Past Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows

The Division of Organic Chemistry’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program that was started in 2009 The program has provided support for undergraduates to carry out research in organic chemistry at their respective colleges/universities in the summer between their junior and senior year. The list of Previous DOC SURF Awardees, their mentors, research projects, and generous sponsors is available below.

2023 Awardeees

Haley Carlson

Haley Carlson

School: Lake Superior State University
Mentor: Adam Mosey
Research: Multicomponent One-Pot Tandem Assembly of Pyrrolodihydroquinazolines
Sponsor: Pfizer

Christie Choi

Christie Choi

School: Harvard University
Mentor: Eric Jacobsen
Research: Mechanistic Analysis of Catalytic Matteson Homologation
Sponsor: Pfizer/BMS

Justin Chow

Justin Chow

School: Brooklyn College
Mentor: Ryan Murelli
Research: Studies on the Mechanism of Proximity-Based Tropolone Photo-Affinity Labeling
Sponsor: Merck

Alejandra Cordova

Alejandra Cordova

School: University of Redlands
Mentor: Michael Ferracane
Research: Synthesis & Study of Opioid Cyclic Tetrapeptides
Sponsor: Genentech

Saba Gulzar

Saba Gulzar

School: Stony Brook University
Mentor: Ming-Yu Ngai
Research: Chiral Catalysts for Highly Selective C2-Functionalization of Carbohydrates
Sponsor: Biohaven

Garret Hanks

Garret Hanks

School: University of Michigan
Mentor: John Wolfe
Research: Palladium-Catalyzed Alkene Difunctionalization Reactions of Indene Nucleophiles
Sponsor: Lilly

Emily Kish

Emily Kish

School: Smith College
Mentor: Maren Buck
Research: Combinatorial Synthesis of a Library of Poly(pentafluorophenylacrylate)-Based Protein-Polymer Conjugates
Sponsor: Pfizer

Aimee Long

Aimee Long

School: Western Washington University
Mentor: James Vyvyan
Research: Synthesis of Rupestine H
Sponsor: BMS

Karen Medina

Karen Medina

School: California State University, Fresno
Mentor: Hubert Muchalski
Research: Metal-Catalyzed Preparation Fluorine-Tagged Peroxyesters of 4-Aryl-3-Butenoic Acids
Sponsor: Pfizer

Jeevan Rajkumar

Jeevan Rajkumar

School: Vanderbilt University
Mentor: Daria Kim
Research: Site Selective O-Functionalization of Highly Oxidized Molecules
Sponsor: BioPharmaWorks

Sandra Simmons

Sandra Simmons

School: Sam Houston State University
Mentor: Meagan Hinze
Research: Synthesis of Substrates and Standards to Investigate Biocatalytic Chiral Resolutions via Oxidation
Sponsor: Genentech

Kiran Soma

Kiran Soma

School: NC State University
Mentor: Joshua Pierce
Research: Total Synthesis of Cudraflavone C and Derivatives as Novel Antibacterial Drug Candidates
Sponsor: Takeda

Sunny Tang

Sunny Tang

School: Harvard University
Mentor: Stuart Schreiber
Research: Discovery of Molecular Glues via Chemical Inducers of Proximity DNA-Encoded Libraries
Sponsor: GSK

2022 Awardeees

Susanna Angles

Susanna Angles

School: Illinois State University
Mentor: Andy Mitchell
Research: Applications of [5+2] Cycloadditions Toward Cleavable Tethers
Sponsor: Pfizer/Janssen

Reece Carew-Lyons

Reece Carew-Lyons

School: Bryn Mawr College
Mentor: Bill Malachowski
Research: Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Cephanolide B via Birch-Heck sequence
Sponsor: GSK

Catherine Chiang

Catherine Chiang

School: Scripps College
Mentor: Anna Wenzel
Research: Silver-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts Reaction
Sponsor: Pfizer

Damien Cooper

Damien Cooper

School: University of Southern Mississippi
Mentor: Matthew Donahue
Research: Investigation of N-Sulfonyliminium Ion Triggered aza-Prins Cyclizations for the Synthesis of Nitrogen Heterocycles
Sponsor: Merck

Evan Ferry

Evan Ferry

School: University of Michigan
Mentor: Corinna Schindler
Research: A Substrate Dependent Lewis Acidity Scale for Carbonyl-Olefin Metathesis
Sponsor: Morphic/Snapdragon

Hannah Ford

Hannah Ford

School: College of Holy Cross
Mentor: Kevin Quinn
Research: Synthesis of the 2,6-trans-tetrahydropyran natural product diospongin B
Sponsor: Vertex

Anjali Gurajapu

Anjali Gurajapu

School: University of California Berkeley
Mentor: Thomas Maimone
Research: A Shapeshifting Strategy Toward the Synthesis of Rugulosone
Sponsor: Merck

Lauren Harstad

Lauren Harstad

School: Arizona State University
Mentor: Kyle Biegasiewicz
Research: Vanadium-Dependent Haloperoxidases for Selective Biocatalytic Halooxycyclization Reactions
Sponsor: Takeda

