Current Group Members
Research Professor
Gary Schiltz
Northwestern University: Research Faculty, Department of Chemistry, 2021-present
Northwestern University: Research Faculty, CMIDD, 2014-2021
Northwestern University: Research/Senior Research Associate, CMIDD, 2010-2014
deCODE Genetics: Senior Research Scientist, 2005-2009
Abbott Laboratories: Scientist, 1997-1999
Translational Chemistry
Research Scientists
Purav Vagadia
Illinois Wesleyan University, 2012
Villanova University, 2014 (MS)
Translational Chemistry
Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya
Previous Research Advisors: Prof. Robert Giuliano (Villanova), Prof. Deanna Zubris (Villanova), Prof. Ram Mohan (Illinois Wesleyan)
Hobbies: Playing percussion, playing soccer, and playing the piano
Postdoctoral Researchers
Qiupeng Peng
Tsinghua University, 2021
PhD Advisor: Professor Jian Wang
Translational Chemistry, Catalysis
Hometown: Chengdu, China
Previous Research Advisors: Prof. Ma Lei and Prof. Yun Tang (East China University of Science and Technology)
Hobbies: badminton and football
Seunghwan Byun
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 2020
PhD Advisor: Professor Sukwon Hong
Catalysis
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Previous Research Advisors: Prof. Seunghyun Cho (Soongsil University)
Hobbies: Snowboarding, doing yoga, and drinking coffee
Pengzhi Wang
North Carolina State University, 2021
PhD Advisor: Professor Jonathan S. Lindsey
Catalysis
Hometown: Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
Previous Research Advisors: Prof. Ya-Wen Wang (Lanzhou University)
Hobbies: Going on roadtrips, exploring tasty foods, strategy video games, and doing cardio workouts
Nao Tanaka
Sophia University, 2021
PhD advisor: Professor Toyonobu Usuki
Catalysis
Hometown: Chiba, Japan
Hobbies: Kyudo, snowboarding, solving puzzles, programming, and rock climbing
Ann Fernandez
University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2021
PhD Advisor: Professor S. Thayumanavan
Translational Chemistry
Hometown: Dubai, UAE
Previous Research Advisors: Prof. G. Mugesh, Prof. T. Pradeep
Hobbies: cooking, digital art
Jesse Gordon-Blake
University of Illinois at Chicago, 2022PhD advisors: Professors Gregory R.J. Thatcher and Tom G. Driver
Translational Chemistry
Paige Monsen
University of Louisville, 2021
PhD advisor: Frederick A. Luzzio
Translational Chemistry
Hometown: Whitney Point, NY
Hobbies: Cooking, field hockey, going to cat cafes
Graduate Students
Dalton Kim, MSTP, G5
Southern Methodist University, 2015
NIH NCI Predoctoral Fellow (2018-2022)
Translational Chemistry, Complex Synthesis
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Previous Research Advisors: Prof. Patty Wisian-Neilson (SMU), Prof. Uttam Tambar (UTSW Medical Center)
Undergraduate Majors: Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Minors in Psychology, Mathematics
Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, playing guitar, making trap beats, and following the stock market
Josh Zhu, G5
Johns Hopkins University, 2018
Catalysis
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Previous Research Advisors: Prof. Thomas Lectka (Johns Hopkins)
Undergraduate Major: Chemistry
Hobbies: Trying out new board games, experimenting in the kitchen, and practicing his mixological skills
Mike Rourke, G4
University of Colorado – Boulder, 2017
Catalysis
Hometown: Terre Haute, Indiana
Previous Research Advisors: Prof. Maciej Walczak (Univ. of Colorado – Boulder)
Undergraduate Major: Biochemistry
Hobbies: Cycling, motocross enthusiast, and skiing fast
Yunchan Nam, G2
Kyung Hee University, 2020
Complex Synthesis
Hometown: Busan, South Korea
Previous Research Advisors: Prof. Jae Yeol Lee (Kyung Hee University)
Undergraduate Major: Chemistry
Hobbies: Rock climbing, playing soccer, and cycling
Cullen Schull, G2
University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, 2021
Catalysis
Hometown: Mankato, Minnesota
Previous Research Advisors: Prof. Valeria Stepanova (UWL), Prof. Joseph West (Winona State)
Undergraduate Major: Biochemistry, Biology – Biomedical Sciences, Minor in Mathematics
Hobbies: Hiking, biking, and watching sports
Claire Trudeau, G1
University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, 2022
Translational Chemistry
Hometown: Hutchinson, MN
Previous research advisors: Prof. Valeria Stepanova (UWL), Prof. Joseph West (Winona State).
