Past Group Members

Dr. Andrea Westlie
Postdoctoral Associate (2022 – 2023)
PhD – Colorado State University, 2022
BS – University of St. Thomas
Research Area: Energy Materials
Currently at OXMAN Company

Dr. Matthew Thompson
Postdoctoral Associate (2021 – 2022)
PhD – Boston College, 2021
BS – University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Research Area: Polyolefins

Dr. Xiaoran Hu
Postdoctoral Associate (2021 – 2022)
PhD – Tufts University, 2017
BS – Nanjing University, 2010
Research Area: Immune-Modulating Biomaterials
Currently Professor at Syracuse University

Dr. Kevin Sun
Postdoctoral Associate (2021 – 2022)
Ph.D – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2021
BS – University of Hong Kong, 2016
Research Area: Polymer electrolyte for lithium batteries
Currently at Exxon Mobil

Dr. Sarah Parke
Postdoctoral Associate (2019 – 2022)
PhD – University of Alberta, 2019
BS – University of British Columbia – Okanagan, 2014
Research Area: Polyolefin Recycling
Currently at Dupont

Dr. Andrew Kocen
Postdoctoral Associate (2019-2021)
PhD – University of Houston, 2019
BS – University of Texas at Austin, 2014
Research Area: Polyolefin Recycling
Currently at Pall Corporation

Dr. Cheol Kang
Postdoctoral Associate (2020-2021)
PhD – Seoul National University, 2020
BS – Seoul National University, 2014
Research Area: Anion Exchange Memberanes
Currently at Samsung

Dr. Brooks A. Abel
Postdoctoral Associate (2017-2021)
PhD – University of Southern Mississippi, 2016
BS – University of Southern Mississippi, 2009
Research Area: Ring-Opening copolymerization of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides
Currently at University of California, Berkeley

Dr. Kristine Klimovica
Postdoctoral Associate (2017-2018)
PhD – University of Houston, 2016
B Eng – Riga Technical University, Latvia, 2011
Research Area: Polyolefins
Currently at 3M

Dr. James Eagan
Postdoctoral Associate (2014-2017)
PhD – Columbia University, 2014
BS – Emory University, 2009
Research Area: Olefin Polymerization
Currently at University of Akron

Dr. Masato Mizutani
Postdoctoral Associate (2011-2016)
PhD – Nagoya University, 2011
BS – Nagoya University, 2006
Research Area: Polymerization of CO₂

Dr. Tulaza Vaidya
Postdoctoral Researcher (2012 – 2014)
PhD – University of Rochester, 2012
BA – Lake Forest College, 2007
Research Area: Olefin Polymerization
Currently at Dow Chemical

Dr. W. Chadwick Ellis (2010 – 2013)
PhD – Carnegie Mellon University, 2010
BA – Washington and Lee University, 2003
Research Area: Polycarbonates and Energy Materials
Currently at Phillips 66

Dr. Soumya Sarkar (2012 – 2013)
PhD – University of Florida, 2011
MS – Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, 2006
Research Area: Stereoselective Polymerizations
Currently at Momentive India

Dr. Giang Vo (2010 – 2012)
Ph.D – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010
BS – Illinois Institute of Technology
Research Area: Olefin Polymerization
Currently at Dupont

Dr. Brian Long (2009 – 2011)
Ph.D – University of Texas, Austin 2009
BS – N. Georgia College & State University
Research Area: Olefin Polymerization
Currently Assistant Professor at University of Tennessee

Dr. Kevin Noonan (2008 – 2011)
Ph.D – University of British Columbia, 2008
BS – Dalhousie University, Halifax 2003
Research Area: Carbonylation of Heterocycles
Currently Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University

Dr. Jeung Gon Kim (2009 – 2011)
Ph.D – University of Pennsylvania, PA 2005
BS – KAIST, South Korea 2001
Research Area: Polymerization of CO2
Currently Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Jeonbuk National University, Korea

Dr. John B. Alexander (August 1999 – July 2000)
Formerly at MIT; Ph.D. (2002) with R. Schrock
Currently at Edwards & Angell, LLP

Dr. Bradley M. Chamberlain (January 2000 – August 2001)
Formerly at the University of Minnesota; Ph.D. (1999) with W. Tolman/M. Hillmyer
Currently Professor at Luther College

Dr. Tim Clark (August 2007 – June 2009)
Formerly at University of Toronto; Ph.D. (2007)
Currently at GreenCentre Canada

Dr. David Laitar (August 2006 – June 2008)
Formerly at MIT with J. Sedighi
Currently at Dow Chemical

Dr. Hyuk Lee (January 2003 – December 2004)
Formerly at Yonsei University; Ph.D. (2002) with C-H. Jun
Currently at Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

Dr. Yuguo Ma (January 2003 – August 2005)
Formerly at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Ph.D. (2002) with S. Zimmerman
Currently at Professor at Peking University

Dr. Viswanath Mahadevan (February 2001 – February 2003)
Formerly at Stanford (2001) with D. Stack
Currently at Degussa Admixtures, Inc.

