CHEMISTRY CHRONICLES
Official Newsletter of the UTSA Department of Chemistry
FALL 2024/SPRING 2025
Welcome to the Chemistry Chronicles!
Your source for the latest news, events, and achievements from the Department of Chemistry
The Chemistry Chronicles is your go-to newsletter for celebrating the accomplishments of our students, faculty, and staff. In each edition, we highlight recent events, share exciting opportunities, and showcase the outstanding work happening across our department.
Whether it's research breakthroughs, awards, or upcoming events—there’s always something worth sharing.
Stay informed, stay connected, and help us celebrate the vibrant community that makes Chemistry at UTSA exceptional!
ALUMNI INTERVIEWS & SPOTLIGHT
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
EDUCATION & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
VOELCKER SUMMER REU
FALL SEMESTER EVENTS
SPRING SEMESTER EVENTS
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
CLASS OF 2024 - 2025
CONTACT US & SOCIAL MEDIA
Introducing our New Faculty!
The Chemistry Department was excited to kick off the 2024–2025 academic year by welcoming two new tenure-track faculty members and one new fixed-term track faculty member These scholars bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from leading institutions around the globe
Jacquelyne Read, Ph.D.
Professor Jacquelyne Read obtained her B.S. in chemistry at Wheaton College, Illinois (2012) and her Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry with Prof. Keith Woerpel at New York University (2018). She next conducted postdoctoral research in data science and asymmetric catalysis as an NIH postdoctoral fellow in the laboratories of Prof Matthew Sigman (University of Utah) and Prof Eric Jacobsen (Harvard University) Jacquelyne started her independent career at Dartmouth College in 2021 as a Research Assistant Professor and recently moved to the University of Texas at San Antonio as an Assistant Professor in January 2025. Her research interests encompass how computational chemistry and data science can inform reaction design in organic chemistry, with a particular focus on noncovalent interactions.
Christopher Sandford, Ph.D.
Professor Christopher Sandford obtained his MChem from the University of Oxford (UK) in 2013, and his PhD from the University of Bristol (UK) in 2017, working with Prof. Varinder Aggarwal. He then conducted postdoctoral research as a Marie SkłodowskaCurie Fellow at both the University of Utah and the Institut Català d'Investigació Química (ICIQ, Spain), before commencing his independent career at Dartmouth College in 2021. Chris moved his research group to The University of Texas at San Antonio in January 2025, where he serves as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry, and where his research interests span asymmetric homogeneous catalysis, organometallic catalysis, sustainable synthetic methodologies, and physical organic chemistry.
Jonathan Velasco, Ph.D.
Professor Jonathan Velasco was born in Manila, Philippines, and received his B S and M S in Chemistry from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley He later received his Ph D in Chemistry Education from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, investigating teaching habits of graduate students in various instructional roles. His areas of interest include students' use of academic languages when sense making in chemistry, instructor and student behavior in the classroom and in laboratories, and dimensions of learning in undergraduate laboratories. In his spare time he does some reading (mostly science fiction, fantasy, philosophy, and police procedural), video games (mostly science fiction and fantasy), and would like to break into writing a book (surprisingly, not sure what the genre will be)
Alumni Interview: Dr. Romina Aznavaleh
B.S. in Chemistry (2014)
Why did you choose UTSA?
I grew up in San Antonio and because I was so close with my family, I decided to stay, along with the cost-effectiveness of UTSA, I was lucky to have many scholarships and grants that paid for my undergraduate education A lot of my high school friends also chose to attend UTSA, so it just made sense!
Why
did you choose Chemistry?
I was initially a biology major, but as I started to learn more chemistry and become more familiar with it, it became more and more interesting to me In my opinion, chemistry was based on research and evidence, and a lot of it was proven facts, since I consider myself a very blunt, matter-of-fact person, I realized that chemistry was a much better-fit path for me.
What challenges did you face while studying chemistry, and how did you overcome them?
Oh man, what challenges did I not face? Chemistry is not an easy subject, especially organic chemistry. I think organic is my number one enemy - seriously, all those electrons just doing whatever they wanted, drove me nuts. But what helped me was all the support g supplemental instruction group and all the awesome TA’s that the depa discount the incredible study group of struggling chemistry friends I h
Are there any specific memories or experiences from your time stand out to you as particularly meaningful or influential?
