The Anthony group is now divided into two general project areas: The charge-transport team studies molecules and solid-state arrangements to enhance charge mobility in crystalline thin films, with a current emphasis on new radiation sensors for cancer therapy. The team is also branching out in the area of ion transport, to produce semiconductors for bioelectronics. The photonics team is working on the tuning of intermolecular coupling to prolong quantum coherence for quantum computing and sensing. Knowledge gained from this project is feeding into a separate effort in photon up-conversion, to enhance the efficiency of current photovoltaic panels. In al cases, we are thrilled to be working with the new director of the UK X-ray crystallography center, Dr. Sanjay Dutta.

Anthony Profile

Prof. Atwood conducts research in the inter-related areas of inorganic, materials and environmental chemistry. This has included specific projects such as the deactivation of chemical weapons agents, molecular routes to corrosion resistant coatings of aluminum oxide and the design and application of thiol-containing compounds for the removal of toxic metals (Cd, Hg, Pb) and metalloids (As(III)) from water.

These projects supported the doctoral research and Ph.D.s of ~ 20 graduate students since 1996. The research was described in 170 peer-reviewed publications, and with undergraduate student coauthors on 22 these publications. Since 1996, Atwood has mentored 32 undergraduates (UG) and 8 high school (HS) students. Atwood’s own experience as an UG researcher opened the possibilities for advanced degrees in chemistry and – after three undergraduate publications – a career as an experimental research scientist. Thus, UG research has always been an important, long-standing component of Atwood’s research, teaching, scholarship and service.

More recently, Atwood has begun a project on the gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI] in collaboration with UK’s Radiology Department (with Dr. Rashmi Nair) and Prof. Marcello Guzman (Chemistry). Together, they are exploring the reactivity of the GBCA with the common salts and molecular compounds that are found in human blood and urine. Most GBCAs are excreted through the urine within two hours of administration. Thus, one goal is to find appropriate extractants or chemical conditions to remove the GBCAs unchanged from human urine. After use, any remaining GBCA in the single-dose vials (~ 30% of the original amount) is discarded as routine, non-hazardous waste. Another goal of the project is to find an industrial partner to recycle the unused GBCAs.

After completing an undergraduate degree in some form of Chemistry, graduate students conduct a comprehensive, independent research project that will become the written doctoral dissertation required to obtain a Ph.D. in chemistry. There are two graduate students conducting research on the GBCAs, Eovist, Dotarem, Gadovist and Elucirem.

1. Alexander Igwebuike: B.A. and M.S. degrees from Miami University (Oxford, OH); now a third year Ph.D. candidate being co-advised by Atwood and Guzman. His dissertation title is: “Gadolinium Based Contrast Agents: Solid Forms and Reactions with Biological Molecules." Igwebuike is planning for an industrial career, but also considering academics.
2. Geethanjali Mudiyanselage: A graduate of the B.S. (Honors) chemistry program at The Open University of Sri Lanka, currently in the second year of a Ph.D. program under the supervision of Atwood. The research focuses on “Extraction of Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents from Synthetic Urine."

The Atwood undergraduate and high school research program combines the study of fundamental chemistry concepts, training in basic laboratory techniques and participation in a globally important research project. The chemistry concepts and techniques will increase in complexity as the students’ learning and experience increases. Each student (or small groups of students) will eventually become independent on some specific component of the overall research project.

Atwood Profile

The Awuah Laboratory operates at the intersection of synthetic chemistry and biology, integrating concepts from organic, inorganic and medicinal chemistry to develop chemical tools that probe complex biological systems and enable new therapeutic strategies. Our research focuses on designing innovative synthetic methods that generate structurally diverse molecules capable of interrogating biological processes and addressing pressing biomedical challenges.

In particular, our work focuses on developing transition metal-based and small-molecule compounds that modulate cellular metabolism, with a strong emphasis on mitochondria as central regulators of human health and disease. Mitochondria control critical cellular processes, including energy production, redox balance, apoptosis and metabolic signaling. Dysregulation of mitochondrial pathways is increasingly recognized as a hallmark of numerous diseases, including cancer, traumatic brain injury and inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. Our laboratory seeks to uncover how mitochondrial metabolism and signaling pathways can be selectively perturbed using carefully designed chemical probes and therapeutic agents. By combining advances in inorganic and organic synthesis with mechanistic biological studies, we aim to identify new vulnerabilities in disease biology and translate these discoveries into therapeutic opportunities.

A major focus of our research program is the development of transition metal-based chemical platforms, particularly those based on gold and other metal or metalloid scaffolds, that can be engineered to selectively engage biomolecular targets. These compounds possess unique electrochemical and structural properties that allow them to modulate protein function, influence cellular metabolism and access biological targets that are often difficult to reach using conventional small molecules. Through ligand design and synthetic innovation, our laboratory is expanding the chemical diversity and stability of metal-based compounds, enabling their use as chemical probes and drug candidates. These efforts have led to the development of new strategies for protein bioconjugation, mitochondrial targeting and metabolic modulation, providing powerful tools to explore the role of mitochondrial pathways in disease.

In parallel, our group is actively engaged in drug discovery efforts aimed at treating cancer and inflammatory diseases. In cancer research, we investigate how mitochondrial metabolic dependencies and immunometabolic signaling pathways can be exploited to selectively target tumor cells. Our laboratory is particularly interested in identifying compounds that disrupt metabolic adaptations in aggressive cancers and enhance therapeutic responses.

Complementary work in inflammatory biology focuses on diseases characterized by metabolic and immune dysregulation, including traumatic brain injury and inflammatory bowel disease, where mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to tissue damage and chronic inflammation. By developing compounds that restore metabolic balance or selectively modulate inflammatory signaling, we aim to establish new therapeutic approaches for these conditions.

