Lab Members
Zacharias Kinney
Principal Investigator
B.S., Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Ph.D., Miami University (Scott Hartley)
Postdoctoral Research, Case Western Reserve University (John D. Protasiewicz)
Zacharias hails from Bradford, Pennsylvania, set in the Appalachian Plateau. He attended Edinboro University of Pennsylvania for his undergraduate studies in Chemistry/Forensic Science, ultimately deciding that organic chemistry would be his career path. In graduate school at Miami University he worked in the laboratory of Scott Hartley, where they investigated how ortho-phenylenes, a simple class of foldamers, can be incorporated into higher-order architectures. After completing his Ph.D., he then switched gears for his postdoctoral research and began working with John D. Protasiewicz at Case Western Reserve University. Here they investigated non-traditional hydrogen bonding between carbenes and secondary amines in both solution- and solid-state. In the Fall of 2020 he joined the Department of Chemistry at Oakland University as an Assistant Professor. Outside of the lab he enjoys hiking, trying new restaurants and breweries, and spending time with Lindsay, the baby, and Tucker.
The Team
Emmanuel Adusei
Graduate Student, Fall 2021 – Present
Project Theme: Thiophene-based luminescent materials
B.Sc., M.Phil., Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Provost's Graduate Research Award Winter 2023, Winter 2024
Calvin Goldsmith
Researcher, Summer 2021 – Present
Project Theme: Self-assembly of metallomacrocycles
B.S. Chemistry, Oakland University
NSF GRFP Awardee, 2024; Meritorious Achievement Awardee (OU), Winter 2024; Undergraduate Distinguished Achievement Awardee (OU), Fall 2023; ACS Scholars Program Awardee, 2023; Dershwitz Summer Research Fellowship, Summer 2023; MSGC Undergraduate Fellowship Awardee, 2023; Provost's Undergraduate Research Awardee, Winter 2023; REU Awardee at UC Irvine, Summer 2022; SURP Awardee, Summer 2021
Evan Sadler
Undergraduate Student, Summer 2022 – Present
Project Theme: Luminescent organometallic complexes
Summer Researcher at UNC Chapel Hill, 2024; SURP Awardee Summer 2023, Summer 2022
Leen Said
Undergraduate Student, Fall 2023 – Present
Project Theme: Bidentate thiophene-pyridine ligands
Jonathan Meyer
Visiting Researcher (OCC), Fall 2023 – Present
Project Theme: Luminescent organometallic complexes
Kara Jenneker
Visiting Researcher (OCC), Winter 2024 – Present
Project Theme: Thiophene-based luminescent materials
A.S., A.A., Oakland Community College (OCC)
Noah Schepke
Undergraduate Student, Summer 2024 – Present
Project Theme: Luminescent organometallic complexes
Fatima Al Khalaileh
Visiting Researcher (OCC), Summer 2024 – Present
Project Theme: Thiophene-based luminescent materials
Madison Siegel
Visiting Researcher (OCC), Summer 2024 – Present
Project Theme: Thiophene-based luminescent materials
Maya Varghese
Visiting Researcher (OCC), Summer 2024 – Present
Project Theme: Thiophene-based luminescent materials
B.S. Exercise and Sports Science, Nova Southeastern University
Honorary Lab Members
Tucker
Rescue. Mostly chocolate lab. Interested in becoming a good boy (left = 2 months, right = 2 years)
Group Alumni
Rachel Barjuca, (B.S. Biomedical Sciences), Winter 2023–Winter 2024. SURP Awardee, Summer 2023. Current: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (MD).
Jimin (Jennifer) Park, (Troy High School), Summer 2022–Fall 2023. Current: University of Michigan.
Lourdes Haddad, (B.S. Biology), Summer 2021–Summer 2023; Honor's College Thesis, Winter 2023; Honor's College Thesis Grant Awardee, Fall 2022
Drecila Alinj, (B.S. Health Sciences), Fall 2022–Summer 2023; Provost's Undergraduate Research Awardee, Fall 2022. Current: Wayne State University Pharmacy Program (PharmD).
Madison Caswell, (B.S. Biochemistry), Fall 2021–Fall 2022; Honor's College Thesis with Distinction, Fall 2022; SURP Awardee, Summer 2022
Maryam Nani (B.S. Health Sciences), Fall 2021–Summer 2022. Current: University of Maryland, Doctor of Dental Surgery Program (DDS).
Rebecca Murgor (B.S. Health Sciences), Fall 2021