Alexei Demchenko graduated from the Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia with a Diploma (M.S.) in Chemical Engineering (1988) before joining the laboratory of the late Professor Kochetkov at the Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry in Moscow. In 1993, he was awarded a Ph.D. in organic chemistry by the Russian Academy of Sciences for his work on the development of thiocyanate methodology for glycosylation. After two post-doctoral years under Kochetkov, he joined Professor Boons’ group at the University of Birmingham (UK) as a BBSRC post-doctoral research fellow. In 1998, he moved to the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia (USA) as a research associate. In 2001, he joined the faculty at the University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL) as an Assistant Professor, where he was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure (2007) and Professor (2011). In 2007-2011, Demchenko served as Director of Graduate Studies in Chemistry and Biochemistry. In 2014, he was appointed Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry. In 2021, Demchenko joined the faculty at Saint Louis University as Professor and Department Chair.

Yogesh received his Ph.D. degree from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune under the supervision of Prof. Srinivas Hotha. He joined IISER Pune in Jan 2016 and worked as a glycochemist. His research was supported by CSIR. His research was particularly related to “Solid-phase Oligosaccharide Synthesis”. During his Ph.D. program, he worked on the development of various linkers and the synthesis of glycosidic linkages using gold/silver catalysts. Before joining Ph.D., he worked as a lecturer for PG students for two years (2014-2015) at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar College, Mahad, where he earned his bachelor’s and post-graduation degrees. In 2023, he joined Professor Alexi V. Demchenko’s group as a postdoctoral researcher.

Faranak Pooladian was born in Shiraz, Iran. She got her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Chemistry and her first Master’s degree in Physical Chemistry in Iran. She graduated from her second Master’s in Applied Chemistry at Southeast Missouri State University in 2021. She started a PhD Program at the Saint Louis University in 2021, where she joined the laboratory of Professor Alexei Demchenko. Her research focuses on developing new reactions for carbohydrate synthesis.

Alessandra Damico received her Master’s Degree in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Technology from University of Catania, Italy. She joined the Demchenko lab in July 2022

Brody Hudson Received his BS Degree in Chemistry from Lindenwood University. He joined the Demchenko lab in August 2024

Minh Received his BS Degree in Chemical Biology from Saint Louis University. He joined the Demchenko lab in August 2025

Saurabh was born and raised in India. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from University of Delhi, New Delhi in 2020, and Master of Science degree From Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) Jaipur in 2023, where he worked on Synthesis and application of diversely protected Glycals for chemical Glycosylations under supervision of Associate Professor Dr. Sudhir Kashyap. Before joining the Demchenko lab in August 2025, he worked as Project Associate for one year under the supervision of Dr. S. Kashyap.