The Awuah Laboratory is a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary environment where trainees gain broad expertise in chemical synthesis, mechanistic studies and translational research. Researchers in the group receive extensive training in organic and inorganic synthesis, particularly involving transition metals and metalloids, while also gaining proficiency in advanced analytical and biological techniques. These include multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, electrochemistry, functional cellular assays, tissue culture and in vivo disease models such as mouse tumor studies. Our laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art tools for chemical synthesis, computational modeling, mechanistic investigations and biological evaluation, enabling projects to progress from molecular design through mechanism-of-action studies and ultimately to preclinical validation.

Through this integrated approach, the Awuah Laboratory seeks to bridge fundamental chemistry and biomedical discovery. Our long-term vision is to develop transformative chemical tools and therapeutic agents that illuminate complex biological systems and improve treatment options for diseases such as cancer, traumatic brain injury and inflammatory bowel disease.

Awuah Lab

Arthur Cammers currently teaches CHE 776 Graduate Communications in Chemistry, CHE 532 Organic Spectroscopy and CHE 535 Synthetic Organic Chemistry. Arthur also manages the department’s NMR instruments. We currently have a JEOL 500 MHz and a Bruker 400 MHz instrument located in Jacobs Science Building.

In late March of 2026, the 26-year-old Varian Unity Inova 400 MHz stopped functioning. The hardware reset rate went from every few months to three times a week. This problem points fingers at the main bus controller and workstation liaison, MVME 162-222 board mfg. by Motborola). We had two other Unity Inova instruments in house, but those two controller boards had been previously swapped into the current instrument. This component most often quits in these instruments after a quarter century due to aging connections and temperature fluctuations inside the console cabinet. Replacing the faulty components in the Varian 400 would be counterproductive. We need a modern workhorse instrument in the building with helium recovery. If you have any ideas, please reach out.

Arthur is working with undergraduate Aden Runyon to apply maker approaches in chemistry. We have a working cyclic voltameter; Aden and I learned the Arduino programming language, RC circuitry, noise reduction, and a little electrochemistry to build this device. It has been an educational experience.

Cammers Profile

The Cheng Research Group uses computer simulations and machine learning to answer questions at the forefront of biological physics and theoretical chemistry. The group consists of one postdoctoral researcher, Devilal Dahal; three graduate students, Sasindu Gunasinghe, Virangi Hewage and Darin Vaughan; and four undergraduate students, Adam Hassoun, Andres Soria, Jayden Warren and Lee Dix.

The group's current research focuses on two broad areas: understanding how the human genome is organized and how that organization influences biological function, and predicting the three-dimensional structures of protein complexes of biological interest.

Genome Organization and Mechanics:

Devilal's research focuses on developing a mechanically deformable model of the human nucleus that incorporates both the polymeric nature of human chromosomes and the locations of gene sites. Sasindu studies models of epigenetic remodeling and transcription factor dynamics for individual chromosomes, particularly during cell differentiation and disease. Darin is developing machine-learning models that predict genome architecture from binding data.

Undergraduate researchers Jayden Warren and Lee Dix recently joined the group and are studying genomic phase separation and the effects of aging on the genome. Several research manuscripts based on these projects are currently in preparation.

Protein Complexes Connecting the Nucleus and Cytoskeleton:

Virangi Hewage investigates the large protein complexes that physically connect the nucleus to the cytoskeleton. Using established protein-folding methods, she studies the mechanical stability and folding landscapes of these proteins under applied forces, such as tension.

Her work complements the undergraduate research of Adam Hassoun and Andres Soria, who are using artificial intelligence through AlphaFold, combined with physical modeling, to predict the structures of previously unresolved regions of these large protein complexes. Research findings from these efforts are currently being prepared for publication.

Ryan recently received in-kind support from the National Science Foundation through the NCEMS program in collaboration with Ellinor Haglund (University of Hawaii at Manoa), Sophie Jackson (University of Cambridge), Jason Parsley (Wake Forest University), Eric Rawdon (University of St. Thomas), Joanna Sulkowska (University of Warsaw) and Antonio Trovato (University of Pavia). The NCEMS working group will study the evolutionary origins of complex protein topologies, including knotted proteins.

Cheng Lab

The DeRouchey Research Group in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Kentucky focuses on understanding how biological molecules organize and interact, with applications ranging from gene delivery to emerging therapeutic technologies. A central theme of the lab is connecting fundamental molecular behavior to real-world biomedical challenges while providing students with hands-on training in biophysical and biomaterials research.

A major area of recent work in the group focuses on DNA condensation, a process essential for packaging genetic material in cells. Former doctoral student Md Abu Monsur Dinar, known as Dinar, completed his dissertation in 2025, investigating how divalent cations such as zinc influence DNA organization in sperm chromatin. His work clarified how metal ions enhance DNA compaction, contributing to scientists' understanding of how genetic material is stabilized in biological systems.

Dinar is now an analytical research scientist at Grain Processing Corp., where he works on industrial challenges related to food additive formulations.

Another former doctoral student, Md. Nasir Uddin, contributed to the lab's efforts in gene delivery materials. His research explored how chemical modifications to polyethyleneimine (PEI), a common gene-delivery polymer, influence DNA packaging and stability. Published this year in Biomacromolecules, the work demonstrated how changes in polymer chemistry affect DNA packaging and structure and how those changes relate to the performance of nonviral gene-delivery carriers.

