Former Graduate Students
52. Ms. Juliette Strasser (2017 – 2022)
• Dissertation title: Advanced Characterization of 1-2 nm Au, Pd, and AuPd Dendrimer-Encapsulated Nanoparticles for Applications in Electrocatalysis
• Significant awards and honors: Provost’s Graduate Excellence Fellowship
• Current employment:
51. Ms. Aigerim Galyamova (2017 – 2022)
• Dissertation title: Electrocatalytic Reduction of Oxygen and Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide on Metal Oxide Thin Film Supported Metal Nanoparticles
• Significant awards and honors: Chemistry Department Graduate Student Excellence Award
• Current employment: Nazarbayev University, Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan.
50. Dr. Ke Huang (2016 – 2022)
• Dissertation title: The Electrodeposition and the Electrochemistry of Single Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanoelectrodes
• Significant awards and honors:
• Current employment: Form Energy, Boston, MA.
49. Dr. Jonathan Thompson (2017-2022)
• Dissertation title: Electrochemically Generating Electric Field Gradients in the Absence of Buffer for Membrane-Free Separations
• Significant awards and honors: Provost’s Graduate Excellence Fellowship.
• Current employment: Wolf Greenfield, LLC.
48. Dr. Logan M. Wilder (2016-2021)
• Dissertation title: Synthesis of Model Nanoparticle-Peptide Conjugates and Development of an Electrochemical Strategy to Regulate Microdroplet pH in Microfluidics
• Significant awards and honors: Chemistry Department Graduate Student Excellence Award.
• Current employment: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO.
47. Dr. Nicole Pollok (2016 – 2021)
• Dissertation title: The Development of a Metalloimmunoassay for the Detection of NT-proBNP
• Significant awards and honors: Chemistry Department Graduate Student Excellence Award, Dorothy A. Banks Fellowship in Chemistry, Faraday Teaching Award.
• Current employment: Fuji Film
46. Mr. Kevin Baar; M.S., December, 2020
• Thesis title: Phosphine-Capped Nanoparticles for Electrocatalysis
• Current employment: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
45 Dr. Jamie A. Trindell (2015 - 2020)
• Dissertation title: Well-defined Nanoparticle Electrocatalysts for the Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen Reduction Reactions
• Significant awards and honors:
• Current employment: Sandia National Lab
44. Dr. Collin Davies (2015 - 2020)
• Dissertation title: Electrochemically Generated Ion Depletion Zones for Continuous Separations in Microelectrochemical Devices
• Significant awards and honors: Gilbert H. Ayres Fellowship in Chemistry, Paul DeGregory Memorial Fellowship.
• Current employment: modjoul
43. Dr. Aliya Lapp (2014 – 2020)
• Dissertation title: Experimental and theoretical investigation of electrochemically synthesized AuPt dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs)
• Significant awards and honors: UT Austin Graduate School Summer Fellowship, UT Austin Professional Development Award.
• Current employment: Sandia National Lab
42. Dr. Nevena Ostojic; Ph.D., August, 2018
• Dissertation title: Electrocatalytic Reduction of Oxygen on Metal Nanoparticles in the Absence and Presence of Interactions with Metal-Oxide Supports
• Significant awards and honors: University Graduate Continuing Fellowship, F. A. Matsen Endowed Presidential Fellowship in Theoretical Chemistry, Walker Fellowship
• Current employment: Intel
41. Dr. Morgan J. Anderson; Ph.D., August, 2017
• Dissertation title: Microelectrochemical Devices and Methods for Investigation of Complex Surface Modifications and Electroactive Thin-Films
• Current employment: Postdoc, NASA Ames Research Center
40. Ms. Eunsoo Yoon; M.S., May, 2017
• Dissertation title: Photoelectrochemical Ion Concentration Polarization: a microfluidic ion filtration system using light-driven electrochemical reactions
• Current employment: Research Support Associate, MIT
39. Dr. Alma D. Castañeda; Ph.D., May, 2017
• Dissertation title: Detection of microRNA by Electrocatalytically Amplified Nanoparticle Collisions
• Significant awards and honors: Competitive Dissertation Writing Fellowship, Graduate School Summer Fellowship, Carl Storm Underrepresented Minority Fellowship, and Alfred P. Sloan Graduate Fellowship.
