Alumni

Elizabeth Pillar-Little

Ph.D. University of Kentucky 2017

B.S. (Biochemistry), Mercyhurst College 2009

Dissertation: Mechanisms of Heterogeneous Oxidations at Model Aerosol Interfaces by Ozone and Hydroxyl Radicals

Ruixin (Evie) Zhou

Ph.D. University of Kentucky 2017

M.S. Chemistry, Murray State University 2011

B.S. Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University 2007

Dissertation: Semiconductor Photocatalysis: Mechanisms, Photocatalytic Performance and Lifetime of Redox Carriers

Alexis Eugene

Ph.D. University of Kentucky 2018

B.S. (Chemistry), Belarmine College 2012

Dissertation: Aqueous Photochemistry of 2-Oxocarboxylic Acids

Travis Schuyler

Ph.D. University of Kentucky 2020

B.S. Chemistry, Northern Kentucky University 2016

Dissertation: Applications of Drones in Atmospheric Chemistry

Md. Ariful Hoque

Ph.D. University of Kentucky 2022

M.S. Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Dhaka 2010

B.S. Chemistry, University of Dhaka 2009

Dissertation: Photocatalytic Applications of TiO2 for Catechol Degradation and α-Fe2O3 for Carbon Dioxide Reduction at the Air-Solid Interface

Md Sohel Rana

Ph.D. University of Kentucky 2022

M.S. Chemistry, University of Dhaka 2013

B.S. Chemistry, University of Dhaka 2011

Dissertation: Mechanistic Studies of Oxidative Processing of Phenolic Compounds at Atmospheric Interfaces

Thomas Jorgensen

Ph.D. University of Kentucky 2024 (joint with Dr. Jesse Thompson at the Center for Applied Energy Research)

B.S. Indiana University Southeast 2016

Dissertation: Impacts of Key Degradation Byproducts of Amine Scrubbing for Post-Combustion Carbon Capture

Reagan Patton Witt

Ph.D. University of Kentucky, 2025

B.S. Forensic Chemistry, Eastern Kentucky University 2021

Email: Reagan dot A dot Patton at uky dot edu

Dissertation: Advancing Waste Management: Biomass Ozonolysis, Wastewater Chlorination, and Coal Ash in Landfills 

Richa Athalye

M.S. University of Kentucky 2012  

B.S. Chemistry, University of Mumbai

Thesis: Behavior of Anions at the Air-Water Interface Studied Using ESI-MS

Shasha Xia

M.S. University of Kentucky 2014

B.S. Chemistry, Nankai University 2011

Thesis: Cross Photoreaction of Pyruvic and Glyoxylic Acids in Model Aqueous Aerosols

Stephanie Athanasatos

M.S. Student, University of Kentucky, 2026

B.S. Marine and Environmental Science, U.S. Coast Guard Academy 2019

Thesis: Establishing a Reliable Synthesis Process for H₃PO₄- AND CO₂-Activated Carbons Derived from Bourbon Stillage 

Matias Aguirre

Visiting Scholar, University of Kentucky Spring 2016

Ph.D. Chemistry, National University of Mar del Plata 2015

B.S. Chemistry, National University of Mar del Plata 2009

Project: Photocatalysis of CO2 reduction

Dominik Heger

A&S International Visiting Scholar, University of Kentucky 2018 - 2019

Associate Professor, Masaryk University, Czech Republic

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Basel, Switzerland

Ph.D. Masaryk University, Czech Republic

M.S. Masaryk University, Czech Republic

Seth Bradley

Graduate Research Assistant, University of Kentucky, 2021-2023

B.S. Chemistry, University of West Georgia, 2020

Project: Interfacial Chemistry

Rambod Edarehchi Gilani

Ph. D. Student, University of Kentucky, 2024-2025

B.S. Chemistry, Center College, 2023

Email: rambod dot edarehchigilani at uky dot edu

Project: Photocatalysis

Rob Camm

Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Kentucky, 2013 - 2014

B.S. Chemistry, University of Kentucky 2015

Project: Atmospheric reactions under high humidity conditions

Michele Kuceki

Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Kentucky, 2015

B.S. Chemistry State University of Londrina, Brazil (2016) and University of Kentucky, 2014 - 2015

Brazil Mobility Program Scholarship 2014 - 2015

Project: Photocatalysis

Kayvon Ghayoumi

Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Kentucky, 2016 - 2017

B.A. Chemistry, University of Kentucky

Project: Photocatalysis of CO2 reduction

Jacob Morris

Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Kentucky, 2018-2019

Project: Atmospheric reactions at interfaces

Anna Fatta

Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Kentucky, 2018-2019

Project: Atmospheric Chemistry

Tyler Vogel

Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Kentucky, 2019 - 2020

B.S. Chemistry, University of Kentucky

Project: Brown carbon formation in the presence of ammonia

Mia Todd

Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Kentucky, 2022-2023

Honors Thesis, Spring 2024

B.S. Chemistry, University of Kentucky, 2024

Project: Environmental Oxidation reactions

Lauren Gravatte

Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Kentucky, 2025

B.S. Chemistry Student, University of Kentucky, 2025

Project: Chemistry in Microdroplets

Elizabeth Bollinger

Young Researcher 2011 - 2012

Lafayette High School, Pre-Engineering Program, Lexington, KY

Project: Chemistry in ice

Samah Saad

High School Researcher 2013-2014

Kentucky Young Researcher Program 2014

Project: Development of spectrometry methods

Chris Ward

High School Researcher 2014 - 2015

Lafayette High School, Pre-Engineering Program, Lexington, KY

Project: Environmental Photochemistry

Jimmy Kaindu

Engineering Student, Virginia Tech 2017-

Undergraduate Researcher, University of Kentucky, Summer 2018

High School Researcher 2015 - 2016

Lafayette High School, Pre-Engineering Program, Lexington, KY

Project: Environmental monitoring

Peyton Zink

High School Researcher 2019 - 2020

STEAM Academy

Project: Photocatalysis