Working as an SI and TA really was very meaningful. Chemistry is not an easy subject at all, but having had learned from great faculty and having had a deep understanding of general and physical chemistry, I was able to help other students understand the concepts and some, even find love for the subject The best memory I have from UTSA and undergrad has to be the hours I would spend in the BSE studying with my best friends, some that became long term friends
How did your chemistry education prepare you for your current role or career path?
Chemistry of course was a pre-requirement, but it was the analytical science among all other subjects that were the pre-req for dental school. In dental school we had pharmaceutical classes, medicine and hospital rotations and constantly we were asked about the chemical make up of medicine and also the properties of the materials we used
Alumni Interview: Dylan Moran
B.S.
in Chemistry (2025)
Can you give me a brief overview of your achievements, research duties in the ACS society, and future goals:
Some achievements include being accepted to 2 very competitive summer research programs, one at UT Austin summer after freshman year and the second one at UC Berkeley summer 2024. In addition, being a UTSA awardee for Goldwater scholarship has been a rewarding experience. Some other things I have done while in college include being a TA for Gen Chem 1 for 7 semesters My research in the Larionov group revolves around developing new reactions that are driven by metal catalysts and photocatalyst As president of ACS I have had the privilege to coordinate and volunteer at many community events to help inspire other individuals to pursue chemistry by showing them exciting experiments to get them excited about science. Future goals include pursuing a PhD in chemistry.
Why did you choose UTSA?
I chose UTSA in 2021 because of its promising trajectory towards achieving Carnegie R1 classification while being smaller in scale compared to other renowned R1 institutions This meant I could benefit from unparalleled mentorship and instruction from world-class professors, both within the laboratory and the classroom. Additionally, the midsize student population offered me the opportunity to build stronger connections with the faculty members who would guide and inspire my academic journey.
Why did you choose Chemistry?
In my sophomore year of high school, like many others, I encountered chemistry for the first time Surprisingly, it felt like reconnecting with an old friend; understanding its principles came naturally to me. I like chemistry because it allows us to see a seemingly invisible world that is right beneath our nose, influencing everything from the medicines our body metabolizes to the lithium batteries powering our everyday lives. I look forward to every chemistry class I take, and I genuinely believe that no other academic pursuit could provide me with the same sense of fulfillment that chemistry does
What advice would you give students starting their chemistry journey?
Go into every chemistry course with an open mind and don’t worry about what you have heard about a course from other students. I found my passion lies with organic chemistry and I made sure to not let anyone else’s thoughts on the subject influence my own. Once you find the branch of chemistry you are most passionate about, don’t just stop learning it after the last chapter of the textbook Join a lab in that area of chemistry and dive deep into the subject by reading papers and graduate level textbooks Find research opportunities at other universities over the summer and most importantly, build strong connections with the faculty in the department As the first person in my family to pursue a degree in STEM, I don’t believe I would have achieved as much as I have if I didn’t have the amazing chemistry professors in my corner mentoring me since I was a freshman. Lastly, I highly recommend joining ACS student org. as this was important for me because I was able to find other individuals with similar passions and goals
Alumni Spotlight: Kaitlyn Varela
B.S. in Biochemistry (2020)
Ph.D. in Chemistry (2024)
Kaitlyn Varela graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry from UTSA in May 2020 and matriculated into the Chemistry Ph.D. program at UTSA in Fall 2020. She has published four first author research articles in the Journal of Natural Products (2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023) based on her doctoral research that uses organic chemistry to solve biological problems.
Her doctoral research has been focused on studying how a plant: (i) makes an antimalarial medicine (artemisinin) through a cascade reaction involving molecular oxygen and (ii) has anticancer and antiviral properties (arteannuin B) by blocking cysteine proteases.
Kaitlyn was awarded both the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) and Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowships in 2021.
Her doctoral research has been nationally recognized by several organizations (just to name a few):
Merck Underrepresented Chemists of Color Award (2023) Dow BEST Symposium Award (2023)
Merck Research Award sponsored by the Women Chemists Committee (WCC) of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and Merck (2024)
Janssen Graduate Research Symposium Award sponsored by Johnson and Johnson (2024).
