News

Feb, 2026 

We are excited to share that our undergraduate researcher Ireland LaBass (Chemistry & Biochemistry) has been awarded a $12,500 Semester Research Grant for Summer–Fall 2026 from Texas Woman's University. 

The project, “Machine Learning–Guided Optimization of Kapok Fibre Pretreatment for Enhanced Glucose Production,” will support student research wages, laboratory supplies, and faculty mentorship. This work will explore data-driven approaches to improve biomass pretreatment efficiency for sustainable chemical production. Congratulations to Ireland on this achievement!

Jan, 2026 

Group News: We are pleased to announce that our article

“Sustainability Assessment of Bioethanol from Food Industry Lignocellulosic Wastes: A Life Cycle Perspective,” 

has been published in Sustainability Invited Article, published free of charge (no APC)

This work systematically evaluates life cycle assessment (LCA) studies of second-generation bioethanol from food industry residues, identifies key environmental hotspots, and proposes recommendations for more harmonized and robust sustainability assessments.

Congratulations to all co-authors!

November, 2025 

Group News: Two Review Papers Accepted! We are delighted to announce that two of our recent review papers have been accepted for publication in Materials Chemistry Frontiers and ChemistrySelect. 

“Porous Porphyrin-Based Photocatalysts: Recent Progress and Applications in Environmental Remediation” Materials Chemistry Frontiers DOI: 10.1039/D5QM00676G   This article summarizes the development and applications of porous porphyrin-based materials for sustainable photocatalysis and environmental purification.

“Green Synthetic Strategies for Porphyrins: Toward Sustainable Functional Macrocycles” ChemistrySelect, DOI: 10.1002/slct.202505229 This review highlights recent advances in environmentally friendly approaches for synthesizing porphyrins and related macrocycles.

Congratulations to all authors for their hard work and contribution to advancing sustainable materials research!.

October, 2025 

Funding Secured – TARGET (Equipment) Program!

We are pleased to share that we have successfully secured funding through the TWU Research and Sponsored Programs TARGET (Equipment) Program for FY 2026. This award will support the acquisition of advanced instrumentation critical to our ongoing research on fluorescence and phosphorescence studies of our novel porphyrin-based molecule and sensor systems. 

We are deeply grateful to the committee for their support and to all team members who contributed to the proposal.

October, 2025 

🎉 Congratulations, Cole! Third Place in the Poster Presentation at the Celebration of Science — well done!!

August, 2025 

We Received Small Grant $1000 from Texas Woman’s University!

Our group has been awarded a $1,000 Small Grant from Texas Woman’s University through the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs!

This funding will support preliminary data collection and help us build toward future external research proposals.

Big thanks to TWU for this support! 🙌

August, 2025 

🎉 Welcome Cole Starrett join in our research group 🎉!

We’re excited to welcome Cole to our group!  Cole is currently a graduate student in Chemistry at TWU. He earned his bachelor’s degree from UNT in 2022, where he conducted research with Dr. Mohammad Omary. Before returning to academia, Cole worked as a benchtop chemist for the DEA, where he discovered his passion for research and development, especially the challenges and opportunities that come with trial and error.

June, 2025 

We Received Project ACCESS Jumpstart Funding!

We’re happy to share that we have been awarded funding from Project ACCESS (Accelerating Completion and Career Education in the School of Sciences) to support our research! 

The funds will be used for research supplies, and the goal is to help grow exciting projects that attract new graduate students to our program.

Thank you to Project ACCESS for this support—we’re excited to get started!

Feb, 2025 

Congratulations to our undergraduate researcher Alessandra Orozco for being accepted into the prestigious Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) at Houston!🎉

Great job, Alessandra — we’re proud of your hard work and wish you a meaningful and enriching learning experience this summer!