Our People
Our People
A dedicated team of researchers advancing the frontiers of synthetic chemistry and drug discovery.
Current Members
Research Team
Affiliate Members
UTSA Research Team
Success Stories
Alumni & Former Members
Former Doctoral Students
Ph.D. 2024
Dissertation: Adventures in Catalysis: Development of Transition Metal-Catalyzed Reactions for C-X Bond Formations and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Tools for Probing Catalytic Reaction Mechanisms
Currently a Post-Doc in Dr. Mary Watson's lab at the University of Delaware
Ph.D. 2022
Dissertation: Mechanistic Studies and Development of Novel Palladium Catalyzed Methods Towards Functionalized Building Blocks
Currently a senior scientist in Organic Chemistry at AbbVie
Ph.D. 2020
Dissertation: Leveraging Natural Product Scaffolds for Drug Discovery and Development
Current Assistant Director of the Voelcker Preclinical Pharmacology Core for Accelerated Drug Discovery
Ph.D. 2019
Dissertation: Discovery and Development of New Metal Catalyzed Methods to Key Building Blocks in Organic Synthesis
Ph.D. 2018
Dissertation: New Metal-Catalyzed Methods for Enabling Step Efficient Syntheses of Biologically Relevant Molecules
Currently a research scientist at J-Star Research in New Jersey
Ph.D. 2018
Dissertation: Metal-Catalyzed Transformations of Stereodefined Enol Triflates and Their Derivatives
Currently a Professor of Instruction at Trinity University
Ph.D. 2017
Dissertation: The Development of the Alkynyl Heck Reaction Towards the Synthesis of Allenes
Currently a process development senior scientist at Amgen in California
Ph.D. 2013
Dissertation: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Isoxazole Molecules Able to Induce Stem Cell Differentiation
Currently a Professor of Instruction at The University of Texas at San Antonio
Ph.D. 2013
Dissertation: Synthesis of Stereodefined Acetoacetate-Derived Enol Triflates and Their Synthetic Utility
Currently a principal research chemist at AbbVie
Former Master's Students
- Kristina Marques 2015
- Amanda Nolan 2014
- Francisco Ruiz 2013
- Ray Still 2013
Former Undergraduate Students
* Denotes Honor's College graduation
Samuel Goen (Summer 2021)
Valeria Stevens (Summer 2021)
Joseph Nieto (2020-2022)
Kinesiology major
Cody Phillips (2020-2021)
Biology major
Chemistry major
Note: Most Distinguished Organic Chemistry Student; currently graduate student at the University of Michigan
*Christian Strong (Spring 2019-Spring 2021)
Top Scholar Chemical Engineering major
Note: 2020 Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipient; currently graduate student at Caltech
*Emerson Thomas (Spring 2019-Spring 2020)
Biochemistry major
Note: Currently medical student at the University of Incarnate Word
Acasia Lanzaderas (2019-2020)
Biochemistry major
Shanel Watkins (2019-2020)
Chemistry major
Ashley Banfield (2019-2020)
Chemistry major
*Dat Le (2018-2019)
Biochemistry major
Julie Contreras (2018-2019)
Biochemistry major
Savanah Kemberling (2018–2019)
Biochemistry major
Elizabeth Garcia (2017-2018)
Chemistry major
Biochemistry major
Note: Currently a graduate student at UT Austin in Dr. Mike Krische's group
Top Scholar Biochemistry major
Note: 2018 Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipient; NSF Graduate Research Fellowship recipient; currently a graduate student at Caltech in Dr. Sarah Reisman's group
Honors Thesis: Discovery and Development of Na1.7 Antagonists for the Therapeutic Treatment of Chronic Pain
Yazel Nava Valdez (Summer 2015)
Biotechnology Engineering major from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey
Ana Maldonaldo (2014-2015)
Chemistry major
Biology major
Honors Thesis: Investigating Rat C6 Glioblastoma Cell Differentiation with Novel Small Molecules
*Charissa Munteanu (2013-2014)
Biochemistry major
Honors Thesis: Pd-Catalyzed Reactions of (E)- and (Z)-Enol Triflates to Form Alkynes
Chris Bemben (2010–2011)
Chemistry major
Josh Mijares (2010–2011)
Chemistry major
Kristina Marques (2012)
Chemistry major
Galyn Lacewell (2011–2012)
Biology major
Marie El Arba (2011–2013)
Chemistry major
*Ana Cristina Parra Rivera (2011-2013)
Chemistry major
Honors Thesis: Discovery and Development of New Small Molecules that Induce Cardiogenesis in Stem Cells
*Jesus Jimenez (2011–2013)
Biology major
Honors Thesis: Development of Novel 4-Aminoquinolines as Therapeutic Agents for the Treatment of Leishmaniasis
*Shane Appel (2011-2013)
Biology major
Honors Thesis: Generation of Novel Small Molecules that Induce Neurogenesis in Stem Cells
Robynne Neff (2009-2012)
Chemistry major
Timothy Dreier (2010-2011)
Chemistry major
*Margie DeYoung (2009-2011)
Chemistry and Biology double major
Honors Thesis: Generation of Novel Small Molecule Libraries for Drug Discovery
Interested in Joining Our Team?
We are always looking for motivated graduate students, postdocs, and collaborators.
Inquire About Positions