The Engle group has been hard at work sorting through a generous donation of upwards of 7,000 chemicals from the Rebek laboratory. It was fun until we found the the thiols…

This week, Keary traveled to Busan, South Korea, where he was presented with the 2014 IUPAC-Solvay International Award for Young Chemists at the opening ceremony of the 45th World Chemistry Congress, IUPAC-2015. Congratulations, Keary!

Photo credit: IUPAC.

For the original announcement, click here.

The Engle lab held its first group meeting, with John organizing a problem session and Kin presenting his Ph.D. work. And no meeting is complete without burritos and cupcakes.

Flying in from China, Zhen Liu started his summer rotation in the Engle lab. Zhen graduated in the spring from Peking University while finishing up undergraduate research in the laboratory of Prof. Jianbo Wang. With the new lab supplies arriving every day, Zhen was able to organize his bench space and equip his manifold with brand new tubing in no time.

Having braved the public transportation of San Diego, Matt Holcomb arrives for his summer rotation in the Engle lab. A recent graduate from Luther College, Matt did his undergraduate research under Prof. Bradley Chamberlain. Even after a full day of orientation and administrative events, Matt successfully set up his hood and prepared it for many chemical reactions to come.

Kin becomes the Engle group’s first postdoc, after flying in from the Windy City. Kin earned his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago with Prof. Viresh Rawal studying catalytic, enantioselective addition reactions of masked acyl cyanides. After enduring a long wait for his car as it meandered its way across the country and braving the San Diego DMV, scavenging parts to set up his manifold was a piece of cake.

Fresh off the plane from New York, Joe Derosa joins the Engle lab for the summer. During the spring, Joe graduated from CCNY, after wrapping up undergrad research in the laboratory of Prof. Mark Biscoe. In between getting stranded with a broken down car, ubering to campus, and coordinating temporary transportation, Joe managed to set up his vacuum manifold and organize his bench.

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After completing her degree at K-9 Assertive Training in Corona, CA, Hermione arrives in the Engle lab for her first day. “Learning organic chemistry is much easier than learning how to stay,” she reflects at the end of the day.

A steady stream of packages have been arriving at our doors on a daily basis, from new glassware, to vacuum pumps, to solvents drums. Thankfully scissors and a box cutter were among our first orders! We get closer to operating at full speed everyday.

After two days of setting up the lab and attending various trainings and orientations, John sets up the group’s first reaction (on a brand new IKA plate, no less).