Dr. Robert T. Mathers (May 2002 – May 2004)
Formerly at the University of Akron; Ph.D. (2002) with R. Quirk
Currently at Professor at Penn State New Kingston

Dr. Hansruedi Mürner (April 1997 – August 1997)
Formerly at Universität Freiburg; Ph.D. (1996) with von Zelewsky
Currently at Wella AG

Dr. Hyun-jong (Jay) Paik (January 2001 – January 2003)
Formerly at Carnegie-Mellon; Ph.D. (2002) with K. Matyjaszewski
Currently at Professor at Pusan National University

Dr. Zengquan Qin (February 2002 – July 2004)
Formerly at the University of Western Ontario; Ph.D. (2002) with R. Puddephatt
Currently at Bridgestone/Firestone Res., LLC

Dr. Stefan Reinartz (April 2001 – May 2003)
Formerly at UNC; Ph.D. (2002) with J. Templeton and M. Brookhart
Currently at Dupont

Dr. Joseph A.R. Schmidt (April 2002 – July 2004)
Formerly at UC Berkeley; Ph.D. (2002) with J. Arnold
Currently at Professor at The University of Toledo

Dr. Christophe Thomas (October 2002 – September 2003)
Formerly at University of Neuchatel; Ph.D. (2002) with G. Suss-Fink
Currently at CNRS-Chemie Paris Tech

Dr. Jun Tian (February 1999 – February 2001)
Formerly Postdoc at the University of Waterloo (1999) with S. Collins
Formerly at the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry; Ph.D. (1994) with B. Huang
Currently at Baker Petrolite

Dr. Xiawei Zhang (February 2005- August 2007)
Formerly at Rutgers Univeristy (Ph.D.)
Currently at Arkema

Yolanda Rusconi (April 2024 – October 2024)

Naoto Hirano (June 2024 – August 2024)

Dr. Rocco Di Girolamo (June 2012 – July 2013)
Currently at Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”

Dr. Christopher Goh (August 2011 – May 2012)
Currently at Williams College

Hisashi Ohtaki (2008-2010)
Currently at Mitsubishi

Dr. Hiroharu Ajiro (April 2004- March 2006)
Currently at Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST)

Dr. Tsuyoshi Ando (August 2005 – March 2007)
Currently at Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST)

Prof. Joseph Bruno (June 2002 – July 2002)
Currently at Wesleyan University

Dr. Masa Fujita (August 2000-September 2002)
Currently at Sumitomo

Mr. Wataru Hirahata (August 2005- February 2007)
Currently at Sumitomo

Dr. Jose Maria Benito Penalba (August 2003 – December 2003)
Currently at 3M

Dr. Akio Tanna (March 2006- March 2008)
Currenly at Mitsubishi Chemical

Hales Rugh
Graduate Student (2019-2024)
Fullbright Scholar – Burghausen, Germany 2018-19
BS – University of Pennsylvania, 2018
Research Area: Polymer Electrolytes

Ting-Wei Lin
Graduate Student (2015-2021)
BS – National Taiwan University
Research Area: Olefin Polymerization
Currently at Intermix

Luis Limon
Graduate Student (2021-2023)
BS – University of California, Santa Barbara
Research Area: Carbonylation

Dr. Holley Grace Hester
Graduate Student (2018-2023)
BS – University of Florida
Research Area: Polydioxolanes

Dr. Yiye Lu
Graduate Student (2018-2023)
BS – Fudan University
Research Area: Polyester Synthesis
Currently at DuPont

Dr. Cheyenne Peltier
Graduate Student (2018-2023)
BS – Stanford University
Research Area: Anion Exchange Membranes
Currently at NREL

Dr. Hillis Johnson
Graduate Student (2016-2021)
BS – California Lutheran University
Research Area: Solid Polymer Electrolytes for Li Metal Batteries
Currently at Ecolectro

