Semester students

Angelica Bolon – TCNJ class of 2024

Hi! My name is Angelica Bolon, and I am a senior chemistry major specializing in biochemistry. I am excited to participate in Dr. O’Connor’s lab for MUSE. And I am also excited to learn new laboratory techniques and improve the laboratory skills  I already know. I love to play sports like softball, basketball, and soccer. And I like to watch different shows and movie genres, including documentaries and anime, during my free time. 

• Plastics recycling

Sai Dhulipala – TCNJ class of 2024

Hi my name is Saimanish, a Chemistry major interested in research on my path in getting a PhD in inorganic chemistry. I’ve been working in the O’Connor lab for a year now and I’m extremely excited to be working on and furthering the current PNP/PCP project. Thanks to Dr.O’Connor, I’ve gotten much better at research and I have fallen in love with the field of inorganic chemistry and focused, independent research and hope to further my knowledge and impact in the field. I like comics, video games and music and I really enjoy research. In my spare time I play video games with my friends, watching comedy videos/shows, going out with my parents and playing my violin.

• Project: CO2 reduction

Caitie Janisheski – TCNJ class of 2024

Hi! My name is Caitlin Janisheski, but most call me Caitie or Cait, and I am a senior chemistry major with research specialization. In my junior year, I worked with Dr. Lynn Bradley as an undergraduate research assistant working on the synthesis of aryl silyl ketones. Now in Dr. O’Connor’s lab, I am focused currently on the Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling reactions, and I am thrilled to sharpen my skills in synthesis, analysis of GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy, and overall becoming an even more successful and independent researcher. Outside of the lab, on campus I am involved in Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and am an officer in Gamma Sigma Epsilon, the chemistry honor society; off campus I work as a barista at Starbucks. In my spare time, I love relaxing with my friends and watching true crime documentaries and TV shows, and listening to music. 

• Project: Pd catalyzed SMC reactions

Cristian Herrera Alpizar – TCNJ class of 2025

My name is Cristian Herrera Alpizar but everyone calls me Cris. I am a Junior Chemistry major with a minor in Mathematics and Statistics. I started in the O’Connor lab in Spring 2024 to research Nickel catalysts that can perform cross coupling reactions in order to assess their reactivity and efficiency. On campus, I am the Treasurer of the Environmental Club. In my free time, I enjoy spending time at the beach during the summer in the great town of Ocean Grove and spending time with the stray cat I take care of.

• Project: Ni catalyzed SMC reactions

Cassi McDermott – TCNJ class of 2025

My name is Cassandra McDermott, most people call me Cassi. I am a Junior Chemistry major with a prospective Physics minor. I started in O’Connor’s lab in Summer 2023 researching plastic recycling methods by creating Pincer ligands. On campus I am a member of the Varsity Women’s tennis team, a member of Phi Kappa Phi, and a member of the SCA, and the Health and Wellness chair in SAAC. In my free time I enjoy doing yoga, and spending time with my dogs.

• Project: Plastics recycling

Brayden Messinger – TCNJ class of 2025

Hi my name is Brayden, I am a rising Junior TCNJ Chemistry student pursuing a degree with research and a Biology minor.  I am striving to achieve a Graduate degree and earn a PhD in my respective field.  This is my first research experience in Dr. O’Connor’s lab and this is a monumental first step in my career aspirations as experience is essential.  In this lab, I am attempting to generate a pincer ligand with a PCP complex for CO2 functionalization.  I am an active member of the TCNJ Football team and I also participate in various clubs/organizations across campus such as Men’s Club Volleyball and SCA.  Some of my varying interests include beach volleyball, musicals, Star Wars and lifting weights.

• Project: CO2 reduction

Alumni

Shaziya Ahmed – Current: employed, TCNJ class 2018

• Project: Mechanistic insights into base-free transfer hydrogenation catalysis

Faith Alban – Current: Employed by Ingredion, Inc. TCNJ class of 2021

• Project: Rare earth element recycling

Yaa Serwaa Awuah – TCNJ class of 2025

• Project: Plastics recycling

Zack Bacino – Current: Employed CytoSorbents Inc., TCNJ class of 2023

• Catalyst development for CO2 reduction

Christopher Bregna – Fairleigh Dickinson School of Pharmacy, TCNJ class of 2014

• Project: Synthesis of (2-benzyl)allyl bromide. Preparation of a new nickel(II) complex for catalytic applications.