Nasir is now a postdoctoral scientist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, where he applies CRISPR-based approaches and multi-omics analyses to study gene function and develop RNA-based delivery strategies.

The group is also developing biomaterials for mitochondrial transplantation, an emerging strategy aimed at restoring cellular energy production in damaged tissues. Current doctoral student Davis Anum is developing temperature-responsive hydrogel systems based on hyaluronic acid and PNIPAM to deliver isolated mitochondria to targeted locations in the central nervous system.

This work combines polymer chemistry, biophysics and biomedical engineering and involves collaborations with researchers in the UK College of Engineering and the UK College of Medicine. The project is closely connected to work with the laboratory of Dr. Tom Dziubla in the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Ahmed Jamie, who completed his dissertation in 2025, developed syringeable thermoresponsive copolymer hydrogel systems for mitochondrial delivery. His research resulted in published and ongoing studies establishing the properties needed for these materials to function effectively in biological settings. Davis' current work builds directly on that foundation.

A central focus of the group is student training and professional development through these interdisciplinary projects. Graduate students gain experience in experimental design, advanced instrumentation and interdisciplinary collaboration, preparing them for careers in academia, industry and medicine.

The group takes pride not only in its research contributions but also in the success of its students as they move on to impactful scientific careers.

DeRouchey Lab

The Graham Laboratory focuses on advancing organic semiconductors and organic electronic devices through a better understanding of interfacial chemistry, doping behavior, defects and degradation. Organic electronic devices have a wide range of applications, from organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), which are now common in consumer technologies, to emerging uses in biosensing, waste-heat harvesting, solar energy, electrochromic displays and neuromorphic computing.

Research in the Graham Laboratory uses photoemission spectroscopy to examine how material and interface chemistry, defects and degradation influence device performance. Understanding these relationships will support the development of improved electronically active materials, interfaces and devices. The group studies how structure, morphology and energetics affect charge transfer, charge-carrier transport, thermoelectric properties, biosensor performance and material degradation in organic semiconductors.

To support this work, the laboratory has developed advanced ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) and low-energy inverse photoemission spectroscopy (LEIPS) systems that provide high-resolution measurements while limiting sample damage. The group has recently expanded its capabilities to include variable-energy UPS and constant-final-state photoemission yield spectroscopy for detecting defect states in electronic materials.

A growing area of emphasis is developing spectroscopic methods to better understand defect states and how chemistry can be used to control their type, energy and concentration. This work is driven by the need to better understand degradation processes and accelerate the development and commercialization of organic electronic devices. Another emerging research direction focuses on biodegradable sensors, leveraging the group's expertise in surface chemistry, organic semiconductors and degradation studies.

In 2025, Henry Pruett earned his Ph.D. from the group. His research focused on the optical and electronic properties of two-dimensional halide perovskites. He pioneered crystal-growth techniques for these materials in the laboratory and conducted extensive characterization studies. As a U.S. Department of Energy Graduate Student Research Fellow, Henry spent a year in the laboratory of Matt Beard at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, where he used terahertz spectroscopy, transient absorption spectroscopy and microwave conductivity measurements to study charge-carrier dynamics.

Other milestones from 2025 included a publication in the Journal of the American Chemical Society led by recent Ph.D. graduate Harindi Atapattu; funding from the Bluegrass Network for Academic Research for undergraduate students Carter Pryor and Nathan Bermeo-Ramirez to collaborate with Owen Galligan from Mike Sama's group in the Department of Agriculture on wireless sensors for precision agriculture; and a new grant funded by start-up company Renalva to develop planar ion-selective electrodes for sodium and potassium sensing.

The group also celebrated Jessica Bone and Lutfun Nahar, third-year graduate students who passed their Ph.D. qualifying examinations, and welcomed new graduate student Brenda Lazaro Martinez.

Graham Lab

The Grossman Group specializes in synthetic organic chemistry, with research focused on both target-directed synthesis and methodology development.

In target-directed synthesis, the group develops synthetic routes to specific organic compounds needed by research collaborators. For example, Prof. Alexey Silakov of Pennsylvania State University required substantial quantities of FIUI, a compound that serves as the substrate for the enzyme WelO5. Because sufficient amounts of FIUI were not available from natural sources, the Grossman Group developed and carried out a 10-step synthesis, providing the material needed to support the Silakov group's research into the enzyme's mechanism of action. In methodology development, the group creates new tools and techniques for organic synthesis that can be applied broadly by other researchers. New synthetic methods can improve efficiency, reduce costs, minimize hazardous waste or enable the preparation of compounds that were previously inaccessible using existing techniques.

One recent area of focus has been the development of simple methods for the 1,2-diamination of alkenes to produce 1,2-diamines through a [3+2] cycloaddition approach. Although several methods exist for the 1,2-diamination of alkenes, this cycloaddition strategy is the first in which the two new carbon-nitrogen bonds form simultaneously. As a result, the stereochemical configuration of the alkene is preserved in the resulting 1,2-diamine, providing a new approach for the synthesis of these important compounds.

Grossman Profile

The Guiton Group investigates chemistry at the nanometer scale, working at the intersection of solid-state chemistry and advanced characterization. The group's goal is to combine the design and synthesis of new nanostructured materials with advanced transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques, including atomic-resolution imaging, spectroscopic mapping and in situ microscopy.

Microscopy studies are conducted both on campus and at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, providing students with opportunities to work in both locations. Current students are involved in a wide range of projects and collaborations across disciplines and colleges.

Recent accomplishments include:

Ireshika Wickramasuriya is using in situ TEM to study iron oxide nanocapsules and better understand the mechanisms and kinetics that cause the nanocapsules to become hollow through shell-induced Ostwald ripening. She is also investigating phase transformations in iron oxide during the hollowing process, including the effects of particle size and shape. In situ TEM allows these changes to be observed in real time.