Kaitlyn defended her dissertation and graduated with her Ph.D. in Spring 2024. Kaitlyn will continue to apply the power of chemistry to solve real-world problems. In June 2024, she started a postdoctoral position at Amplified Sciences, a life science diagnostics startup company spun out of Purdue University specializing in developing novel diagnostic assays that accurately detect and pre-empt the risks of debilitating diseases.
Chemistry Student Organizations
The UTSA Department of Chemistry is home to several active student organizations that offer exciting opportunities throughout the year. These groups host events, workshops, and networking activities designed to help students build skills, gain practical experience, and engage with the Chemistry and Biochemistry community. We are proud to recognize our following student organizations:
American Chemical Society (ACS)
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
Chemistry Graduate Student Organization (CGSO)
American Chemistry Society (ACS)
This academic year, ACS has hosted over 35 events – including 11 Service Events, 6 Professional Development Sessions, and 18 Chapter Development Events. Throughout the year, ACS officers and members sought out outreach opportunities that aligned with their mission participating in events like Viva Science and volunteering at local elementary schools.
The UTSA ACS Student Chapter was nationally recognized by the American Chemistry Society receiving the 2024 Outstanding Award for their dedication and commitment to chemistry and the community.
Chemistry Student Organizations
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
Chemistry Graduate Student Organization (CGSO)
The CGSO at UTSA is a student-led group dedicated to fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for graduate students in the Chemistry Department. Through a variety of professional development workshops, networking events, social activities, and advocacy efforts, CGSO is committed to enriching the graduate student experience The organization strives to create a space where students can connect, collaborate, and thrive both academically and personally.
Since its formation in August 2024, the chapter has hosted over 20 impactful events including outreach at local high schools, career development workshops, and social gatherings creating a vibrant community for biochemistry students. The chapter’s initiatives have supported student success and professional growth, from organizing faculty meet-and-greets and lab tours to launching the first-ever Biochemistry Research Day. ASBMB won the Outstanding Student Organization Program Award at the College of Science Excellence in Sciences Ceremony! With 21 active members from across departments and colleges, the ASBMB Student Chapter has quickly become a hub of energy, collaboration, and opportunity.
Education and Community Outreach
CONFERENCES
2025 ASBMB Annual Meeting
The 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology took place in April 2025 in Chicago, Illinois! UTSA Chemistry took part in the Career & Education Fair to recruit potential students
ACS Southwest Regional Meeting
Several of our graduate students had the opportunity to attend the 2024 ACS Southwest Regional Meeting (SWRM) in Waco, Texas The conference featured lectures, specialized workshops, and a wide range of scientific symposia, providing valuable opportunities for learning, networking, and professional development.
2024 AISES National Conference
The Department of Chemistry attended the 2024 AISES National Conference in October 2024 taking place in our very own city! This three-day event focused on educational, professional, and workforce development for indigenous people of North America and Pacific Islands in STEM studies and careers.
Education and Community Outreach
UTSA DAY
UTSA Day is a large open house event that offers participants a chance to experience campus life through tours, presentations, workshops, and more. Each of our student organizations and faculty had tables with demos to learn more about chemistry and encourage future scientists!
FALL - OCTOBER 2024
SPRING - FEBRUARY 2025
Education and Community Outreach
VIVA SCIENCE SAN ANTONIO
UTSA Chemistry faculty joined the ACS Student Chapter on Saturday, May 3 at the Witte Museum for a day celebrating science.
Viva Science SA! was hosted by the UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, providing kids and adults alike with fun activities, art, and speakers showcasing numerous fields in STEM.
SCOBEE ELEM. FAMILY NIGHT
Our student organizations participated in STEM and Family Night at Scobee Elementary, where this year’s theme was Space Night. Attendees enjoyed engaging demonstrations that showcased the exciting connections between chemistry and space science.
Education and Community Outreach
KLRN CAREER DAY AT ST. PHILIP’S
UTSA Chemistry joined St. Philip’s College for KLRN Career Day which featured presentations and activities suitable for students of all ages. Providing a comprehensive exploration of diverse career opportunities. Families were able to explore different STEM resources and careers with their children!
KLRN STEM DAY AT THE DOSEUM
KLRN presented a fun-filled day of STEM-focused activities for the whole family to attend at the Doseum. There was fun science booths, science artwork, and a special PBS kids screening. Thank you to all of our student organizations who attended!
