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
• Currently: Assistant Professor, Boston University (Derosa Lab website)
• Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof. Jonas Peters at Caltech (2019–2023)
• Ph.D. 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)

Taeho Kang
• Currently: Postdoc with Prof. Geoffrey Coates and Prof. Yadong Wang
• Ph.D. Thesis: “Nickel-Catalyzed 1,2-Difunctionalizationof Unactivated Alkenes Directed by Native Functional Groups” (2023)
• Kwanjeong Educational Foundation Fellow
• B.S. in Chemistry, 2018, KAIST (S. Han)

Zi-Qi Li
• Currently: Postdoc with Prof. Frances Arnold at Caltech (2023–present)
• Ph.D. Thesis: “Nickel-Catalyzed Carbon−Carbon (C−C) and Carbon−Heteroatom (C−E) Bond Formation via Alkene Functionalization” (2023)
• BMS Graduate Fellow
• B.S. in Chemistry, 2018, Nankai University (S.-F. Zhu; Q.-L. Zhou; J.-Q. Yu.)

Mingyu Liu
• Currently: Vertex, Discovery Chemistry
• Postdoc with Prof. Timothy Swager at MIT (2021)
• Ph.D. Thesis: “Palladium Catalysis as an Aspiration Tool for Polysubstituted Alkene Syntheses” (2021)
• B.S. in Chemistry, 2016, Nankai University (B.-T. Guan; Z. Hou)

Zhen Liu
• Currently: Assistant Professor, National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS) (Liu Lab website)
• Postdoc with Prof. Frances Arnold at Caltech (2019–2022)
• Ph.D. Thesis: “Versatile Alkene and Alkyne Functionalization Reactions via Directed Nucleopalladation” (2019)
• BMS Graduate Fellow
• B.S. in Chemistry, 2015, Peking University (J. Wang)

John A. Gurak, Jr.
• Currently: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Process Chemistry
• Ph.D. 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)

Tanner C. Jankins
• Currently: Postdoc with Prof. Bill Morandi at ETH Zürich
• Ph.D. Thesis: “A Renaissance in Tungsten Catalysis Enables Alkene Isomerization-Functionalization Reactions” (2022)
• B.S. in Chemistry, 2017, Northeastern University (G.B. Jones; J. Ichikawa; J. Khusnutdinova)

Rei Li-Matsuura
• Currently: Cooley, Patent Law
• Ph.D. Thesis: “Reaction Kinetics Tools to Assist Mechanistic Investigations of Catalytic Organic Reactions: Applications and Advances” (2022)
• Honjo Fellow
• B.S. in Chemistry, 2016, Princeton University (R. R. Knowles)

Lucas J. Oxtoby
• Currently: Sterling Pharma Solutions, Process Chemistry
• Ph.D. Thesis: “Palladium-Catalyzed Alkene Functionalization Enabled by Transient Directing Groups” (2022)
• NSF Graduate Research Fellow
• B.S. in Chemistry, 2018, UW Madison (J. M. Shomaker)

Andrew M. Romine
• Currently: Boston Consulting Group, Philadelphia Office
• Ph.D. 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)

Van T. Tran
• Currently: Gilead, Process Chemistry
• Ph.D. 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)

Alena M. Vasquez
• Currently: Pharmaceutical Industry
• Ph.D. Thesis: “Stabilizing Aryl Palladium Hydride to Achieve α–Selective Hydro-Carbofunctionalization of Activated Alkenes” (2022)
• NSF Graduate Research Fellow
• B.S. in Chemistry, 2018, Oregon State University (R. G. Carter)

FORMER POSTDOCS

Phillippa Coopper
• Currently: AstraZeneca, UK
• Postdoctoral Fellow, TSRI (Engle group, 2020–2021)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2019, University of Bristol (J. F. Bower)
• M. Sci. in Chemistry, 2015, University of Nottingham (S. Woodward)

De-Wei Gao
• Currently: Assistant Professor, ShanghaiTech (Gao Lab website)
• 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)

Yang Gao
• Currently: Corteva, Discovery Chemistry
• 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)

