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
Siyuan Su, Ph.D.
(he/him)
Postdoctoral Associate (PD3)
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
Graduate Students
Yahui "Leyla" Guo
(she/her)
Graduate Student (G3)
B.S. in Chemistry, University of Rochester, 2023 (Prof. Bradley L. Nilsson)
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Research Interests: Transition metal catalysis
Hobbies: Gym, [solidcore], running, and snowboarding
Bryan Parnitzke
(he/him)
NSF Graduate Research Fellow (G3)
B.S. in Chemistry, Baldwin Wallace University, 2023 (Prof. Ray Shively)
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Research Interests: Transition metals and (electro)catalysis
Hobbies: Longboarding, climbing, yoga, and baking
Jillian Genova
(she/her)
Wesley Reller
(he/him)
Alec Adam
(he/him)
Graduate Student (G2)
Graduate Student (G2)
Graduate Student (G2)​
B.S. in Chemistry, University of Michigan, 2021 (Prof. John Montgomery)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (s/o Hardwin O'Dowd)
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Research Interests: Novel synthetic methodology and scalable organic synthesis
Hobbies: Spending time with friends, cooking, and design
B.S. in Chemistry, College of the Holy Cross, 2024 (Prof. Bianca Sculimbrene)
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Research Interests: Transition metal catalysis, environmentally-friendly chemistry
Hobbies: Drawing, reading, hiking, and singing
B.S. in Chemisty and Mathematics, University of Florida, 2024 (Prof. Adam Veige)
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Research Interests: Catalysis, synthetic organic methodology, and computational chemistry
Hobbies: Golf, tennis, and playing music
Sally Tepper
(she/her)
Ethan Gerhardt
(he/him)
Graduate Student (G1)
Graduate Student (G1)
B.A. in Chemistry and Government, Wesleyan University, 2022 (Prof. Brian Northrop)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Process Chemistry)
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Research Interests: Process-friendly organometallic catalysis, reaction optimization via mechanistic analysis, machine learning-driven high throughput experimentation
Hobbies: Crocheting, reading, and listening to Taylor Swift
B.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boston University, 2025 (Prof. Joseph Derosa)
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Research Interests: Transition metal catalysis and electrocatalysis
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Hobbies: Gym, cooking, listening to music
Undergraduate Researchers
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Sam Rekulak
(he/him)
Arya Reddy
(she/her)
Undergraduate Student (UG4)
(UROP Award 2025)
​
Undergraduate Student (UG3)
(UROP Award 2025)
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
B.A. in Chemistry,
Boston University, 2027
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Research Interests: Synthetic organic chemistry
Hobbies: Going to the gym, photography, hiking
XiaoAn Wu
(she/her)
Undergraduate Student (UG3)
B.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
Boston University, 2027
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Research Interests: Organic chemistry and biological chemistry
Hobbies: Fencing, watching soccer