Daniel Hubin

Daniel Hubin

School: Kansas State University
Mentor: Socrates Munoz
Research: Copper-Catalyzed Difluoroacylation and C(sp3 )–H Fluorination Reactions
Sponsor: BioPharmaWorks

Sebastian Ibarraran

Sebastian Ibarraran

School: Yale University
Mentor: Timothy Newhouse
Research: A Neural Network to Predict Enantioselectivity for the Negishi Cross-Coupling of Tetra-substitued Biaryls
Sponsor: Lilly

Nikki Keramati

Nikki Keramati

School: University of Michigan
Mentor: David Sherman
Research: Isolation and Structural Diversification of Novel Metabolite for Further Insight into Rare Biocatalytic Cope Rearrangement and Synthesis of Indole Alkaloid Natural Products
Sponsor: BMS

Madison Maiorano

Madison Maiorano

School: Stonehill College
Mentor: Louis Liotta
Research: The Synthesis of the Pentahydroxylated Pyrrolidine Casuarine and Seven of its Stereoisomers from D-Glucopyranoside
Sponsor: Pfizer

Mark Mouch

Mark Mouch

School: University of San Diego
Mentor: Timothy Clark
Research: Oxidative Homocoupling of Borylated Aryl Phosphonates
Sponsor: Pfizer

Isabelle Petrucci

Isabelle Petrucci

School: University of Vermont
Mentor: Matthias Brewer
Research: Achieving Enantioselective Control over a Conjugate Addition of Enoxy Silane and Indole Carbon Nucleophiles to Vinyl Diazoniums
Sponsor: Biohaven

Nathan Tang

Nathan Tang

School: Northeastern University
Mentor: Roman Manetsch
Research: Studies toward the Divergent Total Synthesis of Phlegmadines B and C via a Strategic 1,2 Carbonyl Transposition
Sponsor: BMS

Jason Wu

Jason Wu

School: Boston College
Mentor: Shih-Yuan Liu
Research: A Modular Approach to Furnish 1,2-Azaborines
Sponsor: Pfizer

2021 Awardeees

Harrison Blume Photo

Harrison Blume

School: Colgate University
Mentor: Jacob Goldberg
Research: Synthesis of Chemical Probes for Detecting Zinc(II) Ions in the Synapse
Sponsor: Pfizer

Sean_Calvert Photo

Sean Calvert

School: Southwestern University
Mentor: Michael Gesinski
Research: Gold(I)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Naphthoquinones
Sponsor: Takeda

Daniel Carstairs Photo

Daniel Carstairs

School: University of Rochester
Mentor: Shauna Paradine
Research: Enantioselective Spirocyclization Reactions with Transition Metal Catalysts
Sponsor: BMS

Olivia Duke Photo

Olivia Duke

School: University of Delaware
Mentor: Donald Watson
Research: Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Anti Trisubstituted Vinylsilanes
Sponsor: Fulcrum

Halley Lin Jones Photo

Halley Lin-Jones

School: Smith College
Mentor: Kevin Shea
Research: Synthesis of Strained Heteroatom-containing Cyclic Alkynes Using an Intramolecular Nicholas Reaction
Sponsor: Vertex

Kayla Mancini Photo

Kayla Mancini

School: Montclair State University
Mentor: Amrita Sarkar
Research: A Novel Synthesis Approach for Silk-Inspired ABA & (AB)n Polymer
Sponsor: BMS

Timothy McClure Photo Photo

Timothy McClure

School: Occidental College
Mentor: Raul Navarro
Research: Development of a Decarboxylative Allylation of Isobenzofuranones
Sponsor: Biohaven Pharmaceuticals

Jonathan Meinhardt Photo Photo

Jonathan Meinhardt

School: Cornell University
Mentor: Song Lin
Research: Enantioselective Synthesis of Substituted Pyrrolidines via Titanium Radical Relay Catalysis
Sponsor: Merck

Olivia Morales Photo Photo

Olivia Morales

School: The University of Chicago
Mentor: Scott Snyder
Research: Development of Asymmetric Iso-Pictet–Spengler Reactions of Ketonitrones
Sponsor: Merck

Heather Rainbow Photo Photo

Heather Rainbow

School: Point Loma Nazarene University
Mentor: Katherine Maloney
Research: Isolating and Elucidating the Structure of Defensive Natural Products from Sinularia Soft Corals
Sponsor: Pfizer

Robert Reynolds Photo Photo

Robert Reynolds

School: Old Dominion University
Mentor: Kyle Lambert
Research: New Methods Employing Borrowing Hydrogen Catalysis to Synthesize Biologically Important Nitrogen Heterocycles
Sponsor: Pfizer

Walker Smith Photo Photo

Walker Smith

School: Indiana University
Mentor: Kevin Brown
Research: Diastereoselective and Enantioselective [2 + 2] Cycloadditions for Cyclobutane Synthesis
Sponsor: Lilly

