Principal Investigator
Enzo Olivieri
Born in the South of France (Cabriès, 1995), Enzo studied chemistry at the University of Aix-Marseille, where he obtained his BSc and MSc degrees in organic chemistry. In 2021, he obtained his PhD in molecular machines and chemical fuels under the supervision of Dr. Adrien Quintard at the University of Aix-Marseille.
In 2022, Enzo joined Dr. Dorian Didier's group at Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich for a short-term (6 months) postdoctoral position, focusing on photocatalysis and upconverting nanoparticles. Later in 2022, he moved to the University of Manchester to work as a postdoctoral researcher in the group of Prof. David Leigh, where his research focused on molecular machines, topology and the application of chemical fuels for endergonic synthesis.
In 2024, Enzo was appointed Lecturer in Organic Chemistry in Prof. David Leigh's group at the University of Manchester. In 2025, he was awarded an Ambizione fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation (900k CHF over 4 years) and began his independent career as a junior PI at the University of Basel under the mentorship of Prof. Marcel Mayor. His research focuses on developing new catalytic strategies, with a particular emphasis on using chemical fuels as an energy source to drive endergonic reactions.
PhD Students
Renwei Xiao
Renwei Xiao is a doctoral researcher in Chemistry at the University of Basel. He received his Bachelor's degree in Materials Chemistry from Guizhou University in 2020 and his Master's degree in Chemistry from the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in 2024, where he worked under the supervision of Prof. Xumu Zhang. His Master's research focused on asymmetric hydrogenation, reductive amination, and ligand development.
In 2025, he joined the group of Enzo Olivieri at the University of Basel, where his doctoral research focuses on molecular machines, chemical fuels, and fuels-driven endergonic synthesis.
Past Members
People who have spent time in the group and moved on. Thank you for everything you brought to the lab.
Besa Kadriu
PhD Student Left in 2026Molecular machines and endergonic synthesis.
Roderic Rominger
Wahlpraktikum 2026Simon Zimmermann
Schlussversuch 2026Eric Heller
Wahlpraktikum 2026The Group