GROUP ALUMNI
Though we are a young group, Keary has extensive experience mentoring high school interns, undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs, and takes immense pride in their accomplishments inside and outside of the laboratory. Students who have worked in the Engle Lab have gone on to successful career paths in a range of different disciplines.
FORMER GRADUATE STUDENTS
Joseph Derosa
• Thesis: “Nickel-Catalyzed 1,2-Difunctionalization of Alkenes via Directed Conjunctive Cross-Coupling” (2019)
• NSF Graduate Research Fellow
• B.S. in Biochemistry, 2015, The City College of New York (M. R. Biscoe)
• Currently: Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof. Jonas Peters at Caltech
Mingyu Liu
• Thesis: “Palladium Catalysis as an Aspiration Tool for Polysubstituted Alkene Syntheses” (2021)
• B.S. in Chemistry, 2016, Nankai University (B.-T. Guan; Z. Hou)
• Currently: Postdoc with Prof. Timothy Swager at MIT
Zhen Liu
• Thesis: “Versatile Alkene and Alkyne Functionalization Reactions via Directed Nucleopalladation” (2019)
• BMS Graduate Fellow
• B.S. in Chemistry, 2015, Peking University (J. Wang)
• Currently: Postdoc with Prof. Frances Arnold at Caltech
John A. Gurak, Jr.
• Thesis: “Palladium-Catalyzed Hydrofunctionalization Reactions of Unactivated Alkenes via Stabilization of Putative Alkylpalladium(II) Intermediates” (2019)
• NSF Graduate Research Fellow
• B.S. in Biochemistry, 2015, UT Arlington (F. W. Foss)
• Currently: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Process Chemistry
Andrew M. Romine
• Thesis: “The Utility of Benzo[d]thiazole in Directed Palladium Catalysis and Carbene-Containing Palladium Complex Formation” (2021)
• NSF Graduate Research Fellow
• B.S. in Chemistry, 2016, Caltech (R. H. Grubbs; V. V. Grushin)
• Currently: Boston Consulting Group, Philadelphia Office
Van T. Tran
• Thesis: “Alkenes and Intermediates, Substrates, and Ligands in Palladium and Nickel Catalysis” (2021)
• M.S. and B.A. in Chemistry, 2016, UPenn (M. C. Kozlowski)
• Currently: Gilead, Process Chemistry
FORMER POSTDOCS
De-Wei Gao
• Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA (Y. Tang, 2018–2020)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, TSRI (Engle group, 2016–2018)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, SIOC (S.-L. You, 2011–2016)
• B.Sc. in Chemistry, 2011, Northeast Forestry University (J. Peng, 2007–2011)
• Currently: Assistant Professor, ShanghaiTech (Gao Lab website)
Yang Gao
• Postdoctoral Fellow, TSRI (Engle group, 2018–2021)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2018, Rutgers (A.S. Goldman)
• B.S. in Chemistry, 2012, Nanjing University (J. Zhu)
• Currently: Corteva, Discovery Chemistry
Jose M. Medina
• Postdoctoral Fellow, TSRI (Engle group, 2017–2018)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, UCLA (N.K. Garg, 2012–2017)
• B.S. in Chemistry, CSU Channel Islands (P. D. Hampton, 2007–2011)
• Currently: Amgen, Discovery Chemistry
Sri Krishna Nimmagadda
• Postdoctoral Fellow, TSRI (Engle group, 2017–2018)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of South Florida (J.C. Antilla, 2010–2016)
• M.Sc. in Chemistry, Andhra University (2005–2007)
• B.Sc. in Chemistry, Acharya Nagarjuna University (2002–2005)
• Currently: Biocon Bristol-Myers Squibb Research Center, Process Chemistry
Miriam O’Duill
• DAAD Postdoctoral Fellow, TSRI (Engle group, 2015–2017)
• D.Phil., University of Oxford (V. Gouverneur, 2011–2015)
• M. Chem., University of Oxford (V. Gouverneur, 2007–2011)
• Currently: Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham (O’Duill Lab website)
Kin S. Yang
• Postdoctoral Fellow, TSRI (Engle group, 2015–2016)
• Ph.D., University of Chicago (V. H. Rawal, 2010–2015)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Syracuse University (D. C. Dittmer and B. S. Hudson, 2006–2010)
• Currently: Gilead, Discovery Chemistry
FORMER VISITING GRAD STUDENTS
Raul Martin
• Visiting PhD student with M.L. and T.J. (2019)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Complutense University, 2014 (B. Alcaide)
