor Steven V. Ley.

In 2011 Dr Polyzos returned to Australia and led the flow chemistry and catalysis group at CSIRO in Australia, before joining the University of Melbourne as a Senior Lecturer in 2015.

His research interests include the development of new methods and enabling technologies for organic synthesis, flow chemistry, photocatalysis and C-H activation.

The Grimwade Prize dates back to 1906 when the Honourable Frederick Sheppard Grimwade made a donation to the University of Melbourne to establish an annual prize for the promotion of the study of industrial chemistry.