Organizers |
Past Board Members
Josh Zhu (2022-2023)
Josh Zhu (he/him/his) is a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University. He graduated from the Johns Hopkins University in 2018 with a B.A. in Chemistry. Josh currently works in the Scheidt group with a focus on developing novel photocatalytic and photochemical reactions. Outside of the lab, Josh enjoys exploring Chicago neighborhoods, walking along Lake Michigan, and dabbling in mixology. |
Qining Wang (2019-2023)
Qining Wang (she/her/hers) is a chemistry graduate student co-advised by Prof. Joe Hupp and Prof. Justin Notestine. Born and raised in southwestern China, Qining moved to New Jersey in 2013 and graduated from Rutgers University in 2018 with a B.A. in chemistry. She currently works on depositing Ni-based catalysts in metal-organic frameworks for gas-phase catalysis. Besides doing research, Qining also loves telling her research to non-technical audiences. She also enjoys playing the violin, doing yoga, and procrastinating in cute coffee shops! |
Aidan Caravana (2019-2023)
Aidan Caravana (he/him/his) is a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University, in the laboratory of Prof. Regan Thomson. He graduated from Gettysburg College with a BS in Chemistry in 2014. His research in the Thomson lab focuses on electrochemical and photocatalytic oxidative coupling of organic compounds for the synthesis of natural products. In his free time Aidan likes rock climbing, wind surfing, swimming, painting, and spending time in nature. |
Emily McClure (2019-2023)
Emily McClure (she/her/hers) is a graduate student advised by Prof. Julia Kalow. A Colorado native, she received a B.A. in Chemistry in 2018 from Grinnell College. At Northwestern, she studies photochemical transformations within polymer systems. Outside of Northwestern, Emily enjoys rock climbing, running, and having spirited discourse about the social implications of reality television shows. |
Cat Ly (2019-2022)
Cat (they/them/theirs) is a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University. They graduated from Cornell University in 2019, with a B.A. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology and a minor in Environment and Sustainability. Cat currently works with Prof. Franz Geiger, studying ion gradients and electron transfer mechanisms with nonlinear optical spectroscopy. Outside of chemistry, they love to be outside (frolicking with wood nymphs)! Cat loves rock climbing and backpacking, but also enjoys cooking, coffee, and DIY home projects. |
Jeremy Fisher (2019-2021)
Jeremy (he/him/his) is a chemistry graduate student at Northwestern University. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2018 with a BA in chemistry and minors in biology and creative writing. Jeremy is a member of the Wasielewski lab, studying quantum coherence in multi-pathway electron transfer using ultrafast spectroscopy. Outside of the lab, Jeremy loves to skateboard, dance, play basketball, and watch movies! |
Waleed Helweh (2018-2021)
Waleed Helweh (he/him/his) is a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University. Waleed is originally from Morocco and graduated from Middlebury College with a BA in Chemistry in 2017. He is currently working in the lab of Professor Lin Chen studying different materials for optoelectronics and photovoltaics using ultrafast laser spectroscopy. In his spare time, Waleed enjoys swimming, cooking, and playing board games with friends. |
Zhi-Wei Lin (2021)
Zhi-Wei Lin (Z) (he/him/his) is a graduate student in the department of chemistry at Northwestern University. He graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2020 with a B.S. in chemistry. Z currently works in the lab of Professor Will Dichtel with the focus on designing novel adsorbents for water remediation. Outside of the lab, Z enjoys cooking, biking and hanging out with friends. |
Naomi Dalchand (2019-2021)
Naomi Dalchand (she/her/hers) is a graduate student in Franz Geiger's lab in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern. She graduated from Barnard College in 2016 with a B.A. in Biochemistry. Her research focuses on using non-linear spectroscopy to study biological and synthetic membranes. Outside of the lab, Naomi enjoys writing, reading, listening to music, and watching cartoons! |
Oliver Hayes (2018-2021)
Oliver Hayes (he/him/his) is a graduate student in the department of chemistry at Northwestern University. Oliver earned his MChem degree from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland in 2016. Oliver works in the lab of Chad Mirkin and his research aims to understand how DNA can be used to program the assembly of proteins into new architectures and materials. These new protein-based materials could find applications as catalysts and as therapeutic agents. Outside the lab, Oliver enjoys singing, reading, cooking and rock climbing. |
Zachary Urbach (2017-2020)
Zachary Urbach (he/him/his) is a graduate student in the department of chemistry at Northwestern University, in the laboratory of Prof. Chad Mirkin. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a BS in Chemistry in 2014. At Northwestern, Zack studies the DNA functionalization and assembly of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles into superlattice structures. Zack likes to play cajon, cook vegetarian meals, and write poems. |
Nic Watkins (2018-2020)