Hannah Brodsky – TCNJ class of 2022

• Project electrochemical CO2 reduction

Atziri Castellanos – TCNJ class of 2025

Lauren Cordeiro – Current: Employed Kenvue, PhD Inorganic Chemistry from Delaware with Charles Riordan, TCNJ class of 2013

• Project: Collaborative project with Duquesne University. Determining kact values for Cu catalyzed ATRA reactions.

Joselyn Dzieminski  – Current: Rutgers University, pursuing PhD, TCNJ class of 2023

• Project: Palladium complex synthesis and isolation

Celia Federico – Current: Employed, TCNJ Class of 2020

• Project: Progress towards the preparation of new iron catalysts to reduce CO2 to methanol

Carolyn Garland – Current: Employed Yale University, PharmD from UNC-CH program, TCNJ class of 2012

• Project: Synthesis of a new allyl halide containing a pendent dimethyl phosphonate group. Preparation of a new nickel(II) complex for catalytic applications.

John Gonzales – BS chemical engineering, NJIT

• Project: Collaboration with Duquesne University. Evaluating new substrates in ATRA reactions

Matthew Gole – Current: Graduate student at University of Illinois with Catherine Murphy, TCNJ class of 2016

• Project: Transfer hydrogenation of ketones and aldehydes hcatalyzed by Cp*Ir catalysts under microwave reaction conditions.

Chris Johnson – Current: Employed by Gelest Inc., TCNJ class of 2021

• Project: CO2 reduction

Daniel Kaplan – Current: Graduated Rowan School of Medicine DO program, TCNJ class of 2012

• Project: Synthesis of (2-benzyl)allyl bromide. Preparation of a new nickel(II) complex for catalytic applications.

Joyce Kim – Pursuing PharmD at Maryland, TCNJ class of 2020

• Project: Developing greener methodology to prepare NNN pincer style ligands

Chris Kirby – Current: HS chemistry teacher in NJ, MS UC Santa Barbara with Gab Menard, TCNJ class of 2015

• Project: Transfer hydrogenation of ketones catalyzed by Cp*Ir complexes containing pyridinesulfonamide ligands. Received ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry Travel Award.

Joshua Koubek – Current: Lecturer at U Tennessee Knoxville, PhD student at Colorado School of Mines with Alan Sellinger, TCNJ, class of 2012
Previous: Employed with BASF

• Project: Synthesis of a new allyl halide containing a pendent diethyl phosphonate group. Preparation of a new nickel(II) complex for catalytic applications.

Mia Kunitomo – Current: resident UCLA, MD NJMS, TCNJ class of 2015

• Project: Evaluating the Insertion of Norbornene into (pi-allyl)Pd cations containing bulky dialkylbiaryl phosphine ligands.

Alexis Luglio – Current: University of Michigan, pursuing PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, TCNH class of 2023

• Project Electrochemistry
• NREL summer research experience
• GRFP recipient

Catherine Lee – Current: Employed by Memorial Sloan Kettering, MS public health at NYU, TCNJ class of 2016

• Project: Polymerization of norbornene catalyzed by new nickel catalysts

Jacob Levene – Current: Employed, residency in anesthesiology, UNC-CH, MD Albert Einstein School of Medicine, TCNJ class of 2014

• Project: Synthesis of a new allyl halide containing a pendent dimethyl phosphonate group. Preparation of a new nickel(II) complex for catalytic applications

Samantha Loh – Current: Employed with Givaudan, TCNJ class of 2017

• Project: Synthesis of pyridinesulfonamide pincer ligands

Michael McDaniel – Current: Physician’s assistant, degree from Arcadia University, TCNJ class of 2014

• Project: Synthesis of new allyl nickel complexes containing bulky dialkylbiphenylphosphine ligands to serve as catalysts in polymerization reactions

Katherine McGarry – Current: Employed Sanofi, MS Lehigh University, TCNJ class of 2013

• Project: Synthesis of new allyl palladium complexes containing bulky dialkylbiphenylphosphine ligands to serve as catalysts in polymerization reactions.

