We are an organic chemistry group in the Department of Chemistry at Oakland University, located in Rochester, Michigan. Our primary research goals are to synthesize π-extended molecules containing main-group elements through a blend of traditional and modern synthetic organic and inorganic techniques. Ultimately, we envision these π-conjugated molecules will serve as the core component in a variety of materials, with applications ranging from molecular recognition, organic electronics, multi-dentate ligand scaffolds, to catalysis.

Are you an undergraduate at OU or OCC who is interested in research but doesn't know how to get started? Fill out the research questionnaire for advice on who to contact for research opportunities in the Department of Chemistry at OU!

April 26, 2024: The College of Arts and Sciences did a write up on Calvin's time at OU! Live online just in time for his commencement speech on the 27th!

April 19, 2024: Zach gave a seminar presentation on the groups work on isomeric naphthodithiophene fluorophores at Thomas Jefferson University. Thank you for the invitation!

April 4, 2024: Congratulations Calvin on receiving the NSF-GRFP! Aside from running out of space for all of your accomplishments, I am running out of ways to describe 'the kid from Pontiac'; great job, as always I am excited to see what is next. 

April 3, 2024: Zach hosts Mara Livezey from University of Detroit Mercy for the undergraduate seminar series! Dr. Livezey gave an excellent seminar discussing research at a PUI and integrating research into the teaching laboratory.

April 2, 2024: Congratulations Noah Schepke on receiving a summer research award! Welcome aboard the KRG team!

April 1, 2024: Congratulations Calvin and Rachel on all your accomplishments at OU and best of luck with the next phase of your academic pursuits! Calvin has made it official and is heading off to graduate school at the University of Michigan (Go Blue), while Rachel is beginning her medical school journey at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine!

March 27, 2024: Welcome to the summer research team Fatima, Maya, and Madison! Fatima, Maya, and Madison are part of our Oakland Community College research initiative funded by NSF; where they will be working on various projects synthesizing luminescent thiophene-based materials.

March 14, 2024: Congratulations Calvin on receiving both the Undergraduate Distinguished Achievement Award and the Meritorious Achievement Award; these awards highlight years of hard work at OU!

March 6, 2024: Zach hosts Paul Lummis from Duquesne University for the undergraduate seminar series! Dr. Lummis gave an excellent seminar discussing carbene-based clusters and some interesting reactivity along the way.

March 8, 2024: Zach hosts the first annual Department of Chemistry Research Expo! Undergraduate students currently in research groups presented posters to Oakland Community College students and to OU biochemistry, chemistry, and environmental sciences majors!

March 6, 2024: Zach hosts Mike Holmes from Cayman Chemical for the undergraduate seminar series! Dr. Holmes gave an excellent seminar discussing process and development chemistry to access a key pharmaceutical target. 

February 26, 2024: Zach receives the OU URC Faculty Research Fellowship for 2024.

February 20, 2024: Welcome to the group Kara! Kara is coming to us from Oakland Community College and will be starting at OU in Fall 2024! Her research focus will be synthesizing novel luminescent thiophene-based materials.

February 13, 2024: Congratulations Evan on receiving a Michigan Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate Fellowship! Evan's proposal details the synthesis and application of carbene–metal–amido complexes as photoactive materials! 

January 28, 2024: Zach heads to Alexandria, VA for the NSF LEAPS-MPS 2022/2023 cohort meeting! Looking forward to learning about NSF, various funding mechanisms, and meeting fellow awardees.

December 12, 2023: Zach returns from paternity leave! It seems the group has been busy gather excellent data in my absence.

September 8, 2023: Welcome to the group Leen and Jonathan! Leen joins the team to work on thiophene-based luminescent materials with Emmanuel and Rachel. Jonathan is coming to us from Oakland Community College and will be taking on luminescent organometallic complexes with Evan.

August 17, 2023: Huge thank you to the National Science Foundation for funding our proposal to pursue naphthodithiophene-based photoactive materials! For more details on this NSF LEAPS-MPS proposal please see here.

July 28, 2023: Excellent final presentations from Calvin, Evan, and Rachel to wrap up the summer research program!

July 27, 2023: Calvin and Evan traveled south to present posters on their projects at the Undergraduate Research and Networking at UMich (URAN|UM)! 

June 29, 2023: Zach's poster was selected to give a 10 minute talk to end the Physical Organic Chemistry GRC! Hopefully the improv scientific talk will leave a lasting, enjoyable, memory for all. 