John Talbott Photo Photo

John Talbott

School: Elizabethtown College
Mentor: James MacKay
Research: Synthesis of Modified Amide-based Extended Heterocyclic Nucleobases for A-U Base Pair Recognition in Double Stranded RNA
Sponsor: Pfizer

Zach Walters Photo Photo

Zach Walters

School: Boise State University
Mentor: Don Warner
Research: Determining the mechanism of DNA ICL formation by Aziridinomitosenes
Sponsor: GSK

2020 Awardeees

Matthew Albritton

Matthew Albritton

School: University of Florida
Mentor: Alex Grenning
Research: Ring Rearrangement Metathesis of Substituted Bicyclic Tetraenes to Yield Isoryanodane Cores
Sponsor: Biogen & Janssen

Finn Beruldsen

Finn Beruldsen

School: Hendrix College
Mentor: Heidi Dahlmann
Research: Optimization of Organocatalyzed Carbonyl- Olefin Metathesis Reactions
Sponsor: Allergan & Morphic

Andrew Champlin

Andrew Champlin

School: Bucknell University
Mentor: Hasan Arslan
Research: Synthesis of an Anthracene-Based Betaine Dye and a Study of its Electrochemical and Photophysical Properties
Sponsor: Wuxi AppTec

Sriyankari Chitti

Sriyankari Chitti

School: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Mentor: Martin Burke
Research: Carbenoid-Boronate Building Blocks Enable Iterative Cross Coupling
Sponsor: Vertex

Crystal Chung

Crystal Chung

School: Univ. California, Irvine
Mentor: Vy Dong
Research: Rh-catalyzed Asymmetric Allylation of Nitro-carbonyls
Sponsor: Pfizer

Julian Cizmic

Julian Cizmic

School: San Diego State University
Mentor: Byron W. Purse
Research: Synthesis and Photophysics of the DEA-tCc Fluorescent Nucleoside Analogue
Sponsor: Pfizer

Mitchell E. Daneker

Mitchell E. Daneker

School: University of Delaware
Mentor: Mary P. Watson
Research: A New Use for the Strecker Reaction as a Pathway to Pyridinium Chemistry
Sponsor: Pfizer

Jessica Gallawa

Jessica Gallawa

School: Western Washington University
Mentor: James R. Vyvyan
Research: Total Synthesis of Rupestines L and M
Sponsor: Pfizer

Gabriel Herrera

Gabriel Herrera

School: New York University
Mentor: Tianning Diao
Research: Photocatalytic Tryptophan Modification in Peptides and Proteins in Aqueous Media
Sponsor: Pfizer

Olivia Langner

Olivia Langner

School: University of California, Santa Barbara
Mentor: Bruce Lipshutz
Research: New Rules for Asymmetric Reactions in Aqueous Micellar Media
Sponsor: Bristol-Myers Squibb

Mira Milic

Mira Milic

School: Univ. of California, Davis
Mentor: Annaliese Franz
Research: Synthesis of Chiral-at-Silicon 1,3-Disiloxanediols via Small Molecule Directed Silylation
Sponsor: GlaxoSmithKline

Henry O'Callaghan

Henry O’Callaghan

School: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Mentor: David B Berkowitz
Research: Design and Synthesis of a New Class of Potential Human Serine Racemase Inhibitors
Sponsor: Takeda

Tiana Saak

Tiana Saak

School: Washington University in St. Louis
Mentor: Jonathan Barnes
Research: Studying the Effects of Sequence Control in Photodynamic Synthetic Polymers
Sponsor: Lilly

Ben Stemen

Ben Stemen

School: North Carolina State University
Mentor: Joshua G. Pierce
Research: Synthesis of Synoxazolidinone C as a Novel Antibiotic Lead
Sponsor: Merck

Jonathan Wong

Jonathan Wong

School: Univ. of California, Los Angeles
Mentor: K. N. Houk
Research: Vinyl Cations: A Computational and Experimental Investigation
Sponsor: Merck

Johnny Wang

Johnny Wang

School: Boston College
Mentor: James Morken
Research: Z-Alkenyl Boronates by a Boron-Petersen Reaction
Sponsor: Bristol-Myers Squibb

2019 Awardeees

Yotam Ashkenazi

Yotam Ashkenazi

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of Connecticut
Mentor: Mark Peczuh
Research: Nature Inspired Modular Synthesis of Hernandezine

Roukaya El Mokadem

Roukaya El Mokadem

Sponsor: Celgene
School: Oklahoma State University
Mentor: Jimmie Weaver
Research: Taming Two (photocatalytic) Transformations; Reductive Alkenylation and Isomerization of 2-Bromoazoles

Clara Ellis

Clara Ellis

Sponsor: Vertex
School: University of Southern Mississippi
Mentor: Matthew G. Donahue
Research: Enantioselective Synthesis of Piperidine Derivatives Through an Enyne Metathesis

