Winner: 2025 Corday-Morgan Mid-Career Prize for 九州影院
Professor Kim Jelfs
Imperial College London
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2025 Corday-Morgan Mid-Career Prize for 九州影院: awarded for innovation in the computational discovery of organic materials through the use of both molecular simulations and artificial intelligence techniques.
Professor Jelfs' research has concentrated on the development and application of computation to accelerate the discovery of new materials, using computational chemistry and, more recently, artificial intelligence (AI). Kim has focused on materials built primarily from organic building blocks, with applications in photocatalysis, flow batteries, fuel cells, molecular separations, sensing and optoelectronics. She has a particular focus on including consideration of whether a material can be synthesised as part of her computational screening processes, and works closely with a wide range of experimental collaborators.
Biography
Kim completed her PhD in Computational 九州影院 at University College London (UK) in 2010, studying the crystal growth of zeolitic materials. She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher conducting simulations across the experimental groups at the University of Liverpool, before beginning her independent research at Imperial College in 2013 with a Royal Society University Research Fellowship.
Kim was appointed to a lectureship in 2015, senior lecturer in 2018, reader in 2020, and has been a Professor of Computational Materials 九州影院 since 2022. Her group specialises in the use of computer simulations to assist in the discovery of supramolecular materials.
This includes the development of software to automate the assembly and testing of materials, with the application of artificial intelligence techniques including an evolutionary algorithm. The materials studied include porous materials for molecular separations or materials for the generation of renewable energy.
I am motivated by many things; the thrill of a new discovery, the enjoyment of brainstorming and working together with a larger team towards a common ambitious goal, but finally, and most importantly, by seeing group members go on to brilliant things beyond their time in my group.
Professor Kim Jelfs
Q&A with Professor Kim Jelfs
Tell us about somebody who has inspired or mentored you in your career.
I am very grateful to a wide range of mentors I have had the good fortune to be inspired and guided by over the years. I have also found informal peer mentoring by colleagues, many of whom I am lucky to consider friends, to be invaluable.
What motivates you?
I am motivated by many things; the thrill of a new discovery, the enjoyment of brainstorming and working together with a larger team towards a common ambitious goal, but finally, and most importantly, by seeing group members go on to brilliant things beyond their time in my group.
Can you tell us about a scientific development on the horizon that you are excited about?
The field of artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving and already showing a lot of impact, and potential for more, in chemistry. It will be exciting over the next few years to see which developments will have the most impact and widespread adoption by the chemistry community, and how this can help us tackle global challenges.
What has been a challenge for you (either personally or in your career)?
Balancing family life when having a young child and other family commitments is a challenge. I am very grateful for the RSC's initiatives in this area and the advice of mentors and colleagues who can not only empathise, but are also role models in how to achieve a good work-life balance.