Congratulations to Sam Drew, who from 450 submissions was selected as one of the 45 finalists of the REAXYS PhD prize. The Reaxys PhD Prize finalists comprise talented PhD students or recent graduates who have conducted original, innovative research in synthetic chemistry and have demonstrated excellence in methodology and approach, the prize is highly competitive and adjudged on six selection criteria;

• Originality, innovation
• Importance to the field
• Applicability
• Rigor of approach and methodology
• Quality and clarity of published work
• Supporting evidence of accomplishments (I.e., supervisor’s letter of recommendation, publication list)

All finalists are invited to this year's Reaxys PhD Prize Symposium, which will take place in London, September 22^nd and 23^rd, in the frame of the New Scientist Live. The Symposium is a great opportunity for students to meet their fellow Prize Finalists, the members of the Reaxys Advisory Board and present their work.

Samuel Drew from the Sherburn group, Australian National University.
Representative paper entitled: Unified total synthesis of the natural products endiandric acid A, kingianic acid E, and kingianins A, D, and F published in Chemical Science, 2015