Montgomery Gray

Montgomery Gray

Sponsor: Takeda
School: Ohio State University
Mentor: T. V. (Babu) RajanBabu
Research: Hemilabile Ligands for Improved Selectivity in Cobalt Catalyzed Reactions of Alkenes

Christopher Hanneman

Christopher Hanneman

Sponsor: Lilly
School: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Mentor: Scott Denmark
Research: A Strategy for the Cross-Coupling of Heterocycles

Yelin Jung

Yelin Jung

Sponsor: Pfizer & Biogen
School: Bryn Mawr College
Mentor: Bill Malachowski
Research: Development of Complex Chiral Carbazole Analogs via the Enantioselective Birch-Curtius-Heck Reaction Sequence

Austin king

Austin King

Sponsor: Merck & Janssen
School: Michigan State University
Mentor: Robert E. Maleczka, Jr.
Research: Isolation of Asymmetrical Double-Decker Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes

Amanda Melanese

Amanda Melanese

School: California State University San Marcos
Mentor: Robert Iafe
Research: Gold(I)-Catalyzed Friedel-Crafts-type reaction to afford substituted benzimidazoles
Sponsor: Pfizer

Kellie Stellmach

Kellie Stellmach

Sponsor: WuXi AppTec
School: Macalester College
Mentor: Dennis D. Cao
Research: Synthesis and Characterization of Angled Benzene Diimides as Building Blocks for Linear Azaacenes

Jordan Thompson

Jordan Thompson

Sponsor: Merck
School: University of California, Berkeley
Mentor: Thomas Maimone
Research: Total Synthesis of 6-epi ophiobolin A

Joey Tuccinardi

Joey Tuccinardi

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Boise State University
Mentor: Don Warner
Research: Synthesis of Small Molecules to Inhibit a Pro-Metastatic Cytokine

St. John Whittaker

St. John Whittaker

Sponsor: Pfizer & Mirati
School: University of Scranton
Mentor: Arthur Catino
Research: Enantioselective Synthesis of Tetraarylmethanes using Chiral Brønsted Acids

2018 Awardeees

Elise Brutschea Photo Photo

Elise Brutschea

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Saint Joseph’s University
Mentor: Mark Forman
Research Project: Electroreduction: A Greener Alternative to the Synthesis of the Pyramidalized Alkene Pentacyclo[4.3.0.0 2,4 .0 3,8 .0 5,7 ]non-4-ene

Amy Chan Photo Photo

Amy Chan

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Yale University
Mentor: Jonathan Ellman
Research Project: Potent and Selective Isoquinuclidine Ligands to G-Protein Coupled Receptors

Rania Daboul Photo Photo

Rania Daboul

Sponsor: Merck
School: University of Michigan
Mentor: Corinna Schindler
Research Project: Application of catalytic carbonyl olefin metathesis reactions to the asymmetric synthesis of sesquiterpene natural products

Jake Grabowski Photo

Jake Grabowski

School: Illinois State University Mentor: Andy Mitchell
Research Project: Feist-Bénary Furan Synthesis Toward the Total Synthesis of Toxicodenane A
Sponsors: Pfizer and Biogen

Noel Jameson Photo

Noel Jameson

Sponsor: Amgen
School: Occidental College
Mentor: Roul Navarro
Research Project: Total Synthesis of Swerilactone A via a Novel Electrophilic Dearomatization Reaction

Spencer Lawson Photo

Spencer Lawson

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of Delaware
Mentor: Donald Watson
Research Project: Development of a Nickel-Catalyzed Aza-Heck Cyclization

Gina Partipilo Photo

Gina Partipilo

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Mentor: Jefferson Chan
Research Project: Reversible Probe for the Detection of Nitric Oxide in vivo Using Photoacoustic Imaging

Eric Rizzo Photo

Eric Rizzo

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Stony Brook University
Mentor: Ming-Yu Ngai
Research Project: Chiral Catalysts for Asymmetric Visible-Light Photocatalytic Reactions

Matthew Thompson Photo

Matthew Thompson

Sponsor: Merck
School: Case Western Reserve University
Mentor: Drew Adams
Research Project: Developing Selective Covalent Inhibitors through the Synthesis of Novel Sulfonyl-Fluoride Probes

2017 Awardeees

Amanda Cowfer Photo

Amanda Cowfer

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of Illinois
Mentor: Paul Hergenrother
Research Project: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of a Compound Library Derived from Lycorine

Alex Cusumano Photo

Alex Cusumano

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: North Carolina State University
Mentor: Joshua Pierce
Research Project: Utility of the 3-Hydroxy-1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-one Scaffold in the Synthesis of alpha-Quaternary Centers Containing Beta-Homo Prolines and Beta-Lactams

Katherine Forbes Photo

Katherine Forbes

Sponsor: Merck
School: Occidental College
Mentor: Jeffrey Cannon
Research Project: Synthesis of Furanolactone Motifs through a Photocatalyzed Ketyl Radical Cyclization

Margaret McEwan Photo

Margaret McEwan

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Christopher Newport University
Mentor: Jeffrey Carney
Research Project: Towards the Total Synthesis of Torreyunlignans A-D