Voelcker Summer Research Experience
Voelcker Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Each summer, the Voelcker Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates in Pharmaceutical Sciences welcomes a new cohort of talented students to the UTSA’s Department of Chemistry. Last summer, over the course of eight weeks, scholars gained hands-on research experience in areas such as Medicinal Ch i t P li i l Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Che paired with a faculty mentor whose e academic interests and career goals. ongoing research projects, participan own scientific posters, took part in w and educational seminars, and enjoye networking events with UTSA graduat continues to serve as a valuable path graduate studies and careers in scien
We sincerely appreciate
the generous Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund!
Fall Semester Events
ANNUAL DEPARTMENT RETREAT
Our 3rd Annual Department of Chemistry Retreat was held at UTSA in August. This year’s theme was Making Connections and was an all day retreat filled with food, games, poster sessions and team building activities.
Everyone took part in a service activity at UTSA that included BSE Beautification, restocking the Roadrunner Pantry and organizing the Move-In Market.
Our new faculty members, Dr. Read and Dr. Sandford, gave talks and the day provided an opportunity for our new graduate students to meet current students, faculty and staff.
Fall Semester Events
CLASH OF THE CRYOGENS
To welcome new Chemistry students to UTSA and celebrate the return of our majors, the department hosted a fun and interactive ice cream competition featuring Liquid Nitrogen and Dry Ice. After a spirited showdown, Liquid Nitrogen emerged as the crowd favorite!
NATIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK
This year’s National Chemistry Week (NCW) theme was “Picture Perfect.”In celebration, the Department of Chemistry alongside our student chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS)—hosted an outreach table in the Sombrilla Plaza. The event featured engaging demonstrations, educational activities, and giveaways to spark interest in chemistry among the student community.
Fall Semester Events
MOLE DAY
To celebrate Mole Day, the ACS student chapter engaged students with interactive demonstrations and fun giveaways. Mole Day honors Avogadro’s Number—an essential constant in chemistry and our event included a scavenger hunt across campus to find moles!
PUMPKIN SMASH
This lively event featured a day of pumpkin launching, live music, delicious food, and a wide range of free STEM activities for all ages. Several organizations competed to see whose pumpkin could travel the farthest.
Fall Semester Events
CHEMISTRY CAREERS WEEK
Chemistry Career Week was aimed at connecting our students with leading companies in the chemical and science industry, providing a unique platform for students to explore career opportunities, gain insights into the industry, and engage with professionals who can offer valuable guidance.
WCASE SYMPOSIUM
Undergraduate students from seven Texas universities were invited to UTSA to present their research and explore our Ph.D. program in Chemistry.
This full-day event featured morning research presentations by faculty from regional institutions, followed by lunch, an afternoon poster session, and guided tours of the UTSA campus and Chemistry facilities.
Fall Semester Events
WINTERFEST
Our annual Winterfest, held in December, celebrated the achievements of our Fall graduates. The event featured a student poster presentation, a community potluck, and interactive tabling and demonstrations hosted by the Department of Chemistry and student organizations.
Spring Semester Events
UTSA VIVA SCIENCE
The College of Sciences’ signature event, Viva Science, is held to kick off each semester, giving students a chance to connect with fellow students, staff and faculty.
In January, our student organizations each tabled at the event to help new and current students discover and learn more about them!
CHEMCHAT SOCIAL
ChemChat, held on February 11 in collaboration with IUPAC's Global Women’s Breakfast, aimed to foster networking and mentoring between students and faculty.
The session featured a presentation by Dr. Moungi G. Bawendi, followed by activities led by Dr. Fatima Mustafa and Prof. Sarah Oerther. Students then rotated among faculty groups, sharing experiences and recording insights in event passports.
Spring Semester Events
PH.D. VISITATION DAY
In February, we held our annual Ph.D. Visitation Day for prospective doctoral students with an offer of admission for the Fall.
The day consisted of a facilities and campus tour; meetings with faculty and the CGSO; a poster presentation and open-door lab tour in the BSE; and finally dinner with the graduate students and social event at Chicken N Pickle!
BIOCHEMISTRY RESEARCH DAY
In March, we hosted our first ever Biochemistry Research Day. Students from UTSA and UT Health SA showcased their groundbreaking research.
The event allowed our students to exchange ideas, network, and partake in scientific discussions!