Malkanthi K. Karunananda
• Currently: Assistant Professor, St. Louis University (Karunananda Lab website)
• Cottrell Postdoctoral Fellow, TSRI (Engle group, 2017–2022)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2017, University of Illinois, Chicago  (N.P. Mankad)
• B.Sc. in Chemistry, 2010, University of Kelaniya

Nana Kim
• Currently: Bristol Myers Squibb, Process Chemistry
• Postdoctoral Fellow, TSRI (Engle group, 2020–2022)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2019, Duke University (R.A. Widenhoefer)
• B.S. in Chemistry, 2013, Sungkyunkwan University (C.-M. Yu)

Zhonglin Liu
• Currently: Postdoctoral Fellow, TSRI (Cravatt group)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, TSRI (Engle group, 2018–2021)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2017, SIOC (C. Li)
• B.S. in Pharmaceutical Engineering, 2012, Nanchang University (J. Fan)

Jose M. Medina
• Currently: Amgen, Discovery Chemistry
• 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)

Johny M. Nguyen
• Currently: CAMP4 Therapeutics, Discovery Chemistry
• Postdoctoral Fellow, TSRI (Engle group, 2022–2023)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Vanderbilt (S.D. Townsend, 2017–2022)
• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, UC Riverside (D.B.C. Martin, R. Sarpong, 2012–2017)

Sri Krishna Nimmagadda
• Currently: Biocon Bristol-Myers Squibb Research Center, Process Chemistry
• 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)

Miriam O’Duill
• Currently: Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham (O’Duill Lab website)
• 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)

Kin S. Yang
• Currently: Terremoto Biosciences, Senior Director, Medicinal Chemistry
• 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)

FORMER VISITING GRAD STUDENTS

Warabhorn Rodphon
• Currently: Ph.D. Candidiate at Chulabhorn Graduate Institute
• Ph.D. student at Chulabhorn Graduate Institute (J. Tummatorn)
• B.S. in Chemistry, 2016, Kasetsart University

Jose Gonzalez
• Visiting Ph.D. student with T.K. (2021)
• Ph.D. student at CIQUS-USC (M. Gulías)
• B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry, 2018, University of Oviedo (F. Rodriguez and F. J. Fañanás)

Roman Kleinmans
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at WWU Münster (F. Glorius)
• Visiting Master’s student with J.D. (2018–2019)
• M.S. in Chemistry, WWU Münster, 2019

Raul Martin
• Currently: PTS, Product Developer
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, ICIQ, 2021 (R. Martin)
• Visiting Ph.D. 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)

Xin Wang
• Currently: Clinical Practice Overseer
• Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, Nankai Medical School, 2020 (R. Xiang)
• CSC Scholar (2018–2019)
• M.S. Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, 2013
• B.S. in Chemistry, Heilongjiang University, 2010

Lea Dettling
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Freie Universität Berlin (C. Müller)
• M.S. in Chemistry, Freie Universität Berlin
• Visiting Master’s student with A.R.M. (2019)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Freie Universität Berlin

FORMER UNDERGRADS

Gabrielle Martinez
• Currently: CSU San Marcos
• TSRI SURF Intern with A.V. (2022)
• B.S. in Chemistry, CSU San Marcos, 2023 (R. G. Iafe)

Omar Apolinar
• Currently: Ph.D. Student/NSF Graduate Research Fellow at Scripps Research
• TSRI SURF Intern with M.L. (2018)
• B.S. in Biochemistry, CSU San Marcos, 2019 (R. G. Iafe)

Mark N. Boulous
• Currently: M.D. Student at Ohio State University
• Sc.M. in Medical Sciences, Brown University, 2019
• Undergrad Researcher with J.D. (2015–2017)
• B.S. in Molecular Biology, UCSD, 2017

Pranali G. Bedekar
• Currently: Ph.D. Student/NSF Graduate Research Fellow at Scripps Research (P. S. Baran)
• B.S. in Pharmacological Chemistry, UCSD, 2022
• Undergrad Researcher with H.-Q.N. and O.A. (2017–2022)

Yilin Cao
• Currently: Undergrad at UCSB (B. H. Lipshutz)
• TSRI SURF Intern with Z.-Q. L. (2021)