• Current employment: Postdoc, Georgia Tech.
38. Dr. Xiang Li; Ph.D., May, 2017
• Dissertation title: Paper-Based Electrochemical Platforms for Separation, Enrichment, and Detection
• Significant awards and honors:
• Current employment: Postdoc, Harvard University
37. Mr. Nicholas Brenes; M.S., December, 2016
• Thesis title: Paper Analytical Devices for Rapid, Quantitative Electrochemical Detection of DNA and Bacteria
• Significant awards and honors: NASA Harriett G. Jenkins PhD Graduate Fellow
• Current employment: Buffalo Trace Distillery
36. Dr. Josephine Cunningham; Ph.D., May, 2016
• Dissertation title: Development of the “NoSlip”: A Simple Yet Sophisticated Paper Analytical Device for Detection of Proteins
• Significant awards and honors: NASA Harriett G. Jenkins PhD Graduate Fellowship, UT Henze Teaching Award
• Current employment: Access Sensor Technologies (Ft. Collins, CO)
35. Dr. Rachel Anderson; Ph.D., December, 2015
• Dissertation title: Dendrimer-Encapsulated Nanoparticles as Model Electrocatalysts
• Current employment: Naval Research Laboratory (Washington, DC)
34. Dr. Kyle Knust; Ph.D., August, 2015
• Dissertation title: Bipolar Electrochemistry for Enrichment, Separations, and Membraneless Electrochemically Mediated Desalination
• Significant awards and honors: UT Chemistry Department 2015 Dorothy B. Banks Fellowship
• Current employment: Assistant Professor, Millikin University (Decatur, Illinois)
33. Dr. Karen Scida; Ph.D., December, 2014
• Dissertation title: Microfluidics for Bioanalytical Research: Transitioning into Point-of-Care Diagnostics
• Significant awards and honors: UT Graduate School Summer 2014 Fellowship
• Current employment: Postdoc, Johns Hopkins University
32. Dr. Stephen Fosdick; Ph.D., May, 2014
• Dissertation title: Bipolar Electrodes for the Screening of Electrocatalyst Candidates
• Significant awards and honors: William Powers, Jr. Graduate Fellowship
• Current employment: Dow Chemical Co. (Freeport, TX)
31. Dr. David Yancey; Ph.D., December, 2013
• Dissertation title: "Structural and Electrocatalytic Properties of Dendrimer-Encapsulated Nanoparticles"
• Significant awards and honors: Graduate Student Silver Award, 2013 MRS fall meeting
• Current employment: Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, MI).
30. Dr. Hong Liu; Ph.D., December, 2012
• Dissertation title: "Simple and Inexpensive Biosensors for Point-of-Care Diagnostics"
• Significant awards and honors: Maddin Fellowship in Chemistry
• Current employment: Professor, State Key Lab of Bioelectronics, Southeast University (China).
29. Ms. Elizabeth Nettleton; M.S., December, 2012
• Thesis title: "Detecting Single-Particle Insulating Collisions in Microfluidics as a Function of Flow Rate"
• Significant awards and honors: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) and National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship
• Current employment: Trinity Consultants (Austin, TX).
28. Ms. Daphne Sung; M.S., December, 2011
• Thesis title: "Synthesis and Characterization of PtNi Dendrimer-Encapsulated Nanoparticles"
• Current employment: Unknown.
27. Dr. V. Sue Myers; Ph.D., December, 2011
• Dissertation title: "Characterization of Dendrimer Encapsulated Nanoparticles by Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure and Electrochemical Methods"
• Significant awards and honors: Graduate Student Award to Attend the 60th Meeting of Nobel Laureates in Lindau, Germany
• Current employment: Intel Corporation (Portland, OR).
