Michael O’Neill
@michaeloneill.org
Inorganic Chemistry || University of Liverpool || Education || Blogging || Textbooks || www.michaeloneill.org || PERIODically Podcast supporter
I was teaching in Engineering this morning, and saw this sign about the invention of the goal net by the @evertonfc.com fan the building is named after.
November 10, 2025 at 11:20 AM
I was teaching in Engineering this morning, and saw this sign about the invention of the goal net by the @evertonfc.com fan the building is named after.
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
We are advertising for two PhD studentships in organometallic chemistry! Come and work with us @imperialchemistry.bsky.social from October 2026:
Advert 2) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Advert 2) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
PhD Studentship in C–H Functionalisation Using Polymetallic Complexes at Imperial College London on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - PhD Studentship in C–H Functionalisation Using Polymetallic Complexes at Imperial College London, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:46 PM
We are advertising for two PhD studentships in organometallic chemistry! Come and work with us @imperialchemistry.bsky.social from October 2026:
Advert 2) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Advert 2) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
This is excellent. Describes graduate salaries in the context of employers failing to invest in productivity growth. 10min read. theconversation.com/university-s...
University still pays off – even in lower-wage Britain
This isn’t a story about university losing its value. It’s a story about Britain becoming a lower wage economy.
theconversation.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:04 AM
This is excellent. Describes graduate salaries in the context of employers failing to invest in productivity growth. 10min read. theconversation.com/university-s...
Prepping for teaching magnetism next week, and discovering in an idle google that the word “quench” comes from an old English word for “extinguish”.
November 4, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Prepping for teaching magnetism next week, and discovering in an idle google that the word “quench” comes from an old English word for “extinguish”.
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Europe's MSCA postdoctoral fellowships are now attracting many researchers who would have gone to the US. So the payline has dropped below 10% (~1,600 fellowships to 17k applicants). Super tough situation. One more reason to double the next Horizon budget, as proposed by the EU Commission.
Applications for MCSA are up 64%! 50% now come from outside the EU. Trump effect?
The European Research market just got a hell of a lot more crowded.
EU should turn on the tap
marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/news/msca-po...
The European Research market just got a hell of a lot more crowded.
EU should turn on the tap
marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/news/msca-po...
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 receives record number of 17,058 proposals
This year’s annual MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call has attracted considerable interest from the research community with 17,058 proposals submitted.
marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu
November 3, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Europe's MSCA postdoctoral fellowships are now attracting many researchers who would have gone to the US. So the payline has dropped below 10% (~1,600 fellowships to 17k applicants). Super tough situation. One more reason to double the next Horizon budget, as proposed by the EU Commission.
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
It's been one year since my blog on the closure of Hull, which kind of blew up. A thread with some reflections on what's happened since then. 1/ www.michaeloneill.org/blog-1/2024/...
On Hull — Michael O'Neill
A personal reflection on the closure of Hull’s Chemistry Department, where I held my first academic post.
www.michaeloneill.org
October 29, 2025 at 9:39 AM
It's been one year since my blog on the closure of Hull, which kind of blew up. A thread with some reflections on what's happened since then. 1/ www.michaeloneill.org/blog-1/2024/...
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Something I have found interesting over the last few years is how first year students are so keen to draw Hess cycles in ways which reflect the energies of each system. Sheer horror in the workshop when I draw cycles like this.
October 31, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Something I have found interesting over the last few years is how first year students are so keen to draw Hess cycles in ways which reflect the energies of each system. Sheer horror in the workshop when I draw cycles like this.
Honest millennial question: what was academia like before emails?
October 31, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Honest millennial question: what was academia like before emails?
It's been one year since my blog on the closure of Hull, which kind of blew up. A thread with some reflections on what's happened since then. 1/ www.michaeloneill.org/blog-1/2024/...
On Hull — Michael O'Neill
A personal reflection on the closure of Hull’s Chemistry Department, where I held my first academic post.
www.michaeloneill.org
October 29, 2025 at 9:39 AM
It's been one year since my blog on the closure of Hull, which kind of blew up. A thread with some reflections on what's happened since then. 1/ www.michaeloneill.org/blog-1/2024/...
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Sound UP 👍
The legend that is the Japanese Ambassador to the UK enjoying a bowl of Scouse in Liverpool
October 25, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Sound UP 👍
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
On Thursday Sofia Olendraru from PERIODically presented at the Variety in Chemistry/Physics Higher Education Conference 2025!
Sofia presented her poster titled ‘Towards Period Dignity: Increasing and Improving Accessible Provision of Free Period Products’.
❤️🩸🧪
#ViCEPHEC2025
Sofia presented her poster titled ‘Towards Period Dignity: Increasing and Improving Accessible Provision of Free Period Products’.