Brittani Mclemore – TCNJ class of 2020

• Project: Synthesis of sulfonated pyridines for ligand synthesis

Alyssa Minnella – Current: Employed Firmenich, TCNJ class of 2023

• Project: CO2 reduction

Lauren Morano – Current: University of Rochester, pursuing PhD in chemistry, TCNJ class of 2023

• Project: Pd catalyzed Suzuki couplings

Kieran Mullarney – Temple University Dental Program, TCNJ class of 2014

• Project: Collaborative project with Duquesne University. Determining kact values for Cu catalyzed ATRA reactions.

James O’Connor – Current: J-Star Research, Inc., MS Brandeis, TCNJ class of 2014

• Project: Synthesis and characterization of iridium(I) complexes containing pyridinesulfonamide ligands.

Mubarak Rawe – TCNJ class of 2025

• Project: MUSE 2022, 2023, research 2 semesters: CO2 reduction

Andrew Ruff – MD at UPenn, Residency NYU, TCNJ class of 2016

• Project: Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones Catalyzed by Cp*Ir Complexes containing Pyridine Sulfonamide Ligands. Selected as honorable mention for the Goldwater Scholarship.

Emily Podd – Current: University of San Diego, Pursuing PhD in chemistry, TCNJ class of 2023, Double Major- Art and Chemistry, Abroad in Australia Fall 2022

• Project: Plastics Upcycling

William Sabbers – Current: Employed,  Postdoc George Washington with Karah Knope, PhD program Temple with Graham Dobereiner, TCNJ class of 2016

• Project: Ni-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reactions

Sydney Santiago – Current: Employed at Givaudan Fragrances, TCNJ graduate of 2021

• Project: Rare earth element recycling

Hussnain Sajjad – PhD at Minnesota, Tolman/Reineke, TCNJ class of 2015

• Project: Progress towards the synthesis of NNN-dianionic pincer ligands to stabilize high oxidation states of iridium.

Eric Schreiber – Current: PhD program at Rochester with Ellen Matson, TCNJ class of 2018

• Project: Developed dehydrogenation conditions using Cp*Ir complexes

Allison Smith – Current: PhD program at UNC-CH with Alex Miller, TCNJ class of 2019

• Project: Mechanistic insights into transfer hydrogenation using base-free systems

Justin Steets – Current: PhD program at Temple with Graham Dobereiner, TCNJ class of 2018

• Project: Optimizing transfer hydrogenation using formic acid and formate as hydrogen sources

Ally Swain – Current: Employed by Tiffany & Co, TCNJ class of 2022

• Project: Rare earth element recycling

Tanya Townsend – Current Employed Unilever, PhD Yale University, TCNJ class of 2017

• Project: Evaluating the Mechanism of Cp*Ir Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Aldehydes and Ketones. Honorable mention for Goldwater Scholarship.
• Recipient of a Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation

Zachary Vazquez – Current: NY Medical College, TCNJ class of 2022

• Project: Catalysts for CO2 reduction

Todd Warren – Current: HS chemistry teacher Hanover Park School District, Masters in forensics at Stevenson University, TCNJ class of 2012

• Project: Synthesis of new allyl nickel complexes containing bulky dialkylbiphenylphosphine ligands to serve as catalysts in polymerization reactions.

Clifford Yung – PharmD UNC Chapel Hill, TCNJ class of 2022

• Project:  Green microwave synthesis

Kendall Villalobos – TCNJ class of 2026

• Project: Summer 2023 MUSE Pd catalyzed cross couplings

Michael Zampetti – Current: employed Spectrix analytical, TCNJ class of 2023

• Project: CO2 reduction