Nic Watkins (he/him) is a Ph.D. candidate in the Chemistry Department working under Professor Richard Schaller. He graduated with his B.S. in chemistry with highest honors from Georgia Tech, where he synthesized magnetic nanoparticles and studied their physical behavior as potential MRI contrast agents. Now, he synthesizes 2D semiconductor nanoparticles and studies their optical characteristics, which differ from 0D and 1D structures. He founded, and is president of Graduate out in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (GoSTEM) at Northwestern, a chapter belonging to a nationally recognized organization created to foster academic and professional development for LGBTQ+ and nonbinary graduate students in STEM. In his off time, Nic enjoys cooking at home, playing video games, and exploring new areas around Chicago. |
Jiaqi Li (2017-2020)
Jiaqi Li (she/her/hers) is a graduate student in the department of Chemistry at Northwestern University. Jiaqi works in the lab of Professor Tobin Marks conducting the catalytic reactivity of supported Molybdenum catalysts. In her spare time, she likes traveling, cooking and spending time with friends. |
Ariana Gray Bé (2017-2020)
Ariana Gray Bé (she/her/hers) is a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University. Ariana earned her BS degree in Chemistry and minor in voice performance from Denison University in 2015. At Northwestern, she works as a co-advised student in the labs of Professor Regan Thomson and Professor Franz Geiger, and her graduate research focuses on the synthesis and analysis of organic molecules relevant to the surfaces of biogenic atmospheric aerosol particles. Outside of the lab, Ariana is active in the choral music community in Chicago, and she loves cooking, dancing, good jams, and going on adventures! |
Andrea d'Aquino (2016-2019)
Andrea d'Aquino (she/her/hers) is a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University. Andrea works in the lab of Professor Chad Mirkin and conducts research in the field of organometallic chemistry where she designs and synthesizes organometallic host-guest cages. These cages find applications in drug delivery, separations, catalysis and encapsulation, among others. Andrea enjoys playing sports, being outside, dancing, reading and writing. |
Samantha Harvey (2018-2019)
Sam Harvey is a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University. She graduated from Indiana University in 2016 with a B.S. in chemistry and minors in mathematics and physics. She is jointly advised by Prof. Mike Wasielewski and Prof. Rich Schaller. Her research focuses on fundamental thermal and electronic spin properties of quantum dots using ultrafast spectroscopy. In her free time Sam enjoys reading, video/board games, and cooking/baking. |
Dana Westmoreland (2016-2019)
Dana Westmoreland is a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University working in the lab of Professor Emily Weiss. Dana studies charge transfer between colloidal quantum dots and molecular substrates, and she is particularly interested in the mechanisms of proton-coupled electron transfer at quantum dot surfaces. With regards to NU BonD, Dana would like to develop opportunities for undergraduate chemistry students to connect with graduate students within the department. She hopes such informal settings will enable mentoring relationships to develop organically. |
Lam-Kiu Fong (2016-2018)
Lam-Kiu Fong is a graduate student co-advised by Professor Chad Mirkin and Professor George Schatz. By combining experiment and modeling, her research focuses on understanding the thermodynamics of DNA hybridization near the surface of nanoparticles. In her free time Lam-Kiu reads, backpacks, travels, tries new restaurants and volunteers in the community. She cares deeply about making science more accessible to all. |
Alicia McGeachy (2016-2018)
Alicia McGeachy is a graduate student in the Chemistry Department of Northwestern University. Alicia earned her BS degree in Chemistry from Spelman College, an all-women’s historically black college, in Atlanta, Georgia in 2012. She currently works in the lab of Professor Franz Geiger at Northwestern University, focusing on understanding the fundamental interactions that occur between engineered nano materials and biological systems. As a member of the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, a National Science Foundation funded Center for Chemical Innovation, Alicia works on understanding how tunable properties like charge density, polymer wrappings, and aspect ratio can influence the interactions between nanoparticles and synthetic mimics of cell membranes. This project, in the grand scheme of the center’s goals, aligns with her own personal desire to solve real-world problems as they relate to environmental health. In her spare time, Alicia likes traveling, reading, cooking, and trying new things (like rock climbing and hiking). |
Abdallah Diagne (2016-2018)
Abdallah Diagne is a graduate student in the department of chemistry at Northwestern University, in the laboratory of Prof. Regan J. Thomson. As a synthetic organic chemist, Abdallah works on the development of fragment-coupling reactions involving molecules called hydrazones, and their application towards the total synthesis of natural products. Outside of the laboratory, Abdallah enjoys playing basketball, tennis and soccer, exploring the city of Chicago, and writing poetry. |
Kedy Edme (2016-2017)
Kedy Edme is a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University. Kedy works in the laboratory of professor Emily A. Weiss, where he conducts research on colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals. More specifically, Kedy studies photoinduced charge transfer processes at the nanoparticle-molecular interface. These studies lead to applications in photochemical reactions catalyzed by semiconductor nanocrystals. Kedy enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing video games, cooking and reading. |