Ian Tonks
@ianatonks.bsky.social
chemistry professor. catalysis, mechanism, synthesis, and polymers. likes to run.
https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/tonksgroup/home
https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/tonksgroup/home
Reposted by Ian Tonks
Join us at our Faraday Discussion on: Understanding molecular catalysis through computation and experiment where we will explore the latest research in the field. First deadline (oral abstracts) is coming up on 5th October 2026...
Find out more (and submit an abstract): invt.io/1bxbzpnohoi
Find out more (and submit an abstract): invt.io/1bxbzpnohoi
I've registered for Understanding molecular catalysis through computation and experiment FD, join me
Register now
invt.io
September 7, 2026 at 8:15 AM
Join us at our Faraday Discussion on: Understanding molecular catalysis through computation and experiment where we will explore the latest research in the field. First deadline (oral abstracts) is coming up on 5th October 2026...
Find out more (and submit an abstract): invt.io/1bxbzpnohoi
Find out more (and submit an abstract): invt.io/1bxbzpnohoi
My NSF co-I grant this year was only ranked medium priority, but getting a rejection end of August and reading the news sure makes it sting extra bad. Looking forward to taking the feedback and turning it around on v. short notice for a chance at success that’s prob 50% less likely than historical.
NSF is substantially reducing grants, zeroing out many SBE subdivisions, & withholding the funds to spend next year on central initiatives:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Exclusive: NSF set to issue lowest number of new grants in four decades
The US science-funding agency is withholding $1 billion of its budget so that the money can go to a special White House project.
www.nature.com
August 24, 2026 at 3:08 AM
My NSF co-I grant this year was only ranked medium priority, but getting a rejection end of August and reading the news sure makes it sting extra bad. Looking forward to taking the feedback and turning it around on v. short notice for a chance at success that’s prob 50% less likely than historical.
I thought the new ACS logo was going to be $📚$📚$📚 $📚$
August 5, 2026 at 1:32 AM
I thought the new ACS logo was going to be $📚$📚$📚 $📚$
fwiw, this admin isn’t even focused on making pizzas. More like a Ford Pinto, which they have confused for a food product. Or magic beans.
cutting pure science to prioritize applications is fundamentally like asking farmers not to waste time producing grain, cheese, and tomatoes and focus on making pizzas
July 12, 2026 at 3:02 PM
fwiw, this admin isn’t even focused on making pizzas. More like a Ford Pinto, which they have confused for a food product. Or magic beans.
happy to share our latest in JACS, enabling polymerization of of CO2-derived lactones through contrathermodynamic photoisomerization. Led by our amazing postdoc Arron Deacy, it's the crossover story my lab has been waiting for (Ti catalysis *and* CO2 polymers)! pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Contra-Thermodynamic α,β- to β,γ-Photodeconjugation of an Inert CO2-Derived δ-Lactone Enables Facile Ring-Opening Polymerization
The ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of δ-lactones derived from the telomerization of CO2 and butadiene offers a platform to valorize cheap and abundant waste products into commercially competitive p...
pubs.acs.org
June 23, 2026 at 1:29 AM
happy to share our latest in JACS, enabling polymerization of of CO2-derived lactones through contrathermodynamic photoisomerization. Led by our amazing postdoc Arron Deacy, it's the crossover story my lab has been waiting for (Ti catalysis *and* CO2 polymers)! pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Can someone explain to me why @acs.org needs this information when I register for the ACS National Meeting? I feel like half of these (MANDATORY, mind you) checkboxes are just to sell my information to marketers I want nothing of?
June 15, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Can someone explain to me why @acs.org needs this information when I register for the ACS National Meeting? I feel like half of these (MANDATORY, mind you) checkboxes are just to sell my information to marketers I want nothing of?
Apropos of the grade inflation discussion, let it be known that I EARNED my C- in quantum from my Ivy League alma mater, thank you very much.
May 21, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Apropos of the grade inflation discussion, let it be known that I EARNED my C- in quantum from my Ivy League alma mater, thank you very much.
Back-to-back papers out from postdoc extraordinaire Arron Deacy, demonstrating photochem to drive contrathermodynamic isomerizations of CO2-derived lactones, significantly improving the thermodynamics of ring-opening polymerization! chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.... chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10....
April 6, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Back-to-back papers out from postdoc extraordinaire Arron Deacy, demonstrating photochem to drive contrathermodynamic isomerizations of CO2-derived lactones, significantly improving the thermodynamics of ring-opening polymerization! chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.... chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10....
