Group Members

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

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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

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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

Email Qiupeng

 

 

 

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

Email Seunghwan

 

 

 

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

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Nao Tanaka

Sophia University, 2021
PhD advisor: Professor Toyonobu Usuki

Catalysis

Hometown: Chiba, Japan
Hobbies: Kyudo, snowboarding, solving puzzles, programming, and rock climbing

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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

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Jesse Gordon-Blake

University of Illinois at Chicago, 2022PhD advisors: Professors Gregory R.J. Thatcher and Tom G. Driver

Translational Chemistry

Hometown: Denver, COPrevious Research Advisors: Prof. Justin J. Maresh (DePaul University)Hobbies: Electronic music production, hiking, exercise, concerts

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Undergraduate Students

Andrew Katchmar, UG4

Chemistry | Northwestern University

Catalysis

Hometown: Island Lake, Illinois
Hobbies: Skiing, rowing, video games, cooking, gardening, and metallurgy

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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

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Emmie Farnam, UG4

Chemistry | Northwestern University

Catalysis

Hometown: Crystal Lake, Illinois
Hobbies: Softball, reading, and taking long walks along the lake

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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

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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.

Email Dan