Lateefat Jimoh and undergraduate student Peyton McCubbin are using in situ TEM to study diffusion mechanisms in manganese-based spinels for battery applications. Their work includes both material synthesis and characterization. In December 2025, Jimoh received the Leadership Development Award from the Younger Chemists Committee of the American Chemical Society. She also won second place and the People's Choice Award in UK's GradTeach Live competition.

Hashini Navarathne and undergraduate student Ian Phares are developing a ceramic synthesis route to produce pure-phase multiferroic bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) while minimizing secondary phases such as sillenite and mullite. The team uses in situ TEM to study reaction pathways and kinetics.

Lathaa Sree Sankar studies how ductile metals become brittle when exposed to liquid metals under stress, a phenomenon known as liquid-metal embrittlement. TEM is used to observe nanoscale structural changes in stainless steel exposed to liquid gallium. Future in situ TEM experiments will allow the embrittlement process to be observed in real time.

Adrienne Hafley characterizes crystalline intergrowths of molybdenum-doped vanadium oxides with potential battery applications. Hafley also uses TEM to study and manipulate two-dimensional materials that may form artificial spin-ice structures. This multidisciplinary project includes collaborators in chemistry, physics, computer science and electrical engineering.

Group members also attended the Appalachian Regional Electron Microscopy Society (AReMS) Fall 2025 Meeting.

Guiton Lab

The Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, led by Professor Marcelo I. Guzman, focuses on understanding chemical reactions that occur at air-water and air-solid interfaces, in atmospheric microdroplets and in complex condensed phases. The group investigates environmentally relevant processes involving organic aerosols, atmospheric oxidation pathways and surface-mediated reactions that influence air quality, climate and sustainability.

A central goal of the laboratory is to train outstanding young scientists while advancing fundamental knowledge that benefits society. Students drive much of the laboratory's success.

Reagan Patton Witt, who successfully defended her Ph.D. in June 2025, completed research on elevated-temperature landfills, the ozonolysis of phenolic aldehydes and emerging disinfection byproducts. Her dissertation resulted in multiple first-author publications, including a 2025 study on the formation of iodinated disinfection byproducts. She recently joined Centre College as a visiting professor.

Josiel Barrios Cossio continues to advance research in heterogeneous photocatalysis and electrochemistry and recently presented work on catechol oxidation at the 2025 Tri-State Catalysis Society Meeting in Lexington.

Damilola Petinrin received the People's Choice Award in the 2025 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition for presenting research on interfacial chemistry.

Deborah Adeyemi received a Certificate of Merit from the American Chemical Society Division of Environmental Chemistry for an outstanding presentation at a national meeting and continues to build expertise in interfacial chemistry.

Motunrayo Oladele, whose research focuses on chemistry in microdroplets, was selected as the 2025 student representative for the Eastern Analytical Symposium.

Alexander Igwebuike recently advanced to doctoral candidacy and received the Steckler Award in recognition of his academic and research achievements. Jointly advised by Professor Marcelo Guzman and Professor David Atwood, he continues developing expertise in sustainable chemistry.

Stephanie Athanasatos, a second-year master's student, earned third place in the 2025 departmental poster competition while developing new functional materials.

Undergraduate researchers also continue to contribute to the laboratory's success. Sydney Cobb, who joined the group in 2025, is developing analytical devices and has been accepted to medical school. Lauren Gravatte continues to contribute to the group's research in microdroplet chemistry.

The group's impact is reflected in its recent publications and recognitions. In August 2025, researchers published "Ozonolysis of Phenolic Aldehydes from Industrial-Based Lignin Wastewaters" in Science of the Total Environment, highlighting work related to environmental sustainability and water quality challenges.

The research program combines analytical chemistry, surface science and atmospheric chemistry to better understand how pollutants transform in realistic environments. Students gain hands-on experience in mass spectrometry, chromatography, photocatalysis, electrochemistry, environmental monitoring and spectroscopy. Many present their work at national and international conferences, earn competitive awards and publish research that contributes to emerging fields, including brown-carbon formation, surface oxidation pathways and atmospheric photochemistry.

The laboratory places a strong emphasis on mentoring, collaboration and professional development. Alumni have gone on to careers in academia, industry, government agencies and environmental and energy research organizations. Through the dedication of its students and collaborative research environment, the Guzman Laboratory continues to train the next generation of scientists while advancing the frontiers of environmental chemistry.

Guzman Lab

The Huckaba group achieved several educational and research goals in 2025. A major component of the Huckaba group’s 2025 research involved the development of light-driven catalytic systems for carbon dioxide conversion. In a 2025 study published in RSC Advances, first author Ryan Chafin and collaborators investigated rhenium-based catalysts incorporating substituted imidazole-pyridine ligands for photochemical CO₂ reduction. Their research demonstrated that these modified catalysts could selectively convert CO₂ into formic acid under light-driven conditions. Because formic acid is not the typically observed product, this was a notable advance in the field.

Another 2025 contribution from Huckaba focused on the physical properties of hybrid organic–inorganic materials, particularly halide perovskites. In a paper published in CrystEngComm, the Huckaba group and collaborators studied how crystal structure influences the elastic and plastic mechanical properties of discrete-molecule organic–inorganic halide perovskites. The study analyzed relationships between crystal packing, molecular interactions, and mechanical behavior. Understanding these relationships helps scientists design perovskite materials that are both mechanically stable and electronically functional, addressing a key challenge in scaling perovskite-based technologies.