Dr. Rachel Snyder
Graduate Student (2018-2021)
MS – Northwestern University
BS – Ithaca College
Research Area: Polymer Electrolytes for Li Batteries
Currently at DuPont

Dr. Bryce Lipinski
Graduate Student (2016-2020)
BA – Siena College
Research Area: Polyether Catalyst Development
Currently at GE

Dr. Claire Lidston
Graduate Student (2017-2020)
BA – Williams College
Research Area: Polyester synthesis
Currently at Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

Dr. Omar Padilla Velez
Graduate Student (2015-2020)
BS – University of Puerto Rico at Cayey
Research Area: Polyolefins
Currently at Exponent

Dr. Aran Hubbell
Graduate Student (2015-2020)
BS – Boston College
Research Area: Carbonylation
Currently at Pfizer

Dr. Xiaopeng Yu
Graduate Student (2014-2020)
BS – Fudan University, 2014
Research Area: Polyester/polycarbonate synthesis
Currently at UC Berkeley

Dr. Lilliana Morris
Graduate Student (2014-2019)
BS – Williams College, 2014
Research Area: Polyether Synthesis
Currently The College of Wooster

Dr. Maria Sanford
Graduate Student (2013-2018)
BS – West Chester University, 2013
Research Area: Polyester Synthesis
Currently at UES, Inc at AFRL

Michelle Lee
Graduate Student (2014-2017)
BS – University of California, Berkeley, 2014
Research Area: Epoxide/Anhydride Copolymerizations
Currently at LBNL

Dr. Kyle O’Connor
Graduate Student (2012-2017)
BS – Stony Brook University, 2012
Research Area: Polyolefins
Currently at Solvay

Dr. David Vaccarello
Graduate Student (2012-2017)
BS – Duquesne University, 2012
Research Area: Polyolefins
Currently at NIST

Dr. Qi Zheng
Graduate Student (2012-2017)
BS – Nanjing University, 2012
Research Area: Solid Polymer Electrolytes for Li Metal Batteries
Currently at PPG

Dr. Jessica Lamb
Graduate Student (2012-2017)
BS – University of North Dakota, 2012
Research Area: Carbonylation
Currently at University of Minnesota

Dr. Brandon Tiegs
Graduate Student (2011-2016)
BS – Missouri State University, 2011
Research Area: Carbonylation
Currently at Boulder Scientific

Dr. Julie (Longo) Whitehead
Graduate Student (2011-2016)
BS – Emory University, 2011
Research Area: Stereocomplexes
Currently at Weber

Dr. Nathan Van Zee
Graduate Student (2010-2015)
BA – Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University,
Research Area: Polyesters
Currently at Eindhoven University of Technology

Dr. Thanh-Tam Truong
Graduate Student (2010-2015)
BA – Whitman College, 2010
Research Area: Organic cathode materials for Li-ion batteries
Currently at Savannah River National Laboratory

Dr. Ian Childers
Graduate Student (2010-2015)
BS – Washington and Lee University, 2010
Research Area: Polymerization of Epoxides
Currently at BASF

Dr. Kristina Hugar
Graduate Student (2010-2015)
BS – Ithaca College
Research Area: Anion Exchange Membranes for Alkaline Fuel Cells
Currently at Ecolectro

Dr. Yuki Jung
Graduate Student (2010-2015)
BS – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research Area: Carbonylation of Heterocycles
Currently at Khan Academy

Mr. Jeffrey Marvin
Graduate Student (2013-2015)
BS – University of Buffalo
Research Area: Sequence controlled polymers
Currently at DuPont

Dr. Rachna Khurana
Graduate Student (2009-2014)
MS – Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, 2008
Research Area: Solid Polymer Electrolytes for Li Metal Batteries
Currently at 3M

Dr. Christina Cowman-Eggert
Graduate Student (2009-2014)
BS – University of Minnesota, 2009
Research Area: Polycarbonate Self Assembly
Currently at 3M

Dr. Angela DiCiccio
Graduate Student (2008-2013)
BA – Mount Holyoke College, 2008
Research Area: Kinetics of Zinc BDI Catalysis and Development of Biodegradable Polyesters
Currently at Google

Dr. Michael Mulzer
Graduate Student (2008 – 2013)
MS – Humboldt Universitaet, 2008
Research Area: Carbonylation of Heterocycles
Currently at Dow

Dr. Pasquale Iacono
Graduate Student (2007 – 2012)
BS – Ithaca College 2006
Research Area: Olefin Polymerization
Currently at Conoco Phillips

