Group Members

Matthew Kummer - Graduate Student

Education:

B.S. Chemistry - Truman State University, Missouri

Research Interests:

Substrate channeling for enzymatic BFC applications; atmospheric/organic synthesis of sulfate ester aerosols; theoretical physical-organic chemistry to determine pathways of amino acid synthesis from molecules in the interstellar medium

Personal Interests:

Hiking, biking, climbing, sighseeing (especially in the national parks), computer gaming, graphic design

Fangyuan Dong - Graduate Student

Education:

B.S. Chemistry - Shanghai Institute of Technology

B.S. Chemistry - Auckland University of Technology

M.S. Analytical Chemistry - East China Normal University

Research Interests:

Nitrogenase

Erin Gaffney - Graduate Student

Education:

B.S. Biochemistry - Fort Lewis College Durango, CO

Research Interests:

Bio-sensors and Bio-Fuel cells

Personal interests:

Skiing, trail running

Zayn Rhodes - Graduate Student

Education:

B.S. Biochemistry - Utah State University

Research Interests:

Redox Flow Batteries, Biofuel Cells, Parameterized modelling

Personal Interests:

Family, the outdoors, weightlifting, chocolate cake

Ashwini Dantanarayana - Graduate Student

Education:

B.Sc. Special Degree in Chemistry – University of Colombo (Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Research Interests:

Electrochemistry, electrosynthesis, bioelectrocatalysis

Personal Interests:

Music, chocolate, walking, hiking

Miharu Koh - Graduate Student

Education:

B.S. Chemistry – Allegheny College 2020 (Meadville, PA)

Research Interests:

In-situ spectroscopic monitoring of electrochemical processes

Tim McFadden - Graduate Student

Education:

B.A. Marketing – Loyola University Chicago (Chicago, IL)

Research Interests:

Organic electrosynthesis and method development

Skylar Blank - Graduate Student

Education:

B.S. Chemistry (Professional) - University of Utah

Research Interests:

Organic electrochemistry

Veronica O'Connor - Graduate Student

Education:

B.S. Chemistry - Hillsdale College (Hillsdale, MI)

Research Interests:

Molecular design and synthesis of small organic molecules in non-aqueous redox flow batteries

Personal Interests:

Volleyball, backpacking, skiing, cooking, tea, Star Wars, the Midwest

Adam Milam - Graduate Student

Education:

B.S. Chemistry - University of West Georgia (Carrollton, GA)

Research Interests:

Battery design, materials science

Personal Interests:

Hiking, Skateboarding, Painting, Photography, DnD, Computers

Min Li - Postdoctoral Researcher

Education:

B.S. Chemistry – China Agricultural University 

Ph.D. Chemistry – Iowa State University 

ResearchInterests:

Electrochemistry, bioelectrochemical systems, electrocatalysis

Personal Interests:

Animation, badminton, hiking, climbing, skiing

Hui Chen - Postdoctoral Researcher

Education:

Ph.D. Chemistry – Zhejiang University (China)

Postdoctoral researcher - Biosystem Engineering Department, Virginia Tech; College of Biological Science, University of Minnesota - Twin City

Research Interests:

Bioelectrocatalysis, enzymatic engineering, molecular biology, and biochemistry

Personal Interests:

Warcraft, StarCraft Universe, sleeping

Olja Simoska - Postdoctoral Researcher

ACS Irving S. Sigal Postdoctoral Fellow 2020-2022

Education:

Ph.D. Analytical Chemistry – University of Texas at Austin 2019 (Austin, TX), supervised by Prof. Keith J. Stevenson, ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Fellow

B.A. Chemistry – Bard College 2015 (Annandale-on-Hudson, NY)

Research Interests:

Biosensors, microbial fuel cells, bioelectrocatalysis, bioengineering

Personal Interests:

Science outreach & volunteering, travelling, music, reading, jewelry design

Yoo Seok Lee - Postdoctoral Researcher

Education:

Ph.D. Environmental Science and Engineering – Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology 2019 (Gwangju, South Korea)

M.S. Environmental Science and Engineering – Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology 2014 (Gwangju, South Korea)

B.S. Department of Applied Chemistry – Kumoh National Institute of Technology 2013 (Gumi, South Korea)

Research interests:

Bioelectrocatalysis, biofuel cells, nitrogenase

Jaime R. Cabrera-Pardo - Assistant Research Professor

Education:

Postdoctoral Researcher Chemistry – University of Cambridge 2018 (Cambridge, UK), Marie Curie Fellow

Ph.D. Chemistry – The University of Chicago 2013 (Chicago, IL), Fulbright Fellow

B.S. Biochemistry – University of Concepción 2007 (Concepción, Bio Bio, Chile)

Research Interests:

Reaction development, electrosynthesis, redox flow batteries

Christian Malapit - Postdoctoral Researcher

Education:

Postdoctoral Researcher – University of Michigan 2019 (Ann Arbor, MI)

Ph.D. Chemistry – University of Connecticut 2016 (Storrs, CT)

Research Interests:

Electroorganic synthesis 

Jack Lee - Graduate Student

Education:

B.A Chemistry – Carleton College 2016 (Northfield, MN)

Research Interests:

Organometallic CO2 electrolysis, bipolar organic electrosynthesis

Kevin Beaver - Graduate Student

Education:

B.S. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and B.S. Environmental Science – Lebanon Valley College 2019 (Annville, PA)

Research Interests:

Photo-bioelectrochemistry, microbial fuel cells, bioengineering

Nipunika Samali Perera Weliwatte - Graduate Student

Education:

B.Sc. Special Degree in Chemistry – University of Colombo 2016 (Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Research Interests:

Redox polymers for photobioelectrocatalysis

Rokas Geruskis - Graduate Student

Education: 

B.S. Biology – DePaul University 2019 (Chicago, IL)

Research Interests:

Protein egineering, bioelectrocatalysis

Xin Yang - Visiting Scholar

Education:

Ph.D. Analytical Chemistry – Hunan University (Changsha, China)

Research Interests:

Materials chemistry, electrochemical sensing, electrocatalysis

Matt Prater - Postdoctoral Researcher

Education:

Ph.D. Chemistry – Univeristy of Utah 2020

B.S. Chemistry - Southern Utah University 2015

Research Interests:

Organometallic chemistry, instrumental methods, electrocatalysis

Jeffrey W. Copeland - Lab Manager

Research Interests:

All things electrochemistry, especially things that are shocking