February 2016: Ian Walton

Ian Walton, 4th-year PhD student in Prof. Benedict's lab

• First-author publication: I. M. Walton, J. M. Cox, C. A. Benson, Y.-S. Chen, J. B. Benedict*, “The role of atropisomers on the photo-reactivity and fatigue of diarylethene-based metal-organic frameworks.” New J. Chem. 40, 101-106.

"As a member of the Benedict Lab I am designing and synthesizing photochromic metal-organic frameworks. I am also involved in the development of novel in situ X-ray diffraction techniques and the study of guest exchange and guest-framework interactions in metal-organic frameworks.

I enjoy being a graduate student at UB because of the unique and innovative research projects that I have had a chance to participate in. The collaborative environment at UB is always encouraging new approaches to difficult problems in research.

When not in the lab I enjoy reading a good book, and rock climbing."