The Huckaba group also contributed to research on nanomaterials and printable electronics in 2025. In a study published in Surface and Interface Analysis, first author Md Tawabur Rahman worked on stable gold nanoparticle colloids designed for inkjet printing conductive films. The research explored methods to produce long-term stable nanoparticle suspensions that can be printed onto surfaces to form conductive patterns, whereas typical gold colloids for inkjet printing are poorly stable. The work demonstrated how nanoparticle stabilization and formulation strategies can enable reliable deposition of conductive materials using scalable printing technologies.

Prof. Huckaba was awarded a competitive Summer Faculty Fellowship from the Air Force Research Laboratory, so in the summer he and Youselie Joseph worked in Dayton Ohio, advancing the goals of the Materials and Manufacturing Division. Md Tawabur Rahman was awarded an internship at Toyota Research in North American during the fall semester, where he worked towards advancing the catalytic transformation of carbon dioxide into liquid fuels.

In education, it was also a big year for the Huckaba group. In the spring, Alexander Olivelli and Michael Wells both graduated with their Doctorate in Philosophy in Chemistry. Alexander's dissertation research focused on the development of ligands and catalysts for bio-orthogonal and chiral inducing reactions, while Michael's dissertation research focused on the study of non-centrosymmetric organic inorganic hybrid materials, like halide perovskites. In the fall semester, Alison Costello graduated with her Doctorate of Philosophy in Chemistry. Her dissertation research focused on the use of intermolecular interactions to modify the solid state properties of organic and hybrid materials. Ryan Chafin also graduated in the fall semester, and he received his Master of Science in Chemistry. Ryan's thesis research focused on the synthesis and application of donor-pi-acceptor metal complexes towards the photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide.

Huckaba Profile

The Kim Research Group focuses on developing catalytic materials to address global energy and environmental challenges. Research in the group centers on advanced electrocatalysts for water splitting, hydrogen production, metal-air batteries and carbon dioxide conversion, all of which are important technologies for a sustainable, low-carbon energy future.

A major focus of the group is the development of single-atom and cluster catalysts, a class of materials in which individual metal atoms are dispersed across a supporting surface. These catalysts use precious and nonprecious metals more efficiently than conventional materials while often exhibiting unique catalytic properties. By carefully controlling the atomic environment around these metal atoms, researchers seek to understand how catalyst structure influences chemical reactivity and stability during electrochemical reactions.

In addition to materials synthesis and electrochemical testing, the group develops and applies in situ and operando spectroscopic techniques to study catalytic processes under realistic reaction conditions. These approaches provide insight into how catalysts function at the molecular and atomic levels. The group's research is supported by a combination of federal and private funding.

The Kim Research Group's laboratory is equipped with a wide range of instruments for chemical analysis and materials characterization, including spectroscopy, microscopy, mass spectrometry and electrochemical instrumentation. Through these projects, students gain hands-on experience with diverse experimental techniques. The group also provides opportunities to collaborate with universities, U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories and industry partners. These interdisciplinary experiences prepare students for careers in academia, national laboratories and the energy sector.

Students play a central role in the group's research efforts. Graduate students work on projects that integrate materials synthesis, advanced characterization, instrumentation and electrochemical measurements.

Prakhar Sharma has been studying copper- and iron-based single-atom catalysts for fuel-cell applications and is collaborating with Sandia National Laboratories to investigate structural changes in bifunctional catalysts for metal-air batteries. He is also leading a collaboration with start-up company ElectraMet to study electrochemical processes for recovering metals from semiconductor waste streams.

Nipun Chandrasiri has been studying platinum single-atom catalysts for hydrogen production through the hydrogen evolution reaction. Through a collaboration with the Toyota Research Institute of North America, he recently demonstrated highly efficient hydrogen production using ultralow platinum loadings supported on a three-dimensional conductive metal scaffold.

Anil Thapa is investigating carbon dioxide conversion using copper-supported carbon-onion materials.

Shashika Perera is conducting spectroelectrochemical studies to better understand interfacial processes that occur during electrochemical reactions.

Students in the group regularly present their work at regional and national scientific meetings. In 2025, Nipun presented a research poster at an American Chemical Society national meeting, while Prakhar presented research updates at a U.S. Department of Energy review meeting. All graduate students also presented their research at the 2025 Tri-State Catalysis Symposium (TSCS).

The symposium, held in Lexington in 2025, is affiliated with the North American Catalysis Society and brings together researchers from academia and industry across Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. Professor Kim served on the symposium's organizing committee.

Kim Lab

Many of the technologies shaping the future, including solar energy conversion, advanced optoelectronics and quantum information materials, depend on processes that occur on extremely short timescales, from femtoseconds to nanoseconds. The Rather Laboratory was established in fall 2023 to better understand how molecules and materials behave immediately after absorbing light.

To study these processes, the group uses ultrafast laser spectroscopy, which allows researchers to capture snapshots of molecular motion and electronic changes as they occur. By observing these dynamics directly, the laboratory seeks to understand how energy moves through molecules and materials and establish structure-function relationships that can guide the development of improved technologies.

Because the research relies on sophisticated laser instrumentation, a major focus during the laboratory's first two years has been building an advanced ultrafast spectroscopy facility. Establishing the laboratory required the installation and integration of complex laser systems and detection equipment.

Graduate students have played a central role in this effort. In particular, Joy Jerome and Bishnu Pokhrel, who joined the group in fall 2023, were instrumental in establishing the laboratory and bringing several experimental systems online. Their efforts laid the foundation for many of the experiments currently underway.