Annabelle L. Cantu
• Currently: Regeneron, R&D Specialist
• M.S. in Chemistry (NSF Graduate Research Fellow) at UCLA (M. Garcia-Garibay)
• RISE Fellow with J.D. (2016)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Cal State Long Beach, 2017  (M. P. Schramm)

Jiahao Chen
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Fudan University (J. Zhang)
• B. S. in Chemistry, Fudan University, 2020 (J. Wu; M. Dai)
• Undergrad Researcher with Z.L. (2019)

Jing-Cheng (Jeremy) Dai
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at UW Madison (M. Soley)
• B.S. in Chemistry, USTC, 2022 (X. Wang)
• USTC Exchange Scholar with H.-Q.N. (2021–2022)

Ruohan Deng
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at UW Madison (S. Stahl)
• B.S. in Biochemistry, UCSD, 2021
• Undergrad Researcher with Z.-Q.Li (2019–2021)

Timothy J. Gallagher
• Currently: Account Associate, Rock Health
• M.S. in Chemistry, Scripps Research, 2022 (P. S. Baran)
• Fulbright Scholar at WWU Münster, 2019–2020 (F. Glorius)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Claremont Mckenna College, 2019 (A. Wenzel)
• Summer Undergrad Researcher with V.T.T. (2018)

Wen-Ji He
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Scripps Research
• B.S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2022 (G. Chen)
• NKU College of Chemistry International Research Scholar with Z.-Q.L.(2021–2022)

Ryan Helsel
• Currently: Joint MA in Chemistry/TEP program at UCSB
• B.S. in Molecular Synthesis, UCSD, 2019
• Undergrad Researcher with J.M.M. and Y.G. (2018–2019)

Denise Kahler
• Currently: Masters Student at LMU München (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
• DAAD RISE Fellow with J.A.G. (2017)

Xiaohan Li
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at UCSB (B. H. Lipshutz)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2019 (H. Li)
• NKU College of Chemistry International Research Scholar with Z.L. (2018–2019)

Houxiang Lu
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Tsinghua University (B.-J. Li)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Tsinghua University (B.-J. Li)
• Tsinghua Summer Research Intern with Z.L. (2019)

Hanh Nguyen
• Currently: Ph.D. Student/NSF Graduate Research Fellow at UC Irvine (C. D. Vanderwal)
• Research Associate, Amgen Process Chemistry (2019–2020)
• UC LEADS Scholar with T.C.J. (2018–2019)
• B.S. in Molecular Synthesis, UCSD, 2019

Huiqi Ni
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Scripps Research
• B.S. in Chemistry, USTC, 2019 (X. Wang; N. K. Garg)
• USTC Summer Exchange Scholar with Z.L. (2017)

Tian-Zhang Qiao
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Cornell (T. Hyster)
• B. S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2020 (S.-F. Zhu; Y. Tang)
• NKU Summer Project Scholar with D.-W. G. (2018)

Ziyang (Nick) Qin
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Caltech (F. Arnold)
• B.S. in Chemistry, USTC, 2020 (X. Wang; A. Radosevich)
• USTC Summer Exchange Scholar with T.C.J. (2018)

Juntao Sun
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Scripps Research
• B.S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2020 (B.-T. Guan)
• NKU College of Chemistry International Research Scholar with M.L. (2019–2020)

Miranda M. Sroda
• Currently: Dow, Senior Research Specialist
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, UCSB, 2021 (J. Read de Alaniz)
• B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, UCSD, 2017
• Undergrad Researcher with J.A.G. (2016–2017)

Tianhua (Josh) Tang
• Currently: Coretva, Synthetic Chemistry
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Utah, 2023 (M. S. Sigman)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2019 (W. Zi)
• NKU College of Chemistry International Research Scholarship with M.L. (2018-2019)

Joshua L. Turnbull
• Currently: insitro, High-Throughput Chemistry
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, UC Berkeley, 2022 (E. W. Miller)
• B.Sci. in Chemistry with Biomedicine, King’s College London, 2017
• KCL Chemistry Alumni Overseas Summer Scholar with M.O.D. (2016)

