Currently focusing on the synthesis of novel 1,2,4-trioxolanes for their use as antimalarial therapeutics and probes for ferroptosis.

Asymmetric Michael additions of pyruvates catalyzed by small organic molecules. Pyruvates are helpful precursors in drug discovery and related research due to their ability to act as both nucleophiles and electrophiles. However, their dual reactivity is often difficult to control and their condensations often fail to produce the desired product. In my work I developed a method to synthesize enantiopure asymmetric additions of unhindered pyruvates. As one of my first experiences in organic synthesis, I performed organic synthesis under the guidance of a Post-Doc in the lab. I quickly familiarized myself with the reactions and was able to optimize pyruvate reaction conditions. In addition, I synthesized a variety of small organic enantioselective catalysts with insight from many members of the group.

Attached ruthenium photosensitizers onto Hybrid Cluster Proteins (HCP) for photoactivation of the protein's reductive chemistry. HCP's 4Fe-2S-2O cluster is currently considered to be unique in biology and has proven its capability for reductions such as nitric oxide to nitrous oxide and hydroxylamine to ammonium and water. Therefore, investigation of the photoactivated reducing capabilities of HCP has significant application in environmental pollution and energy resources. During the duration of my work, I synthesized a ruthenium photosensitizer using organic and inorganic techniques. In addition, I produced cysteine-modified HCP protein in which I mutated an outward-facing base pair to allow for attachment of the ruthenium photosensitizer via Sn2 reactions.

Experimental indications of charge distribution between vertically stacked bismuth selenide. When 2D materials are stacked vertically, a new periodicity attributed to the interlayer orbital interactions arises forming what is known as moire super lattices. These hybrid materials have unique properties and rotation of the layers can form superconductor-insulator transitions at magic angles. In this work we provided the first experimental indications of non-atomic lattices forming from interlayer coupling and charge distribution through orbital overlap in vertically stacked bismuth selenide transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD) 2D heterostructures. I was responsible for the growth for some 2D heterostructures along with the subsequent analysis of their selected area electron diffraction. Additionally, I created an algorithm in MatLab to predict magic angle strains by overlapping two computationally created monolayers. The analysis I contributed was inputted in figures implemented in the published manuscript.

Partial recovery of neural signals using ultra-long carbon nanotube bridgesIn this project, we implanted ultra-long carbon nanotubes (CNTs) between a severed spinal cord to recover signal transmission for applications in nerve repair and brain machine interfaces. We electrically stimulated and recorded neural signals from an in intact, severed, and severed plus bridged with carbon nanotubes mouse spinal cord. We then used a carbon nanotube control experiment to train a modeling algorithm which was used to isolate neural activity from in vivo experiments. Lastly, we used the isolated neural signal to show (1) CNTs ability to propagate neural activity and (2) the filtering effects carbon nanotubes have on neural signals for applications in brain machine and nan-bio interfaces.

Fabricated Graphene Oxide membrane for seawater desalination and other filtration purposes