Lucus Oxtoby Photo

Lucus Oxtoby

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Wisconsin-Madison
Mentor: Jennifer Schomaker
Research Project: Investigating Analogs of Eflornithine, an Irreversible Inhibitor of Ornithine Decarboxylase

Maximilian Palkowitz Photo

Maximilian Palkowitz

Sponsor: Merck
School: Boston College
Mentor: James Morken
Research Project: Stereoselective Synthesis of Cyclopropyl- and Cyclobutylboronic Esters via Diastereoselective alpha-Boryl-Carbanion Cyclizations

Ambarneil Saha Photo

Ambarneil Saha

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Cornell University
Mentor: Song Lin
Research Project: Recycling CO2 for Amino Acid Synthesis

Holt Sakai Photo

Holt Sakai

Sponsor: Merck
School: Yale
Mentor: Timothy Newhouse
Research Project: Nickel-Catalyzed Intramolecular alpha-Vinylation for the Synthesis of Bicyclic Systems

Emma Streff Photo

Emma Streff

Sponsor: Merck
School: Washington University in St. Louis
Mentor: Vladimir Birman
Research Project: Amidine-Based Catalysts with Enhanced Nucleophilicity: Synthesis, Study, and Applications

2016 Awardeees

Harrison Besser Photo

Harrison Besser

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Harvard University
Mentor: Eric Jacobsen
Research Project: Development of an Iron Catalyst for Carbon-Hydrogen Oxidation

Hannah Burdge Photo

Hannah Burdge

Sponsor: Merck
School: Towson University
Mentor: Keith Reber
Research Project: Total Synthesis of Cladosin C

Shivansh Chawla Photo

Shivansh Chawla

Sponsor: Merck School: Cornell University
Mentor: Yimon Aye
Research Project: Synthesis of a Fluorescent Redox-Targeting Toolset for Use in Multicellular Organisms

Corrine Elliott Photo

Corrine Elliott

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of Kentucky
Mentor: Susan Odom
Research Project: Steric Manipulation of Electrochemical Potentials in Conjugated Organic Molecules

Chris Fritschi Photo

Chris Fritschi

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Niagara University
Mentor: Luis Sanchez
Research Project: Developing a Synthetic Route to Caramboxin, a Rare Bioactive Non-peptidic Amino Acid

Anneliese Gest Photo

Anneliese Gest

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Macalester College
Mentor: Leah Witus
Research Project: Development of a Colorimetric Assay for the Screening of Peptide Catalysts

Evan Hurlow Photo

Evan Hurlow

Sponsor: Merck
School: University of Utah
Mentor: Jon Rainier
Research Project: The Derivatization of an Aggregate-Busing Quinone-Amino Acid Conjugate

Tyler Pabst Photo

Tyler Pabst

Sponsor: Merck
School: Youngstown State University
Mentor: Douglas Genna
Research Project: Transition Metal-Mediated C-CO 2 Coupling Reactions for the Synthesis of Industrial Carbon Feedstocks

Tekenari Tienabeso Photo

Tekenari Tienabeso

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of Oklahoma
Mentor: Indrajeet Sharma
Research Project: Synthetic Access to the Psurotin Core via a Diazo-OH Insertion/Conia-Ene Cascade

2015 Awardeees

Cruz 2015 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Adonis Cruz

Sponsor: Merck
School: Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Mentor: Justin Miller
Research Project: Solid-Phase Total Synthesis of Cysteine-Containing, Depsipeptidic Natural Products and Analogs

Ferber 2015 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Carl Ferber

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of San Diego
Mentor: Timothy Clark
Research Project: Stereoselective Diboration/Homologation Sequence of Aldehydes using Lithiated Epoxides

 FultonTyler 2015 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Tyler Fulton

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Bucknell University
Mentor: Michael Krout
Research Project: Development of Copper Mediated Conjugate Addition Reactions Towards Complex Molecule Synthesis

 McGeoughKatie 2015 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Catherine McGeough

Sponsor: Merck
School: Smith College
Mentor: Kevin Shea
Research Project: Synthesis and Characterization of Derivatives of Neurole nin A and B

 OLoughlinAmanda 2015 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Amanda O’Loughlin

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of Nevada, Reno
Mentor: Wesley A. Chalifoux
Research Project: Efficient Synthesis of Bicyclo[4.4.0]decanes by Tandem Double Diels-Alder

 RamirezMelissa 2015 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Melissa Ramirez

Sponsor: Merck
School: University of Pennsylvania
Mentor: Gary A. Molander
Research Project: B-X Functionalization of Borazarobenzofurans and Bioisosteric Activity of Azaborines

 Soars 2015 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Shafer Soars

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Illinois College/ Yale University
Mentors: Brent Chandler/Scott Miller
Research Project: Development of a Catalyst Controlled Enantioselective and Diastereoselective Rauhut-Currier Reaction

 Spradlin 2015 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Jessica Spradlin