Undergrad major: Biochemistry, Biology – Molecular Biology.
Hobbies: Listening to music, Snowboarding, Fishing, and Scuba Diving
Gina Connors, G1
University of Notre Dame, 2022
Translational Chemistry
Hometown: North Bellmore, NY
Previous Research Advisors: Prof. Christian Melander (Notre Dame), Prof. Paul Hergenrother (UIUC)
Undergraduate Major: Chemistry
Hobbies: Listening to music, playing piano, watching Notre Dame football
Aaron Shoemaker, G1
Lafayette College, 2022
Catalysis
Hometown: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Previous Research Advisor: Prof. Daniel Griffith (Lafayette College) Undergraduate Major: Biochemistry
Hobbies: Running, learning languages, learning how to cook Korean food, thrifting
Miguel Campos, G1
Washington University in St. Louis, 2022
Translational Chemistry
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Previous Research Advisors: Prof. Jeanne Nerbonne (WashU), Prof. Marvin Meyers (SLU), and Prof. Regan Thomson (NW)
Undergraduate Major: Chemistry: Biochemistry Concentration
Hobbies: Anything superhero-related, watching/playing baseball and basketball, playing videogames, taking fat naps
Meemie Hwang, G1
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2022
Catalysis
Hometown: Skokie, Illinois
Previous Research Advisors: Prof. David Sarlah (UIUC) Undergraduate Major: Chemistry
Hobbies: Exploring the city, baking, playing with cats
Ricardo Hernandez Alcala, G1
Boston University, 2022
Complex Synthesis
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Previous Research Advisor: Prof. John K. Snyder (Boston University) Undergraduate Major: Chemistry
Hobbies: Tennis, Chess, Interpreting NMR Spectra, and Horology
Oniya Valencia, G1
Cornell University, 2022
Catalysis
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Previous Research Advisors: Prof. Tristan Lambert (Cornell University)
Undergraduate Major: Chemistry
Hobbies: drinking coffee, running, going to the farmers market, and exploring the great outdoors
Matthew McGill, G1
University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2022
Catalysis
Hometown: Saint Germain, Wisconsin
Previous Research Advisor: Prof. Andrew Buller (University of Wisconsin-Madison) Undergraduate Major: Chemistry
Hobbies: Hiking, Going to Concerts, Playing Guitar
Undergraduate Students
Andrew Katchmar, UG4
Chemistry | Northwestern University
Catalysis
Hometown: Island Lake, Illinois
Hobbies: Skiing, rowing, video games, cooking, gardening, and metallurgy
Hasan Munshi, UG4
Chemistry | Northwestern University
CRC General Chemistry Award (2020)
Translational Chemistry
Hometown: Naperville, Illinois
Hobbies: Collecting fountain pens, playing table tennis, reading the Economist, and honing chalk skills
Emmie Farnam, UG4
Chemistry | Northwestern University
Catalysis
Hometown: Crystal Lake, Illinois
Hobbies: Softball, reading, and taking long walks along the lake
Anthony Tam, UG3
Integrated Science Program (ISP) – Mathematics & Chemistry | Northwestern University
Goldwater Scholarship (2022)
Translational Chemistry, Catalysis
Hometown: Fishers, Indiana
Hobbies: Cooking, tea, and mechanical keyboard enthusiast
Dan Yang, UG3
Integrated Science Program (ISP) – Biology & Chemistry | Northwestern University
Catalysis
Hometown: Webster, NY
Hobbies: Driving, playing the piano, working out and drinking water.