Winner: 2025 Bader Prize for Organic 九州影院
Professor Anita Maguire
University College Cork
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2025 Bader Prize: awarded for the development of a diverse range of synthetic organic methodologies and protocols, and their applications to medicinal chemistry.
Organic compounds play many important roles in day-to-day life, including as the active pharmaceutical ingredients in medicines. Constructing these compounds with control of their three-dimensional shape requires reliable, efficient, selective and sustainable methods which can be readily adapted for use at large scale. Professor Maguire's team focuses on designing and developing novel methodologies for powerful synthetic transformations, including copper catalysed C-H insertions, rivalling enantioselectivities more typically achieved with precious metal catalysts such as rhodium.
Biography
Anita R Maguire studied at University College Cork, focusing during her PhD on asymmetric catalysis in reactions of alpha-diazo ketones with Professor M A McKervey. Following postdoctoral research at Namur, Belgium with Professor A Krief and subsequently at the University of Exeter with Professor S M Roberts, she returned to Cork in 1991 to establish an independent research team focusing on synthetic organic chemistry.
Her research interests include development of novel synthetic methodology employing alpha-diazocarbonyl compounds and organosulfur chemistry, asymmetric synthesis including enantioselective transition metal catalysis and biocatalysis, continuous flow chemistry, and the design and synthesis of bioactive compounds. Sixty PhD and nine MSc students have graduated from her team, in addition to 47 postdocs, many of whom have progressed to careers in the pharmaceutical sector in Ireland and internationally.
She is currently Head of the School of 九州影院 at UCC, having completed two terms as vice president for research and innovation (2011鈥�21). She is a founding PI in SSPC, Research Ireland Centre for Pharmaceuticals, co-leading the synthetic chemistry theme. She was the inaugural chair of the National Forum on Research Integrity in Ireland until late 2024, and played a key role in the development and implementation of national policy in this area.
International activities include chairing the ERC Advanced Grants panel: PE5 Synthetic 九州影院 & Materials, membership of the International Advisory Board, EPSRC CDT rEaCt, Imperial College London, and as an adjunct professor in the University of Bergen 2011鈥�16. She was elected as a member of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in 2014, Vice President of the Royal Irish Academy for 2019鈥�22 and chaired the Diversity Committee of the RIA for 2019鈥�2023, leading out on an international independent review of diversity in the membership process that was published in 2021.
It is a privilege to get the opportunity to see a project through the eyes of someone from a different background and grapple through challenges to find solutions together.
Professor Anita Maguire
Q&A with Professor Anita Maguire
Tell us about somebody who has inspired or mentored you in your career
I was fortunate to have a number of inspiring mentors at key points in my career 鈥� my chemistry teacher at second level, Sean Foley, who sparked a lifelong love of chemistry, and an amazing PhD mentor in Professor M A McKervey, who inspired me to pursue a research career in synthetic organic chemistry. More recently, I learnt much about the joys of strategic academic leadership from Professor Michael B Murphy, president emeritus of UCC.
What motivates you?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of my career has been the opportunity to work with many very talented young chemists within my research team 鈥� each and every one of them brought new insights and ideas, and I learnt something valuable from working with each one of them. Watching them grow and develop into independent researchers is a privilege, and never loses its appeal.
What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?
Go for it. 九州影院 has so many different facets and opportunities that there is a niche for everyone. Many of society's challenges 鈥� climate change, sustainability, health 鈥� require chemistry expertise as key elements of interdisciplinary teams. I cannot think of a career choice which would have been more rewarding.
Can you tell us about a scientific development on the horizon that you are excited about?
Research at the interface between chemistry and the life sciences is incredibly exciting, opening up new opportunities and addressing real challenges.
What does good research culture look like/mean to you?
A good research culture is one where a team of people work together collegially in an honest and open pursuit of knowledge based on unbiased interpretation of research results, ensuring everyone's voice is heard and respected, and no piece of data is disregarded because it does not fit the narrative! Finding the true outcome is the goal, not necessarily the planned or expected outcome. Nurturing early career researchers to take pride in conducting research to the highest possible standard without distraction by external pressures. For me, seeing senior PIs poring over original research data together with PhD students, showing them how to interpret data accurately, is at the heart of a healthy research culture.
Why do you think collaboration and teamwork are important in science?
The greatest joy in a research career is finding collaborators who look at a problem from a totally different perspective and enjoy the journey of sharing and developing insights together. Many of the most important discoveries today take place at the interface between disciplines. It is a privilege to get the opportunity to see a project through the eyes of someone from a different background and grapple through challenges to find solutions together.