June 24, 2023: The group heads north to New Hampshire for the Physical Organic Chemistry Gordon Research Conference! Calvin, Emmanuel, and Zach are giving poster presentations on several different topics in the group. Stop by to talk about thiophene-based luminescent materials!

June 22, 2023: Emmanuel and Calvin gave excellent poster presentations on their luminescent thiophene projects at ACS Central Regional Meeting (CERM) in Dearborn, MI. 

June 21, 2023: Zach gave an oral presentation on the groups efforts at ACS Central Regional Meeting (CERM) in Dearborn, MI. 

May 22, 2023: Congratulations Calvin on receiving the ACS Scholars Program Award! Well-deserved for your hard work over the years!

May 17, 2023: Great job Emmanuel on passing your oral candidacy exam! Onto the next challenge! 

April 19, 2023: Congratulations Calvin, Evan, and Rachel on receiving summer research awards! As always, I am happy to have you all abroad for SURP!

April 17, 2023: Congratulations Emmanuel and Calvin on receiving funding for your research proposals! Emmanuel's proposal details the dynamic assembly of imine-containing thiophenes. Calvin's proposal discusses new routes to assemble metallmacrocycles bearing thiophene units.

March 27, 2023: Zach gave a seminar presentation on the groups carbene–foldamer work at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. Thank you for the invite!

March 7, 2023: Welcome to the group Rachel! Rachel joins the team to work on thiophene-pyridine ligands with Drecila and Lourdes!

February 22, 2023: Zach receives the OU URC Faculty Research Grant for 2023.

February 21, 2023: Congratulations Calvin on receiving a Michigan Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate Fellowship! Calvin's proposal details the synthesis and application of metallomacrocycles as photoactive materials! 

December 13, 2022: Congratulations Maddie on being awarded an Honor's College Thesis with distinction! Well-deserved for your hard work over the years!

December 7, 2022: Congratulations Drecila on receiving funding for your research proposal! Drecila's proposal details multifunctional π-expanded thiophene-pyridine complexes and received funding via the Provost's Undergraduate Research Award! 

November 23, 2022: Excellent job by Maddie presenting her Honor's College Thesis! Congratulations on all you've accomplished at OU, we'll keep the Taylor Swift songs on the group playlist.

September 14, 2022: Zach and Gabby sat down for a chat about his first few years teaching and doing research at OU. 

September 13, 2022: Welcome to the group Drecila! Drecila joins the team to work on thiophene-pyridine ligands with Maddie and Lourdes!

July 29, 2022: Congratulations Maddie and Evan on their final presentations for the summer research program! 

June 16, 2022: Welcome Jennifer Park! Jennifer is a rising junior from Troy High School joining the group to learn synthetic techniques.

June 7, 2022: Zach gave an oral presentation on the groups efforts at ACS Central Regional Meeting (CERM) in Ypsilanti, MI. 

May 17, 2022: Congratulations Lourdes on receiving funding on your thesis project! Lourdes's proposal on the self-assembly of naphthodithiophene cages received funding via the Honor's College Thesis Competitive Grant for Fall 2022!

April 14, 2022: Welcome to the group Evan! Evan and Maddie were awarded SURP funding for the summer of 2022 to carry out research towards their Honor's College Theses!

April 14, 2022: Congratulations to Calvin for being accepted for a REU position with Vy Dong at UC Irvine!

December 6, 2021: Zach receives the OU URC Faculty Research Fellowship for 2022.

November 4, 2021: Maryam Nani joins the group to work on carbenes and catalysis!

September 10, 2021: Welcome Madison and Rebecca! These two will be working to synthesize a series of tridentate ligands.

August 30, 2021: Emmanuel Adusei joins the group as our first graduate student! Emmanuel comes to us from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology located in Kumasi, Ghana.

July 30, 2021: Excellent oral presentation to the department by Calvin highlighting his synthetic work over the summer!

June 1, 2021: Excited to have Lourdes Haddad join the group as an undergraduate researcher! Lourdes will team up with Calvin synthesizing thiophene-based architectures.

May 3, 2021: A warm welcome to Calvin Goldsmith, our first group member! Calvin received funding from the research office for summer undergraduate research synthesizing thiophene-based architectures. 

April 12, 2021: Zach graduates from the PI Academy at OU!

December 7, 2020: Vacuum Atmospheres Company 4GB is assembled in the lab. Now time to get that atmosphere established!

August 15, 2020: Zach joins Oakland University as an Assistant Professor with a research focus in Organic Chemistry!