People
Current Members
Raja Sk
Post-Doctoral Researcher (Spring 2023-present)
Raja is from West Bengal, India. He did his B.Sc. from the University of Kalyani, India. Then he joined IIT Kharagpur and completed his M.Sc. with a master’s thesis on synthesizing halogenated anthraquinone by anionic annulation. In December 2022, Raja earned his Ph.D. at IIT Kharagpur, where he worked on weakly coordinating ketone-directed C–H functionalization, and annulative π-extension reaction. He will join the Thomas Group in spring 2023, mainly focusing on site- and stereoselective organometallic chemistry. He enjoys playing cricket in his free time.
Danniel Arriaga
Graduate Student (Fall 2020-present)
Danniel graduated from Iowa State University with his B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and a double major in Chemistry in December 2019. There, he worked on developing a synthesis for isothiazoles and the substituent effects of ESIPT fluorophores via Linear Free Energy Relationships under the direction of Dr. Brett VanVeller. In the Thomas Group, he is working on further developing ozonolysis reactions. In Danniel’s free time, he enjoys writing, running, and playing guitar.
Lupita S. Aguirre
Graduate Student (Fall 2020-present)
Lupita completed a B.Sc. in Biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin and an M.Sc. in Chemistry at Texas State University under the direction of Dr. Christopher P. Rhodes. There she worked on the development of support catalysts using transition metal oxides for applications in fuel cells. She joined Dr. Thomas’ research group in Fall 2020 and her current research interest lies in the development of asymmetric Negishi cross-coupling reactions. In her free time, Lupita likes to walk, bake, and most of all spend time with her friends.
Jeanette Piña
Graduate Student (Fall 2020-present)
Jeanette obtained her Bachelor's degree in chemistry at the University of North Alabama. In the summer of 2019, she completed an REU for chemical engineering under the supervision of Prof. Jason E. Bara at the University of Alabama. While there she worked on the variation of monomer structures in order to understand the properties of imidazolium ionenes. In her last year, she worked under the supervision of Dr. Amanda Coffman on the synthesis of triarylsulfonium ionic liquids. In the Thomas Group, she is working on developing catalyst transfer polymerization reactions. In her free time, Jeanette likes to read and binge watch TV shows.
Seokmin Kang
Graduate Student (Summer 2022-Present)
Seokmin is from Seoul, South Korea. He completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry at Inha University where he worked on nucleophilic fluorination under Prof. Dong Wook Kim. During his time at Inha University, he also worked on covalent organic frameworks for bioimaging. Seokmin moved to TAMU in the Fall of 2020. He joined the Thomas Lab in the summer of 2022 and is working on developing ozonolysis. In his free time, Seokmin enjoys playing computer games, guitar, and basketball. Seokmin usually plays games and likes to eat delicious food.
Han-Hsiang Hsu
Graduate Student (Fall 2021-prsent)
Han-Hsiang obtained his Bachelor's degree from National Taiwan University, Taiwan, where he worked on transition metal cross-coupling reactions under the supervision of Professor Shiuh-Tzung Liu. He joined Dr. Thomas’ research group in Fall 2021 and his current research topic is on Negishi Coupling reactions. Outside of the lab, he also enjoys chemistry in kitchen, and playing the cello.
Cheng-Chun Chen
Graduate Student (Fall 2022-present)
Cheng-Chun is from Taiwan. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry at the National Central University, where he worked on the oxidation of arenes and benzannulation under the supervision of Professor Hou, Duen-Ren. He joined the Thomas Group in the fall of 2022 and is working on developing asymmetric rearrangement. Cheng likes to watch movies and fun YouTube videos and cook during his free time.
Wentao Cen
Graduate Student (Summer 2023-present)
Wentao is from Guangzhou, China. He received his Bachelor's degree in material science from South China University, where he worked on polyimide synthesis under Dr. Mingjun Huang. In his free time, Wentao practices jiu-jitsu
Shu-Kai Chen
Graduate Student (Fall 2023)
Shu-Kai is from Nantou, Taiwan. He received his Bachelor's degree in chemistry from the National Taiwan University where he worked on the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds with Prof. Shiuh-Tzung Liu. He joined the Thomas Group in the fall of 2023 and is currently working on lithium chemistry. Shu-Kai likes to spend time with his friends and he enjoys playing badminton. He also listens and plays percussion music.
