THE W TEAM
Dr. Sarah Wengryniuk
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Robert L. Smith Early Career Professor
Email: sarahw@temple.edu
  • Postdoc, The Scripps Research Institute (Prof. Phil S. Baran) 2012-2014
  • Ph.D. Duke University (Prof. Don M. Coltart) 2012
  • B.S. Chemistry and Biology, Winthrop University, 2007
  • Professional CV

Graduate Students

Andres Vazquez-Lopez
Fifth Year
Originally from Lancaster, PA, Andres completed undergraduate studies at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA.  He did research under the guidance of Dr. Timothy Peelen, working on nucleophilic catalyzed Ireland-Claisen rearrangements of allylic acrylates.  Andres also spent a summer working under the guidance of Dr. Robert Flowers at Lehigh University, studying the role of additives in organic  reductions using Samarium (II) Iodide before moving to Philadelphia to pursue his PhD. 

Andres is currently pursuing novel transformations using N-HVIs and their applications as a group transfer reagents. 
email: andres.vazquez-lopez@temple.edu

Bill Motsch
​Fourth Year
Born in Erie, PA, Bill recieved his BSc from McGill University in Montreal, Canada where he worked on various organocatalysis projects in Dr. Jim Gleason's lab.  He then moved to Florida to do a masters program with Dr. Juan Del Valle where he worked on natural product total synthesis.  After working at CoreRx in Clearwater, FL as a pharmaceutical preformulations researcher, he decided to move back up north to join the lab in 2019. 

Bill currently works on studying the physical properties of N-HVI reagents and how they can be used to form new C-N bonds. 
email: bill.motsch@temple.edu

Matt Sherwood 
Third Year
Originally from Long Branch, New Jersey, Matt earned his BA in chemistry at Rutgers University-Newark where he worked on several medicinal chemistry projects in Dr. Joel Freundlich’s group at Rutgers-NJMS. These projects primarily focused on the synthesis of novel small molecule antibiotics.

Matt is currently working on the total synthesis of heliannuol natural products utilizing N-HVI mediated oxidative ring expansion.

email: matthew.sherwood0001@temple.edu

​
Cassie Sedler
Third Year
Originally from Bethlehem, PA, Cassie Received a B.S in Chemistry from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. In the summer of 2019, she participated in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she worked in the lab of Professor Patrick Dussault Synthesizing functionalized fatty acid analogs. 

Cassie is currently working on using N-HVI reagents in the new C-H amination and further developing the N-HVI mediated oxidative ring expansion.

email: cassandra.sedler@temple.edu

Undergraduates

Christopher Stephen 
​
Chris is currently working alongside Bill on Team E-Chem, developing new oxidative strategies for the synthesis of pyridinium salts.​
Vishnupriya Pothukuchi
Biology Major
​
Vish is a Junior at Temple University. She was born in Bucks County, PA and plans on attending Medical school after she graduates. She is currently working alongside Andres on the development of Ritter-type amination of olefins using I(III) reagents.
FORMER MEMBERS
Postdocs
Dr. Xiao Xiao, ​Postdoc
Member:  2017-2020
Current: Assistant Professor, Shanghai Normal University
Dr. Anthony Tierno, ​Postdoc
Member:  2016-2018
Current:  Assistant Professor, Towson University 
Dr. Brandon Kelly, ​Postdoc
Member:  2014-2016
Current:  Healthcare Industry Management Consultant, Vynamic
Dr. Dimitris Noustias, ​Postdoc
Member:  2015-2016
Current:  Postdoc, Pihko Lab
Graduate Students

Alexi Martin, M.S.

  • Masters Degree, 2022. 
  • Current: TCG GreenChem Inc.
  • B.S. Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Bilal Hoblos,  Ph.D.