Vincent A. van der Puyl
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Scripps Research (R. A. Shenvi)
• B.S. in Chemistry, UCSD, 2018
• TSRI SURF Intern and Undergrad Researcher with J.D. (2017–2018)

Zichen (Forrest) Wang
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at SIOC (Z. Huang)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2017 (S.-F. Zhu)
• NKU College of Chemistry International Research Scholar with Z.L. (2016–2017)

Zhongqian Wu
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at National University of Singapore (J. Wu)
• B. S. in Chemistry, Tsinghua University (L. Jiao; C. Xi)
• Tsinghua Summer Research Intern with Y.G. (2019)

Yiyang (Elaine) Xiao
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Peking University (J. Wang)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2018 (P. Tang)
• NKU College of Chemistry International Research Scholar with D.-W.G. (2017–2018)

Pusu Yang
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at SIOC (S.-L. You)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Nankai University, 2018 (B.-T. Guan)
• NKU College of Chemistry International Research Scholar with M.L. (2017–2018)

Tian (May) Zeng
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at Caltech (M. J. Robb)
• B.S. in Chemistry, UCSD, 2018
• Undergrad Researcher with Z.L. (2016–2018)

FORMER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Anush Salaniwal
• Currently: 4th Year High Schooler
• High School Researcher with S. Y. (2022)
• Scripps Ranch High School

Canyon Ishikawa
• Currently: 4th Year High Schooler
• High School Researcher with J.M.N (2022)
• Ridgway Secondary School (Telluride, CO)

Ella Bernard
• Currently: Undergraduate Student at St. Andrews
• High School Researcher with T.C.J. (2018)
• Waring High School (Beverley, MA)

Matt Demer
• Currently: UC Davis
• San Diego High School, 2019
• High School Researcher with A.M.R. (2018–2019)

Daizy M. De La Torre
• Currently: Achievement Coach, Reality Changers
• B.S. Public Health, UC Berkeley, 2021
• Southwest High School High School, 2017
• LSSI Intern with J.D. and A.L.C. (2016)

Forrest Graham
• Currently: Heliogen
• B.S.E. Mechanical Engineering (English Minor), Caltech
• Valhalla High School, 2018
• LSSI Intern with J.A.G (2017)

Rohan Marsters
• Currently: AmeriCorps
• High Tech High International, 2019
• Intern with R.M. (2018) and M.L. (2019)

Nhi Nguyen
• Currently: Undergraduate Student at UC Berkeley
• San Marcos High School, 2019
• LSSI Intern with R.M. (2018–2019)

Jessica E. Xu
• Currently: Masters Student, Carnegie Mellon
• B.S.E. Mechanical Engineering, MIT (2021)
• Maranatha Christian High School, 2017
• High School Researcher with J.A.G. (2016)

Kane Xu
• Currently: Undergraduate Student at Yale University
• Del Norte High School , 2021
• High School Researcher with T. K. (2019–2020)

KEARY’S FORMER MENTEES (BEFORE TSRI)

Shao-Xiong (Lennon) Luo
• Currently: Ph.D. Student at MIT (T. Swager)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Caltech, 2017
• Undergraduate Researcher with K.M.E. (Grubbs group, Caltech, 2014–2015)

Maximilian Koy
• Currently: Discovery Chemistry, Nuvisan
• Postdoc at U. Groningen, 2020–2022 (B. Feringa)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, WWU Münster, 2020 (F. Glorius)
• M. S. in Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, 2016 (M. R. Buchmeiser)
• B.S. in Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, 2014
• DAAD RISE Fellow with K.M.E. (Grubbs group, Caltech, 2014)

George W. Pidgeon
• Currently: J.A. Kemp
• M.Chem., Worchester College, University of Oxford
• Undergraduate Researcher with K.M.E. (Gouverneur group, Oxford, 2012–2013)

David W. Shia
• Currently: M.D./Ph.D. (MSTP) Student at UCLA
• B.S. in Biology, UCLA, 2015 (M. E. Jung)
• High School Intern with K.M.E. (Yu group, TSRI, 2009–2010)

Michael Dang
• Currently: Airbnb
• B.S. in Computer Science, UCLA, 2015
• High School Intern with K.M.E. (Yu group, TSRI, 2009–2010)