He works on antimicrobial compounds and synthesises small molecules that tackle bacteria. In a paper that was recently published in Nature Communications, he prepared enzyme inhibitors for a bacterium that affects people with cystic fibrosis.

Tomas was first introduced to cryptic crosswords when he solved the Trinity College cryptic crossword together with his colleagues in the Spring Group and since then it’s been a tradition.

“It was my first exposure to cryptic crosswords – I even bought a cryptic crossword book to better understand the different rules that they follow. I tried to apply as many of the rules as I could in this one.”

The solutions are at the bottom of the article.

Issue 69 crossword draw winner

Congratulations to Dr Jon Stonehouse, who won our winter Chem@Cam cryptic crossword prize draw and has received a sustainable Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry travel cup.

Jon completed his PhD in Prof. James Keeler’s Group in 1994 in new nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques. He recalls his time in the Department:

“I had left a really brilliant NMR job and folks at Glaxo to do my PhD with James. It was an amazing experience and group dynamic and we were doing exciting new things in a hot subject!

I have many, many good memories of the Department, ranging from an afternoon lab-punting outing and sinking the punt (and many sets of keys) when we rode the punt down the rollers near Granta Place.

I also recall James standing in the taxi/ chauffeur line at Gatwick to meet us after returning from a conference in Asilomar, California. Where the dozens of taxi drivers were holding up placards with names of their passengers, James was holding up a Maurice Goldman NMR text. Fabulous. 

I worked for Procter & Gamble for 30 years, always using my Chemistry and using NMR to understand how consumer products work – in terms of the molecular properties and interactions that drive performance or problems. The last 15 years I was also the technical leader for P&G to help detect and prevent counterfeiting of P&G’s products which has been a dream role.

I learned so much about printing, coding, detection from a mobile photo, deep learning, in-field chemical testing and multi-variate mapping of trends. I retired in October 2024. Now, enjoying dog walking with my wife, Jo, time with our 3 daughters and Mitzi the golden retriever.

Solutions to Crossword 70

These articles were originally published in Chem@Cam Issues 69 and 70.