Anyone know when SBIR/STTR re-authorization is expected to come through Congress (or if that's even in the cards)? My Feb 2025 grant applications are getting pretty dusty... @jeremymberg.bsky.social
April 3, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Anyone know when SBIR/STTR re-authorization is expected to come through Congress (or if that's even in the cards)? My Feb 2025 grant applications are getting pretty dusty... @jeremymberg.bsky.social
Absolutely thrilled to share that Tonks Group postdoc Dr. Allison Smith has been named an AOB Postdoctoral Fellow--massive congratulations on this well-earned honor, Allison!
Congratulations to our 2026 Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows!
We’re excited to announce our expanded class of 18 research fellows who will receive a total of $6.7M+ in science funding over the next three years.
News release w/ awardee names: www.beckman-foundation.org/latest-news/...
We’re excited to announce our expanded class of 18 research fellows who will receive a total of $6.7M+ in science funding over the next three years.
News release w/ awardee names: www.beckman-foundation.org/latest-news/...
Beckman Foundation Announces 2026 Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows
Beckman Foundation Announces 2026 Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows
www.beckman-foundation.org
April 2, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Absolutely thrilled to share that Tonks Group postdoc Dr. Allison Smith has been named an AOB Postdoctoral Fellow--massive congratulations on this well-earned honor, Allison!
Thanks for publishing with us, Andreu!
We have our first publication from Fribourg! So happy that is also in Organometallics, one of my favourite journals 😊 pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
Congrats to @mikaelleroch.bsky.social and thanks to @unifr.bsky.social chemistry department and everyone made it possible!
Congrats to @mikaelleroch.bsky.social and thanks to @unifr.bsky.social chemistry department and everyone made it possible!
Isomerization and Dimerization of 1-Phenylpropyne upon Metalation with Alkyl Lithium Bases and Lewis Basic Polyamine Donors
Since the isomerization of C–C multiple bonds is a powerful strategy in organic synthesis, in this study we have investigated the isomerization upon metalation of 1-phenylpropyne with alkyllithium bas...
pubs.acs.org
March 14, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Thanks for publishing with us, Andreu!
Research.gov looking *pretty* barebones these days... what a sad state of affairs.
February 21, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Research.gov looking *pretty* barebones these days... what a sad state of affairs.
Oh great. With this latest drawdown, there's only going to be 2000 masked agents terrorizing our city!
February 4, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Oh great. With this latest drawdown, there's only going to be 2000 masked agents terrorizing our city!
The federal government is murdering our neighbors in broad daylight and carrying out a mission of terror against the Twin Cities. Schools and businesses are closed and people are staying home because they’re afraid of ICE. This is America in 2026: at war against its own people.
January 24, 2026 at 4:52 PM
The federal government is murdering our neighbors in broad daylight and carrying out a mission of terror against the Twin Cities. Schools and businesses are closed and people are staying home because they’re afraid of ICE. This is America in 2026: at war against its own people.
Work with everyone’s favorite element!
🚨 PhD alert 🚨 Exciting opportunity to develop titanium-based catalysts for bio-derived carbonate materials. Fully funded EPSRC DLA PhD studentship (4 years), based in my group at @leicesterchem.bsky.social.
🧪 More info: le.ac.uk/-/media/uol/...
🗓️ Deadline: 7 February 2026
#ChemSky #PhDChat
🧪 More info: le.ac.uk/-/media/uol/...
🗓️ Deadline: 7 February 2026
#ChemSky #PhDChat
January 19, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Work with everyone’s favorite element!
N-N coupling through Fe-catalyzed N-H dehydrocoupling! Check out our latest V2 on chemrxiv where we show you can catalyze PCET reactions using mild reagents below the thermodynamic limit of initial H• abstraction, make hard-to-access 2H-indazoles, and even skeletal edit! chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...
December 31, 2025 at 8:36 PM
N-N coupling through Fe-catalyzed N-H dehydrocoupling! Check out our latest V2 on chemrxiv where we show you can catalyze PCET reactions using mild reagents below the thermodynamic limit of initial H• abstraction, make hard-to-access 2H-indazoles, and even skeletal edit! chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...
Who needs the NIH, NSF, CDC, air traffic controllers, weather monitoring, or health insurance WHEN WE CAN HAVE THIS!!!!!
December 22, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Who needs the NIH, NSF, CDC, air traffic controllers, weather monitoring, or health insurance WHEN WE CAN HAVE THIS!!!!!
With the holidays approaching, just a friendly reminder to get your nominations in for the Organometallics Distinguished Author Award by Dec 31! OM authors who published with us in 2024 & 2025 are eligible. Nominate your favorites today! americanchemical.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
2026 Organometallics Distinguished Author Award
Make a nomination for the 2026 Organometallics Distinguished Author Award!
americanchemical.co1.qualtrics.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
With the holidays approaching, just a friendly reminder to get your nominations in for the Organometallics Distinguished Author Award by Dec 31! OM authors who published with us in 2024 & 2025 are eligible. Nominate your favorites today! americanchemical.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Reposted by Ian Tonks
www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/Vacancy...
