Members
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr. Jiao Yu (2022-2024)
- BS: Shandong Normal University, 2014
- PhD: Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (Advisor: Prof. Ji-Chang Xiao), 2019
- Postdoc: Southern University of Science and Technology (Advisor: Prof. Xin-Yuan Liu), 2020-2022
- Recent position: Zhejiang Normal University, professor by special appointment (since 2024)
Dr. Yidong Wang (2017-2022)
- BS: Northeast Normal University, 2012
- PhD: East China Normal University (Advisor: Prof. Jun-liang Zhang), 2017
- Recent position: Yangzhou University, full professor (since 2022)
Dr. Xiaodong Zuo (2018-2020)
- BS: Xiamen University, 2012
- PhD: Nankai University (Advisor: Prof. Qilin Zhou), 2017
- Recent position: WuXi AppTec, associate director (since 2020)
Dr. Rui Guo (2018-2020)
- BS: Ocean University of China, 2012
- MS: Lanzhou University (Advisors: Hongbin Zhai and Yun Li), 2015
- PhD: Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (Advisor: Prof. Guozhu Zhang), 2018
- Recent position: Central China Normal University, professor (since 2023)
Graduate Students
Dr. Aaron Charlack (2021-2026)
- BS/MS: SUNY Potsdam (Advisor: Martin Walker, Fadi Bou-Abdallah), 2021
- Thesis title: Iron & Fluorine & Bismuth, Oh My: A Series of Transformations Involving π-Bonds
- Recent position: University of Pittsburgh, visiting instructor/lecturer (since 2026)
Dr. Shalini Dey (2021-2026)
- BS/MS: University of Calcutta, 2021
- Thesis title: Transition Metal Catalyzed C–H Functionalization
- Recent position: Wayne State University, postdoctoral associate (advisor: Siraj Ali) (since 2026)
Dr. Michael Leitch (2024-2026)
- BS/MS: Western Washington University (Advisor: Gregory O’Neil), 2020
- Thesis title: Scruitinizing Serendipity: Selective Activators and Soft Silylation of Sulfonyl Scaffolds
Dr. James Corcoran (2019-2025)
- BS: University of Pittsburgh (Advisor: Yiming Wang), 2018
- Thesis title: New C–C Bond-Forming Cyclization Reactions of Alkynes
- Recent position: Thermo Fisher/GSK, researcher (since 2026)
Josphat Mwiva, MS (2024-2025)
- BS: Egerton University, Kenya, 2022
- Thesis title: Iridium-Catalyzed Regio- and Enantioselective Propargylic C–H Sulfenylation
- Recent position: University of Pittsburgh, visiting lab instructor (since 2026)
Dr. Ruihan Wang (2019-2025)
- BS: China Pharmaceutical University (Advisor: Bo Zhang), 2019
- Thesis title: Allylic C–H Functionalization of Olefins through Base Metal Catalysis
- Recent position: MIT, postdoctoral associate (Advisor: Stephen Buchwald) (since 2026)
Dr. Yue Xia (2018-2024)
- BS: Pennsylvania State University (Advisor: Steven Weinreb), 2018
- Thesis title: Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling Facilitated by Iron Mediated C–H Functionalization Adjacent to π Bonds
- Recent position: J-STAR, senior research scientist II (since 2024)
Dr. Sarah Scrivener (2019-2024)
- BS: Grove City College (Advisors: Kristina Pazehoski and Charles Kriley), 2019
- Thesis title: Iron-Catalyzed C–H Functionalization of Alkenes for Addition to Conjugated Electrophiles
- Recent position: USPTO, patent examiner (since 2024)
Dr. Austin Durham (2019-2023)
- BS: Hamilton College (Advisor: Robin Kinnel), 2018
- Thesis title: Metal-Mediated Propargylic C–H Functionalization of Alkynes
- Recent position: Biogen, Inc., postdoctoral researcher (since 2024)
Dr. Jin Zhu (2018-2023)
- BS: Nanjing University (Advisor: Shaolin Zhu), 2018
- Thesis title: Enantio- and Regioselective Propargylic and Allylic Functionalization
- Recent position: MIT, postdoctoral associate (Advisor: Alison Wendlandt) (since 2024)
Phillip Palermo, MS (2020-2023)
- BS: University of Rochester (Advisor: William Jones), 2020
- Thesis title: Mechanistic Insights into Iron-Catalyzed Allenic C–H Functionalization
- Recent position: Eastman Kodak Company, process chemist (since 2023)
Scott Wudarski (2017-2020)
- BS: University at Buffalo (Advisor: Sherry Chemler), 2015
- Recent position: Community College of Allegheny County, instructor (since 2023)
Kayla Kroner (2017-2018)
- BS: Drake University, 2017
- Recent position: Peoria Unified School District, high school teacher (since 2020)
Undergraduate and Visiting Students
Hello, former undergrads! I don’t have recent info for all of you. Please send me an email and let me know what you’re up to and how you’re doing (especially if you see a blank space next to your name).