❤️🩸🧪
#ViCEPHEC2025
August 30, 2025 at 10:57 AM
On Thursday Sofia Olendraru from PERIODically presented at the Variety in Chemistry/Physics Higher Education Conference 2025!
Sofia presented her poster titled ‘Towards Period Dignity: Increasing and Improving Accessible Provision of Free Period Products’.
❤️🩸🧪
#ViCEPHEC2025
Sofia presented her poster titled ‘Towards Period Dignity: Increasing and Improving Accessible Provision of Free Period Products’.
❤️🩸🧪
#ViCEPHEC2025
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Shoutout to whoever was like the news sucks, let’s spice it up by doing a jewel heist at the Louvre
October 19, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Shoutout to whoever was like the news sucks, let’s spice it up by doing a jewel heist at the Louvre
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Remember the Year of the MOOC from a decade ago? The one where tech bros predicted the end of all but 3-4 universities because who needs campuses when everyone can just take MOOCs and learn everything? Hits a little different now after pandemic pedagogy, huh? The tech hype cycle is a helluva drug.
October 16, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Remember the Year of the MOOC from a decade ago? The one where tech bros predicted the end of all but 3-4 universities because who needs campuses when everyone can just take MOOCs and learn everything? Hits a little different now after pandemic pedagogy, huh? The tech hype cycle is a helluva drug.
Doing cell volume/atomic radii problems in a tutorial today and thinking about how we are still using Pythagoras' work thousands of years after he died.
October 15, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Doing cell volume/atomic radii problems in a tutorial today and thinking about how we are still using Pythagoras' work thousands of years after he died.
Teaching scientific writing like
The harpoon was hurled.
October 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Teaching scientific writing like
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
🧪🧪 Nature: More than 30% of this century’s science Nobel prizewinners immigrated: see their journeys -- The most common destination for eventual Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry and medicine since 2000 is the United States
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
More than 30% of this century’s science Nobel prizewinners immigrated: see their journeys
The most common destination for eventual Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry and medicine since 2000 is the United States, Nature has found.
www.nature.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
🧪🧪 Nature: More than 30% of this century’s science Nobel prizewinners immigrated: see their journeys -- The most common destination for eventual Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry and medicine since 2000 is the United States
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
How do chemistry and menstruation connect? Oxford University students explored this through PERIODically, a podcast tackling stigma, sparking discussion and earning the team the 2024 Horizon Prize for Education. Watch the video: youtu.be/3QnO_8FKVIQ #ChemSky #RSCPrizes
2024 Horizon Prize for Education winner - PERIODically Podcast
YouTube video by Royal Society of Chemistry
youtu.be
October 7, 2025 at 10:20 AM
How do chemistry and menstruation connect? Oxford University students explored this through PERIODically, a podcast tackling stigma, sparking discussion and earning the team the 2024 Horizon Prize for Education. Watch the video: youtu.be/3QnO_8FKVIQ #ChemSky #RSCPrizes
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
The Mehta Group is recruiting a PhD student in Inorganic Synthesis and Catalysis.
www.chem.ox.ac.uk/sitefiles/me...
We are also taking on students through the iMAT CDT program! www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/g...
If you are interested, apply!
www.chem.ox.ac.uk/sitefiles/me...
We are also taking on students through the iMAT CDT program! www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/g...
If you are interested, apply!
www.chem.ox.ac.uk
October 8, 2025 at 7:16 AM
The Mehta Group is recruiting a PhD student in Inorganic Synthesis and Catalysis.
www.chem.ox.ac.uk/sitefiles/me...
We are also taking on students through the iMAT CDT program! www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/g...
If you are interested, apply!
www.chem.ox.ac.uk/sitefiles/me...
We are also taking on students through the iMAT CDT program! www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/g...
If you are interested, apply!
Dreamt that Tesco started offering a 2-pill pack of paracetamol in the Meal Deal (as the snack).
I honestly think it would be a commercial success, thinking about the profit margins and the shelf space.
I honestly think it would be a commercial success, thinking about the profit margins and the shelf space.
October 8, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Dreamt that Tesco started offering a 2-pill pack of paracetamol in the Meal Deal (as the snack).
I honestly think it would be a commercial success, thinking about the profit margins and the shelf space.
I honestly think it would be a commercial success, thinking about the profit margins and the shelf space.
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Really sensible asks from the IOP here.
Short-term: (1) funding for physics labs; (2) an "early warning" system to identify at-risk Departments; (3) reduce pressures on international recruitment.
Long-term: (4) reform HE funding so that the full cost of teaching Physics can be met.
