Current Members

Dr. Gurpreet Kaur (she/her/hers)

Gurpreet received her Ph.D. degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay in 2024. She worked in the field of Macrocyclic Chemistry focusing on synthesis and functionalization of Triphyrin(2.1.1)s. She joined the Isaacs group in November 2024 as a Postdoctoral. Currently, she is working on Prismarenes and naphthalene-based host containers. She loves quality time with friends/family. 

Dr. Niyati Arora (she/her/hers)

Manny Bazan-Bergamino (he/him/his)

Manny is originally from Lima, Peru but has lived in the US since 2007. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University in 2019 and his Master of Science in Chemistry from Stony Brook University in 2021, before joining the Isaacs lab. His projects involve the development of water-soluble macrocyclic arenes, using synthetic skills to develop novel ones. Outside of the lab, he spends his free time playing music with the Johns Hopkins Pep Band during football and lacrosse seasons and playing soccer every chance he gets.

Trinity Oster (she/her/hers)

Trinity is from Hedgesville, West Virginia. She received her Bachelor

of Science in Chemistry from Haverford College in 2025. She also

worked with the Brummond group at the University of Pittsburgh during the Summer of 2024. She joined the Isaacs group at UMD in Fall 2025, with her research focusing on Pillar[n]arenes. When not in the lab, Trinity enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her friends/family.

Collin Vincent (he/him/his)

Collin is originally from Baltimore, Maryland. He received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland in 2019. Since 2021, he has been a part of the Isaacs group, investigating water-soluble acyclic cucurbituril derivatives. In his free time, Collin loves to watch football, cook and bake new things, and hang out with his cats, Ophelia and Luna. 

Tom Hofmann (he/him/his)

Tom is from Reading, Pennsylvania. He studied at Muhlenberg College, receiving a BS in chemistry in 2022. From 2022 to 2024, Tom worked at Carpenter Technology Corporation in the characterization group within the Research and Development Department.  Tom now works for the Lyle Isaacs research group on Cucurbit[n]urils and is the current Chemistry and Biochemistry department Graduate Student Organization's Treasurer. 

Christian Akakpo (he/him/his)

Maggie Lynch (she/her/hers)

Maggie is a biochemistry undergraduate student from Baltimore, MD, graduating in Spring 2027. She is interested in exploring applications of chemistry in drug discovery and therapeutics. Outside of the lab, she enjoys going on hikes and exploring Washington, D.C.

Anton Doan (he/him/his)

Anton is an undergraduate student at UMD working towards his bachelors in Chemical Engineering and Violin Performance. In the laboratory, he works with his grad student mentor on synthesis and binding studies of new hybrid-macrocycles. Outside of research and school, he enjoys cooking and watchmaking & repair.

Katrina Parde (she/her/hers)

Katrina is a chemistry undergraduate from Brunswick, MD, graduating in Spring 2027. She is interested in the applications of chemistry in pharmaceutical research and innovative remedial solutions. Outside of the lab she enjoys indoor bouldering and baking. 

Janet Sun (she/her/hers)