The Team
We are actively recruiting passionate chemists to conduct research at the interface of organic synthesis, catalysis, and electrochemistry with applications in complex molecule synthesis.
Joseph Derosa, Ph.D.
(he/him)
Principal Investigator (PI)
Innovation Career Development Assistant Professor, Boston University
AOB Postdoctoral Fellow, Caltech, 2020–2023 (Prof. Jonas C. Peters)
Ph.D. in Chemistry, Scripps Research, 2019 (Prof. Keary M. Engle)
B.S. in Biochemistry, City College of NY, 2015 (Prof. Mark R. Biscoe)
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Research Interests: Transition metals, catalysis, and electrochemistry
Hobbies: Hiking, graphic novels, and creative writing
Postdoctoral Associates
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Siyuan Su, Ph.D.
(he/him)
Zi Xuan, Ph.D.
(she/her)
Brett Akana-Schneider, Ph.D.
(he/him)
Postdoctoral Associate (PD1)
Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), 2023 (Prof. Daesung Lee)
M.S. in Chemistry, Stony Brook University, 2017 (Prof. Kathlyn A. Parker)
B.S. in Pharmacy, Sichuan University, 2015 (Prof. Ying-Chun Chen)
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Research Interests: Organometallics and novel synthetic methods
Hobbies: Playing tennis, going out for casual walks, and hiking
Postdoctoral Associate (PD1)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), 2023–2024 (Prof. Patricia Z. Musacchio)
Ph.D. in Chemistry, Ewha Womans University, 2017 (Prof. Sang-gi Lee)
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Chungbuk National University, 2012
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Research Interests: Transition metal catalysis
Hobbies: Traveling, music, and movies
Postdoctoral Associate (PD1)
Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2024 (Prof. Daniel J. Weix)
B.S. in Chemistry/B.A. in Mathematics, St. Mary's University, 2017 (Prof. Oleg Larionov at UTSA)
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Research Interests: Reaction development, mechanistic investigation, and catalyst development
Hobbies: Cooking, gardening, and foraging
Graduate Students
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Yahui "Leyla" Guo
(she/her)
Graduate Student (G2)
B.S. in Chemistry, University of Rochester, 2023 (Prof. Bradley L. Nilsson)
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Research Interests: Transition metal catalysis
Hobbies: Working out and trying new food
Bryan Parnitzke
(he/him)
Graduate Student (G2)
B.S. in Chemistry, Baldwin Wallace University, 2023 (Prof. Ray Shively)
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Research Interests: Organometallic chemistry in organic synthesis
Hobbies: Longboarding, PlayStation, and exploring new places to eat
Undergraduate Researchers
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Ethan Gerhardt
(he/him)
Undergraduate Student (UG4)
(UROP Award 2024)
B.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boston University, 2025
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Research Interests: Synthetic organic chemistry
Hobbies: Going to the gym, cooking, and trying new foods
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Tegan Poerio
(she/her)
Undergraduate Student (UG4)
(UROP Award 2024)
B.S. in Human Physiology,
Boston University, 2025
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Research Interests: Synthetic organic chemistry
Hobbies: Playing for the BU field hockey team and baking
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Sam Rekulak
(he/him)
Undergraduate Student (UG3)
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B.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boston University, 2026
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Research Interests: Organic chemistry, biological chemistry, neurodegenerative diseases
Hobbies: Running, cycling, rock climbing, and singing