Dr. Syud Momtaz Ahmed
Graduate Student (2007 – 2012)
BS – Wabash College 2007
Research Area: Polymerization of Epoxides
Currently at 3M

Dr. Erin Dunn
Graduate Student (2006 – 2011)
BS – University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 2007
Research Area: Applications of Carbonylations
Currently at Unilever

Dr. Peter Widger
Graduate Student (2006 – 2011)
BS – University of New Hampshire 2006
Research Area: Polymerization of Epoxides
Currently at E Ink

Dr. Bryan Whiting
Graduate Student (2006 – 2011)
BS – College of Wooster 2006
Research Area: Carbonylation of Heterocycles
Currently at 3M

Dr. Henry Kostalik
Graduate Student (2006 – 2011)
BS – University of Minnesota 2006
Research Area: Membrane Synthesis
Currently at 3M

Dr. Amelia Anderson
Graduate Student (2005 – 2010)
BA – Hamline University 2005
Research Area: Polymerization of a-olefins
Currently at Ohio Northern University

Dr. Scott D. Allen
Graduate Student (1999 – 2004)
Currently at Novomer, LLC

Dr. Emily J. Baird
Graduate Student (1997 – 2001)
Formerly an Undergraduate at Whitman College
Currently at Johns Hopkins Medical School

Mr. Jeffrey S. Bergman
Graduate Student (1997 – 1999)
Formerly an Undergraduate at William and Mary
Currently at Rosenthal & Osha LLP

Dr. Chris M. Byrne
Graduate Student (2001 – 2006)
Formerly an Undergraduate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Currently at Momentive Performance Materials

Dr. Ming Cheng
Graduate Student (1997 – 2000)
Formerly an Undergraduate at Beijing University
Currently at 3M

Dr. Anna Cherian
Graduate Student (1999 – 2005)
Formerly an Undergraduate at George Fox University
Currently at Novomer, LLC

Dr. Tamara L. Church
Graduate Student (2001 – 2006)
Formerly an Undergraduate at University of Ottawa
Currently at Stockholm University

Dr. Claire T. Cohen
Graduate Student (2001 – 2006)
Formerly an Undergraduate at University of Massachusetts/Amherst
Currently at The University of Toledo 

Dr. Greg J. Domski
Graduate Student (2003 – 2008)
Formerly an Undergraduate at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
Currently Assistant Professor at Augustana College

Dr. Joe Edson
Graduate Student (2004 – 2009)
Formerly and Undergraduate at Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO
Currently at Inpria

Dr. Yutan Getzler
Graduate Student (1998 – 2005)
Formerly an Undergraduate at Beloit College
Currently at Kenyon College

Mr. Brian Hathaway
Graduate Student (2002 – 2004)
Formerly an Undergraduate at Utah State

Dr. Phillip D. Hustad
Graduate Student (1997 – 2002)
Formerly an Undergraduate at Emory & Henry
Currently at Dow Chemical

Dr. Ryan C. Jeske
Graduate Student (2004- 2009)
Formerly an Undergraduate at University of Wisconsin, Madison
Currently at Ball State University

Dr. John W. Kramer
Graduate Student (2003 – 2008)
Formerly an Undergraduate at Beloit College, Beloit WI
Currently at Dow Chemical

Mr. Vinod Kundani
Graduate Student (2001 – 2003)
Formerly an Undergraduate at IIT Bombay

Dr. Andrew Mason
Graduate Student (2000 – 2005)
Formerly an Undergraduate at University of Virginia
Currently at HaloSource

Dr. David Moore
Graduate Student (1998 – 2003)
Formerly an Undergraduate at Drew University
Currently at GE Global Research Center

Dr. Tina M. Ovitt
Graduate Student (1997 – 2001)
Formerly an Undergraduate at St. Lawrence University
Currently at Schenectady International

Dr. Kathryn L. Peretti
Graduate Student (2002 – 2007)
Formerly an Undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Currently at Exxon/Mobil

Dr. Lee R. Rieth
Graduate Student (1998 – 2003)
Formerly an Undergraduate at Cornell University
Currently at Milliken Chemical

Dr. Nick Robertson
Graduate Student (2004- 2009)
Formerly an Undergraduate at University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
Currently at Northland College

Dr. Jeffrey M. Rose
Graduate Student (2003- 2008)
Formerly an Undergraduate at Canisius College, Buffalo, NY
Currently at DuPont

