The Research Group
Without its student researchers, the Holman Research Group would be non-existent, and Prof. Holman would make no progress in pursuing his research goals, dreams, and/or whims. Below you will find those who are directly responsible for our modest success over the past ten-plus years. Their hard work, dedication, enthusiam, and intellectual contributions are indeed greatly appreciated.
Summer 2018 - Reunion of current and former group members at the Crystal Engineering Gordon Research Conference (Sunday River, ME)
Left to right: Prashant Pandey, (PhD candidate), Andrew Kelly (PhD candidate), Prof. Holman, Ivana Brekalo (PhD candidate), Chris Kane (PhD graduate, now PDR at University of Liverpool), Brian Smith (former Undergraduate researcher, now faculty at Bucknell University)
Photo credits: Krešo Bučar (faculty at University College London)
Left to right: Prashant Pandey, (PhD candidate), Andrew Kelly (PhD candidate), Prof. Holman, Ivana Brekalo (PhD candidate), Chris Kane (PhD graduate, now PDR at University of Liverpool), Brian Smith (former Undergraduate researcher, now faculty at Bucknell University)
Photo credits: Krešo Bučar (faculty at University College London)
Current group (Spring, 2021)
Graduate Students
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Andrew W. Kelly, B.S. 2017-present B.S. Chemistry, College of William and Mary, 2017 e-mail: [email protected] Research Project(s): Turn-on/off halogen bonding organometallics, SNAr catalysis Prashant K. Pandey, M.S.
2017-present M.S. Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, 2015 B.S. Chemistry (Honors), West Bengal State University, 2013 e-mail: [email protected] Research Project(s): Porous molecular solids, container compounds, solvent-free synthesis |
Undergraduate Students
Former Group Members
PhD Graduates
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Dr. Ivana Brekalo 2013-2019 M.S., University of Zagreb, 2012 B.S., University of Zagreb, 2010 e-mail: [email protected] Dissertation: Solid State Synthesis and Study of Porous Materials Position following graduation: Postdoctoral Researcher at Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia Dr. Amanda N. Ley 2011-2019 B.S., The College of William and Mary, 2009 e-mail: [email protected] Dissertation: Heterogenization of Metallocyclopentadienyl Precatalysts Through Ligand Functionalization for Incorporation into Metal-Organometallic Frameworks Position following graduation: Researcher III, Chickasaw Nation Industries, Inc. Dr. Joseph R. Ramirez 2012-2019 B.S., Saint Mary's College of California, 2012 e-mail: [email protected] Dissertation: On the Design, Synthesis, and Flexibility of Porous Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) Position following graduation: Data Curation Scientist Specializing in Chemistry at Rancho BioSciences Dr. Gracia El-Ayle Ph.D., Georgetown University, 2017 B.S., American University of Beirut, 2011 Dissertation: Complexation of Air Gases by Small Cryptophanes Position following graduation: Postdoctoral Fellow, Holman research group, Georgetown Dr. Christopher M. Kane Ph.D., Georgetown University, 2015 M.S., University of North Carolina-Charlotte, 2009 B.S., James Madison University, 2007 Dissertation: Crystalline Organic Cavitands As Microcavity Materials Position following graduation (and current, 2017): Postdoctoral Fellow, research group of Andrew Cooper, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK Dr. Akil I. Joseph Ph.D., Georgetown University, 2015 B.S., The Univeristy of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados, 2006 Dissertation: Synthesis and Functionalization of Xenon-Binding Cryptophanes Position following graduation (and current, 2017): Postdoctoral Fellow, research group of Claus Schneider, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN |
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Dr. Stephen D. Drake Ph.D., Georgetown University, 2011 Dissertation: "Capsules and cavitands: concave molecules based on the cyclotribenzylene (CTB) scaffold" Position following graduation: Business Development Manager at Johnson Matthey (catalysts and chiral technologies), Wayne, PA. |
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Dr. Scott T. Mough Ph.D., 2011 Dissertation: "Synthesis and solid-state studies of cryptophane-based materials" Position following graduation: Form Characterization Scientist, AAI Pharmaceuticals, Wilmington, NC. Current (2015): Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Community College of Beaver County |
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Dr. Sayon A. Kumalah Robinson Ph.D., 2011 Dissertation: "Metal-organometallic polymers and frameworks derived from facially metalated arylcarboxylates" Position following graduation (and current, 2017): Chemist, U.S. Geological Survey |
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Dr. Onome Ugono Ph.D., 2008 Dissertation: "Molecules and assemblies constructed from calix[4]resorcinarenes and their derivatives Position following graduation: Synthetic Chemist; Obiter Research, LLC, Champaign, IL Current (2018): Team Leader - Chemical Engineering and Science at Baker Hughes, a GE company |
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Dr. Robert M. Fairchild Ph.D., 2008 Dissertation: "Functionalization and applications of the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ruthenium moiety" Position following graduation: Medical Student, Columbia University Current (2018): Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine - Immunology & Rheumatology, Stanford University Medical Center |
Masters Graduates
Timothy G. Reynolds M.S., 2011
Barbara J. Casavant M.S., 2009
Kyle Baumstein M.S., 2007
M.S. Thesis: "Toward exo-pyridyl functionalized capsules and thermodynamically synthesized hemicarcerands"
T. Binh Nguyen M.S., 2005
M.S. Thesis: "Polymorphism of phenylsuccinic acid and trans,trans-1,4-diphenylbutadiene"
Timothy G. Reynolds M.S., 2011
Barbara J. Casavant M.S., 2009
Kyle Baumstein M.S., 2007
M.S. Thesis: "Toward exo-pyridyl functionalized capsules and thermodynamically synthesized hemicarcerands"
T. Binh Nguyen M.S., 2005
M.S. Thesis: "Polymorphism of phenylsuccinic acid and trans,trans-1,4-diphenylbutadiene"
Undergraduate Students
Completed Georgetown Honors program, with research thesis
Georgetown NSF-sponsored REU student
Completed Georgetown Honors program, with research thesis
Georgetown NSF-sponsored REU student
(1) Currently Assistant Professor of Chemistry, California State University-Monterey Bay
(2) Currently Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Bucknell Uniiversity
(2) Currently Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Bucknell Uniiversity
High School Students
We regularly participate in ACS Project SEED, a summer internship program for high school students. The local Chemical Society of Washington has a particularly strong and well-funded SEED program, and has recently (and repeatedly) won the Outstanding Project SEED Program Award from the American Chemical Society. See: http://csw.sites.acs.org/
The following high school students have recently participated in summer-long research projects in our group:
We regularly participate in ACS Project SEED, a summer internship program for high school students. The local Chemical Society of Washington has a particularly strong and well-funded SEED program, and has recently (and repeatedly) won the Outstanding Project SEED Program Award from the American Chemical Society. See: http://csw.sites.acs.org/
