Ph.D. Students
Irin Elizabeth Aby (G1)
B.S.-M.S. Chemistry Dual Degree, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, India (2023)
Hometown: Palakkad, Kerala
Fun Fact: Can doze off within 5 min of inactivity
Favorite Element: Helium
iaby [at] ur.rochester.edu
Chris Hastings (G4)
Weissberger Fellow (2022)
B.S. Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, 2020
Hometown: Killeen, TX
Fun Fact: Loves to play pool
Favorite Element: Thallium
chastin4 [at] ur.rochester.edu
Lucy Huffman (G2)
Sherman-Clarke Fellow (2023)
She/Her/Hers
B.S. Chemistry and B. S. Mathematics, Oregon State University (2019)
Hometown: Issaquah, WA
Fun Fact: Loves Dungeons & Dragons
Favorite Element: Tin
lhuffman[at]ur.rochester.edu
Bevan Whitehead (G4)
DeRight Fellow (2023)
He/Him/His
B.A. Chemistry, Vassar College, 2019
Hometown: South Portland, ME
Fun Facts: Loves to bake and helped construct an 8’x16′ periodic table in fifth grade
Favorite Element: Lithium
bwhiteh4 [at] ur.rochester.edu
Undergraduates
Justin Hao (’27)
He/Him/His
Hometown: Southlake, Texas
Fun Fact: I love classical music!
Favorite Molecule: Cubane
jhao5 [at] u.rochester.edu
Hope Silva (’24)
Goldwater Scholar (2023)
Schwartz Discover Scholar (2023)
Dean Marvin Fellow (2022)
She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Newtown Square, PA
Fun Fact: I play squash
Favorite Molecule: Buckyball
hsilva3 [at] u.rochester.edu
Miranda Stewart (’25)
Schwartz Discover Scholar (2023)
ACS Scholar
She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Highland Park, IL
Fun Fact: I have a blue birthmark on my back!
Favorite molecule: any anhydride!
mstewa31[at]u.rochester.edu
Paul Yoon (’24)
Hometown: Katy, TX/Seoul, South Korea
Fun Fact: I’ve played the viola for 14 years
Favorite Molecule: H2O
pyoon4 [at] u.rochester.edu
Marina Zapesochny (’25)
Schwartz Discover Scholar (2023)
She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Fun Fact: When I’m not in the lab, I’m probably performing in choir or theater
Favorite Molecule: Penguinone
mzapesoc[at]u.rochester.edu