Dr. John M. Rowley
Graduate Student (2003- 2008)
Formerly an Undergraduate at Houghton College, Houghton, NY
Currently Assistant Professor at Houghton College

Ms. Suellen Sack
Graduate Student (2000 – 2002)
Formerly Undergraduate at SUNY Fredonia
Currently at Outward Bound

Chris Kim
Cornell Undergraduate (2022-2024)

Demetrios Patrinos
Washington and Lee University (June 2024 – August 2024)

Dea Fackovic Volcanjk
Cornell Undergraduate (2021-2023)

Judy Pan
Cornell Undergraduate (2019-2021)

Liz Chartier
Cornell Undergraduate (2017-2019)

Ahmed M. Ahmed
Cornell Undergraduate (2015-2017)

Sam Newman-Stonebraker
Cornell Undergraduate (2016-2017)

Susan Chen
Cornell Undergraduate (2015-2017)

Zachary P. Nelson
Cornell Undergraduate (2013-2015)

Chinelo L. Onyilofor
Cornell Undergraduate (2013 – 2015)

Ian MacKenzie
REU Student from Geneva College (June 2013 – August 2013)
Currently at UNC

William Gent
Cornell Undergraduate (2009 – 2013)
Currently at Stanford University

Ben Elling
Cornell Undergraduate (2011 – 2013)
Currently at Stanford University

Joshua Fishman
Cornell Undergraduate (2008 – 2010)
Currently at University of Wisconsin – Madison

Michael Behl
Visiting Student from the University of Wuppertal (August 1998 – December 1998)

Sara Brownell
Cornell Undergraduate (August 2002 – December 2003)
Currently at Scripps Research Institute

Greg Dallinger
REU Student from The College of Wooster (June 2004 – August 2004)
Currently at Wabash College

Nick J. Darling
Cornell Undergraduate (January 1998 – May 2000)
Currently graduate student at Stanford

Angela M. DiCiccio
REU student from Mt. Holyoke College (Summer 2006)
Currently at Google

Robert C. Eaton
Cornell Undergraduate (January 2000 – May 2001)

Keith C. Ellis
Cornell Undergraduate (September 1997 – May 1999)
Currently graduate student at the University of Virginia

Karan Garg
Cornell Undergraduate (January 2002 – May 2003)
Currently graduate student at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Rafael Huacuja
Cornell Undergraduate (January 2007 – July 2008)
Currently at Texas A&M University

Jennifer Hui
Cornell Undergraduate (August 2001 – May 2003)

Daniel Joh
Cornell Undergraduate (August 2006- July 2007)
Currently Masters student at Cornell University

Santosh S. Kale
Cornell Undergraduate (September 1999 – May 2001)
Currently a graduate student at the University of Chicago Medical School

Rebecca Keller
REU student from Washington University, St. Louis (June 2003 – August 2003)

Daniel Kennedy
REU student from Emory University (June 1999 – August 1999)

Maggie Mayo
Cornell Undergraduate (September 2003 – May 2005)

Scott Midwall
Cornell Undergraduate (January 1998 – May 1998)

John V. Mulcahy
REU student from Harvard (June 2002 – August 2002)
Currently graduate student at Stanford

Julie Longo Whitehead
REU student from Emory (June 2009 – August 2009)
Currently graduate student at at Cornell

Noah Nathel
Cornell Undergraduate (August 2007 – May 2009)
Currently at Caltech

Susan Odom
REU student from the University of Kentucky (June 2001 – August 2001)
Currently assistant professor at University of Kentucky<

Stephanie Potisik
Cornell Undergraduate (August 2001 – May 2003)
Currently at Dow Chemical

Stacey E. Price
REU student from George Mason University (June 2001 – August 2001)

Joseph R. Reczek
Cornell Undergraduate (September 1999 – May 2001)
Currently assistant professor at Dennison University

Carmen Rivera-Rodriguez
REU student from Colegio Universitario de Bayamon, PR (June 2000 – August 2000)

Michael Roth
Visiting Student from University of Mainz (August 1997 – February 1998)

Renee Thomas
Cornell Undergraduate (May 2005- July 2008)
Currently at California Institute of Technology

Dan Treitler
Cornell Undergraduate (June 2005-May 2007)
Currently at Bristol-Myers Squibb

David Wang
Cornell Undergraduate (January 2004 – May 2005)
Currently at Rutgers

Bryan Whiting
REU student from College of Wooster (June 2005 – August 2005)
Currently at 3M

Tony Chu
Cornell Undergraduate (September 2003 – August 2004)