Joy and Bishnu are now working together on projects that use ultrafast spectroscopy to investigate the photophysics of materials used in next-generation organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Their research focuses on how molecular structure influences the excited-state dynamics that determine device efficiency. Over the past two years, Joy has received several awards recognizing her research accomplishments, and both students are contributing to multiple manuscripts based on their findings.

The laboratory expanded in 2024 with the addition of three graduate students: Aisha Shakir, Seema and Anitta.

Aisha and Anitta are working on a collaborative project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy in partnership with Dr. John Anthony. Their research examines structure-function relationships in singlet fission materials, a class of molecules capable of generating correlated excited-state pairs with potential applications in quantum information science and next-generation energy technologies. The students are currently preparing two manuscripts based on their research.

Seema, recipient of the department's top first-year graduate student award, is studying the fundamental mechanisms of photoinduced electron-transfer reactions. These reactions are central to solar photochemistry, sensing technologies and biological systems. Using ultrafast spectroscopy, she is investigating how molecular structure and environment influence the speed and efficiency of electron transfer. Her work is approaching the manuscript preparation stage.

Although the Rather Laboratory is still relatively new, several research projects are nearing publication. Current efforts focus on preparing manuscripts and sharing new findings with the broader scientific community. These publications will help support future external funding opportunities while expanding the laboratory's contributions to energy and materials research.

The laboratory is also committed to providing students with opportunities to develop new ideas, learn advanced experimental techniques and contribute to addressing important challenges in energy and materials science.

Rather Lab

Research in the Richards Laboratory focuses on developing and applying bioanalytical and biophysical methods to better understand the mechanisms underlying inflammation, aging and cancer progression. The group uses a combination of animal models, three-dimensional bioprinted disease models and in vitro assays. Researchers also develop specialized imaging and spectroscopy techniques to track the behavior of nanomaterials and biological molecules in cells and living organisms.

As a result, students participate in a wide range of projects, from studying the photophysics of novel fluorophores to developing immunomodulatory therapeutic platforms.

On the photophysics side of the laboratory, Xiaojin Wang, who recently earned a Ph.D., expanded the group's in vivo spectroscopy methods to monitor nanoparticle degradation in rodent models.

Nanocarriers have emerged as customizable delivery systems capable of transporting drugs, genetic material and other therapeutics to specific disease targets. Although these systems offer significant advantages for therapeutic delivery, methods for determining their behavior in the bloodstream and within cells remain limited. Xiaojin's research improved the ability to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of nanotherapeutics by providing real-time pharmacokinetic information as nanoparticles move through the circulatory system.

Before graduating, Xiaojin completed a publication focused on in vivo spectroscopy techniques for tracking nanoparticle behavior and quantifying cerebral blood flow in live animals. He is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, where he continues to apply expertise developed at the University of Kentucky.

Another major area of research in the laboratory focuses on developing novel therapeutic delivery platforms. One example is the development of exosome-mimetic vesicles that can be engineered to modulate signaling pathways and alter immune-cell function.

Harini Prathapasinghe leads a project focused on engineering programmed vesicles derived from bacteria for anticancer immunotherapy applications. She develops nanoscale vesicles from bacterial membranes designed to stimulate targeted immune responses against cancer. Her current work focuses on developing potential treatments for pediatric osteosarcoma, and she is preparing to begin animal studies. This summer, she is scheduled to present her research at a Gordon Research Conference in Maine.

Shickshitha Prabuddha Dissanayake is pursuing a complementary approach using mammalian immune cells to develop potential therapies for spinal cord injury. His research focuses on engineering vesicles from macrophages and mesenchymal stem cells. He is currently preparing a manuscript describing this work for publication.

Additional projects in the laboratory focus on engineering nanovesicles for targeted immune modulation and therapeutic delivery, developing in vivo spectroscopy methods to measure vascular function and nanoparticle pharmacokinetics, and designing ex vivo single-molecule tools for analyzing membrane-receptor dynamics.

Richards Lab

Research in the Risko Laboratory is inspired by complex synthetic materials and aims to uncover the fundamental relationships between the chemical and physical processes that determine materials performance. The group's work focuses on materials relevant to carbon electronics, energy generation and storage, and catalysis. Research spans molecular and nanostructure design, materials synthesis and the characterization of electronic, redox, optical and mechanical properties.

By combining theory-driven research with artificial intelligence and machine learning, the laboratory connects insights across the materials-development process and translates them into strategies that improve performance and accelerate materials discovery.

The laboratory had a productive year in 2025, publishing 13 peer-reviewed papers. Research projects included applications in batteries, solar cells, fuel generation and transistors, as well as advances in the development and application of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools for materials discovery.

Several members of the Risko Laboratory attended the 2025 Spring Materials Research Society Meeting and Exhibit in Seattle. Sashen Ruhunage, Sahar Bayat, Emmanuel Adejumo, Kehinde Fagbohungbe and Joel Bombile presented their research at the international conference.

Megan Brown also presented research at the U.S. Department of Energy Energy Frontier Research Centers, Energy Innovation Hubs and Computational Materials and Chemical Sciences Principal Investigator Meeting in Bethesda, Maryland.

Two graduate researchers, Rebekah Duke-Crockett and Moses Ogbaje, successfully defended their Ph.D. dissertations in 2025.

Three additional graduate researchers, Emmanuel Adejumo, Zachary Gardner and Nolan Lok, passed their Ph.D. oral qualifying examinations, an important milestone toward completion of their doctoral degrees.

Undergraduate researcher Shashanka Lamichhane earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry and is now pursuing a Ph.D. at Princeton University.

The laboratory also welcomed two new graduate researchers, Hieu Huynh and Mason Marrs, to the group.