Short-term: (1) funding for physics labs; (2) an "early warning" system to identify at-risk Departments; (3) reduce pressures on international recruitment.
Long-term: (4) reform HE funding so that the full cost of teaching Physics can be met.
Quarter of UK university physics departments at risk of closing.
Consequence of policies of successive govts, real cut in university income, hard to recruit foreign students.
Science subjects cut as they require heavy investment. Skills shortages will deepen.
Consequence of policies of successive govts, real cut in university income, hard to recruit foreign students.
Science subjects cut as they require heavy investment. Skills shortages will deepen.
Quarter of UK university physics departments at risk of closing, survey finds
Four out of five making staff cuts as physicists say findings are ‘great concern’ for UK’s leadership in important areas
www.theguardian.com
September 20, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Really sensible asks from the IOP here.
Short-term: (1) funding for physics labs; (2) an "early warning" system to identify at-risk Departments; (3) reduce pressures on international recruitment.
Long-term: (4) reform HE funding so that the full cost of teaching Physics can be met.
Short-term: (1) funding for physics labs; (2) an "early warning" system to identify at-risk Departments; (3) reduce pressures on international recruitment.
Long-term: (4) reform HE funding so that the full cost of teaching Physics can be met.
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
From @maxdietz.bsky.social and Simon Aldridge’s group, an example of a main-group tin-carbonyl complex (@science.org).
Above 0 degrees Celsius, this CO complex rearranges to form a tin carbene complex.
🔗 CSD Entry ELAMIR: dx.doi.org/10.5517/ccdc...
#FeaturedStructureFriday #CompChemSky
Above 0 degrees Celsius, this CO complex rearranges to form a tin carbene complex.
🔗 CSD Entry ELAMIR: dx.doi.org/10.5517/ccdc...
#FeaturedStructureFriday #CompChemSky
September 26, 2025 at 10:18 AM
From @maxdietz.bsky.social and Simon Aldridge’s group, an example of a main-group tin-carbonyl complex (@science.org).
Above 0 degrees Celsius, this CO complex rearranges to form a tin carbene complex.
🔗 CSD Entry ELAMIR: dx.doi.org/10.5517/ccdc...
#FeaturedStructureFriday #CompChemSky
Above 0 degrees Celsius, this CO complex rearranges to form a tin carbene complex.
🔗 CSD Entry ELAMIR: dx.doi.org/10.5517/ccdc...
#FeaturedStructureFriday #CompChemSky
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Solidarity with @leicesterucu.bsky.social colleagues - on strike to protect their institution, their colleagues, and their students
I don’t want to be on a picket line today. I’d rather be teaching my students or in the lab with @kilpatrickgroup.bsky.social - not standing in the rain outside my own workplace.
But the threat of compulsory redundancies and cuts to @leicesterchem.bsky.social 🇬🇧🥈leaves us no real choice.
But the threat of compulsory redundancies and cuts to @leicesterchem.bsky.social 🇬🇧🥈leaves us no real choice.
October 1, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Solidarity with @leicesterucu.bsky.social colleagues - on strike to protect their institution, their colleagues, and their students
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Things have got bad in UK HE when a department like Leicester Chemistry is facing these measures. Solidarity to all the staff picketing today.
I don’t want to be on a picket line today. I’d rather be teaching my students or in the lab with @kilpatrickgroup.bsky.social - not standing in the rain outside my own workplace.
But the threat of compulsory redundancies and cuts to @leicesterchem.bsky.social 🇬🇧🥈leaves us no real choice.
But the threat of compulsory redundancies and cuts to @leicesterchem.bsky.social 🇬🇧🥈leaves us no real choice.
October 1, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Things have got bad in UK HE when a department like Leicester Chemistry is facing these measures. Solidarity to all the staff picketing today.
Thinking today of Leicester, a Chemistry department with a long-standing reputation for superb teaching.
It is a complete scandal that HE funding is forcing fantastic academics into situations like this.
It is a complete scandal that HE funding is forcing fantastic academics into situations like this.
I don’t want to be on a picket line today. I’d rather be teaching my students or in the lab with @kilpatrickgroup.bsky.social - not standing in the rain outside my own workplace.
But the threat of compulsory redundancies and cuts to @leicesterchem.bsky.social 🇬🇧🥈leaves us no real choice.
But the threat of compulsory redundancies and cuts to @leicesterchem.bsky.social 🇬🇧🥈leaves us no real choice.
October 1, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Thinking today of Leicester, a Chemistry department with a long-standing reputation for superb teaching.
It is a complete scandal that HE funding is forcing fantastic academics into situations like this.
It is a complete scandal that HE funding is forcing fantastic academics into situations like this.