postdoctoral researchers
.jpg)
Dr. Juliana Arantes Dantas
she/her
Research: Applying machine learning in synthetic chemistry to receive insights into the reaction mechanism and to guide new organic reactions of small molecules through their observed reactivity.
Ph.D. UFSCar, Brazil (2023)
Advisor: Marco A. B. Ferreira
M.Sc. UFSCar, Brazil (2018)
Advisor: Arlene G. Correa
B.S. Chemistry UFF, Brazil (2016)
Advisor: Julliane Yoneda
Interests: Cooking and eating sweets, hiking, National Parks (big fan), trying to keep my plants alive, movies
Dr. Simone Gallarati
he/him
Research: Applying and developing data-driven computational tools to understand and optimize chemical reactions
With: Doyle Group (UCLA), C-CAS
Ph.D. EPFL, Switzerland (2023)
Advisor: Clemence Corminboeuf
M.Chem. University of St. Andrews, Scotland
Advisors: Michael Bühl, Matthew L. Clarke
Interests: Aerial silks, theatre, snowboarding, hiking, Disney Villains, choosing what to wear
Dr. Shubham Deolka
he/him
Research: Discovering new homogeneous catalytic protocols using DFT and data science methods.
With: Paton Group (CSU)
Ph.D. OIST, Japan (2023)
Advisor: Julia Khusnutdinova
B.S.-M.S. IISER, Kolkata (2017)
Interests: Playing Soccer, running, trying to cook random food
Dr. Aleria Garcia-Roca
she/her
Research: Exploring enantio-induction space in Mn-catalyzed C-H activation reactions; optimization of Pd-catalyzed atroposelection reactions using machine learning
With: Genentech
Ph.D. ICIQ, Spain (2023)
Advisor: Arjan Kleij
M.Sci. ICIQ, Spain (2017)
Advisor: Mónica Pérez Temprano
B.A. Autonomous University of Barcelona (2016)
Interests: Playing cello and soccer, video games and salty popcorn
.jpg)
Dr. James Howard
he/him
Research: Predictive models for protein engineering with data science and molecular dynamics simulations
With: Narayan Group (U of Michigan)
Ph.D. University of Texas at Austin (2023)
Advisor: Eric V. Anslyn
B.S. University of Alabama
Advisor: Kevin Shaughnessy
Interests: Guitar, hobby electronics, water sports, cooking, thrift shopping, and video games
Dr. Jamie Cadge
he/him
Research: Investigating structure activity relationships and statistical modelling with mono- and bisphosphine ligands for mechanistic elucidation and reaction development.
With: Reisman Group (Caltech), Sarpong Group (UC Berkeley), Toste Group (UC Berkeley), Genentech, CCAS
Ph.D. University of Bristol (2021)
Advisors: John Bower and Chris Russell
M.Sci. University of Nottingham (2016)
Advisor: Liam Ball
Interests: Cooking, playing piano, watching live music and films
Dr. Avijit Hazra
he/him
Research: Understanding oxidative addition mechanism of low-valent metal species and Development of new mediators for nickel catalyzed reactions.
With: CSOE, Reisman group (Caltech), Doyle group (UCLA)
Ph.D. University of Washington, Seattle (2021)
Advisor: Gojko Lalic
M.Sc. ITT Bombay, Mumbai (2014)
Advisor: Debabrata Maiti
B.S. University of Calcutta, Kolkata (2012)
Interests: Playing soccer, table tennis, hiking, cooking Bengali food, and watching FC Barcelona play
fifth years
Brittany Haas
she/her
Research: Applying data science techniques to gain mechanistic insight into novel chemical reactions and predicting DFT-level molecular descriptors using machine learning.
With: Genentech, Paton Group (CSU), Coley Group (MIT), Pfizer
B.S. Chemistry, University of St. Thomas (2019)
Interests: cooking, traveling, French onion soup, farmers' markets, cheese curds, hiking, and the color pink
Jordan Liles
he/him
Research: Development of novel Bronsted acid organocatalysts for enantioselective catalysis.
With: Toste Group (UC Berkely)
B.S. Chemistry, Mercer University (2017)
Interests: Playing instruments, singing (poorly), snowboarding, Always Sunny, and Ethiopian food
fourth years
Tim McFadden
he/him
Research: Developing interdisciplinary workflows and methodologies to delve into frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization (FROMP) and organic electrochemistry.
With: Moore Group (UIUC), Johnson Group (MIT), Minteer Group (Utah), CSOE, REMAT
B.A. Marketing, Loyola University Chicago (2011)
Interests: Reading, climbing, open water swimming, and working for free
Beck Miller
they/them
Research: Using contemporary data science methods to deconvolute and understand nonlinearities in organometallic mechanisms.