26. Dr. Emily V. Carino; Ph.D., August, 2011
• Dissertation title: "Underpotential Deposition as a Synthetic and Characterization Tool for Core@Shell Dendrimer-Encapsulated Nanoparticles "
• Current employment: Staff scientist, Argonne National Lab (Argonne, IL).
25. Dr. Brian A. Zaccheo; Ph.D., August, 2011
• Dissertation title: "Application of Enzymatic Catalysis and Galvanic Processes for Biosensor Development"
• Current employment: Intel Corporation (Portland, OR).
24. Dr. Robbyn K. Perdue (Anand); Ph.D., December, 2010
• Dissertation title: "Electrokinetic Focusing of Charged Species at a Bipolar Electrode in a Microfluidic Device"
• Significant awards and honors: NSF Graduate Fellowship Awardee
• Current employment: Assistant Professor, Iowa State University (Ames, IA).
23. Dr. Michael G. Weir; Ph.D., December, 2010
• Dissertation title "Dendrimer-Encapsulated Nanoparticles: Synthetic Methods and Characterization Including Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure"
• Current employment: Assistant Professor, Texas Wesleyan University (Ft. Worth, TX)
22. Dr. Kwok-Fan Chow; Ph.D., August, 2010
• Dissertation title: "Development of Wireless DNA Microarray Sensors"
• Significant awards and honors: UT Chemistry Department Dorothy B. Banks Fellowship.
• Current employment: Assistant Professor, The University of Massachusetts-Lowell (Lowell, MA).
21. Ms. Christina Wales; M.S., May, 2010
• Thesis title: Hydrodynamic Radii of Pt Dendrimer-Encapsulated Nanoparticles and Precursors
• Current employment: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
20. Mr. Tim Balasavage; M.S., August, 2009
• Thesis title: "Quantitative Measurements of the Transfer Efficiency of DNA Microarray Replication"
• Current employment: unknown.
19. Dr. Joohoon Kim; Ph. D., August, 2007
• Dissertation title: "Development of Microdevices for Applications to Bioanalysis"
• Significant awards and honors: ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Summer Fellowship.
• Current employment: Associate Professor, Kyung Hee University (Seoul, South Korea).
18. Dr. Rahul Dhopeshwarkar; Ph. D., August, 2007
• Dissertation title: "Electrokinetic Concentration Enrichment within a Microfluidic Device Integrated with a Hydrogel Microplug"
• Current employment: Care Fusion/BD (San Diego, CA).
17. Dr. Heechang Ye; Ph. D., December, 2006.
• Dissertation title: "Dendrimer-Encapsulated Metal Nanoparticle Thin Films on Solid Surfaces: Preparation, Characterization, and Applications to Electrocatalysis"
• Current employment: OCI Corporation (So. Korea).
16. Mr. Raphael Lezutekong; M.S., August, 2006
• Thesis title: "Application of Dendrimer-Encapsulated Pd Nanoparticles in Homogeneous Catalysis: Carbon-Carbon Coupling Reaction (The Stille Reaction)"
15. Dr. Orla M. Wilson; Ph. D., December, 2005
• Dissertation title: "Structure-Function Relationships in Dendrimer-Encapsulated Metal Nanoparticles"
• Significant awards and honors: ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Summer Fellowship.
• Current employment: Lecturer, The Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD).
