After gaining a 1^st class (hon) MChem degree from the University of Leeds, U.K. (2006-2010), Rianne continued her studies at Leeds and gained a PhD in “Synthesis of novel functionalised β-ketoiminate and β-diketonate metal complexes for their use in anti-cancer treatment” (2010-2014) under the supervision of Professor Patrick McGowan.

Rianne then spent just over a year as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Edinburgh, U.K., working with Professor Polly Arnold on the synthesis of low-valent uranium complexes supported by macrocyclic “Pacman” type ligands, and studied their abilities to activate small molecules.

In August 2016, Rianne was awarded he first independent lectureship at the University of Bradford, where she delivered lectures and research projects in bioinorganic chemistry. During this time (2018 and 2019), Rianne was awarded an August-Wilhelm Scheer visitng professorship at the Technical University of Munch (TUM), where she worked with Professor Fritz Kühn on the synthesis of vanadium N-heteocyclic complexes for applications in catalysis and as potential anticancer compounds.

In August 2019, Rianne was employed as Lecturer of Inorganic Chemistry at UEA, and as of February 2021 she was awarded a prestigious UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship on “Chemical and biological investigations of new vanadium compounds: determining their potential in the treatment of cancer”, which will be conducted between 2021-2025. 

See the groups website for further details.

Selected Publications

Bis(N-picolinamido)cobalt(II) Complexes Display Antifungal Activity toward Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus L. H. D. Ghandhi, S. Bidula, C. M. Pask, R. M. Lord* and P. C. McGowan* ChemMedChem 2021, doi: 10.1002/cmdc.202100159 (just accepted) (Special issue: Metals in Medicine)

Understanding the Potential In Vitro Modes of Action of Bis(β-diketonato) Oxovanadium(IV) Complexes B. Sergi, I. Bulut, Y. Xia, Z. A. E. Waller, Y. Yildizhan, C. Acilan* and R. M. Lord* ChemMedChem 2021, 16(15), 2402-2410 (Special issue: Metals in Medicine)

Rhodium(III) Dihalido Complexes: The Effect of Ligand Substitution and Halido Coordination on Increasing Cancer Cell Potency, R. M. Lord,* M. Zegke, A. M. Basri, C. M. Pask, P. C. McGowan, Inorg. Chem. 2021, 60(3), 2076–2086

Bis(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) Ferrocenyl β‐Diketonate Complexes: Exhibiting Nanomolar Potency against Human Cancer Cell Lines, M. Allison, P. Caramés‐Méndez, C. M. Pask, R. M. Phillips, R. M. Lord,* P. C. McGowan* Chem. Eur. J. 2021, 27(11), 3737-3744

• CHE-4301Y: Bonding, Structure and Periodicity - tutorials

• CHE-5301B: Inorganic Chemistry - tutorials

• CHE-6001Y: Research Projects

• CHE-6003Y: Advanced Laboratory

• CHE-7001Y: Research Projects

• CHE-7301Y: Advanced Topics in Inorganic Chemistry

• BIO-7017A: Frontiers in Molecular Medicine