Former PhD Students
Class of 2019
Dr. Sydney McKee
Senior Scientist,
Procter & Gamble
B.S. in Chemistry,
Ohio State University
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
August, 2024
Class of 2018
Dr. Rebecca Ulrich
ACS Irving S. Sigal postdoctoral fellow with Prof. Deborah Hung at the Broad Institute
B.S. in Biochemistry,
High Point University
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
April, 2024
Class of 2017
Dr. Lindsay Chatkewitz
Senior Scientist,
Arrakis Therapeutics
B.S. in Chemistry,
The College of William and Mary
Ph.D. in Chemical Biology
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign
March 2022
Dr. Emily J. Tonogai
Senior Scientist,
Revolution Medicines
B.S. in Chemistry,
Carleton College
Ph.D. in Chemical Biology
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign
July 2022
Dr. Kristen Muñoz
Patent Agent,
Morrison Foerster
B.A. in Chemistry and Spanish,
Claremont McKenna College
Ph.D. in Chemical Biology
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign
May 2023
Class of 2016
Dr. Matthew W. Boudreau
NCI K00 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Prof. William Kaelin’s Laboratory
Dana-Farber Cancer Center/Harvard Medical School
B.S. in Chemistry,
North Carolina State University
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
February 2022
Dr. Martin Garcia Chavez
Medicinal Chemist, Abbvie
B.S. in Chemistry,
Manchester University
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
June 2021
Dr. Emily Geddes
Senior Scientist,
Microbiotix
B.S. in Chemistry,
Truman State University
Ph.D. Chemical Biology
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
March 2022
Dr. Aya Matsunaga Kelly
Senior Scientist,
BMS
B.S. in Chemical Biology,
Eckerd College
Ph.D. Chemical Biology
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
March 2022
Class of 2015
Dr. Riley Svec
Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry,
Janssen Pharmaceuticals
B.S. in Chemistry,
University of Iowa
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
March 2020
Class of 2014
Dr. Sarah Perlmutter
Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry, Abbvie
B.A. in Chemistry,
Smith College
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
November 2020
Class of 2013
Dr. Alfredo Garcia
B.S. in Chemistry & Biochemistry,
University of Iowa
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
February 2019
Dr. Evijola Llabani
B.S. in Chemistry & Biology,
St. John’s University
Ph.D. in Chemical Biology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
December 2018
Class of 2012
Dr. Bryon Drown
Current: Assistant Professor,
Purdue University
Previous: Postdoctoral Fellow,
Neil Kelleher’s lab,
Northwestern University
B.S. in Chemistry,
Wheaton College
Ph.D. in Chemical Biology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
November 2018
Class of 2011
Dr. Jessie Peh
Current: Senior Scientist, BigHat Biosciences
Previous: NIH Postdoctoral Fellow,
Carolyn Bertozzi’s lab,
Stanford University
B.S. in Chemistry,
National University of Singapore
Ph.D. in Chemical Biology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
August 2017
Dr. Michelle Richter
Current: Principal Research Scientist
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Previous: Hanna H. Gray Postdoctoral Fellow,
David Liu’s Lab,
Harvard University
B.S. in Biochemistry,
Union College
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
August 2017
Class of 2010
Dr. Robert Hicklin
Current: Senior Scientist II, Medicinal Chemistry Lead, Scorpion Therapeutics
Previous: Postdoctoral Fellow,
Tim Jamison’s lab, MIT
B.S. in Chemistry,
University of Central Missouri
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
December 2015
Dr. Michael Lambrecht
Current: Senior Scientist, Genentech
Previous: Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow,
Ryan Shenvi’s lab, Scripps Research Institute
B.S. in Chemistry & Biochemistry,
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
May 2016
Dr. Elizabeth Parkinson
Current: Assistant Professor, Purdue University
Previous: NIH Postdoctoral Fellow,
Bill Metcalf’s lab, UIUC
B.S. in Chemistry,
Rhodes College
Ph.D. in Chemical Biology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
September 2015
Class of 2009
Dr. Rachel Botham
