RESEARCH FELLOW

Alex graduated from the University of Warwick in June 2021 with a BSc in Chemistry (1st Class Honours).

In October 2021, Alex joined BonLab to do a PhD research project on biodegradable polyester water-based dispersions, aiming to find an alternative to traditional polyacrylate emulsions used in coatings and adhesives.

From February 2026, Alex is a research fellow working on the ReNOMMs (Reconstructable Nano-Opto-Mechanical Metamaterials) project. Here he is looking to fabricate colloids of intricate shape and composition that can be assembled at scale into 3D metamaterials.

In his free time, Alex enjoys cooking, reading, and playing video games.

FINAL YEAR PhD RESEARCHER

Mars graduated from the University of Warwick in July 2023 with a BSc in biochemistry. In  2022, they undertook a summer project within Bonlab exploring the effect of molecular weight on pressure-sensitive adhesives formed by emulsion polymerisation. Upon rejoining the lab as a PhD student, Mars’ project centres on exploring the dynamics, fate, and biodegradability of nanoplastics in freshwater environments.
In their free time, Mars enjoys birdwatching, crocheting, and woodworking.

3rd YEAR PhD RESEARCHER

Yutong graduated with a BEng in Polymer Materials and Engineering from Hebei University of Technology (2018-2022, China). He continued his studies in polymer science and graduated with an MSc in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Warwick (2022-2023). His dissertation was on sustainable polymer chemistry using electrosynthesis. He joined BonLab in January 2024 as a PhD researcher.

His research focuses on the synthesis of bio-based and functionalized polyether polyols. The idea is to unravel the polymerization mechanism to get control of polymer composition and architecture, and to explore new catalytic systems. The physical and mechanical properties of the polymers and formulations will also be investigated. The project is carried out in collaboration with Covestro.

2nd YEAR PhD RESEARCHER

Zhebin joined BonLab in April 2024 as an MSc Polymer and Analytical Science project student. He began his PhD studies in September 2024 and is working on reconfigurable dynamic colloidal thermoset systems.

2nd YEAR PhD RESEARCHER

Li Liming obtained his bachelor's degree in Functional Materials from Donghua University, China, in 2022, where his research focused on machine learning applications, chemical synthesis, and electrospinning techniques. In 2023, he commenced his master's studies in Polymer Science at the University of Warwick, applying neural networks to predict molecular properties and advancing the integration of artificial intelligence in chemistry research. Upon completing his master's degree, he joined BonLab in January 2025 as a PhD researcher. His project will involve the investigation of small molecule eutectic glasses and melts with “plastic"-like” features.
In his free time, Li enjoys walking and exploring new and old electronic products.

2nd YEAR PhD RESEARCHER

Bowen graduated with a BS in Polymer Materials and Engineering from Donghua University (2019-2023, China). He continued his studies in polymer science and graduated with an MSc in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Leeds (2023-2024). His master’s thesis was on the extraction and preparation of Pickering emulsions from brewed coffee grounds. He joined BonLab at the start of January 2025 as a PhD researcher.

His research project started by looking at the mechanism of Pickering emulsion polymerization. More recently, his work focuses on the fabrication of anisotropic polymer particles for self-assembly into metamaterials.

2nd YEAR PhD RESEARCHER

Anna graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Padjadjaran University in Indonesia, where she completed her final project on polymeric materials. She then pursued her Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering at Bandung Institute of Technology in Indonesia, focusing on natural polymers for a sustainable future.

In February 2025, she began her PhD at the University of Warwick, working under the supervision of Professor Chaoying Wan from WMG and Professor Stefan Bon from the Chemistry Department. Her research will focus on nanocomposite materials to enhance the properties of polymers and elastomers.

1st YEAR PhD RESEARCHER

Thomas graduated from Aston University in July 2025 with a BSc in Applied Chemistry (1st class honours).
In October 2025, Tom joined BonLab as a PhD researcher. His project will involve encapsulating pigment particles to form colloidal dispersions. With the aim of creating better ink formulations intended for use in inkjet printing. 

In his free time, Tom enjoys cycling, cooking, and building audio electronics.

MRes RESEARCHER

Chengyu graduated from the University of Glasgow in June of 2023 with a BEng in Biomedical Engineering.

In September 2024, Chengyu joined BonLab as an MRes student. His research focuses on adopting a sustainable approach and investigating the introduction of bio-based design elements into gels to enable programming, communication, and control of their storage and release profiles.

In his free time, Chengyu enjoys cooking, skiing, and watching sports, such as football and Formula 1 racing. He also has a strong interest in different kinds of music.

1st YEAR UG RESEARCHER

1st YEAR UG RESEARCHER