Meet the Team

Dr. Sarah Tasker

Dr. Sarah Tasker was born in Ohio but grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  She received her B.Sc. in Chemistry with a double major in Spanish from Calvin College (now called Calvin University) in 2010.  She did undergraduate research with Professors Chad Tatko and Carolyn Anderson at Calvin, before moving on to do her Ph.D. with Tim Jamison at MIT, working to develop new nickel–catalyzed reactions.  In 2015, Dr. Tasker moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as a Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Postdoctoral Scholar with Paul Hergenrother.  She investigated chemical diversification of natural products for high-throughput screening libraries, and small molecule transport at the blood–brain barrier. In 2018, Dr. Tasker started as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where she teaches Organic and General Chemistry. She also does research in the fields of gas-releasing molecules, photochemical reaction methodology, and antibacterial natural products with a talented team of undergraduate research students.  Outside the lab, Dr. Tasker loves to travel, knits constantly, listens to way too many podcasts, and hosts lots of game nights. 

Zarine Gidwaney

F&M '25

Major: Chemistry

Hometown: Winnetka, IL

Outside the Lab: Zarine plays squash at F&M (ranked #21 in the nation in the D3 '22/'23 season!). She also likes to sew, play video games, and spend time with family.

Sabrina Doria

F&M '25

Major: Chemistry and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Minor: French

Hometown: Guilford, CT

Outside the Lab: Sabrina enjoys playing the French horn and the piano. She also enjoys crocheting and spending time with friends!

Abby Bachman

F&M '26

Major: Chemistry

Minors: French and Applied Math

Hometown: Herndon, VA

Outside the Lab: Abby is on the F&M Track and Field team, and enjoys going on walks and hanging out with friends.

Henry Tavens

F&M '26

Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Outside the Lab: Henry swims at F&M and is the F&M Climbing Club secretary. He also enjoys motion graphic editing, playing video games, and spending time with friends.

Sachin Balasubramanian

F&M '27

Intended Majors: Chemistry and French

Hometown: Dublin, CA

Outside the Lab: Sachin enjoys playing Cello. He also likes to travel and eat good food! He is also a part of F&M American Chemical Society Student Affiliates and Asian American Alliance.

Taylor Weiss

F&M '27

Intended Majors: Chemistry and Economics

Hometown: Blue Bell, PA

Outside the Lab: Taylor plays on the soccer team and is a sports photographer at F&M. She also enjoys music, travelling, and spending time with friends.

Former lab members

*Summer 2020 research canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Lab Group Pictures

Summer Research 2024

Summer Research 2023

Summer Research 2022

Summer Research 2021

Summer Research 2019