• M.S. in Chemistry, Complutense University, 2015 (B. Alcaide)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, ICIQ, 2021 (R. Martin)
Roman Kleinmans
• Visiting Master’s student with J.D. (2018–2019)
• M.S. in Chemistry, WWU Münster, 2019
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at WWU Münster (F. Glorius)
Xin Wang
• CSC Scholar (2018–2019)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Heilongjiang University, 2010
• M.S. Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, 2013
• Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, Nankai Medical School, 2020 (R. Xiang)
• Currently: Clinical Practice Overseer
Lea Dettling
• Visiting Master’s student with A.R.M. (2019)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Freie Universität Berlin
• M.S. in Chemistry, Freie Universität Berlin
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Freie Universität Berlin (C. Müller)
FORMER UNDERGRADS
Omar Apolinar
• TSRI SURF Intern with M.L. (2018)
• B.S. in Biochemistry, CSU San Marcos, 2019 (R. G. Iafe)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student/NSF Graduate Research Fellow at Scripps Research
Mark N. Boulous
• Undergrad Researcher with J.D. (2015–2017)
• B.S. in Molecular Biology, UCSD, 2017
• Sc.M. in Medical Sciences, Brown University, 2019
• Currently: M.D. Student at Ohio State University
Annabelle L. Cantu
• RISE Fellow with J.D. (2016)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Cal State Long Beach, 2017 (M. P. Schramm)
• M.S. in Chemistry (NSF Graduate Research Fellow) at UCLA (M. Garcia-Garibay)
• Currently: Indi Molecular, Research Associate
Jiahao Chen
• Undergrad Researcher with Z.L. (2019)
• B. S. in Chemistry, Fudan University (J. Wu; M. Dai)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Fudan University (J. Zhang)
Ruohan Deng
• Undergrad Researcher with Z.-Q.Li (2019–2021)
• B. S. in Biochemistry, UCSD, 2021
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at UW Madison
Timothy J. Gallagher
• Summer Undergrad Researcher with V.T.T. (2018)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Claremont Mckenna College, 2019 (A. Wenzel)
• Fulbright Scholar at WWU Münster, 2019–2020 (F. Glorius)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Scripps Research (P. S. Baran)
Ryan Helsel
• Undergrad Researcher with J.M.M. and Y.G. (2018–2019)
• B.S. in Molecular Synthesis, UCSD, 2019
Currently: Joint MA in Chemistry/TEP program at UCSB
Denise Kahler
• DAAD RISE Fellow with J.A.G. (2017)
• Currently: Masters Student at LMU München (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Xiaohan Li
• NKU College of Chemistry International Research Scholar with Z.L. (2018–2019)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2019 (H. Li)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at UCSB (B. H. Lipshutz)
Houxiang Lu
• Tsinghua Summer Research Intern with Z.L. (2019)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Tsinghua University (B.-J. Li)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Tsinghua University (B.-J. Li)
Hanh Nguyen
• UC LEADS Scholar with T.C.J. (2018–2019)
• B.S. in Molecular Synthesis, UCSD, 2019
• Amgen Process Chemistry (2019–2020)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at UC Irvine (C. D. Vanderwal)
Huiqi Ni
• USTC Summer Exchange Scholar with Z.L. (2017)
• B.S. in Chemistry, USTC, 2019 (X. Wang; N. K. Garg)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Scripps Research
Tian-Zhang Qiao
• NKU Summer Project Scholar with D.-W. G. (2018)
• B. S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2020 (S.-F. Zhu; Y. Tang)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Cornell
Ziyang (Nick) Qin
• USTC Summer Exchange Scholar with T.C.J. (2018)
• B. S. in Chemistry, USTC, 2020 (X. Wang; A. Radosevich)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Caltech
Juntao Sun
• NKU College of Chemistry International Research Scholar with M.L. (2019–2020)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2020 (B.-T. Guan)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Scripps Research
Miranda M. Sroda
• Undergrad Researcher with J.A.G. (2016–2017)
• B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, UCSD, 2017