  • Ph.D., 2021. Thesis Title: Exploration in Medium-ring Ether Synthesis via Umpolung Heteroatom Activation: Total Synthesis, Method Development, and Reagent Synthesis.
  • Current: Bristol Myers Squibb
  • B.S. Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University Behrend Campus 2016

Myriam Mikhael,  Ph.D.

  • Ph.D., 2021. Thesis Title: Novel Umpolung Strategies for C-O bond Formation with Hypervalent Iodine Reagents.
  • Current: Post Doc. Merck & Co.
  • M.S. Chemistry, Lebanese University

Andrew Mellinger, M.S.

  • Masters Degree, 2020. 
  • Current: Abzena
  • B.S. Chemistry, Juniata University 2015

Felipe Cesar Sousa e Silva, Ph.D.

  • Ph.D., 2020. Thesis Title: Hypervalent Iodine Methods for Carbon-Nitrogen and Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation
  • Current: Postdoctoral Researcher, Michaudel Lab Texas A&M
  • B.S. Chemistry, University of Sao Paulo 2015

Jennifer Walters, M.S., Ph.D.

  • Ph.D., 2019. Thesis Title: Nitrogen-Ligated (Poly)Cationic Iodine(III) Reagents: Platforms for Reagent Development and Heterocyclic Syntheses 
  • Current: Lecturer, The Ohio State University
  • Former: Postdoctoral Researcher, Nagib Group, The Ohio State University
  • M.S. Forensic Science, Arcadia University, 2014
  • B.S. Chemistry, Arcadia University, 2013

Jessica Roth, M.S.

  • Masters Degree, 2018
  • ​Current: Research Technician, Merck Chemistry 

Maggie Meade, M.S.

  • Masters Degree, 2016
  • ​Current: R.N., University of Pennsylvania Hospital
  • Former: Technical Sales Specialist, Blacktrace Inc.
Undergraduates
Sophia Adler, ​Temple '20
  • Temple University Honors Program 
  • Major: Biochemistry
    • Current: Graduate Student, UC Berkeley 
Christopher Callas, ​Temple '20
  • Temple University Honors Program 
  • Major: Chemistry
    • ​Current: Discovery Chemist, Johnson & Johnson 
Nguyen (Wendy) Van, ​Temple '20
  • Temple University Honors Program 
  • Major: Biochemistry
    • Current: EMT Training
Nathaniel Greenwood, ​Temple '19
  • Temple University Undergraduate Research Program (URP)
  • BMS Summer Intern, Medicinal Chemistry
    • Current: NSF Graduate Fellow, Yale University (Ellman Lab)
Maria Velopolcek, ​Temple '19
  • Temple University Undergraduate Research Program
  • BMS Summer Intern, Medicinal Chemistry
    • Current: ​Graduate Student, Duke University (Wang Lab)

Aimee Dubin, ​Temple '18

  • Temple University Undergraduate Research Program (URP)
  • Frances Velay Fellowship Program, Summer 2017
    • Current: Campbell University Medical School
    • Former: Biomedical Research Specialist, UPenn

Olivia Spergel, ​Temple '18

  • University Honors Program, President's Scholar, ​
    • ​Current:

Emily Laughlin, ​Temple '17

  • Temple Chemistry, Minor: Health Care Management, 
  • Frances Velay Fellow, Summer 2016
    • ​Current: Senior Associate Scientist, Pfizer
    • Former: Medicinal Chemist (1-year co-op), GSK; M.S. Villanova

Brandon Bloomer, ​Temple '17

  • Temple Chemistry, Class of 2017
    • ​Current: Graduate Student, UC Berkeley (Hartwig Group)

Susan Gramlich, ​Temple '16

  • Diamond Research Scholar, 2015
    • ​Current: Analytical Chemist, Armstrong Flooring Inc.

Mark Gleason, ​Temple '16

  • ​​Former: Chemistry Graduate Student, University of Michigan 

Rich Aversa, ​Temple '17

  • Temple Undergraduate Research Program (URP), ​2015​