Daniel Sarna
Graduate Student (Fall 2023)
Daniel is from Tyler, Texas. He received his Bachelor's degree in chemistry from Texas A&M where he worked on immobilizing a nickel catalyst on silica with Prof. Bluemel. He joined the Thomas Group in the fall of 2023 and is currently working on lithium chemistry to functionalize oxygen heterocycles.
Hai Ly
Undergraduate (Spring 2022-present)
Hai is a sophomore undergraduate and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He is from Houston, Texas. His research focuses on mechanistic studies of palladium complexes. He enjoys longboarding and listening to jazz. Hai also enjoys cooking.
Alex Sung
Undergraduate (Spring 2022-present)
Alex is a sophomore undergraduate. He is from Katy, Texas. His research focuses on asymmetric Negishi cross-couplings reactions. Alex enjoys swimming and making dioramas. He also enjoys watching TV in his spare time.
Alexis Lugo
Undergraduate (Fall 2022-present)
Alexis was raised in Houston, TX. She is currently a junior getting a BS in chemistry. She joined the Thomas Lab in Fall 2022 and is working on the development of asymmetric Negishi cross-coupling reactions. In her free time, Alexis enjoys crocheting, embroidery, reading, and binge watch shows/movies.
Raquel Gonzalez
Undergraduate (Spring 2023-present)
Raquel is currently an undergraduate freshman and is a chemistry major. She was born and raised in Sacramento, CA, and grew up in the D(M)V. She joined the Thomas Lab in the Spring of 2023. Her research is focused on the synthesis of organolithiums using lithium dendrites. Outside of the lab, she enjoys listening to music, especially 90s hip-hop, going for walks, and finding new places to eat!
Ryan Grove
Undergraduate (Spring 2023-present)
Ryan is a sophomore undergraduate from San Antonio, Texas. He is a chemical engineering major. Ryan joined the Thomas group in the Spring of 2023 and is working on developing asymmetric rearrangement. He is a violist, scuba diver, and a gamer in his free time.
Nicole Adams
Undergraduate (Spring 2024-present)
Nicole is from Highland Park, TX. She is currently a junior majoring in Biomedical Science. Nicole joined the Thomas Lab in the spring of 2024 where she is currently working on the development of phosphine ligands. During her spare time, she loves going to the dog park with her dog, volunteering, and spending time outdoors!
Austin Coleman
Undergraduate (Spring 2024-present)
Austin is from Fort Worth, Texas. He is a sophomore and is a Biomedical Sciences major. Austin joined the Thomas Lab in Spring 2024, where he currently working on developing ozonolysis reactions. In his free time, Austin enjoys going to the gym and traveling.
Max
Lab Dog
Max enjoys chewing model sets and barking at cars.
ROESY
Lab Mascot
ROESY enjoys enforcing safety protocols and guards the NMR probes.
Past Members
Michael Crockett
Post-Doctoral Researcher (Fall 2020-Fall 2022)
Michael received his Ph.D. at Boston College where he studied iron-based catalysts for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling in the Byers Group. Michael joined the Thomas Lab in August 2020 where his research focused on stereo- and site-selectivity in organometallic chemistry. Currently, Michael is working at Snapdragon Chemistry, Inc. in Massachusetts.
Levi Litwiller
Graduate Student (Fall 2020-Fall 2022)
Levi joined the Thomas Lab in October 2020 and received his M.S. degree in December 2022. During his time in the Thomas Group, he studied enantioselective cross-coupling reactions. Currently, Levi is working at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management in Indianapolis, IN.
Andrew Nguyen
Undergraduate (Spring 2021-Spring 2022)
Andrew graduated from Texas A&M in May 2022 and is from Sugar Land, Texas. His research focused on method development for the elaboration of heterocycles. Currently, Andrew is working at Amgen in Boston, Massachusetts.
Desirée Young
Undergraduate (Summer 2021)
Desirée graduated from Texas A&M in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Her research focused on mechanistic studies of palladium complexes. Currently, Desirée is working as a chemist at Framergy in College Station, Texas.
Miguel Garcia
Undergraduate (Fall 2020-Summer 2021)
Miguel graduated from Texas A&M in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a minor in Mathematics. His research was focused on investigating the reactivity of ozonolysis reactions. Currently, Miguel is working at Exxon Mobile in Baytown, Texas.
Jonathan Cobb
Undergraduate (Fall 2020)
Jonathan graduated from Texas A&M in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. His research focused on synthesizing ligands to control stereoselectivity in organometallic chemistry.