Current: Senior Scientist, BioMap
Previous: American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow,
Jeff Kelly’s lab, Scripps Research Institute
B.S. in Chemistry
& Biological Sciences,
University of Pittsburgh
Ph.D. in Chemical Biology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
May 2016
Dr. Howard Roth
Current: Senior Scientist, Ashvattha Therapeutics
Previous: Postdoctoral Fellow,
Jon Ellman’s lab, Yale University
B.S. in Chemistry,
Northwestern University
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
May 2015
Dr. Emilia Calvaresi
B.S. in Biochemistry & Cell Biology,
and B.A. in English, Rice University
Ph.D. in Biochemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
July 2014
Class of 2008
Dr. Karen Morrison
Acting Chief Deputy Director,
CA Department of Pesticide Regulation
B.S. in Chemistry,
Harvey Mudd College
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
August 2013
Dr. Claire Knezevic
Current: Assistant Professor,
Clinical Chemistry,
Johns Hopkins University
Previous: Postdoctoral Associate,
Uwe Rix’s & Eric Haura’s Labs,
Moffitt Cancer Institute
B.A. in Chemistry,
Scripps College
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
June 2014
Class of 2007
Dr. Julia Williams van Rensburg
Previous: Postdoctoral Fellow,
Stanley Spinola’s lab,
Indiana University School of Medicine
B.S. in Microbiology,
University of Idaho
Ph.D. in Microbiology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
August 2013
Class of 2006
Dr. Joseph Bair
B.S. in Chemistry, M.S. in Organic Chemistry,
Brigham Young University
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
December 2011
Dr. Quinn Peterson
Current: Assistant Professor, Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine
Previous: JDFR Postdoctoral Fellow, Douglas Metlon’s lab, Harvard University
B.S. in Biochemistry,
Brigham Young University
Ph.D. in Biochemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
July 2011
Dr. Tim Flood
Current: Director of Immunology Competitive Intelligence at Bristol-Myers Squibb
Previous: Senior Consultant at Deallus
B.A. in Chemistry,
Cornell University
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
December 2012
Class of 2005
Dr. Kristin Finch
Associate Chief Diversity Officer, Inclusive Excellence, Gonzaga University
B.S. in Chemistry,
Hampton University
Ph.D. in Chemical Biology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
April 2011
Dr. Diana West
Principal and Director of Operations, Plaisance Capital Management
Previous: Postdoctoral Associate,
Suzanne Conzen’s lab, University of Chicago
B.S. in Chemistry,
College of William and Mary
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
June 2011
Dr. Rahul Palchaudhuri
Current: Executive Director, Tessera Therapeutics
Previous: Postdoctoral Associate,
David Scadden’s lab,
Harvard Stem Cell Institute
B.A. in Chemistry, Grinnell College
Ph.D. in Organic Chemstry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
June 2011
Class of 2004
Dr. Mirth Hoyt
Senior Lead Business Systems Analyst II, Ecolab
B.S. in Chemistry,
College of William and Mary
Ph.D. in Organic Chemsitry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
February 2010
Dr. James Heeres
B.S. Biochemistry,
University of Maryland
Ph.D. in Biochemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
May 2010
Dr. Elizabeth Moritz Halvorsen
Current: Director of Translational Biology, Seres Therapeutics
Previous: Postdoctoral Associate,
Darren Higgins’ lab, Harvard Medical School
B.S. in Microbial Biotechnology,
Rutgers University
Ph.D. in Microbiology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
June 2010
Dr. Nora Wang Eibergen
Current: Senior Scientist,
Nalco Water division of Ecolab
Previous: Postdoctoral Associate,
Helen Blackwell’s lab, University of Wisconsin
B.S. in Math & Chemistry,
University of Alabama, Birmingham
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
January 2011
Class of 2003
Dr. Christina Thompson
Associate Professor of Instruction, University of Texas, Dallas
B.S. in Chemistry,
Texas A&M University
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
November 2008
Dr. Amanda Nottbohm
Clinical Research Development, Boehringer Ingelheim
B.S. in Chemistry,
Albion College
