The Group

Prof. Ryan Murelli

Principal Investigator
Hometown: Torrington, CT
Alma Mater: Hamilton College (BA), Boston College (PhD)
Hobbies: Karoake, Playing with his Daughters
Theme Music: 'Little Fighter' by White Lion (link)

John-Charles Andrew Thomas Baucom

 

CUNY Graduate Center PhD Candidate      
Co-mentored by Emilio Gallicchio (BC)
Hometown: Bed-Stuy Brooklyn
Alma Mater: Carnegie Mellon University (BS)  
Hobbies: Games, Gardening, Chemistry, Thinking
Theme Music: 'We Want Freedom' by Dead Prez (link)

Dan Schiavone

CUNY Graduate Center PhD Candidate
Hometown: Englewood, NJ
Alma Mater: Manhattan College (BS)
Hobbies: TBA
Entry Song: 'Mr. Brownstone' by Guns and Roses (link)

Nana Agyemang

 

CUNY Graduate Center PhD Candidate      
Co-mentored by Mark Biscoe (CCNY)
Hometown: The Boogie Down Bronx
Alma Mater: Stony Brook (BS); CCNY (MS) 
Hobbies: Stargazing with his daughters
Theme Music: 'Terrapin Station' by The Grateful Dead (link)

Orugbani Eli

 

CUNY Graduate Center PhD Candidate      
Hometown: Idama, Nigeria
Alma Mater:   Bells University (BS); University of Leeds (MS)
Hobbies: Cooking, MotoGP, Thinking
Theme Music: 'As it Was' by Harry Styles (link)

Saleh Aloufi

 

CUNY Graduate Center PhD Candidate     
Co-mentored by Prabodhika Mallikaratchy (CCNY)               
Hometown: Ar Rass, Saudi Arabia
Alma Mater:   Qassim University  (BS)    
Hobbies: Chemistry
Theme Music: 'Stalying Alive' by Bee Gees (link)

Beyza Yilmaz

 

CUNY Graduate Center PhD Candidate      
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey
Alma Mater:  Drew University (BS)
Hobbies: Overthinking, Embroidery, Learning Random Fun Facts
Theme Music: 'The Great Gig in the Sky' by Pink Floyd (link)

Anastasiya Lyubimova

 

PostBaccalaureate Research Assistant      
Hometown: Yalta, Crimea
Alma Mater:  Brooklyn College (BS)
Hobbies: Drawing, Traveling, Scrolling Twitter
Theme Music: 'Step Above Surface' by Infinate Scale (link)

Joel Gallardo

 

PostBaccalaureate Research Assistant      
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Alma Mater:  Brooklyn College (BS)
Hobbies: Skateboarding
Theme Music: 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' by the Beetles (link)

Justin Chow

 

Undergraduate Research Assistant      
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Hobbies: Photography, Gaming
Theme Music: 'OffOffOff' by Autolaser(link)

Mat Czajkowski

 

Undergraduate Research Assistant      
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Hobbies: Building Race Cars, Gym, Running
Theme Music: 'Time' by Pink Floyd (link)

Alumni

CUNY GC PhD Students

Dr. Christine Meck (2011-2015)
Laboratory Safety Specialist at Cornell
Thesis Title: "Studies Toward a General Synthesis of Polysubstituted alpha-Hydroxytropolones" (link)

Dr. Michael D'Erasmo (2013-2017)
Postdoctoral Associate at Emory University (Liotta Group)
Thesis Title: "Discovery and Development of a Three-Complonent Oxidopyrylium Cycloaddition and Its Application Toward alpha-Hydroxytropolone Synthesis" (link)

Dr. Danielle Hirsch (2013-2018)
Medical Writer for Ashfield Helathcare Communications
Thesis Title: "Synthesis and Evaluation of Densely Functionalized Troponoids" (link)

Dr. Lauren Bejcek (2016-2021)
Medicinal Chemist, PTC Therapeutics
Thesis Title: "Mechanistic and Synthetic Studies of Oxidopyrylium Cycloaddition Reactions" (link)

Dr. Alex Berkowitz (2015-2022)
Scientist, NJ Bio
Thesis Title: "Synthesis and Analysis of Novel Troponoid-Based Chemical Probes" (coming soon)

BC Undergraduate and Masters Students (Select)

Dr. Alberto Munoz (BS'13)
Columbia University PhD, '18 (Rovis group)
Postdoctoral Studies at MSKCC (Tan Group)
Senior Scientist, AbbVie

Noushad Mohd (BS '14)
Columbia University PhD, '20 (Leighton Group)
Doctoral Lecturer, Brooklyn College

Errol Hunte, Jr (BS '17)
AmeriCorps
MD Student, Albert Einstein School of Medicine

Sarah Avidan-Chaya (BS '17)
Teacher in Brooklyn

Yashkumar Ashani (MS '17)
Albany Molecular Research Institute

John Stasiak (BS '17)
Chemistry PhD Student at New York University (Woerpel Group)

Rudolf Abdelmessih (BS '19)
Chemical Engineering PhD Student at Northeastern University (Auguste Group)

Theresa Trelles (BS '19)
Chemistry PhD Student at University of Delaware (D. Watson Group)

Diana Kapkayeva (BS '19)
Chemistry PhD Student at Rutgers University- Newark (Brenner-Moyer Group)

Postdoctoral Associates

Dr. Alexander Grigoryan (2015-2016)
High School Science and Math Teacher in San Francisco

Dr. Aswin Garimalla (2015-2017)
Scientist at Adesis, Inc.

Dr. Americo Fraboni (2018)
Assistant Professor at Fullerton College

Previous Group Photos

2021  - (from left) Diana, Sarah, Lauren, Dan, JC, Ryan and Alex

2017 - (Front Row) Irina, Sarah, Danielle, Lauren. (Middle Row) Dan, John, Nana, Alex, Errol. (Back Row) Rudolf, Ryan, Mike

2016 - Ryan, Alex, John, Nana, Dan, Alex, Danielle, Michae,l Errol, Yash

2015 - Ryan, Alex, Duygu, Michael, Sarah, Danielle

2014 - Chrissy, Mike, Sarah, Danielle, Ryan, Duygu

2013 - Chrissy, Yvonne, Danielle, Ryan, Mike

2012 - Yvonne, Alberto, Chrissy, Ryan