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Tufts University
Mentor: Clay Bennett
Research Project: Synthesis of the Pentasaccharide Fragment of Saquayamycin Z

 Zhao 2015 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Fuhua Zhao

Sponsor: Merck
School: Stoney Brook University
Mentor: Ming-Yu Ngai
Research Project: Trifluoromethoxylation of Heteroarenes

2014 Awardeees

Cleveland 2014 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Alexander Cleveland

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Tennessee Technological University
Mentor: Jessie Carrick
Research Project: Investigation of the asymmetric induction of the hetero-Diels-Alder reaction with β-alkoxyaldehydes and Chiral chromium(III) catalysts

Doering 2014 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Nicolle Doering

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of California Santa Barbara
Mentor: Armen Zakarian
Research Project: Synthesis of Imidazoline LOXL2 Analogs

Liu 2014 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Richard Liu

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Harvard University
Mentor: Eric Jacobsen
Research Project: Small Molecule Hydrogen-Bond Catalysts for Asymmetric C–N Bond Formation

Morales 2014 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Moises Morales

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Washington State University
Mentor: Philip Garner
Research Project: A β-Aspartyl Thioester Building Block for Convergent Glycosylative Ligation of Peptides

Murphy 2014 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Julia Murphy

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Swarthmore
Mentor: Robert Paley
Research Project: Azaspirocycle Formation Directed by a Planer Chiral iron(O) Tricarbonyl diene complex

Svec 2014 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Riley Svec

Sponsor: Cubist
School: University of Iowa
Mentor: Hien Nguyen
Research Project: Synthesis and affinity studies of mannose-derived glycopolymers for binding to antibody 2G12 which recognizes the gp120 epitope within the HIV envelope

2013 Awardeees

barnes 2013 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Pete Barnes

Sponsor: Genentech/Roche
School: Boise State University
Mentor: Don Warner
Research Project: Toward a Convergent Synthesis of Aziridinomitosenes

burt 2013 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Craig Burt

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Williams College
Mentor: Thomas Smith
Research Project: Asymmetric Synthesis of Enigmazole A

elkin 2013 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Masha Elkin

Sponsor: The ACS Organic Division
School: Washington University
Mentor: Vladimir Birman
Research Project: An Efficient and Flexible Synthetic Route to Chiral Ligands

ferreira 2013 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Michelle Ferreira

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Swarthmore College
Mentor: Liliya Yatsunyk
Research Project: Synthesis of Novel Polyamide Derivatives of Protoporphyrin-IX And Mesoporphyrin-IX As Potential G-Quadruplex Stabilizers

huh 2013 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Terry Huh

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Bryn Mawr College
Mentor: Bill Malachowski
Research Project: Synthesis of Bicyclic Rings with Quaternary Centers through Sequential Birch Reduction-Alkylation and Cycloisomerization

levi 2013 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Samuel Levi

Sponsor: Merck
School: University of Pennsylvania
Mentor: Jeffrey Winkler
Research Project: The Design and Synthesis of Novel Chloroquine Derivatives to Block Autophagy in Cancer Cells

wolfe 2013 DOC SURF Fellow Photo Photo

Lydia Wolfe

Sponsor: Cubist
School: St. Olaf College
Mentor: Dipannita Kalyani
Research Project: Nickel Catalyzed Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation

2012 Awardeees

Besandre2012SURF Photo

Ronald Besandre

Sponsor: Division of Organic Chemistry
School: University of Houston
Mentor: Jeremy A. May
Research Project: Synthesis of Indoles from α-Arylketones and Amines using Copper (I)

Burckle2012SURF Photo

Alexander Burckle

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of Utah
Mentor: Matthew S. Sigman
Research Project: Tandem Cross-Coupling using Heck Substrates and Selective β-hydride Elimination to Generate Vinyl Halides

Daniels2012SURF Photo

Blake Daniels

Sponsor: Division of Organic Chemistry
School: University of Chicago
Mentor: Hisashi Yamamoto
Research Project: TBOx-Catalyzed Nitroso Hetero-Diels-Alder Reactions

Ferris2012SURF Photo

Bennett Ferris

Sponsor: Cubist
School: Brown University
Mentor: Jason Sello
Research Project: Investigation of a Domino Reaction in the Target and Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of a Novel Antibacterial Agent

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Drew Heitz

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of Iowa
Mentor: Hien Nguyen
Research Project: Rhodium-Catalyzed Amination of Allylic Trichloroacetimidates and the Development of Antiretroviral Analogues

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Rebecca Johnson

Sponsor: Roche
School: Barnard College
Mentor: Christian Rojas
Research Project: Using a Copper (II) Catalyst to Achieve Stereo-and Chemoselective Glucal 3-Carbamate Amidoglycoslation Reactions

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Hilary Kerchner

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of Delaware
Mentor: Mary P. Watson
Research Project: Enantioselective, Copper-Catalyzed Additions of Arylboronic Acids to Chromene Acetals