Spring Semester Events
SCIENCE SEMANA
In April, COS held their annual week of sciene filled events called Science Semana.
The Department and our student organizations arranged ‘ChemOlympics’ with competitive games including “Rack-N-Roll”, “Mass Mystery”, “Suction Showdown” and “Polymer Pull”
SCIENCE SYNERGY DAY
In May, the UTSA Department of Chemistry and the UT Health San Antonio Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology came together for a collaborative research retreat.
The afternoon opened with remarks by Dr. Audrey Lamb and Dr. Reuben Harris, followed by faculty presentations on innovative research. A trainee poster session, reception, awards ceremony, and group photos celebrated scientific collaboration and community.
Spring Semester Events
CHEMFEST
ChemFest is our Spring end-ofsemester celebration honoring graduating undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recipients of the Chemistry Awards of Excellence. Students, faculty, and staff came together to enjoy an afternoon of food, music, games, engaging demonstrations, and community celebration.
Awards and Recognition
FACULTY GRANTS, AWARDS, & HONORS
Dr. Aimin Liu
New 1R01GM152982-01: Protein-Derived Cofactor in Bifunctional Enzyme KatG from Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Renewed 5R01GM108988-12: Heme-Dependent Chemistry in Aromatic Oxidation
Welch Grant Renewed: Iron-Dependent Peptide Cyclization: Mechanistic Divergence in C-C/C-O Bond Forming Reactions
Dr. Akanksha Matta
2025 ACS Secretary 2025 STAR Award Recipient
Connect & Thrive Mini-Grant
Dr. Blain Mamiya
Connect & Thrive Mini-Grant
Dr. Douglas Frantz
National Science Foundation; GOALI: Taming the Ambident Reactivity in the Alkylations of Pharmaceutically Relevant N,O-Heterocycles via Catalysis
Dr. Fang Xu
University of Central Florida; Excellence in Research: Transition metal carbides and nitrides supported single-atom catalysts for aqueous-phase methanol reforming.
Quantum Collaborative with Arizona State University: Molecule-based Quantum sensor for Chirality-Induced Spin Selectivity. Welch Experimental Collaboration Retreats
Dr. Jacquelyne Read
2025 Journal of Organic Chemistry Publication of the Year Lectureship Award
Dr. Jonathan Velasco
ACS Division of Chemical Education (DivCHED) Public Relations Committee
Dr. Nicolas Clanton
Sophion Bioscience Grant: QPatch-II 48
Awards and Recognition
FACULTY GRANTS, AWARDS, & HONORS
Dr. Oleg Larionov
National Science Foundation; NSF-ANR CHE: Cycloadditions of azines and their N-oxides
Renewed NIH R01 GM134371 as an R35 MIRA (Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award): New organosulfur-based strategies for efficient construction of carboncarbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds
Dr. Philipp Schmidpeter
UTSA STEM Education & Student Success Faculty Collaboration Mini-Grant
Dr. Raymond Sadeghi
2025 ACS Member at Large
Dr. Stanton McHardy
Welch Foundation; Development of PROTACs with programable oligonucleotidebased linkers
University of Texas Health Science Center; Preclinical Testing of Potential Nextgeneration Antischistosomal Compound
NuvoNuro, Inc.; NovoNuro Therapeutics Custom Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry
2025 UTSA Seed Grant
2025 Hill Prize for Medicine and Technology
Collaborating with Shawn Blumberg at SwRI: Universal Synthetic Platform to Access New Antibiotics: A Roadmap to Head off the Antibiotic Resistance Crisis
2024 National Academy of Inventors Fellow
Dr. Susan Thomas
UTSA STEM Education & Student Success Faculty Collaboration Mini-Grant
Dr. Syed Muhammad Usama Voelcker Fund Pilot Grant
Dr. Wendell Griffith
Department of Defense – US Army Grant: Acquisition of an Orbitrap Exploris480 LCMS for high sensitivity proteomics applications
2025 UTSA Seed Grant
Transdisciplinary Teams (T2) Program: Investigate the uptake of PFAS in aquatic and riparian plants from perennial and intermittent streams in South Central Texas
Awards and Recognition
