Dr. Rodríguez’s laboratory focuses on two main research areas: Chemistry Education Research in Organic Chemistry (CEROC) and medicinal organic chemistry synthesis.

The CEROC research program is dedicated to the development of new undergraduate laboratory experiments and the integration of technology into teaching laboratories for organic chemistry, biochemistry, and elective courses such as food chemistry and medicinal chemistry. These projects also examine student learning outcomes by comparing traditional “cookbook-style” experiments with inquiry-based laboratory activities, with the goal of improving the undergraduate chemistry curriculum and supporting the design and implementation of new elective courses.

The medicinal organic chemistry research area focuses on the synthesis and characterization of novel compounds, including metallocene-based derivatives (e.g., iron- and titanium-containing complexes), azo dyes, and azo-ferrocene derivatives functionalized with natural product scaffolds. These newly synthesized compounds are evaluated for their potential biomedical applications, particularly as antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer drug candidates.