Research

Beginning at Hope College, I have been involved in multiple research projects. Scientific research has been invigorating, challenging, and rewarding, and I am grateful to continue this pursuit in graduate school. For a comprehensive list of my publications, here is a link to my google scholar account: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=PwWox2IAAAAJ&hl=en

Environmental Chemistry Research

Colorado State University

Advisor: Dr. Thomas Borch

2021 - Present

The state of Colorado has been experiencing increased wildfire activity, warranting concern over the impact these fires have on the environment. Starting in the summer of 2022, I have been studying the effects of wildfires on soil quality, specifically examining fire-induced changes on soil organic matter (SOM) and microbial composition and activity. I have conducted controlled, experimental burns with "pyrocosms" (see pictures below) to simulate wildfire burns. Using microbial amplicon (16S/ITS) sequencing and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, heterotrophic microbes (Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Protobacteria) and specific metabolites (glycine, protocatechuate, citric cycle intermediates) were enriched in burned soils, indicating that burned soils contain a variety of substrates that support microbial metabolism. We also measured higher water extractable organic carbon concentrations and higher CO2 efflux in burned soils. These results demonstrates the resilience of these soils to severe burning, providing important implications for post-fire soil microbial and plant recolonization and ecosystem recovery. For more information about this project, please check out my 2024 publication in Environmental Science & Technology.

This is a highly collaborative project, and I am honored to be working with soil microbiologists from Colorado State University, analytical chemists at the High Magnetic Field Laboratory, and ecologists at the U.S. Forest Service.

Chemical Analyses:

Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Solution-state, Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Soil Respiration Incubations
Total Carbon and Total Nitrogen
Dissolved Organic Carbon and Total Dissolved Nitrogen
pH

Organometallic Chemistry Research

Hope College
Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Johnson
2019-2021

Objective:

Under the guidance of Dr. Jeffery Johnson, I investigated carbon-carbon (C-C) bond activation with the goal of novel reaction development. Current organic methodology focuses almost exclusively on C-C bond formation; thus, reversing this synthetic method via C-C bond activation could diversify molecular formation and provide chemists with extraordinary synthetic flexibility. My research specifically focused on rhodium-catalyzed decarbonylation of pyridyl ketone moieties.

Synthesis

In lab, I performed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling and acylation reactions to synthesize the desire pyridyl ketone compounds. After identifying the presence of the desired product by utilizing TLC, GC-MS, and NMR analysis, I employed column chromatography to isolate the pyridyl ketone compounds.

Decarbonylation and Attempted Substitution

After synthesizing pyridyl ketones that featured an array of substituents, I reacted these pyridyl ketones with rhodium catalysts and boronic acids to perform decarbonylation and aryl ring substitution.

I designed and ran multiple aryl ring-cross over experiments to ascertain whether the decarbonylative process was entirely intramolecular or featured intermolecular exchange. The results indicated that the decarbonylative process was intramolecular which supported our proposed catalytic cycle.

Please click on the slideshow below to view relevant reaction schemes.

Boronic Acid Substitution and Decarbonylation.png

Aryl Ring Crossover Experiment.PNG

Proposed Catalytic Cycle.PNG

Boronic Acid Substitution and Decarbonylation.png

In this research project, I garnered experience with standard organic chemistry techniques, thin layer chromatography, column chromatography, IR spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gas chromatography mass spectrometry and working in a glovebox.

I also presented my research at Hope College, the University of Michigan, Indiana University, and the University of Chicago.

The Johnson lab is a proponent of the "work hard, play hard" mentality. One week each summer is designated as "Theme Week" in which the researchers dress up according to various themes such as Cowboy Day, Pajama Day, and Dress Like Dr. Johnson Day.

Metal Contamination Research

Hope College
Advisor: Professor Suzanne DeVries-Zimmerman
2021

During the fall semester of my senior year at Hope College, three students and I investigated the presence of heavy metals in the sediment along the coastline of Lake Macatawa in Holland, MI. We developed a microwave digestion procedure based on published research. After collecting sediment samples, we conducted microwave digestion and analyzed the presence of heavy metals with ICP-OES instrumentation. Above is a picture of my class after we virtually presented the results from our respective projects to the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council.

Environmental Science Researcher

Hope College
Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Peterson
2018-2019

From freshman year to sophomore year at Hope College, I analyze the presence of heavy metals in global drinking water samples. Water filters from Brazil and Fiji would arrive in our lab, and I would backflush the kits to capture the filtered particulate matter. Using a spectrophotometer, I conducted light attenuation measurements of the samples to determine the samples’ turbidity. After drying and prepping the samples, I assessed the presence of heavy metals with SEM/EDS instrumentation. To validate these results, I analyzed the particulate matter with powdered-XRD to elucidate crystalline structures. By employing these two methods, I observed notable results, such as identifying lead in Brazilian drinking water. Additionally, I investigated a new method for determining grain size distribution via spectroscopic methods. Above is a picture of a colleague and me presenting at a Geological Society of America conference in Indianapolis, IN.