Team Members
A Collaborative & Creative Group
Group picture @ 2024 Spring
Chibuzor Anatune
Master Student Researcher
Chibuzor is a graduate student and joined the group in September 2025. She obtained her B.S. in Industrial Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry at the Federal University of Technology (Owerri, Nigeria) in 2020. Chibuzor is working on developing self-healable artificial molecular muscles.
Isabelle Greathouse
Undergraduate Researcher
Isabelle is an undergraduate student (class of 2027) and joined the group in September 2025. She majors in Health Sciences (with a Pre-Medicine concentration) and has a minor in Chemistry. Isabelle is working on a project to develop an effective sensing approach for detecting metal ions in waste solutions.
Nora Atzinger
Undergraduate Researcher
Nora is an undergraduate student (class of 2028) and joined the group in September 2025. She is a Biology major (Pre-Med track) with a minor in Spanish. Nora is working on a project to develop organic fluorescent sensors for efficient analyte detection.
Group Alumni
Ganiyu Ademola
Master Student Researcher
Spring 2024 - Summer 2026
Ganiyu is a graduate student and joined the group in February 2024. He obtained his B.S. in Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Ibadan (Nigeria) in 2019. Ganiyu worked on developing self-healing materials via host-guest interactions.
Ganiyu has secured a Ph.D. offer from the University of South Carolina and traveled to Columbia, SC, in the fall of 2026 for his Ph.D. studies. Looking forward to hearing good news from him!
Brian Kellogg
Master Student Researcher
Spring 2023 - Spring 2025
Brian is a graduate student and joined the group in February 2023. He obtained his B.S. in Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry at Western Kentucky University in December 2022. Brian worked on developing novel fluorescent sensors and exploring their applications in monitoring toxic heavy metal ions in environmental protection.
Brian was honored with Ph.D. offers from the University of Kentucky (UK) and the University of Louisville (UofL), and he decided to work as a Chemistry Instructor at WKU for one year before starting his Ph.D. studies at UofL in the fall of 2026. Best wishes to Brian!
Sam Dudley
Undergraduate Researcher
Spring 2025 - Spring 2026
Sam is an undergraduate student (class of 2026) and joined the group in February 2025. She has a double major in Biochemistry and Psychological Sciences. Sam worked on projects to develop efficient synthetic methodologies for bioactive molecules and modify biochar materials for the rapid removal of aqueous toxins.
Sam plans to apply for her medical school in the fall of 2026.
Simon Sy
Undergraduate Researcher
Fall 2022 - Spring 2025
Simon is an undergraduate student (class of 2025) and joined the group in October 2022. He is a Chemistry major working on several research projects, including 1) designing fluorescent sensors for heavy metal ions detection, 2) developing efficient synthetic methodologies for bioactive molecules, and 3) modifying biochar materials for the rapid removal of aqueous toxins.
Simon headed to Lubbock, TX, to start his Ph.D. studies at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the fall of 2025. Can't wait to hear great news from him!
Varshith Kotagiri
Gatton Academy High School Student Researcher
Spring 2024 - Spring 2025
Varshith is a junior at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science with a focus on chemistry and biology. He joined the group in February 2024. Varshith worked on developing novel fluorescent sensors and exploring their applications in heavy metal ions detection.
Varshith went to the University of Pennsylvania to pursue his bachelor's studies in the Vagelos Molecular Life Sciences Program in the fall of 2025.
Eden Gruchala
Undergraduate Researcher
Fall 2022 - Fall 2024
Eden is an undergraduate student (class of 2024) and joined the group in October 2022. She is a Biology major (Pre-Med concentration) with a minor in Statistics. Eden worked on a project of designing fluorescent sensors with efficient synthesis and a sensitive detection of heavy metal ions in solutions.
Eden pursued her graduate studies at the University of Alabama - Birmingham, School of Optometry, since the spring of 2025. Looking forward to hearing great news from her!
Natalie Hutchinson
Undergraduate Researcher
Fall 2023 - Spring 2024
Natalie is an undergraduate student (class of 2024) and joined the group in August 2023. She is a Biochemistry major and worked on a project of designing fluorescent sensors with efficient synthesis and a sensitive detection of heavy metal ions in solutions.
Natalie went to the University of Louisville to pursue her Master's degree in Biostatistics in the fall of 2024. We wish her the best of luck in her M.S. study!