Former Members
Graduate Students and Postdocs:
Kristen Burns, Ph.D. Chemistry (August 2022)
Thesis: Probing the Ultrafast Dynamics of Higher-Lying Excited-States of Molecular Switches with Femtosecond Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy
M.S. and B.S. University of Saint Joseph (CT)
Currently: tenure-track teaching faculty at Western Michigan University
LinkedIn
Matt Barclay, Ph.D. Chemistry (December 2019)
Thesis: Experimental and Theoretical Study of Resonance Raman Spectroscopy in Ground and Excited Electronic States
(co-advised by Marco Caricato)
B.S. Creighton University
Currently: Nanoscale Materials and Device Group, Boise State University
David Stierwalt, M.S. Chemistry (August 2019)
Thesis: Broadband Two-Photon Absorption Spectroscopy: Measuring Accurate Absolute Cross-Sections
B.S. University of Indianapolis
Chris Otolski, Ph.D. Chemistry (May 2019)
Thesis: Mechanisms of Condensed Phase Reactions: The Role of Structure, Dynamics, and Environment in Photoisomerization and Photodissociation
B.S. University of Indianapolis
Currently: Postdoc, AMO Physics Group, Argonne National Laboratory
Tim Quincy, Ph.D. Chemistry (August 2018)
Thesis: Direct and Indirect Probing of Higher-Lying Excited-States of Photoactive Molecules
B.S., University of Kansas
After KU: Teaching Fellow at St. Ambrose University (IA)
Currently: Assistant Professor, Lincoln University (MO)
Amanda Houk, Ph.D. Chemistry (October 2015)
Thesis: Nonlinear Excitation of Photoactivated Molecules: Two-Photon Absorption Spectroscopy, Dynamics, and Quantum Yields
M.S., University of New Mexico (Nanoscience and Microsystems)
B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College (MN)
Currently: Senior Scientist at Savannah River National Laboratory
Cassandra Ward, Ph.D. Chemistry (May 2014)
Thesis: Controlling the Cycloreversion Reaction of a Diarylethene Derivative Using Sequential Two-Photon Excitation
B.S., University of Nebraska- Omaha
After KU: Postdoc with Gerald Meyer, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Currently: Senior Research Scientist/Lab Manager, Lumigen Instrument Center, Wayne State University
Igor Zheldakov, Postdoc (2010-13)
Ph.D., Bowling Green State University (2010)
After KU: Research Chemist, Spectra Group Limited (Toledo, OH)
Currently: Polymer Chemist, Eastman Chemical Company (Kingsport, TN)
Jenna (Wasylenko) Lindsay, Graduate Student (2010-15)
B.S., Sweet Briar College (VA)
After KU: Chemistry teacher at Atchison High School (KS)
Sadegh Mahvidi, Visiting Graduate Student (2016-17)
Institute for Color Science and Technology, Tehran
M.S. Institute for Color Science and Technology (Tehran)
B.S. Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran)
Hometown: Tehran, Iran
Visiting Faculty:
Jordan Mantha, Summer 2016
Associate Professor, Midamerica Nazarene University
Ph.D., University of Nevada- Reno
B.A., University of Montana Western
Summer REU Students:
Jamie Somers, Summer Research
REU and Craig Lunte Memorial KU-DCU Summer Exchange Program Home Institution: Dublin City University (Ireland)
Julia Goeks, REU Summer Research (2021)
A.B. Chemistry and Physics, Ripon College (WI)
Currently: Graduate student at University of Illinois in Materials Science and Engineering
Ryan Hamelin, REU Summer Research (2015)
B.S. Chemistry, Fitchburg State University (MA)
Darien Morrow, REU Summer Research (2014)
B.S. Chemistry, Missouri Western State University (2015)
Ph.D.: University of Wisconsin-Madison (Wright Group, 2020)
Currently: Postdoc with Xuedan Ma at Argonne National Laboratory
Samantha Allen, REU Summer Research (2013)
B.S. Chemistry, Agnes Scott College (2014)
Currently: Graduate student at University of Colorado-Boulder, Jimenez Group
Tyler Tommey, REU Summer Research (2011)
B.S. Chemistry, Northwest Missouri State University (2013)
Currently: Graduate student in Polymer Science, University of Akron (OH)
Joe Varberg, REU Summer research (2010)
B.S. Chemistry, Rockhurst University (2011)
Ph.D. Pharmacology, Indiana University School of Medicine (2017)
Currently: Stowers Institute for Medical Research (Kansas City, MO)
KU Undergraduates:
Jessica Bair, B.S. Chemistry (2022)
Hometown: Hayes, KS
Currently: Graduate school at Chalmers University, Sweden (starting fall 2022)
Robert Castaneda, B.A. Chemistry (2022)
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Currently: Graduate school at the University of North Carolina (starting fall 2022)
Whitney Harmon, B.S. Chemistry (2018)
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
Currently: Graduate school at University of Iowa, Cheatum and Shaw Groups
Brooks Hidaka, B.S. Chemistry (2018)
(UKanTeach)
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
Currently: Graduate school in Education, University of Kansas
Emmaline Lorenzo, B.S. Chemistry (2018, with Honors)
Honors Thesis: A Spectroscopic Study of the Uncaging Reaction of para-Hydroxyphenacyl Derivatives Under Neutral and Basic Conditions
Hometown: Leawood, Kansas
Currently: Graduate school at Northwestern University, Wasielewski Group
Jung Moon Suh, B.S. Chemistry (2018)
(UKanTeach)
Nick Jackson, B.S. Chemistry (2017)
(UKanTeach)
Hometown: Parsons, Kansas
Currently: Chemistry teacher at Olathe South High School
Jorge Perez
(UKanTeach; McNair Scholar)
Hometown: Olathe, Kansas
Victoria Gunderson, B.A. Chemistry (2016)
(UKanTeach)
Hometown: Riverside, Rhode Island
Currently: Brewer at 23rd Street Brewery (Lawrence, KS)
Thomas Hurley, B.S. Chemical Engineering (2016)
Hometown: Parsons, Kansas
John Bliss, B.S. Chemistry (2015)
Hometown: Olathe, Kansas
Graham Oltjen, B.S. Chemistry (2014)
After KU: Halliburton
Will Cleek, B.S. Chemistry (with Honors, 2013)
After KU: M.D., University of Kansas Medical School (2017)
Currently: Resident, Emergency Medicine, University of Washington
Heidi LeSage, B.S. Chemistry (2011)
Currently: Pearson Education (Portland, OR)
Alyssa (Auld) Meyer, B.S. Chemistry Education (2010)
After KU: Chemistry/Physics teacher at Mill Valley High School (Shawnee, KS)
