Meet the team: Simon Mc Grady

Simon joined our team in October 2024 as a PhD student / Doctoral Researcher and played a key role in setting up the lab. With his two years of industry experience as a Laboratory Scientist at Boehringer Ingelheim, he knew exactly how he would like the lab and his fume hood to be set up!

Read here what our Bachelor student Joseph writes about Simon:

Simon is a first-year PhD student at the Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry at TU Wien, where he is part of the Functional Aromatic Molecules lab. His work focuses on the synthesis and development of novel functional aromatic materials, particularly aiming at the synthesis of conjugated macrocycles with potential applications in energy storage and optoelectronics.

During his master thesis Simon already worked with Florian on the synthesis of PCT and other conjugated macrocycles, investigating their potential application as organic battery materials and as building blocks for functional organic materials (Note: Simon has recently changed his surname from Eder to Mc Grady).

Before beginning his doctoral studies, Simon gained valuable industry experience during two years at Boehringer Ingelheim, where he was involved in the synthesis of pharmaceutical drug candidates. This background provided him with a strong foundation in practical laboratory methods and project-oriented research, which he now applies to academic challenges in synthetic and materials chemistry.

Alongside his PhD research, Simon supervises and guides students in the lab, sharing his experience and fostering an environment of exchange and teamwork.