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at UCSB (J. Read de Alaniz)
Tianhua (Josh) Tang
• NKU College of Chemistry International Research Scholarship with M.L. (2018-2019)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2019 (W. Zi)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at University of Utah (M. S. Sigman)
Joshua L. Turnbull
• KCL Chemistry Alumni Overseas Summer Scholar with M.O.D. (2016)
• B.Sci. in Chemistry with Biomedicine, King’s College London, 2017
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at UC Berkeley (E. W. Miller)
Vincent A. van der Puyl
• TSRI SURF Intern and Undergrad Researcher with J.D. (2017–2018)
• B.S. in Chemistry, UCSD, 2018
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Scripps Research (R. A. Shenvi)
Zichen (Forrest) Wang
• NKU College of Chemistry International Research Scholar with Z.L. (2016–2017)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2017 (S.-F. Zhu)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at SIOC (Z. Huang)
Zhongqian Wu
• Tsinghua Summer Research Intern with Y.G. (2019)
• B. S. in Chemistry, Tsinghua University (L. Jiao; C. Xi)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at National University of Singapore (J. Wu)
Yiyang (Elaine) Xiao
• NKU College of Chemistry International Research Scholar with D.-W.G. (2017–2018)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2018 (P. Tang)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Peking University (J. Wang)
Pusu Yang
• NKU College of Chemistry International Research Scholar with M.L. (2017–2018)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2018 (B.-T. Guan)
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at SIOC (S.-L. You)
Tian (May) Zeng
• Undergrad Researcher with Z.L. (2016–2018)
• B.S. in Chemistry, UCSD, 2018
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Caltech (M. J. Robb)
FORMER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Ella Bernard
• High School Researcher with T.C.J. (2018)
• Waring High School (Beverley, MA)
• Currently: 3rd Year High Schooler
Matt Demer
• High School Researcher with A.M.R. (2018–2019)
• San Diego High School, 2019
• Currently: UC Davis
Daizy M. De La Torre
• LSSI Intern with J.D. and A.L.C. (2016)
• Southwest High School High School, 2017
• Currently: Undergraduate Student at UC Berkeley
Forrest Graham
• LSSI Intern with J.A.G (2017)
• Valhalla High School, 2018
• Currently: Undergraduate Student at Caltech
Rohan Marsters
• Intern with R.M. (2018) and M.L. (2019)
• High Tech High International, 2019
• Currently: AmeriCorps
Nhi Nguyen
• LSSI Intern with R.M. (2018–2019)
• San Marcos High School, 2019
• Currently: Undergraduate Student at UC Berkeley (J. F. Hartwig)
Jessica E. Xu
• High School Researcher with J.A.G. (2016)
• Maranatha Christian High School, 2017
• Currently: Undergraduate Student at MIT
Kane Xu
• High School Researcher with T. K. (2019–2020)
• Del Norte High School , 2021
• Currently, Undergraduate Student at Yale University
KEARY’S FORMER MENTEES (BEFORE TSRI)
Shao-Xiong (Lennon) Luo
• Undergraduate Researcher with K.M.E. (Grubbs group, Caltech, 2014–2015)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Caltech, 2017
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at MIT (T. Swager)
Maximilian Koy
• DAAD RISE Fellow with K.M.E. (Grubbs group, Caltech, 2014)
• B.S. in Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, 2014
• M. S. in Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, 2016 (M. R. Buchmeiser)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, WWU Münster, 2020 (F. Glorius)
• Currently: Postdoc at U. Groningen (B. Feringa)
George W. Pidgeon
• Undergraduate Researcher with K.M.E. (Gouverneur group, Oxford, 2012–2013)
• M.Chem., Worchester College, University of Oxford
• Currently: J.A. Kemp
David W. Shia
• High School Intern with K.M.E. (Yu group, TSRI, 2009–2010)
• B.S. in Biology, UCLA, 2015 (M. E. Jung)
• Currently: M.D./Ph.D. (MSTP) Student at UCLA
Michael Dang
• High School Intern with K.M.E. (Yu group, TSRI, 2009–2010)
• B.S. in Computer Science, UCLA, 2015
• Currently: Airbnb