The following high school students have recently participated in summer-long research projects in our group:
- Shreyas Pant, Richard Montgomery High School, Rockville, MD (summer 2019, ACS Project SEED student)
- Florence Kyremanteng, High Point High School, Beltsville, MD (summer 2016, ACS Project SEED student)
- Monae Richardson, McKinley Tech HS, MD (summer 2015, ACS Project SEED student)
- Joshua Yoo, Old Mill High School, Millersville, MD (summer 2013 and 2014, ACS Project SEED student)
- Aayush Pathak, Montgomery High School, MD (summer 2012, ACS Project SEED student)
- Charlotte Bourg, Winston Churchill HS, Potomac, MD (summer 2011)
Historical Group Composition and Photos
Fall 2017 - Hosting Prof. Ognjen Miljanic (University of Houston)
Top row: Prof Holman, Ivana Brekalo (PhD candidate)
Lower row: Joseph Ramirez (PhD candidate), Prof. Ognjen Miljanic (seminar speaker, University of Houston), Jack Dyer (Undergrad researcher), Andrew Kelly (PhD candidate), Gracia El-Ayle (PhD candidate), Prashant Pandey (PhD candidate), Mandy Ley (PhD candidate)
Top row: Prof Holman, Ivana Brekalo (PhD candidate)
Lower row: Joseph Ramirez (PhD candidate), Prof. Ognjen Miljanic (seminar speaker, University of Houston), Jack Dyer (Undergrad researcher), Andrew Kelly (PhD candidate), Gracia El-Ayle (PhD candidate), Prashant Pandey (PhD candidate), Mandy Ley (PhD candidate)
Summer 2016
Top row: Prof Holman
Middle row: Joseph Ramirez (PhD candidate), Gracia El-Ayle (PhD candidate)
Bottom row: Mandy Ley (PhD candidate), Florence Kyremanteng (ACS project SEED high school student), Ivana Brekalo (PhD candidate)
Top row: Prof Holman
Middle row: Joseph Ramirez (PhD candidate), Gracia El-Ayle (PhD candidate)
Bottom row: Mandy Ley (PhD candidate), Florence Kyremanteng (ACS project SEED high school student), Ivana Brekalo (PhD candidate)
Summer 2015
Chris Kane (PhD candidate), Gracia El-Ayle (PhD candidate), Mandy Ley (PhD candidate), Joseph Ramirez (PhD candidate), Elizabeth M. LaFrance (NSF REU student, U. Dallas, 2015), John Attelah (Berea College, 2015). Ivana Brekalo is visiting the Friscic group at McGill.
Chris Kane (PhD candidate), Gracia El-Ayle (PhD candidate), Mandy Ley (PhD candidate), Joseph Ramirez (PhD candidate), Elizabeth M. LaFrance (NSF REU student, U. Dallas, 2015), John Attelah (Berea College, 2015). Ivana Brekalo is visiting the Friscic group at McGill.
Spring 2015 (Akil's defense!)
Top Row: Prof. Holman, Chris Kane (PhD candidate), Akil Joseph (PhD graduate), Mandy Ley (PhD candidate), Gracia El-Ayle (PhD candidate)
Bottom Row: Ivana Brekalo (PhD candidate), Joseph Ramirez (PhD candidate)
Top Row: Prof. Holman, Chris Kane (PhD candidate), Akil Joseph (PhD graduate), Mandy Ley (PhD candidate), Gracia El-Ayle (PhD candidate)
Bottom Row: Ivana Brekalo (PhD candidate), Joseph Ramirez (PhD candidate)
Summer 2012
Chris Kane (PhD candidate), Akil Joseph (PhD candidate), Tim Reynolds (PhD candidate), Gracia El-Ayle (PhD candidate), Mandy Ley (PhD candidate), Aayush Pathak
(Montgomery High School, class of '13; ACS Project SEED student), Haiyang Yang (undergraduate exchange student, Fudan University).
Chris Kane (PhD candidate), Akil Joseph (PhD candidate), Tim Reynolds (PhD candidate), Gracia El-Ayle (PhD candidate), Mandy Ley (PhD candidate), Aayush Pathak
(Montgomery High School, class of '13; ACS Project SEED student), Haiyang Yang (undergraduate exchange student, Fudan University).
Summer 2011
L to R: Chris Kane (PhD candidate), Akil Joseph (PhD candidate), Tim Reynolds (PhD candidate), Sayon Kumalah (PhD, 2011), Steve Drake (PhD, 2011), Arash Banisafar (undergraduate REU student).
Summer 2010
Nadeem Arshad (visiting from GC University, Lahore, Pakistan), Steve Drake (PhD candidate), Akil Joseph (PhD candidate), Sayon Kumlah (PhD candidate), Chris Kane (PhD candidate), Travis Holman