14. Dr. Jinseok Heo; Ph. D., December, 2005
• Dissertation title: "Characterization and Applications of Microfluidic Devices Based on Immobilized Biomaterials"
• Current employment: Associate Professor, Buffalo State College (Buffalo, NY)
13. Dr. Yong-Gu Kim; Ph. D., December, 2005
• Dissertation title: "Synthesis and Electrochemical Characterization of Highly Monodisperse Dendrimer-Templated Monolayer-Protected Clusters"
• Current employment: Hyundai Motors, Korea
12. Dr. Wei Zhan; Ph. D., May, 2004
• Dissertation title: "Integration of Functional Components into Microfluidic Chemical Systems: Bioimmobilization and Electrochemiluminescent Detection on Chip"
• Significant awards and honors: 2004 Celanese Outstanding Graduate Student Award; ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Summer Fellowship.
• Current employment: Associate Professor, Auburn Univesity (Auburn, AL)
11. Dr. Gregory P. Perez; Ph. D., May, 2004
• Dissertation title: "Chemically-Sensitive, Polymer-Mediated Nanoporous Alumina SAW Sensors for the Detection of Vapor-Phase Analytes"
• Current employment: Halliburton (Houston, TX)
10. Dr. Yanhui Niu; Ph. D., May, 2003
Dissertation title: "Dendrimer-Encapsulated Metal Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications to Catalysis"
Significant awards and honors: Best Poster Presentation Award, Gordon Research Conference on Catalysis; Outstanding Research Presentation Award, PacifiChem 2000 International Meeting.
Current employment: Research Scientist, DuPont Central Research (Wilmington, DE)
9. Dr. Wendy S. Baker; Ph. D., May, 2002
Dissertation title: "Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Studies of Novel Electroactive Nanostructures"
Significant awards and honors: The Colin Garfield Fink Fellowship of The Electrochemical Society.
Current employment: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston, TX)
8. Dr. Lane A. Baker; Ph. D., December, 2001
Dissertation title: "Endgroup Interactions in Poly(amidoamine) and Modified Poly(propylene imine) Dendrimers"
Current Employment: Assistant Professor, Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)
7. Dr. Mingqi Zhao; Ph. D., December, 1999
Dissertation title: "Hyperbranched Polymer Films and Dendrimers: Their Chemistry and Applications"
Significant awards and honors: Electrochemical Society Summer Fellowship, Eastman Chemical Company Fellowship, Phillips Petroleum Fellowship, Materials Research Society Graduate Student Award (Gold Medal), Celanese Award for best dissertation.
Current employment: NDC (a J&J company in Fremont, CA).
6. Dr. Daniel L. Dermody; Ph. D., December, 1998
Dissertation title: "Synthesis and Characterization of Organic Thin Films Incorporating Macrocycles"
Current employment: Research Scientist, Dow Chemical Company (Midland, MI)
5. Dr. Francis P. Zamborini; Ph. D., December, 1998
Dissertation title: "Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Studies of Corrosion Passivation and Nanometer-Scale Lithography with Self-Assembled Monolayers"
Current employment: Professor, University of Louisville (Louisville, KY)
4. Dr. Jonathan Schoer; Ph. D., May, 1997
Dissertation title: "Fabrication, Characterization, and Applications of Nanometer-Scale Features within Organomercaptan Self-Assembled Monolayers"
Significant awards and honors: Electrochemical Society Summer Fellowship, IBM Graduate Fellowship
Current employment: Associate Professor, Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, IN).
3. Dr. Travis Wade; Ph. D., December, 1995.
Dissertation title: “Electrochemical Synthesis of Metal-Nitride Ceramic Powders and Metal-Nitride Ceramic Coatings”
Current employment: Institut De Physique Experimentale (Lausanne, Switzerland)
2. Dr. Orawon Chailapakul; Ph. D., December, 1994
Dissertation title: “Synthesis and Characterization of Nanoporous Organomercaptan Self-Assembling Monolayers“
Current employment: Professor, Chulalongkorn University (Bangkok, Thailand).
1. Dr. Ross C. Thomas; Ph. D., December, 1994
Dissertation title: “Chemical Reactivity and Mechanical Properties of Well-Ordered Organic Films Confined to Conducting Substrates”
Current employment: President and founder, Syntrotek Corp. (Boulder, CO).