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Anna Koster

Sponsor: Division of Organic Chemistry
School: University of Nevada, Reno
Mentor: Christopher S. Jeffrey
Research Project: Synthesis of Aldol Products through Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution of Aza-Oxyallyl Cation Intermediates

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Matthew Landry

Sponsor: Merck
School: Princeton University
Mentor: Abigail Doyle
Research Project: Total Synthesis of Paecilospirone

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Jaron Mercer

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Harvard University
Mentor: Andrew G. Myers
Research Project: A New Synthetic Route to Substituted Tetrahydroisoquinolines

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Richard Thornbury

Sponsor: Division of Organic Chemistry
School: University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
Mentor: Scott E. Denmark
Research Project: Asymmetric Chlorinations of Alkenes Using Chiral Quaternary Ammonium Polyhalide Salts

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Alice Wong

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Swarthmore College
Mentor: Robert Paley
Research Project: Diastereoselective Allyl Silane-Iminium Ion Cyclization Directed by a Planar Chiral Iron (0) Tricarbonyl Diene Complex

2011 Awardeees

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Derek Ahneman

Sponsor: Division of Organic Chemistry
School: University of Delaware
Mentor: Donald Watson
Research Project: Developing a catalyst for asymmetric alcohol alkylation

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Catriona E. Blunt

Sponsor: Novartis
School: Smith College
Mentor: Kevin Shea
Research Project: Scope of a tandem Diels-Alder/Pauson-Khand synthesis for tetracycles

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Adam N. Boynton

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Trinity College
Mentor: Timothy Curran
Research Project: Coordination of a peptide B-turn mimetic to tungsten: possible applications for the study of B-sheets

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Zachary Brill

Sponsor: Division of Organic Chemistry
School: Columbia University
Mentor: Scott Snyder
Research Project: Total synthesis of Caraphenols B and C and related natural products

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Taryn Campbell

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Connecticut College
Mentor: Timo Ovaska
Research Project: Studies toward the total synthesis of Frondosin D

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Noelle Catarineu

Sponsor: Roche
School: New York University
Mentor: James Canary
Research Project: Synthesis and study of redox- active chiroptical molecular switches

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Marc Giesener

Sponsor: Division of Organic Chemistry
School: Northwestern University
Mentor: Fraser Stoddart
Research Project: Multiple successive post synthetic modifications on metal- organic frameworks

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Emily Hartman

Sponsor: Cubist
School: Brown University
Mentor: Amit Basu
Research Project: A chemical genetic analysis of galactose biochemistry in growing pollen tubes

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David Kaphan

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of Rochester
Mentor: Robert Boeckman
Research Project: Studies toward the diversification Of Diels-Alder Reactions of cyclic isoimidium salts

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Victor W. Mak

Sponsor: Amgen
School: University of California, Irvine
Mentor: Kenneth Shea
Research Project: A concise total synthesis of (-)-Stenine

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Wystan Neil Palmer

Sponsor: Division of Organic Chemistry
School: Swarthmore College
Mentor: Robert Paley
Research Project: Diastereoselective synthesis of bis-spiroketals directed by planar chiral 2-sulfinyl diene iron(0) tricarbonyl complexes

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Ian Pendleton

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Eastern Michigan University
Mentor: Harriet Lindsay
Research Project: Determining the origins of stereocontrol in the Lewis acid-mediated aza-Cope rearrangement-Mannich cyclization of conformationally mobile iminium cations

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Ryan Spencer Shinabery

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Mentor: Nan Zheng
Research Project: Photocatalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of bicyclic cyclopropylamines with olefins by a ruthenium (II) complex

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Alexander W. Sun

Sponsor: Cephalon
School: University of Pennsylvania
Mentor: Amos B. Smith III
Research Project: Synthesis of HIV-1 entry inhibitors: region II/III analogs of NBD-556

2010 Awardeees

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Nadia C. Abascal

Sponsor: Boehringer Ingelheim
School: Barnard College
Mentor: Christian Rojas
Research Project: A soluble iodosobenzene derivative for 2-amino sugar synthesis

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Juan Carlos Baso

Sponsor: Organic Division
School: University of South Florida
Mentor: Jon Antilla
Research Project: Enantioselective reduction of imines; A strategy for the construction of the Dragmacidin core and potential structural analogues

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James Beckett

Sponsor: Organic Division
School: Kenyon College
Mentor: John Hofferberth
Research Project: Exploring the versatility of a novel route to the cyclopenta[c]pyridine substructure

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Megan Marie Blewett

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Harvard University
Mentor: EJ Corey
Research Project: C-H functionalization with metallosalen complexes

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Kurt James Cox

Sponsor: Organic Division
School: University of Arizona
Mentor: Indraneel Ghosh
Research Project: A synthetic bivalent approach for targeting protein kinases

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Mary E. Daub

Sponsor: Cubist
School: Williams College
Mentor: Thomas Smith
Research Project: Asymmetric synthesis of Jerangolid D

