Our group is driven by the passion of discovering new reactivity in organic chemistry, especially using catalysis. Basing on high energy molecules, such as strained rings or cyclic hypervalent iodine reagents for electrophilic alkynylation and other transformations, we develop non-conventional bond disconnections for the synthesis of important building blocks and bioactive molecules, as well as the modification of biomolecules. We also control the regioselective functionalization of alkenes and alkynes using in situ tethering approaches. Regular group meetings and seminars allow us to share and enhance our knowledge and love of organic chemistry.
OPENINGS IN THE GROUP For postdoc: earliest in Fall 2027. For PhD: earliest in Fall 2027. For master projects and thesis: earliest in Fall 2026.
LCSO on Twitter (Waser Group@LcsoLab)
Latest News
January 12: The work of Tin and Trinh in collaboration wiht AstraZeneca on chlorination via the photolysis of Willgerodt-type reagents has now been published in open access at JACS Au (DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.5c01226).
January 8: Good buy and good luck to Dr. Adriana Faraone, who has finished her postdoc in our group.
January 7: The work of Duncan and Alexandre on the palladium catalyzed carboetherificatio of cyclopropenes has now been published in open access at Chem. Sci. (DOI: 10.1039/D5SC09351A).
January 1: Welcome to Dr. Philipp Schoch for his postdoc!
December 5: Congratulations to Clément on winning the Dean’s Award 2025 for excellence in teaching and mentoring!
December 3: Congrats to Tin for receiving the Doctoral Program Thesis Distinction!
December 1: Another wonderful LCSO Christmas dinner, raclette, a fun quiz and the LCSO Awards!
November 4: Christine, Stefano, and Xinjian Ji in the Heinis group report in JACS the first use of EBX reagents for site-selective cysteine functionalization, achieving selective modification of a single cysteine in KEAP1 even in cell lysate. (DOI: /10.1021/jacs.5c13391)
November 1: Welcome to Dr. Uttam Dhawa for his postdoc!
October 14: Nina and Valentas have successfully passed their candidacy exams. Congratulations!
October 10: Another great edition of the LCSO Alumni gala buffet froid at EPFL!
October 9: Congratulations to Yuji for receiving a Best Poster Prize Award at the ChemBioParis2025!
October 9: Congrats to Clément for winning the best poster presentation award at the first EDCH Research Day!
October 4: The review of Emma on cycloaddition and annulation reactions with Donor-Acceptor cyclobutanes has now appeared in Helvetica Chimica Acta! (DOI: /10.1002/hlca.202500140)
October 1: Welcome to the lab to Felix Göbel for his PhD! Welcome to Anissa Haim from the University of Amsterdam for her exchange.
September 9: Clément has successfully passed his candidacy exam. Congratulations!
September 5: Congratulations to Adriana for receiving the SynOpen Poster Prize Award at The International Symposium on Synthesis and Catalysis in Coimbra!
September 4: Congratulations to Christine for winning the runner up poster prize in the chemical biology session of the SCS Fall Meeting!
September 1: Welcome back to the lab to Lucie Orain and Daphne Lucidarme for their PhD! Welcome to Alex-Mihai Simionescu from the University of Groningen for his master’s thesis.
August 29: The review of Xingyu on the group’s work on peptide/protein functionalization and macrocyclization has now been published in open access at Acc. Chem. Res. (DOI: /10.1021/acs.accounts.5c00451)
August 29: Emma Robert successfully defended her PhD thesis. She is the PhD student number 32 to obtain their degree at LCSO. Congratulations!
August 12: The LCSO Summer Group Outing took place in Les Diablerets and Glacier 3000!
July 10: Emma has successfully passed her final PhD exam. Congratulations!