STUDENT AWARDS
ACS Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry
Eliana Estrada
ACS Undergraduate Award in Biochemistry
Briaunna Zamarripa
ACS Undergraduate Award in Physical Chemistry
Thu Throung
ACS Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry
Peter Vo
ACS Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry
Dylan Moran
Janice and Michael Doyle Endowed Research Award in Chemistry
Jacob Sanchez, Meredith Slimp
Jesse, Kenneth, and Edna Abrams Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Chemistry
Angelica Graciano, Dahee Lee, Jared Head
Judith A. Walmsley Endowed Graduate Program Fund in Chemistry
Ramon Trevino
Meritorious Dissertation Award
Ephrahime Traore, Romie Nguyen, Tanjila Islam
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP)2025 NSF GRFP Recipient - Seth Fremin
Honorable Mention - Luree McCann
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
Graduate School - Ashley Newton
Department - CJ Reyes, Anthony Amaya, Mackenzy McCormack, Tu Ho, Zachary Lucio
Undergraduate Award in General Chemistry
Zeina Hijazi
Awards and Recognition
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE STUDENT AWARDS
Chemistry Department Award for Excellence in Chemical Sciences
Biochemistry - Jonathan Snider
Chemistry - Will Thompson
COS Excellence in Science Award - Distinguished First Year Student
Lauren Wolff
COS Excellence in Science Award - Distinguished Fourth Year Student
Will Thompson
COS Excellence in Science Award - Distinguished Research Award
Dylan Moran
COS Excellence in Science Award - Outstanding Student Organization Program Award
ASBMB Student Chapter
UNIVERSITY EXCELLENCE AWARDS
President’s Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award: Excellence for Mentoring Award at the University Excellence Awards (Winner)
Dr. Susan Thomas
President’s Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award: Excellence in University Service Award at the University Excellence Awards (Winner)
Dr. Hector Aguilar
Excellence in Customer Service Award (Finalist)
Jean-Luk Rueda
Rising Star Award (Finalist)
Edward Johns
Teaching Excellence Award (Finalist)
Dr. Wei Reeves
Fall 2024
Class of 2024-2025
B.S. Chemistry
Destiny Campos, Gavin Del Rio, Mark Dominguez, Ernesto Flores, Mayte Gonzales De Hoyos
Spring 2025
Adam Buratowski, McKenna Bryant, Ciro Calico, Anna Downing, Gillian Johnson, Rachel Julius, Adefoluke Kuforiji, Reagan Long-Allen, Giancarlo Martinez, Dylan Moran, Christopher Oliveira, Luz Oliveros, Faith Overstreet, Cammi Pape, Will Thompson, Thu Troung, Jose Urbiola, Peter Vo
B.S. Biochemistry
Fall 2024
Adyasha Aruk, Angelica Collins, Ireland Little, Femis Shebioba, Lisa Yang
Spring 2025
Jason Baskins, Jaime Benavides, Jiahui Ding, Seth Fremin, Taquoia Green, Erick Guerrero, Ryian Johnson, Kurt Mabangue, Brandon Milla, Christopher Prieto, Shea Richardson, Faith Romero, David Saldana, Gisela Sanchez, Jonathan Snider, Diego Tellez Guzman, Leyla Teymurlu, Sarah Walker, Thomas Yost, Briaunna Zamarripa
Spring 2025
Class of 2024-2025
M.S.
Chemistry
Kayla Martinez - Major Professor: Dr. Stephan Bach Non-Thesis
Ph.D. Chemistry
Fall 2024
Krista Berlin - Major Professor: Dr. Stephan Bach
Dissertation Title: “Investigating MS with MS: Multimodal Mass Spectrometry Profiling of Multiple Sclerosis”
Jackson Reyna - Major Professor: Dr. Zachary Tonzetich
Dissertation Title: “Synthesis and Reactivity of 3d Transition Metal Imido PNP Pincer Complexes for C-H Amination”
Spring 2025
Tanjila Islam - Major Professor: Dr. Kirk Schanze
Dissertation Title: “Photophysical Studies of Gold (I) NHC Acetylide Functionalized Polystyrenes and Complexes, Fluorescents and Chemosensors, and Ion Radicals for Opto Applications
Ephrahime Traore - Major Professor: Dr. Aimin Liu
Dissertation Title: “Heme Adventures: Roles in Catalysis and Structural Insights”
Romie Nguyen - Major Professor: Dr. Aimin Liu
Dissertation Title: “Probing hemedependent oxidations in C-C bond forming and oxygen insertion reactions”