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
July 2008
Dr. Robin Dothager
Current: Process Development Scientist, Patheon/ThermoFisher
Previous: American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow,
David Piwnica-Worms’ lab, Washington University in St. Louis
B.A. in Chemistry,
Southern Illinois University
Ph.D. in Biochemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
August 2008
Dr. Ben Leslie
Current: Director of Lab Research,
Prof. Mandan Babu’s laboratory,
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Previous: Postdoctoral Associate,
Taekjip Ha’s lab, UIUC
B.A. in Chemistry,
Colgate University
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
January 2009
Dr. Todd Meyer
Current: Associate Director of Chemistry, Boundless Bio
Previous: Postdoctoral Associate,
Sergey Kozmin’s lab, University of Chicago
B.S. in Chemistry,
Haverford College
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
August 2009
Class of 2002
Dr. David Goode
Associate Professor of Chemistry,
Mercer University
B.S. in Chemistry,
Mercer University
Ph.D. in Chemical Biology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
December 2007
Dr. Karson Putt
Managing Director, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University
B.S. in Biology,
Purdue University
Ph.D. in Biochemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
November 2006
Dr. Jason Thomas
Current: Senior Investigator, Novartis
Previous: Senior Scientist,
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
B.S. in Biophysics,
Temple University
Ph.D. in Biophysics,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
July 2007
Class of 2001
Dr. Dinty J. Musk, Jr.
Professor of Chemistry, Skagit Valley College
B.A. in Biochemistry,
Taylor University
Ph.D. in Chemical Biology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
December 2006
Dr. Vitaliy Nesterenko
Assistant Professor of Chemistry,
Kyiv-Mohila Academy
National Technical University of Ukraine
Ph.D. in Organic Chemsitry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
November 2006
Former MS Students
Class of 2021
Sam Albright
Research Associate at Eikon Therapeutics
B.S. in Chemistry,
San Diego State University
M.S. in Chemical Biology
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
May 2024
Class of 2019
Adam Sawyer
Senior Chemist 1, Jordi Labs
B.S. in Chemistry,
Augsburg University
M.S. in Chemical Biology
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
May 2021
Class of 2018
Rachel Farmer
B.S. in Chemistry and Biophysics,
University of Southern Indiana
M.S. in Organic Chemistry
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
December 2020
Class of 2014
Joshua Francis
B.S. in Chemistry & Human Biology,
Michigan State University
M.S. in Chemical Biology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
May 2017
Woojin ‘Vincent’ Yang
B.A. in Chemistry,
Northwestern University
M.S. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
May 2016
Class of 2013
Bradley Nakamura
B.S. in Chemistry,
Xavier University
M.S. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
December 2015
Class of 2010
Amy (Larson) Freeman
B.S. in Chemistry,
Wheaton College
M.S. in Chemical Biology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
April 2013
Class of 2008
Aaron Knowlton
Scientist, Technical Services, Eli Lily
B.S. in Biochemistry,
Brigham Young Unversity
M.S. in Biochemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
July 2012
Class of 2006
Manuel Rodriguez
Associate Professor, Parkland College
B.A. in Chemistry,
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Diedras
M.S. in Chemical Biology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
November 2008
Class of 2002
Cathy Brumond
Synthetic Chemist, Baxter Healthcare
B.A. in Chemistry, Lake Forest College
M.S. in Organic Chemistry,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
December 2004
Johna C.B. DeNap
Supervisor of Toxicology,
Delaware Medical Examiner’s Office
B.S. in Chemistry,
Butler University
M.S. in Chemical Biology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
December 2004
Class of 2001
Eric Olson
Patent Examiner, Alexandria, VA
B.S. in Chemistry,
Princeton University
M.S. in Chemical Biology,
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign,
August 2005
