Sherman-Clarke Fellow, University of Rochester (2017-2018)
Chemistry Department Outstanding Senior, Mansfield University (2017)
ACS Undergraduate Award in Physical Chemistry (2017)
ACS Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry (2017)
ACS Corning Section Senior Book Award (2017)
Completion of Mansfield University Honors Program with Distinction (2017)
ACS Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry (2016)
Chemistry Department Outstanding Junior, Mansfield University (2016)
Presidential Scholarship, Mansfield University (2013-2017)
Full PASSHE Board of Governors’ Scholarship, Mansfield University (2013-2017)
Bausch & Lomb Science Award (2012)
Research Experience
Forensic Soil Analysis by Spectroscopy – Mansfield University, Dr. Scott Davis Project focused around developing a simple method for soil identification, improving on qualitative techniques with more quantitative FTIR and UV/Vis methods
Optimizing Method for Arsenic Detection – Mansfield University, Dr. Shaker Ramasamy Optimization of Teledyne ICP Emission Spectrometer methods for arsenic testing was performed to enhance sensitivity for detection
Marcellus Shale Water Testing Research – Mansfield University, Dr. Shaker Ramasamy and Dr. Michele Conrad Third phase of research conducted on well water quality across Tioga County with both on-site sampling and lab analysis: testing with pH and conductivity probe on-site; ICP, IC, GC/MS, and alkalinity titrations in lab
Current Research
Photochemical Hydrogen Production – Bren Lab, University of Rochester My current research focuses on using a simple biomolecule, cobalt microperoxidase-11, in systems for light-driven hydrogen production. Cobalt-MP11 is a water-soluble cobalt porphyrin-peptide derived from the heme peptide of horse cytochrome c. I am currently working to characterize an aqueous system using Co-MP11 as a catalyst, [Ru(bpy)3]2+ as a charge transfer chromophore, and ascorbic acid as a sacrificial electron donor. The need to drastically reduce carbon emissions and move to clean renewable energy sources is urgent – climate change has been dubbed one of the biggest global health threats of the 21st century. It is imperative that there is a good understanding of how to build clean solar harvesting systems that maximize their potential. Consequently, an ongoing goal of my research is to optimize the system and develop a more detailed understanding of the mechanisms at work.