Risko Lab

I have somehow become the senior member of the Chemistry faculty. Although some of my earliest graduate students are now retiring, I am still enjoying chemistry research and teaching.

Some of you may know that Edith's health began declining around 2016. After several years, home care was no longer practical, and she entered a long-term care facility in December 2021. With our travel plans postponed, I decided to continue pursuing chemistry research and teaching, especially CHE 412, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory.

Our son, Paul Selegue, completed his Ph.D. in 2024 and is now a faculty member in the University of Kentucky Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Not surprisingly, my research group has become smaller over the years. Kathryn Pitton, co-advised with Beth Guiton, completed her Ph.D. in 2025 and is now a postdoctoral researcher at Delft University of Technology. Some of her work on ultrasound-promoted intercalation is being continued by Adrienne Hafley, who is also co-advised by Guiton.

Raphael Ryan, co-advised with Phoebe Glazer, completed his Ph.D. in 2021. Following a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Texas at Austin, he joined Exfluor Research Corp. Elements of his project on photocytotoxic ruthenium complexes are now being continued by Colin Charles, who is co-advised with Samuel Awuah.

A side project involving Kathryn Pitton and several collaborators examines electron transfer between ferrocenes bridged by a heterocyclic organic acceptor. The project remains in the familiar "one more experiment" stage and is now being completed, albeit slowly, by yours truly.

Selegue Profile

The Shrestha Laboratory focuses on developing and applying advanced single-molecule manipulation and imaging technologies to better understand how biomolecules fold, unfold, interact and assemble. By combining single-molecule force-fluorescence spectroscopy, DNA nanotechnology, molecular biology and bioconjugation approaches, the group investigates biological processes that are difficult to study using conventional ensemble methods.

The laboratory's research program focuses on three primary areas.

First, researchers investigate intrinsically disordered proteins such as alpha-synuclein and tau, with a particular emphasis on how post-translational modifications influence their structure, interactions and aggregation pathways. These proteins are closely associated with neurodegenerative diseases and, unlike folded proteins, exist as dynamic conformational ensembles. By studying individual molecules, the group can observe transient structural states and interaction pathways that are often hidden in bulk measurements.

In 2025, the laboratory received a University of Kentucky Neuroscience Research Priority Area Pilot Grant to investigate how post-translational modifications influence the early interactions that drive alpha-synuclein aggregation.

A second area of research involves developing innovative platforms, including DNA nanoswitch calipers integrated with single-molecule force spectroscopy, to measure structural distances and interaction forces within individual biomolecules. These approaches help map protein and antibody binding sites, identify chemical modifications and study intermolecular interactions. The long-term goal is to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in viral entry and protein aggregation.

The third focus area involves developing sensitive and multiplexed biomolecular detection strategies using DNA nanotechnology and fluorescence imaging. These approaches aim to create accessible platforms capable of detecting multiple biomarkers simultaneously with improved sensitivity and specificity.

The laboratory was established in 2024 and initially welcomed two graduate students, Hasanul Kabir Rafi and Sumaia Afroz.

Rafi's research focuses on developing a single-molecule approach for domain-by-domain unfolding of intact biomolecules, enabling direct measurement of interdomain interactions and their contributions to molecular stability and conformational states. Building on promising results from a DNA model system, he is currently preparing a manuscript. He also studies how post-translational modifications influence the folding and misfolding dynamics of alpha-synuclein.

Sumaia's research focuses on the single-molecule structural characterization of antibodies using the DNA nanoswitch caliper platform. Her work seeks to measure distances between antigen-binding sites within individual antibody molecules to better understand conformational variability and structural heterogeneity.

In 2025, three additional graduate students, Pranoy Basu, Ramdeep Shrestha and Sayani Chanda, joined the laboratory.

Pranoy is investigating how different patterns of post-translational modifications influence the early intermolecular interactions that initiate protein aggregation associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

Ramdeep is developing simple, multiplexed diagnostic platforms for detecting nucleic acid and protein biomarkers. He is also applying single-molecule manipulation and fluorescence imaging approaches to study DNA compaction and condensation mediated by DNA-binding intrinsically disordered proteins.

Sayani studies protein-protein interactions involved in viral infections using single-molecule mechanical techniques. Her work aims to identify the molecular principles that govern these interactions and their role in viral entry.

Undergraduate researchers Isabella Soon and Cami Sergent work closely with Rafi and Ramdeep, respectively, contributing to projects involving multiplexed diagnostics and DNA-protein interactions.

Through student training and the development of new biophysical techniques, the Shrestha Laboratory seeks to advance single-molecule research while contributing to a deeper understanding of biological processes at the molecular level.

Shrestha Lab

Professor Stephen Testa and his research group continue to study chemical education, seeking insights into how students learn, understand and retain the content taught in the University of Kentucky Department of Chemistry. These insights help inform the development of more effective instructional methods.

Graduate student Victor Okuo is completing his dissertation, which uses eye-tracking methods to identify and classify how students with different chemistry backgrounds search for and locate information on the periodic table.

Undergraduate researcher Natasha Schalk, a member of the Class of 2026, continues to develop visual aids for novice chemistry students, particularly those learning chemical element name-symbol pairs. After graduation, Natasha plans to continue her studies in the UK College of Education with support from a National Science Foundation Noyce Fellowship.

Stephen continues his own research in two primary areas: evaluating the effectiveness of student-developed projects as alternatives to traditional homework assignments in lecture courses, and assessing and improving student competency with the periodic table.

