Dr Daniel Foley is a Senior Lecturer (Above the Bar) at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, where his role spans research and teaching in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry.
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Originally from the UK, Dan began his chemistry career with an MChem at the University of Manchester (2007–2011), including an industrial secondment at Syngenta, before completing a PhD (2011–2015) under the supervision of Prof. Steve Marsden and Prof. Adam Nelson at the University of Leeds.
Dan's postdoctoral training included an EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship (2015–2017), conducted between Leeds and Diamond Light Source, followed by a Marie SkÅ‚odowska-Curie Fellowship in the group of Prof. Herbert Waldmann at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology in Dortmund, Germany.​
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Dan joined the faculty at the University of Canterbury, NZ, in September 2018. He leads a vibrant research team with interests in the design and synthesis of natural product‑inspired compounds, and in developing enabling synthetic methodologies that may accelerate drug discovery, and improve the sustainability and environmental profiles of chemical processes.
Outside work, Dan enjoys spending time with his family in Christchurch, exploring New Zealand, cycling, and an occasional surf at one of the city’s beaches.
Career
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2026 – : Senior Lecturer Above the Bar.
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2022 – 2025: Senior Lecturer.
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2018 – 2021: Lecturer in Organic Chemistry (University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand).
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2017 – 2018: Postdoctoral Researcher (Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany with Prof. Herbert Waldmann. Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship held).
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2015 – 2017: Postdoctoral Researcher (Univ. Leeds and Diamond Synchrotron, UK with Prof. Adam Nelson, Prof. Steve Marsden, and Prof. Frank von Delft. EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship held).
2011 – 2015: PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry (University of Leeds, UK with Prof. Steve Marsden and Prof. Adam Nelson).
2007 – 2011: Masters in Chemistry with Industrial Experience (University of Manchester, UK; industrial placement at Syngenta, UK, 2009-2010).
Awards and Recognition
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2025: Thieme Chemistry Journals Award.
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2025: University of St Andrews Global Fellowship.
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2025: Sabbatical leave (6 months).
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2018: Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship.
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2017: Max Planck Postdoctoral Fellowship.
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2015: EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship.
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Teaching
Dan is contributing to the following courses at the University of Canterbury in 2026:
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CHEM212: Chemical reactivity (15 sessions).
CHEM242: Organic chemistry (12 sessions).
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CHEM337: Organic synthesis (18 sessions).
CHEM342: Aromatic and heterocyclic chemistry (12 sessions).
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CHEM346: Contemporary medicinal chemistry (9 sessions).
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CHEM347: Drug Discovery and Development (12 sessions).
CHEM432: Organic chemistry (12 sessions).
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