Congratulations to Jake Molineux and Samantha Rokey, who were selected as the '24-'25 recipients of the Carl S. Marvel Memorial Scholarship Endowment!

Congratulations to Zachary Bachler who received the '24-'25 CBC Excellence in Research Award!

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Congratulations to the following graduate students who were selected as 2024 CBC Outstanding Graduate Service Award recipients!

The College of Science Outstanding Graduate Student Awards (in Scholarship, Service, and Teaching) are offered annually. Each selected student will receive a departmental award as well as a nomination for the College Award in that category.

Nick Lauta – Graduate Outstanding Teaching

"I received my B.S. in Biochemistry at Florida Gulf Coast University before heading to The University of Arizona to pursue a PhD in Chemistry under Jon Njardarson. As a synthetic chemist, my work has primarily focused on the development of new methodologies along with a large focus on the development of new total syntheses of Apomorphine, a US FDA approved Parkinson's drug. In my free time I love to cook and ferment foods while listening to death metal."

Megan Laham – Graduate Outstanding Service

Megan works in Dr. Thatcher's lab studying nuclear hormone receptors to develop nonlipogenic ABCA1 inducers. Megan is also the CBC graduate council chair and the outreach chair for PAWS. Through PAWS she has organized various events with the Tucson community to share STEM demos with K-12 students. One event this year that Megan was grateful to be a part of was the visit to Baboquivari High School on the Tohono O'odham reservation this past fall. Megan says her passion for outreach really started at her undergraduate college which encouraged students to volunteer with the local community as well as nationally through various service trips.

Lilia Koelemay – Graduate Outstanding Scholarship

I am currently a fifth-year graduate student in the Ziurys Research Group in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, where I explore the chemistry of the interstellar medium through radio astronomy. My research focuses on identifying radical gas-phase molecules in the circumstellar envelopes of evolved stars and searching for organic molecules at the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy. I have detected two new interstellar molecules, silicon phosphide (SiP) and iron carbide (FeC), around the star IRC+10216. These findings were both presented at American Astronomical Society (AAS) and International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy (ISMS) meetings, and were published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. I also discovered phosphorus-bearing molecules, phosphorus monoxide (PO) and phosphorus nitride (PN), in the Outer Galaxy. This work not only suggests an alternate pathway for phosphorus nucleosynthesis but also implies broader habitability criteria within our galaxy. These discoveries were also presented at AAS and ISMS meetings and have been featured in a recent publication in Nature. Because of my research, I have been awarded the Carl S. Marvel Memorial Scholarship, the Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduate Scholar Award, and the Mensch Prize in Astrobiology.

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Congratulations to Christopher Marshall for being selected as the 2024 David F. O’Brien Graduate Fellow!

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Congratulations to Samantha Rokey, who was selected as the 2024 Dr. Wayne Cody Scholar in Medicinal Biological Chemistry!

Samantha attended Illinois State University and received her B.S. in chemistry in 2020. She is currently pursuing her PhD in chemistry at the University of Arizona in Dr. Christopher Hulme’s lab. Her thesis project focuses on designing and synthesizing small molecule kinase inhibitors that target the Wnt signaling pathway for the treatment of colorectal cancer and glioblastoma.

Samantha recently had the opportunity to give an oral presentation at the Arizona Drug Discovery and Development Summit where she placed first among all student presentations. She says, "This summit was a great opportunity to learn about up-and-coming science from multiple biotech companies. The keynote speakers also took time to speak to me one-on-one about how to pursue a career in industry and make that smooth transition upon graduation."

Samantha is also an active member of PAWS, DEI, and TA evaluation committees at UofA. Outside of research, she enjoys spending time with her dog and friends, reading, traveling, and yoga.

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Congratulations to the Galileo Circle Scholars for 2024! Our graduate students are passionate, and we invite you to read further on their current paths and research!