My colleague David Liptrot has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher in his group! If you like synthetic, air sensitive chemistry 🧪 dynamic and friendly atmosphere this might be for you! check out the advert 👇
My colleague David Liptrot has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher in his group! If you like synthetic, air sensitive chemistry 🧪 dynamic and friendly atmosphere this might be for you! check out the advert 👇
AP13080 Research Associate in Organometallic Chemistry - Jobs at Bath
www.bath.ac.uk
October 6, 2025 at 9:08 AM
www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/Vacancy...
My colleague David Liptrot has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher in his group! If you like synthetic, air sensitive chemistry 🧪 dynamic and friendly atmosphere this might be for you! check out the advert 👇
My colleague David Liptrot has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher in his group! If you like synthetic, air sensitive chemistry 🧪 dynamic and friendly atmosphere this might be for you! check out the advert 👇
Reposted by Ian Tonks
Join our team! We're searching for a #postdoc for a project on bimetallic #uranium complexes 🧪☢️⚗️. Funded 12 month fellowship by the Karl-Ziegler-Foundation. Further information and link to the application portal: www.uni-hamburg.de/en/stellenan...
Deadline: 10 November. #chempostdoc #chemsky
Deadline: 10 November. #chempostdoc #chemsky
Job advertisement
www.uni-hamburg.de
October 17, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Join our team! We're searching for a #postdoc for a project on bimetallic #uranium complexes 🧪☢️⚗️. Funded 12 month fellowship by the Karl-Ziegler-Foundation. Further information and link to the application portal: www.uni-hamburg.de/en/stellenan...
Deadline: 10 November. #chempostdoc #chemsky
Deadline: 10 November. #chempostdoc #chemsky
Reposted by Ian Tonks
Following on from the PDRA post a little while back, we also have opportunities for PhD students.
Passionate about sustainable catalysis for synthesis? Three fully-funded (UK/home) PhD studentships in homogenous catalysis with Earth-abundant metals available at Bristol! Come and join the drEAMcat Prosperity Partnership collaboration between the University of Bristol, AstraZeneca and Labman.
www.bristol.ac.uk
October 17, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Following on from the PDRA post a little while back, we also have opportunities for PhD students.
Reposted by Ian Tonks
Passionate about sustainable catalysis for synthesis? Three fully-funded (UK/home) PhD studentships in homogenous catalysis with Earth-abundant metals available at Bristol! Come and join the drEAMcat Prosperity Partnership collaboration between the University of Bristol, AstraZeneca and Labman.
www.bristol.ac.uk
October 15, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Passionate about sustainable catalysis for synthesis? Three fully-funded (UK/home) PhD studentships in homogenous catalysis with Earth-abundant metals available at Bristol! Come and join the drEAMcat Prosperity Partnership collaboration between the University of Bristol, AstraZeneca and Labman.
Reposted by Ian Tonks
Please check this announcement for an early-career group leader, hosted jointly by our cluster of excellence RESOLV and the MPI Kofo. The thematic focus should be on catalysis: jobs.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/jobposting/4...
Early Career Research (ECR) Group Leader position (m/f/d) with the thematic focus on “Catalysis” within the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV
jobs.ruhr-uni-bochum.de
October 2, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Please check this announcement for an early-career group leader, hosted jointly by our cluster of excellence RESOLV and the MPI Kofo. The thematic focus should be on catalysis: jobs.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/jobposting/4...
Reposted by Ian Tonks
We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student to join our ERC project AGILE at the interface of inorganic, organic and organometallic chemistry. A vibrant Team, cool chemistry and everything takes place in the cultural capitol of Europe CHEMnitz. Apply now: www.tu-chemnitz.de/verwaltung/p...
Personal | Dezernate | Verwaltung | TU Chemnitz
Dezernat Personal: Personal
www.tu-chemnitz.de
September 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM
We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student to join our ERC project AGILE at the interface of inorganic, organic and organometallic chemistry. A vibrant Team, cool chemistry and everything takes place in the cultural capitol of Europe CHEMnitz. Apply now: www.tu-chemnitz.de/verwaltung/p...
Thrilled to see this write-up of my friend, Stefan Kilyanek, in C&EN. Trailblazer in many senses of the word, and a great person! Please take a read. cen.acs.org/synthesis/ch...
Stefan Kilyanek manipulates molecules to break their bonds
This electrochemist discovers new catalysts and finds unconventional ways to navigate the lab
cen.acs.org
September 23, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Thrilled to see this write-up of my friend, Stefan Kilyanek, in C&EN. Trailblazer in many senses of the word, and a great person! Please take a read. cen.acs.org/synthesis/ch...