Members

Dr. Afsar Ali (PD)

Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh India

Email: aali37@ur.rochester,edu

Research: I am looking forward to designing biomimetic cobalt complexes consisting of Janus peptide chains at the outer coordination sphere and deploying for small molecules electro-reduction (nitrite, carbon dioxide, oxygen and proton reduction reactions). Herein, I am exploring the buffer’s pKa effects on tuning the product selectivity.

Alison Salamatian (G6)

Manchester, Connecticut

B.S. Chemistry, University of Connecticut

Email: asalamat@ur.rochester.edu

Research: My current research focuses on CoMC6*a, a synthetic mini enzyme that catalyzes reduction reactions. Additionally, I am characterizing the water-based CO2 reduction using semisynthetic protein catlyst CoMP11. These reactions are of interest for environmentally green and renewable fuels.

Kaye Kuphal (G5)

Guilin, China

Owensboro, Kentucky

B.A. Biochemistry, Colgate University

Email: kkuphal@ur.rochester.edu

Research: I am excited to work on bioinorganic projects. My research focuses on electrocatalytic nitrite/nitrate reduction using inorganic catalysts. Outside of lab, I am an oboist, pianist, and creative writer.

Ryan Kosko (G5)

Greece, NY

B.S. Chemistry, SUNY Geneseo

Email: rkosko@ur.rochester.edu

Research: My research focuses on heavy-metal free systems for artificial photosynthesis. I utilize organic dye photosensitizers and biocatalysts for light-driven hydrogen production.

Hafsa Irfan (G4)

 Lahore, Pakistan

 B.S. Chemistry, Lahore University of Managment Sciences

I'm excited to work in the Bren lab to amalgamate moleculary biology with photochemistry and electrochemistry! My current research would involve expressing cytochrome proteins for use as hydrogen evolution carbon dioxide reduction catalysts. 

Email: hirfan@ur.rochester.edu

María Fernanda Lizarazo (G4)

Bogotá D.C, Colombia

B.S. Chemistry, National University of Colombia

My research focuses on CdSe nanoparticles and porphyrin catalysts for photochemical hydrogen production. I am using electrochemical methods to characterize these catalysts and understand their reactivity.

Email: mlizaraz@ur.rochester.edu

Soraya Ngarnim (G4)

N'Djamena, Chad

Fairfax ,Virgina

B.S. Chemistry, George Mason University

My research focuses on the use of electrogenic bacteria as electron donors in photochemical hydrogen evolution systems. I am also using electrochemical systems to study the behavior of these bacteria.

Email: sngarnim@ur.rochester.edu 

Karishma Ramesh (G2)

Bangalore, India

B.S. Chemistry, St. Joseph's University, Bangalore

M.S. Chemistry, St. Joseph's University, Bangalore

I am excited to learn about photochemical proton and carbon dioxide reduction in the Bren lab!!

Alana Huynh (G2)

York, Pensylvania

B.S. Biochemistry, Ursinus College, Collegeville

I am a joint student in the Bren and Partridge groups. 

Hafsa Mohamed

Kenya

Rochester, NY

Email: hmohame6@u.rochester.edu 

Research: I am Hafsa, pronounced the same as FAFSA. I am a rising third-year undergraduate at the University of Rochester who recently got the chance to work for a summer in the Bren Lab. I intend to continue being here since I loved this opportunity so much. I have been working on CO2 reduction in electrochemical and photochemical systems.