Melen Research Group
Advancing Main Group Chemistry
About Professor Rebecca Melen
Rebecca Melen studied for her undergraduate and PhD degrees at the University of Cambridge, completing her PhD in 2012 with Prof. Wright. Following postdoctoral studies with Prof. Stephan in Toronto and with Prof. Gade in Heidelberg, she took up a position at Cardiff University in 2014, where she is now a professor in inorganic chemistry. In 2018, she was awarded an EPSRC early career fellowship. She is the recipient of the 2019 RSC Harrison Meldola Memorial Prize and a 2022 Philip Leverhulme Prize in Chemistry. Her research interests lie in main group chemistry and the applications of main group Lewis acids in synthesis and catalysis. When not in the lab she enjoys being outdoors and spending her time with her horses.
Professional Appointments
2025–2028 Mercator Fellow on RTG3082 grant “Engineering Covalent Bonds in Molecules and Materials (Ec=m2)” at Universität des Saarlandes, Germany.
2021–Current Professor in Inorganic Chemistry, Cardiff University, UK.
2019–2021 Reader in Inorganic Chemistry, Cardiff University, UK.
2017–2019 Senior Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry, Cardiff University, UK.
2015–2016 Visiting Professorship with Prof. Dr. Martin Oestreich as part of the Clara Immerwahr Award, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany.
2014–2017 Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry, Cardiff University, UK.
2013–2014 Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship with Prof. Dr. Lutz H. Gade, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
2012–2013 Postdoctoral Fellowship with Prof. Douglas W. Stephan, University of Toronto, Canada.
2010–2011 ERASMUS placement with Prof. Dr. Lutz H. Gade, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
Awards and Recognition
2022 Elected Fellow Learned Society Wales
2019 Learned Society of Wales Dillwyn Medal
2019 RSC Harrison Meldola Memorial Prize
2019 Bürgenstock Conference JSP Fellowship.
2018 Thieme Chemistry Journals Award winner
2016 Clara Immerwahr Award
2016 Fellow Higher Education Academy.
2014 European Young Researcher Award
2013 RSC Dalton Young Researcher Award
Positions on Committees and Editorships
2027–2029 Research Excellence Framework Panel member UOA 8.
2023–Current Royal Society URF Research Appointment Panel A(ii).
2023–Current External Examiner Undergraduate Studies, University of Lincoln.
2023–2024 RSC Dalton Division Awards Subcommittee RSC.
2023–Current Associate Editor of EES Catalysis (RSC).
2021–2023 External Examiner Undergraduate Studies, Trinity College Dublin.
2022–Current ACS Catalysis Editorial Advisory Board (ACS).
2022–Current External reviewer of promotion applications.
2021–Current Co-Guest Editor for EurJIC and ChemCatChem special issue.
2020–Current AsianJOC International Advisory Board (Wiley).
2020–Current ChemEurJ Early Career Advisory Board (Wiley).
2020–Current CHEM Catalysis Editorial Advisory Board (Elsevier).
2020–Current Organometallics Editorial Advisory Board (ACS).
2020–Current CHEM Editorial Advisory Board (Elsevier).
2020–current EPSRC Panel Member (responsive mode and interview).
2019–Current Editor of EIBC (Wiley).
2016–2019 SCI Young Chemists’ Panel Member.
2016–Current Member of the EPSRC Associate Peer Review College.
2016–2017 Dalton Division Travel Grants Subcommittee RSC.
2016–2022 Treasurer of the Main Group Interest Group of the RSC.
2016 Guest Editor for a Special Issue of Dalton Transactions.
2016–2019 Associate Editor of EIBC (Wiley).
2015–2017 Dalton Division Awards Subcommittee RSC.
2015–2021 Dalton Division Council member of the RSC.
2015–2019 Treasurer of the South East Wales local section of the RSC.
2014–Current Peer Review of EU, DFG, FNRS, FNR, Marsden Fund, NOW, EPSRC, RS, Leverhulme, and NSERC research grants.
2014–Current Peer review of manuscripts for Science, Elsevier, RSC, ACS and Wiley VCH journals/books.
2014–Current Internal/External PhD examiner: UK (×9); Overseas (×6). External MRes examiner: University of South Wales, UK (×1).