Graduate Research Highlights

Labeling mammalian and fungal cells with MRI contrast agents to study the behavior of contrast agents due to compartmentalization in the cells for potential applications in cell therapy imaging and infection diagnosis.

"My research was based in the discovery and development of organic methodologies which can be applied in the synthesis of biologically active molecules."

I am currently preparing, developing novel titration methods for, and assessing the reactivity of solid-supported isocyanide-based metal scavengers for rapid removal of transition metal complexes from solution. These materials are useful in the lab for both arresting transition metal catalysts and removing the toxic – and sometimes detrimentally reactive – metal complexes from solution via filtration.

As a member of the Benedict group I am designing and synthesizing novel stimuli responsive dynamic materials which we can monitor using in situ single crystal X-ray diffraction. Currently I have been exploring colorimetric techniques for testing sonicator homogeneity using imine sonochemistry.

"My research in the Wood lab focuses on the utilization of high resolution mass spectrometry to investigate small molecules in their roles in disease states. Although the majority of my work focuses in metabolomics, investigating stercobilin as a putative biomarker for autism, I have recently started work in the fields of lipidomics and proteomics."

"My research focus is on integrating theory and experiment to the design, synthesis, and characterization of semiconductor heterostructures with programmable light harvesting and charge transfer for photocatalysis."

"My research focuses on the fundamental photophysics of multi-chromophore systems attained using coordination-driven self-assembly, focusing on transition metal chromophores as structural elements of the assembly. By using these supramolecular metallocycles and cages, we can manipulate photophysical properties by the introduction of multiple, communicative excited states as well as changing both radiative and non-radiative rate constants."

"My research is on the functional characterization of lipids during apoptosis. I am particularly interested in how lipid droplet and its lipid components, such as triacylglycerols, are involved in this process."