With: Du Bois Group (Stanford), Shaw Group (UC Davis), McNeil Group (U of Michigan)
B.A. Chemistry, Smith College (2020)
Interests: Coding, rugby, weight lifting, and making a mess in my kitchen
Veronica O'Connor
she/her
Research: Uncovering the activation modes and structural properties of adaptable, novel Brønsted acid organocatalysts
With: Toste Group (UC Berkeley)
B.S. Chemistry, Hillsdale College (2020)
Interests: volleyball, my cats not hiding from me, 10pm talks about science/life, the Midwest.
Mohammad Samha
he/him
Research: Reaction development of Ullmann C–N couplings using data science and high throughput reaction development.
With: GSK, Healy Group (NYU)
B.S. Chemistry, Southern Utah University (2019)
Interests: Studying, family time, Pokémon cards, BOGO Subway, and the occasional video game
Natalie Romer
she/her
Research: Mechanism elucidation and optimization of phosphine-dependent reactivity in catalysis through statistical modeling and HTE design.
With: Genentech, Doyle group (UCLA)
B.S. Chemistry, Montana State University (2016)
Interests: Growing food, cooking food, eating food [especially bread], construction projects, playing outside, and one pot reactions
third years
Sara McCormack
she/her
Research: Discovery and mechanistic optimization of new materials for aqueous redox flow batteries
With: Sanford Group (U of Michigan), Minteer Group (Missouri S&T)
B.S. Chemistry, University of Denver (2021)
Interests: powder skiing, cooking, looking at trees, water sports, and brightly colored molecules
Austin LeSueur
he/him
Research: Application of data science workflows developed on small molecules to biocatalytic systems
With: Doyle group (UCLA), Sherman group (U of Michigan)
B.S. Biochemistry, Brigham Young University (2021)
Interests: Reading, board games, cooking, and podcasts
Sierra Hart
she/her
Research: Characterization of P, N and P, P ligand activity using statistical modeling to provide mechanistic insight and reaction optimization
With: Bayer, Sarpong Group (UC Berkeley), Genentech, GSK
B.S. Chemistry and Applied Mathematics, Weber State University (2021)
Interests: yellow rain boots, keeping my (black) dogs off my (white) couch, and shopping for my next post-test consolation plant!
Thérèse Wild
she/her
Research: Parameterization of bidentate N-donor ligands for reaction optimization and physical organic understanding of reactivity.
With: C-CAS, CSOE, Reisman group (Caltech), Doyle Group (UCLA)
B.A. Chemistry (2021) B.S. Biomedical Sciences University at Buffalo, (2021)
Interests: Hiking, climbing, watching the worst reality TV you can find, Trolli peach rings
second years
Alex Ring
she/her
Research: Electrosynthetic and electroanalytic techniques to study Ni complexes
With: CSOE, Reisman group (Caltech)
B.S. Chemistry, University of Utah (2022)
Interests: skiing, painting, camping, rock climbing, Dr. Pepper, and watching Survivor
Haruka Takenaka
she/her
Research: Mechanistic studies of Ni catalyzed oxidative addition and development of new mediators
With: CSOE
B.S. Chemistry, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2021)
Interests: eating, cooking, fish, anything related to food, watching anime, sleeping, saving money, traveling
Zrinko Jurić
Research: Development of novel chiral phosphoric acid organocatalysts
B.S. Chemistry, University of Zagreb, Croatia (2021)
Interests: dogs, volleyball, beaches, history, traveling, food, movies, and TV shows
first years
Lydia Dawson McDaniel
she/her
Research: Frontal-ring opening metathesis polymerization (FROMP) method development
With: REMAT
B.S. Biochemistry and CMD Biology, Colorado Mesa University (2022)
Interests: my very large doggos, skiing, cooking, lifting, reading fantasy novels, and watching even the worst movies
Raymond Lo
he/him
Research: Enantioselective fluorination of aromatic C-H bonds
B.S. Chemistry, California State University, Los Angeles (2023)
Interests: cooking, video games, and running
Niharika P. Kaushik
she/her
Research: TBD
M.Sc. Chemistry, MAHE, Manipal, India (2021)
B.S. Chemistry, Christ University, India (2019)
Interests: Doodling, board games, chonky cats, dosa and sunsets
undergraduate students
Rachel Muhlestein
she/her
Research: Frontal-ring opening metathesis polymerization (FROMP) methodology development and organic electrosynthesis
With: Minteer Group (Utah), CSOE, REMAT
B.S. Biochemistry and Physics, University of Utah (expected 2025)
Interests: canyoneering, running, listening to music, and sour patch watermelon candy
lab manager and research associates
Dr. Sarah Lefave: Lab Manager
she/her
Research: Biophysical Chemistry including protein dynamics and their relationship to structure and function (and many others, ask me about proteins!)
With: CCAS, REMAT
Ph.D. Chemistry, The University of Utah (2021)
Advisor: Matthew Kieber-Emmons
B.S. Chemistry, The University of Central Florida (2013)
Advisor: Yi Liao, Michael Leuenberger
Interests: doggos, climbing, the outdoors, most things food related (not olives)