He also remains actively involved in educational initiatives through his long-standing collaboration with the Department of STEM Education in the UK College of Education. The year 2025 marked the conclusion of a six-year National Science Foundation Noyce grant that supported Stephen's development and implementation of annual summer chemistry workshops for preservice high school STEM teachers.

His 2025 workshop focused on using epoxy resins to teach chemical catalysis within a creativity-focused learning framework.

Stephen is pleased to report that a new multiyear National Science Foundation Noyce grant was recently awarded, allowing the workshops to continue through at least 2029.

For the first time, Stephen taught CHE 101, a stand-alone chemical science course designed for non-STEM majors. He also continued teaching CHE 550, the department's upper-level biological chemistry course.

In 2025, he received a student-nominated Teacher Who Made a Difference Award from the UK College of Education in recognition of his contributions to student learning.

Outside the classroom and his responsibilities as associate chair, Stephen enjoys spending time with his wife, two children, both University of Kentucky graduates in psychology and agricultural biotechnology, and four grandchildren.

Testa Profile

The Thompson Laboratory is part of the Institute for Decarbonization and Energy Advancement (IDEA) in the University of Kentucky College of Engineering.

The laboratory's research focuses on carbon dioxide capture and conversion into useful products. Research spans analytical and environmental chemistry, inorganic catalyst synthesis and physical chemistry, while also incorporating aspects of materials science and chemical engineering.

Recent projects include electrochemical nitrosamine destruction research conducted by 2025 Ph.D. graduate Dr. Keemia Abad; direct air capture catalyst development by former postdoctoral scholar Dr. Priyabrata Biswal; and carbon dioxide conversion catalyst development by former postdoctoral scholars Dr. Pom Kharel and Dr. Md Ariful Hoque.

Carbon Dioxide Capture and Direct Air Capture

As carbon-capture technologies move toward broader deployment, researchers are increasingly focused on their environmental and human-health impacts. A major objective is ensuring that capture systems do not introduce environmental concerns that outweigh the benefits of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Direct air capture (DAC) is a promising technology for removing atmospheric carbon dioxide, but relatively few studies have evaluated catalyst performance under the dilute carbon dioxide concentrations found in air. Inspired by the natural enzyme carbonic anhydrase, the Thompson Laboratory is developing catalytic direct air capture strategies that use robust catalysts to improve carbon dioxide sequestration processes.

Carbon Dioxide Conversion

Converting carbon dioxide into valuable products under mild reaction conditions is another important step toward supporting a low-carbon economy.

Among the many possible products, formic acid has received considerable attention because it can be produced through a relatively simple reaction pathway with lower energy requirements than many alternative carbon dioxide conversion processes.

The conversion of carbon dioxide into formate has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions while supporting the development of a more sustainable chemical industry.

Thompson Profile

Understanding how electrons behave at metal centers remains an important challenge in modern chemistry. Rare-earth elements play key roles in advanced materials and technologies, while transition-metal catalysts enable efficient chemical transformations. In both cases, the electronic structure of the metal governs physical properties and chemical reactivity.

In 2025, the research program explored these questions through integrated experimental and theoretical studies in rare-earth chemistry and copper catalysis.

A major effort focused on rare-earth electronic structure. Using in-house laser spectroscopy, the group obtained high-resolution data for metal-containing clusters and small molecules. One study examined M₃C₂ clusters (M = Sc and La) and determined their molecular symmetries, electronic states, ionization energies and vibronic energy levels. Comparisons with the encapsulated cluster Sc₃C₂@C₈₀ demonstrated that confinement within a fullerene cage strongly alters the cluster's structure, electronic states and dynamics.

A second project investigated reactions of lanthanum and cerium with propylamine and revealed new features of lanthanide-ligand interactions. In particular, interactions between the cerium 4f and 6s orbitals produced more complex spectra than those observed for the lanthanum analogue.

Complementing these experimental studies, the group completed a theoretical investigation of LnO, LnO+, LnS and LnS+ across the lanthanide series (Ln = La-Lu). Multiconfiguration spin-orbit calculations revealed systematic trends in bonding and electronic-state splitting across the series and provided a framework for interpreting high-resolution spectroscopic measurements.

The research program also expanded through a collaboration with a French synchrotron facility to pursue photoelectron spectroscopy studies of rare-earth species at higher photon energies. During 2025, efforts focused on developing beam-time proposals designed to expand these investigations across a broader energy range.

The group also launched a new research direction in copper catalysis.

Palladium remains the standard metal for cross-coupling reactions because of its high catalytic efficiency and well-understood chemistry. However, palladium is expensive and limited in supply. Copper is more abundant and economical, making it an attractive option for developing more sustainable catalytic processes. The challenge is that copper systems often exhibit lower catalytic turnover and more complex reaction pathways.

The group's research seeks to identify the copper species that operate during catalytic reactions, since understanding these active species is essential for establishing reaction mechanisms and improving catalytic efficiency and selectivity. During catalysis, the oxidation state and coordination environment of copper can change dynamically, making it difficult to distinguish productive intermediates from off-cycle species.

To address this challenge, researchers use in situ spectroscopic measurements spanning the far-infrared to X-ray energy range, supported by electronic-structure calculations. Far-infrared measurements will be conducted through a new collaboration with the Canadian Light Source.

Earlier collaborations with Argonne National Laboratory on X-ray absorption spectroscopy helped shape the group's broader research strategy. In 2025, the program emphasized international collaboration and the integration of spectroscopy and theory to better understand the electronic nature of reactive metal centers.

The long-term goal is to deepen understanding of rare-earth f-electron systems and earth-abundant transition-metal catalysts while developing more predictive approaches for heavy-element chemistry and catalytic processes.

Yang Profile