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Althea Gaffney

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Swarthmore College
Mentor: Robert Paley
Research Project: Planar chiral 2-sulfinyldiene iron( 0) tricarbonyl complexes as a platform for diastereo- selective synthesis of spiroketals

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Anthony S. Grillo

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of Michigan
Mentor: Masato Koreeda
Research Project: Development of a novel chiral heterocyclic carbene to be used in ruthenium catalyzed olefin metathesis

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Dennis Hu

Sponsor: Organic Division
School: Northwestern University
Mentor: Regan Thomson
Research Project: Synthesis and structure / functional studies of Streptorubin B

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Eduardo V. Mercado

Sponsor: Roche
School: University of California, Santa Barbara
Mentor: Thomas Pettus
Research Project: Synthetic approach toward unsymmetrical napthoquinone natural products: B-rubromycin, christazarin, echinochrome A and echinamines B

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Jason Pflueger

Sponsor: Novartis
School: Columbia University
Mentor: Scott Snyder
Research Project: The total synthesis of Heimiol A, a Resveratrol-based natural product

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James Phelan

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Grinnell College
Mentor: Stephen Sieck
Research Project: Investigation of N-acyl nitrones and their application in isoxazolidine synthesis

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Katie Schaefer

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of Utah
Mentor: Matthew Sigman
Research Project: Three dimensional mathematical modeling of modular pyridine ligands for the enantioselective alkylation of ketones

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Jonathan Schultz

Sponsor: Organic Division
School: North Dakota State University
Mentor: Gregory Cook
Research Project: Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of chiral allylboronates

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Justin Su

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: The University of Texas at Austin
Mentor: Stephen Martin
Research Project: Synthesis of a diverse Protoberberine- based small molecule library for biological screening

2009 Awardeees

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Valerie Angell

Sponsor: Organic Division
School: Union College
Mentor: James Adrian
Research Project: Developing methods for preparing and testing libraries of pyrrolidine-triazoles: a new class of organocatalysts

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Joseph Michael Azzarelli

Sponsor: Symyx Technologies
School: Stanford University (Montana State University)
Mentor: Barry Trost
Research Project: Cationic palladium (II) directed stereoselective β-glycosylations

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Ross W. Cheloha

Sponsor: American Chemical Society
School: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Mentor: David Berkowitz
Research Project: Chemoenzymatic entry into dihydrocinnamayte building blocks and their synthetic elaboration: control of absolute and relative stereochemistry

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Andrew Chung

Sponsor: Organic Division
School: Harvey Mudd College
Mentor: David Vosburg
Research Project: Biomimetic synthesis of the Endiandric Acids

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Rachel Dorset

Sponsor: Sepracor
School: Smith College
Mentor: Kevin Shea
Research Project: Scope and limitations of cationic Diels-Alder dienophiles stabilized by cobalt-complexed alkynes

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Nathaniel Erskine

Sponsor: Organic Division
School: Swarthmore College
Mentor: Robert Paley
Research Project: Diastereoselective synthesis of spiroketals using planar chiral iron(0) tricarbonyl complexes

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Reid M. Faylor

Sponsor: Organic Division
School: Xavier University
Mentor: Richard Mullins
Research Project: Asymmetric conjugate addition for synthesis of pilocarpine and related compounds

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Michelle Grau

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of San Diego
Mentor: Debbie Tahmassebi
Research Project: Synthesis and structural studies of a novel nucleoside analogue

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Joshua Green

Sponsor: Cubist Pharmaceuticals
School: Harvard University
Mentor: Tobias Ritter
Research Project: Development of a reaction discovery methodology employing mass spectrometry

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Jonathan James Hulce

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of Vermont
Mentor: Paul Krapcho
Research Project: A potential therapy for neurologic disorders via inhibition of the endogenous neurotoxin-like protein, “Lynx”

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Lauren E. Kennedy

Sponsor: Wyeth
School: University of Pennsylvania
Mentor: Gary Molander
Research Project: Deprotection of potassium trifluoroborates to the corresponding boronic acids

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Cameron Moore

Sponsor: American Chemical Society
School: Western Washington University
Mentor: Timothy Clark
Research Project: Copper-catalyzed diboration of ketones; facile synthesis of tertiary α-hydroxy boronate esters

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Joseph Nagano-Gerace

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: Brown University
Mentor: Christopher Seto
Research Project: Unlocking glycosidase using an assay of synthetic fluorescent substrates

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Andy I. Nguyen

Sponsor: Pfizer
School: University of California, Irvine
Mentor: Alan Heyduk
Research Project: Developing tantalum (V)-imido complexes with redox-active ligands for catalytic amination of C-H bonds and aziridination of olefins

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Shreyas Shah

Sponsor: Organic Division
School: Rutgers University
Mentor: Ki-Bum Lee
Research Project: Multivalent nanoparticles as potent epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)

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Shannon Stone

Sponsor: Novartis
School: Brown University
Mentor: Amit Basu
Research Project: Click chemistry to visualize the carbohydrates behind the growth of pollen tubes