Staff profile

Louis obtained his MSci degree from the University of Bristol in 2015. His PhD (2015-2019) at the University of Bath was co-supervised by Professor Mike Hill and Professor Ian Manners (University of Bristol), and focussed on the use of alkaline earth-mediated catalysis for the synthesis of inorganic polymers. In March 2020, he joined the research group of Professor Jun Okuda as a postdoctoral researcher at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, where his research focussed on molecular hydride complexes and heterometallic metal-metal bonded main group species. From February 2022 until December 2023, Louis held a position as SCG Early Career Research Fellow in the group of Professor Dermot O'Hare at the University of Oxford, where he was involved in projects related to polymers, inorganic materials, organometallic chemistry and main group-mediated small molecule activation. After a career break and a brief stint as Research Technologist at Dycotec Materials Ltd (Wiltshire), Louis returned to the Hill group at the University of Bath in January 2025, where his research again gravitated towards reactive and structurally interesting heterobimetallic and main group organometallics. Louis joined Durham University as Assistant Professor in Inorganic Chemistry in September 2026.

 

Research Interests

Research in the group is focused on the synthesis, structure, bonding, and reactivity of molecular compounds of the s- and p-block elements, especially those based on earth-abundant elements and with unusual structures and chemical bonding. We use X-ray diffraction, NMR, optical, vibrational, and X-ray spectroscopy in addition to computational chemistry to study the properties of these compounds. Our goal is to develop the reactivity of the main group elements to enable their application as sustainable catalytic reagents for the synthesis of organic and inorganic molecules and materials.

Research Opportunities in the Morris group

We welcome enquiries about research in our group at all levels, including MChem, PhD and post-doctoral positions. Contact Louis to discuss potential positions available.

Journal Article

• C–H Magnesiation of Unactivated Arenes by a Bulky β-Diketiminato Magnesium n -Butyl Complex
  
  Morris, L. J., Morales, A., Wilson, A. S. S., Hill, M. S., & McMullin, C. L. (2026). C–H Magnesiation of Unactivated Arenes by a Bulky β-Diketiminato Magnesium n -Butyl Complex. Chemical Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1039/d6sc04717c