The Winner of the Arqus Talent Scholarship Jonas Žurauskas: Studies and Intensive Scientific Activity Broaden Horizons and Engage in the International World of Science

Jonas Žurauskas

Following the announcement of the Talent Scholarship Competition of the European University Alliance Arqus, which aims to attract talented students from all over the world, Jonas Žurauskas, a PhD student at the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences of Vilnius University (VU), has been awarded one of the scholarships. The chemist, who graduated from Vilnius University with a bachelor’s degree before returning to study for his PhD, talks about his field of interest, his experience of studies at different universities, and his plans after being awarded the talent scholarship.

What were your interests during your bachelor studies?

Since my early teenage years, I knew I wanted to be an organic chemistry specialist. In 2019, I graduated from VU; I wrote my bachelor’s dissertation on the chemistry of porphyrins. During my studies, I completed two internships in Portugal and another in Jordan. I love colourful and fluorescent compounds (pigments, photocatalysts, various other chromophores), so in Portugal, I worked in the area of chemistry of porphyrins, with very colourful and extremely bright compounds, which really fascinated me. Due to their structural similarity to porphyrins, compounds such as chlorophyll, haemoglobin, and vitamin B12 are treated as necessary conditions (molecules) for the existence of life. These synthesised compounds, which absorb light in the near-infrared range, were tested as potential candidates for photodynamic therapy (in cancer treatment). After finishing my bachelor studies, I realised that I wanted to work with chromophores but found that paint chemistry was not dynamic enough for me, so that is why I chose the field of photoredox catalysis.

What was the field of your master studies?

I did my master’s degree at the University of Regensburg, southern Germany, which specialises in photoredox catalysis. At the same time, I worked in research groups. I came back full of knowledge, experience, and ideas. The field of work covered a lot of catalyst dynamics (mechanistic research), chromophore synthesis, and the development of new methods. This area (photoredox catalysis) can be confidently called the chemistry of the future.

Not only did I manage to finish my master studies with excellent grades, but I used my time very productively and efficiently, implementing a few of my ideas and breaking a few records: I synthesised, researched, and adapted two of the most powerful fully organic photooxidants known to us, both in closed and open shell (configurations of paired and unpaired electrons in the valence layers). This opened the way to the functionalisations of very electron-deficient arenes and allowed it to be done in ways that have not been explored so far.

During the studies, we published an article, of which I am the main author, in the prestigious German journal “Angewandte Chemie”. This is a huge achievement for a master student. We have published a few articles in international journals ranked within the first decile (the first 10 per cent of the top-rated scientific journals worldwide), and a few other articles have already been submitted to publishers and will soon be printed. In the last academic year, I have been very happy to return to VU as a PhD student and work with Prof. Edvinas Orentas – a respected and beloved professor in the field of photoredox catalysis.

Jonas Žurauskas

This is your first year as a PhD student. What topic did you choose to write your dissertation on? What scientific activities have you been involved in?

We are developing metal-free reactions in photoredox catalytic C-H activation. I am basically continuing the work that has been started. We are trying to create a method to eliminate heavy metals (for example, palladium, nickel, and cobalt) from the synthesis methodologies. Instead, we are developing photocatalysts of a special design that are activated and excited by blue-violet light (as a non-polluting energy source) and interact with the substrate by an electron transfer mechanism. This opens the way to a variety of hitherto unavailable and unexplored reactions. This allows for the implementation of various functionalisations of compounds whose implementation has been complicated thus far.

Simply put, this would allow access to industrially (pharmaceutically) important compounds in a cheaper, faster, and cleaner way. This is fundamental, interesting, and important. The field of photoredox catalysis is new and incomplete; therefore, fundamental research on reactivity is especially important and welcome. Even if the research did not end with industry-applicable methodologies (which often happens in academic research), I believe it would still improve our overall chemical and scientific understanding because we are all standing on the shoulders of giants, as Isaac Newton wrote in a letter in 1675.

I went back to VU, and in addition to the main field of doctoral studies, I got involved in several other projects. We are currently working with physicists to create different kinds of glow sticks. In addition, I’m synthesising various fundamentally interesting and significant photocatalysts and structurally modifying them – we aim to create a photocatalyst that can perform the oxidation of two electrons. To sum up, we are trying to achieve a variety of scientific extremes, such as photocatalysts with the highest oxidative and reducing potential, with a long life expectancy of the excited state, high chemical stability, high photoactivity, etc. Generally speaking, we are trying to synthesise and apply efficient, cheap, and resistant photocatalysts and operate according to unknown and unexplored mechanisms. We also hope to use this by applying it all to organic synthesis methodologies.

How did you get interested in the Arqus Talent Scholarship?

I was invited to participate in the selection by Prof. Orentas, and although there were only a few weeks left before the call closed, I managed to present everything that was required of me on time. Since the ideas related to my research had already been formulated, developing what to write in the application was not difficult. I was very happy to win this scholarship.

Having won the Arqus Talent Scholarship, you will study at another Arqus Alliance University for a period of time. Which university did you choose?

I am going to the University of Graz to Professor Oliver Kappe because our fields of study are related. His research, and that of his colleagues in the field, includes so-called flow chemistry; they optimise and improve processes so that they can be applied not only for academic purposes but also for industry, business, and the general public. I am very interested in this application in practical life, so I chose to join this research group.

What advice would you give to a future candidate who will apply for and win the Arqus Talent Scholarship?

First of all – study, get the best grades and engage in scientific activities intensively, not only by attending lectures but also by having a good time and engaging in discussions with like-minded people and also those who disagree with you. Read a lot, and follow the science news in the field where you want to work. Prepare and publish articles in top-rated international peer-reviewed journals.

By participating in this Arqus or any other competition, such articles show the candidate’s experience, qualifications, abilities, and willingness to study and work. It is like a guarantee that candidates can fulfil their promises because they have already done so before.

Jonas Žurauskas

If you could imagine a collaborative campus of a European university, what would it be like?

I would imagine it being in Vilnius. It should pay sufficient attention to fundamental research; scientists should have enough time to prepare scientific publications, and research should be carried out without any pressure. Of course, there should be adequate funding to ensure scientific freedom. There should also be well-organised logistics, good architecture and, of course, people – talented, hardworking, sincere and committed to science because no European university or campus means anything if it does not have people working and collaborating.

Such an ideological campus should unite not only the fields of science but also be an open space for people engaged in art. For example, chemists could work closely with painters to create various experimental pigments that could be applied to previously unrealised artistic ideas. It could be paint that changes colour depending on moisture, light, heat, etc.

What do you expect from the University of Graz?

First, I hope to meet many good, interesting, and hardworking people because the people with whom you have met, worked, shared a coffee or beer, and talked stay in your memory longer than the research you have conducted. All acquaintances should grow into cooperation, mutual understanding, and compassion. This is my biggest expectation for Graz.

I also look forward to a productive scientific period, both in fundamental research and in the development of methodologies, as well as to the development of important publications that will ensure my continued success in my scientific activities and career.

I hope to expand my perspectives even further and to meet new people in science and elsewhere because every visit to foreign institutions and other laboratories allows me to improve and see how people live and work differently. These differences broaden my horizons and allow me to become more and more effective and diverse in science.