Members

We are always looking for talented and enthusiastic scientists. Available Postdoctoral and PhD positions will be advertised once the necessary funding is secured. Useful resources from UCLouvain can be found here and here for scientist with international mobility. Competitive grants are also available via the FNRS for PhD and Postdoctoral grants. Note that the calls for such grants is usually in January and in August.

If you are interested in joining our research group or are able to secure independent funding via, please contact Ludovic TROIAN-GAUTIER.

Group Leader

Prof. Ludovic TROIAN-GAUTIER

Ludovic TROIAN-GAUTIER obtained his B.S. (2008), M.S (2010) and Ph.D in chemistry (2014) from the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB – Belgium) where he focused on the development of novel transition metal complexes for opto-electronic applications with Prof. C. Moucheron and Prof. A. Kirsch-De Mesmaeker. He then undertook post-doctoral research at X4C, a new start-up, where he worked with Prof. I. Jabin and Dr. A. Mattiuzzi on surface modification using calix[4]arene derivatives. At the end of 2015, he was awarded the Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF) fellowship, followed by the Bourse d’Excellence WBI.World (2016-2018) to undertake postdoctoral research with Prof. Gerald J. Meyer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). In April 2017, he joined the UNC Energy Frontier Research Center, the Alliance for Molecular PhotoElectrode Design for Solar Fuels (AMPED EFRC, directed by Pr. Thomas J. Meyer and Pr. Gerald J. Meyer), where he focused on the development of novel molecular photocatalysts and their use in the development of novel photoelectrodes that in turn can generate so-called “solar fuels”. He still holds a visiting scientist position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (with Pr. Gerald J. Meyer) In May 2019, he started a Chargé de Recherche position (FNRS) at the Université libre de Bruxelles where he worked on energy related challenges. In October 2021, he received a Collaborateur Scientifique (F.R.S.-FNRS) position and was then promoted to Chercheur Qualifié (F.R.S.-FNRS) in October 2022 to continue pursuing research on energy related challenges at UCLouvain within the Institute of Condensed matter and Nanosciences - Molecular Chemistry, Materials and Catalysis Division (IMCN/MOST). 

Postdoctoral Students

Dr. Abdullah M. ABUDAYYEH

I received my Bachelor-MSc in chemistry from the University of Jordan. Afterward, I worked as a teacher at the United Nations and English schools in Jordan, before moving to the University of Bradford, UK. There I pursued a second MSc, developing films of Zr-based MOFs, which I completed with distinction. I then moved to New Zealand, to take up a PhD scholarship in Prof Sally Brooker’s group, synthesizing coordination complexes as catalysts for photo and electro-hydrogen evolution (HER). I received Exceptional PhD 2021 award. Afterward, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Paris University Cite working on supramolecular calixarenes coordination catalysts for small molecule activation under the guidance of Prof Olivia Reinaud and in collaboration with Prof Corinne Lagrost at University of Rennes. Since January 2024, I have moved to Belgium to take up a research fellowship position with Prof Ludovic Troian-Gautier at UCLouvain.

Dr. Felix GLASER

I studied chemistry at the University of Basel (Switzerland) where I received a M.Sc. degree under the supervision of Oliver S. Wenger in 2018 working on light-driven reactions involving challenging reduction steps. During my doctoral studies in the same group, I mainly focused on reactivity control for photochemical reactions as well as on dual photocatalysis. In 2023, I joined the group of Christoph Kerzig at the Johannes-Gutenberg University in Mainz (Germany) for nine month as a postdoctoral researcher to learn more on multi-component upconversion systems. Since November 2023, I work in the group of Ludovic Troian-Gautier as an FNRS postdoctoral fellow and investigate transition metal complexes based on earth-abundant metals. I have orcid (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6717-916X) and google scholar account (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8fTXQ 0AAAAJ&hl=de&oi=ao).

PhD Students

Katerina ACHILLEOS

I received my Bachelor degree in Chemistry at University of Crete in Greece. Then, my internship took place in the Microbiological and Physical Chemistry laboratory at factories of Charalambides Christis LTD in Cyprus. Afterwards, I received my Master’s degree in Biological Inorganic Chemistry at University of Ioannina in Greece. My Master’s thesis title was ‘’Synthesis and Characterization of Metalloporphyrins and NC-Dots Hybrids for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production’’ with the guidance of professor Coutsolelos Athanasios. Currently, I moved at Belgium as a PhD student at UCLouvain with the guidance of professor Ludovic Troian Gautier, ready for the challenges!

Céline BOURGOIS

I am Céline Bourgois, and I completed my Master’s degree in Chemistry at UCLouvain in 2024. During my studies, I worked on a master’s thesis under the supervision of Prof. Elias and Prof. Troian-Gautier where I focused on photoinduced electron transfer processes at metal oxide interfaces. This research strengthened my expertise in material photochemistry. In September 2024, I began my PhD, continuing my research journey under the guidance of Prof. Troian-Gautier. My interests lie in organic and inorganic synthesis, and I have developed strong skills in advanced analytical techniques, including NMR, transient absorption, and spectro-electrochemistry. I am driven by curiosity and a passion for advancing chemical research, and I’m excited to contribute to the innovative work in our lab.

Julien RUBENS

My scientific journey led me to earn a Master’s degree in Chemical Sciences in 2024 from UCLouvain, following my Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 2022. During my Master, I completed an internship at Trinity College under the supervision of Thorfinnur Gunnlaugsson and performed a master thesis with Professors B. Elias and L. Troian-Gautier where I studied cage-escape processes using ruthenium (II) and iridium (III) complexes. Passionate about both organic and inorganic chemistry, I am eager to continue my research and thus started a PhD in September 2024 with Professors B. Elias and L. Troian-Gautier. My intellectual curiosity drives me to learn new techniques and tackle the many challenges of fundamental research.

Lakshmi SATHEESH BABU

My academic journey began with an undergraduate degree in Electronics (BSc), followed by a Master of Technology in Nanotechnology and a Master of Science in Nanoscience (by research) from Amity University, Noida, India. I then completed my master's thesis at IMEC (Interuniversity Microelectronics Center) in Belgium. Currently, I am pursuing a PhD in the department of Molecular Chemistry, Materials, and Catalysis at UCLouvain under the supervision of Prof. Ludovic Troian-Gautier.

Joffrey SCRIVEN

My academic and scientific journey began in 2018 at UCLouvain. During my studies, I had the chance to work on palladium-catalyzed DAAA reaction at UCD in Dublin. In 2024, I performed my master thesis under the supervision of Profs. Elias and Troian-Gautier where I performed mechanistic investigations of deaminative benzylic arylation on various diazenes in collaboration with the Michaudel group in Texas, USA. After my graduation in 2024, I began my PhD under the guidance of Profs. Elias and Troian-Gautier working on the synthesis of complexes based on abundant metals for photocatalysis applications.

Ana Karem VEGA SALGADO

I received my B. Sc in Physics at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico, where I developed the colloidal synthesis of CdSe nanoparticles. After that, I move to the National Institute of Astrophysics Optics and Electronics and performed a M.Sc. followed by a PhD in Optics with a special focus on the study of charge transport in perovskite semiconductors. My passion for optics led me to lead a science outreach chapter, through which we won the First Outstanding Chapter Award at the international Optics+Photonics 2022 congress organized by SPIE. Since February 2024, I am undertaking a second PhD under the guidance of Prof. Ludovic Troian-Gautier.