Anubhab Chakraborty
"My name is Anubhab, and I am a 6th year PhD student in Physical Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Arizona. My principal field of research involves designing metal-organic solid-state systems and studying their properties at both a molecular and a macroscopic level with the broad goal of creating more energy efficient electronic devices.

Currently, I am working on surface alloy systems that exhibit Rashba spin-orbit coupling effects, which are ideally suited for applications in the emerging field of spintronics. I am planning to graduate soon and post-graduation, I would like to join organizations that address the issue of global energy crisis using technological breakthroughs on an industrial scale. I am grateful and humbled to have been selected as a recipient of the Galileo Circle Scholarship and I would like to express my deep gratitude to my parents and my advisor Dr. Oliver Monti for guiding me every step of the way."

Bai Hei
Bai completed her BS in Chemistry in 2019 at Peking University, Beijing, China, where she contributed to DNA sequence analysis and coarse-grained chromatin model in Prof. Yi Qin Gao's group. She is now a fifth-year graduate student in Dr. Steven D. Schwartz’s group. Her current research focuses on computational studies for complex systems including ionic liquids and the human cardiac myosin, aiming to illuminate the atomic structures and energetics of these vital systems.

Lindsey Holmen
"I'm Lindsey Holmen, a fourth-year graduate student working in Jeffrey Pyun's research group. I focus on synthesizing new polymers with tailored properties and exploring their applications in various fields like nanotechnology and IR device fabrication. I love being part of our interdisciplinary research team, where we collaborate closely with industrial partners and other research groups, integrating insights from various fields to tackle complex challenges and drive innovation.

I am also the president of PAWS (Program to Advance Women Scientists) where I participate and help execute outreach, professional development, and social events.
Outside of the lab, I love to spend time with my two dogs and participate in outdoorsy activities. I am grateful for having been selected as a 2024 Galileo Circle Scholar. It means a lot to me and motivates me to keep doing my best. Thank you to everyone who has supported me."

Ramandeep Kaur
"I am a 4th year graduate student in Dr. Gianetti's lab. I am originally from a small village in Punjab (India). In Gianetti's lab, my research is focused on the development of fluorinated carbenium ions and their applications in Lewis acid-assisted catalysis. In my free time, I love watching thriller movies and web series."

Christopher Marshall
"My name is Christopher Marshall, and I am a third-year graduate student in Jon Njardarson’s research group. I earned my B.S. in chemistry at the University of Arizona. Following graduation, I worked as a formulations chemist at a biotechnology company in Tucson. After working for three years, I decided to pursue a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, specializing in synthesis and the development of new synthetic methodologies."

Joohyung Park
"I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. I fell for science in my high school days, the quantized nature of atomic states during chemistry class mesmerized me and it led me to chemistry major at Chung-Ang University, located at the center of Seoul. Learning modern physics in my first year of college then led me to take a double major in physics, focusing on the physics of inorganic chemistry and condensed matter. Aside from classes, I also served friends and people in the department as a student representative for two years. After finishing my third year, I did my military service for two years.

Being isolated from the civilian world, I had many opportunities to look back on myself and decided to study more in graduate school. I did my master's degree in materials chemistry, mostly focusing on chemical methods to synthesize thin film transistors. My dire curiosity to study more physics then led me to study electronic structures of solid-state materials, especially in the US. There I started my new journey at the University of Arizona in Fall 2018. Working for Professor Monti, I learned how to become a critically thinking scientist, deep knowledge of physics that I hoped to learn, and I also had incredible chances to use state-of-the-art instruments around the world to study the exciting nature of quantum materials.

Teaching undergraduate students as a teaching assistant, especially 6 years of teaching the 400B courses, also made me a better educator and better mentor - and I have been proudly teaching 400B as a Distinguished TA since 2023. Overall, the journey to become a Ph.D. under Professor Monti and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry so far made me grow up to an unsurpassed extent in my life. I aspire to continue working as a scientist; hence I look forward to becoming a postdoctoral scholar after my Ph.D."

Sammi Rokey – Michael Cusanovich Galileo Circle Scholar
Samantha graduated with her B.S. in chemistry from Illinois State University in 2020. She is currently a 4th year PhD candidate in Dr. Christopher Hulme's group. Her research specifically focuses on designing and synthesizing novel small molecule kinase inhibitors toward glioblastoma and colorectal cancer.

Annika Silverberg
"Hi! My name is Annika Silverberg, I'm a second-year graduate student in Dr. Marty's lab. I study protein-lipid interactions by developing new mass spectrometry techniques. Specifically, I'm interested in how cholesterol impacts the function of serotonin receptors. I'm hoping to go into industry after getting my PhD so I can continue developing mass spectrometry methods. In my free time, I love to read, listen to music, and relax by the pool!"

Helena Woroniecka
"As a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Charest lab, my research focuses on understanding cell signaling involved in chemotaxis in the overall context of cancer metastasis. The ultimate goal of my work is to aid in the development of chemotactic therapeutics targeting metastatic cancer cells. Post-graduation, I aim to pursue a career in science communication, driven by a broad need to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and societal understanding.

In an era marked by the spread of scientific misinformation, particularly evident during the pandemic and climate crisis, the need for accurate information dissemination is more urgent than ever. By translating complex scientific concepts into accessible language and engaging narratives, I aim to promote health literacy, foster informed decision-making, and facilitate the translation of scientific advancements into tangible societal benefits."

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Congratulations to Megan Laham who was selected as the 2024 Herbert E. Carter Award Recipient.

Megan works in Dr. Gregory Thatcher's lab studying nuclear hormone receptors to develop nonlipogenic ABCA1 inducers. Megan is also the CBC graduate council chair and the outreach chair for PAWS. Through PAWS, she has organized various events with the Tucson community to share STEM demos with K-12 students.

One event this year that Megan was grateful to be a part of was the visit to Baboquivari High School on the Tohono O'odham reservation this past fall. Megan says her passion for outreach started at her undergraduate college which encouraged students to volunteer with the local community as well as nationally through various service trips.

Congratulations to Abigail Page, who was selected as the 2024 Howard P. Klein Early Career Excellence in Research awardee!

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Congratulations to Oluwaseun Fapohunda, who was selected as the 2024-2025 John Hostetter awardee!

Congratulations to Katherine Gold who was selected as a 2025 Kathryn K. and James D. Steele Fellow.

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Congratulations to Lindsey Holmen and Christopher Marshall, who were selected as the 2024-2025 Victor P. Thalacker Graduate Fellows!

Lindsey Holmen

"I'm Lindsey Holmen, a rising 5th-year graduate student working in Jeffrey Pyun's research group. I focus on synthesizing new polymers with tailored properties and exploring their applications in various fields like nanotechnology and IR device fabrication. I love being part of our interdisciplinary research team, where we collaborate closely with industrial partners and other research groups, integrating insights from various fields to tackle complex challenges and drive innovation. I am also the president of PAWS (Program to Advance Women Scientists) where I participate and help execute outreach, professional development, and social events. Outside of the lab, I love to spend time with my two dogs and participate in outdoorsy activities. I am honored to have been selected as a 2024 Victor P. Thalacker Fellow, it means a lot to me and motivates me to keep pushing for success."

Christopher Marshall

"I'm Christopher Marshall, a fourth-year graduate student working in Jon Njardarson’s research group. I earned my B.S. in chemistry at the University of Arizona. Following graduation, I worked as a formulations chemist at a biotechnology company in Tucson. After working for three years, I decided to pursue a Ph.D. in organic chemistry. In Dr. Njardarson's lab, my research is focused on the synthesis of new classes of monomers for inverse vulcanization. In my free time, I like to cook, hike, and play music both as a soloist and with my band."