The Milner Group, Fall 2024
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Reum Scott Reum Scott received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and Master of Science from Howard University. Under the guidance of Dr. Lara Estroff in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) at Cornell, he completed his PhD studying the mechanism of sol-gel combustion to produce crystalline calcium phosphates and the application of sol-gel combustion in the production of bio-inspired composites to mimic the structure of bone. Currently, he is jointly advised by Phill and Julia Dshemuchadse in MSE to bridge coarse-grain simulation and experimentation. Can simulation be used to predict MOF assembly?
Dr. Jiachen He Jiachen earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Henan University, where she conducted research under the mentorship of Prof. Qiuxia Han, focusing on the applications of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in photocatalysis. She then pursued her PhD in the Department of Chemistry at Indiana University Bloomington, under the supervision of Prof. Silas Cook. Her PhD research centered on harnessing radicals in trifluoromethylation, borylation, and anti-Markovnikov hydroesterification. In the Milner lab, Jiachen will focus on leveraging MOFs to develop innovative approaches to pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals with fluorinated gases. Outside of lab, she enjoys hiking, playing video games, and watching movies.
Graduate Students
Sijing (Zoe) Meng
I’m from Jinan, a beautiful city in China with 72 springs (thus called “spring city”). I chose to study abroad after high school. During my undergraduate study at UC San Diego, I fell in love with the beauty of the world of organic molecules (shout out to amazing Dr. Bob!!!). After I spent one year working in Theodorakis Lab and two years at Takeda as a medicinal chemistry intern, I realized I was not satisfied with what I knew. Then, here I am~ Cornell C&CB Program! In free time (do I have any?), I WANT TO learn guitar, Japanese, singing and drawing (too procrastinated to do anything). I have always been struggling to reconcile with both my “artistic” and “scientific” nature, so hopefully in the future, I am able to truly combine Art and Science (hence the name of this college…) and bring awareness about the aesthetics of science.
Tristan Pitt
Tristan grew up in Boise, Idaho-a great place with lots of mountains and state parks to enjoy. He attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota and received a BA in chemistry with minors in Arabic and Middle East Studies. As an undergraduate, Tristan researched 2D thin-film mixed metal oxide semiconductors for photoelectrochemical water splitting applications. After graduating, he worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory for non-aqueous redox flow batteries, among other projects. In the Milner group, he is currently studying N2O capture and utilization in open-metal-site MOFs, and conductivity in N-heterocyclic carbene-based 2D MOFs. Outside of lab, Tristan enjoys spending time outdoors, cooking, reading, listening to music, playing piano and petting his cat.
Kaitlyn Keasler
Kaitlyn grew up in a small, rural town in northern NJ. She received an A.B. in Chemistry and a certificate in Materials Science and Engineering from Princeton University. In undergrad, she studied transition metal-catalyzed C(sp2)–H functionalization in the Chirik group. At Cornell, she joined the Milner group to leverage MOFs as a strategy to explore poorly understood transformations in organic chemistry. Aside from chemistry, she loves learning about religion and Biblical Hebrew. In her free time, she greatly enjoys cooking new foods, hiking, spending time with friends and family, and cuddling with cats (or dogs!). Since her apartment has a no-pet policy, she volunteers at the Sciencenter and hangs out with lizards, snakes and horseshoe crabs instead!
Jianheng (Allen) Ling
Allen attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana and earned a B.S. in Biochemistry. While at Purdue, he first conducted undergraduate research with Prof. Jeremy Lohman, studying enzymology and synthesizing inhibitors for the study of substrate specificity and mechanism of acyltransferases. After spending two years dealing with different types of proteins and learning how to think like an experienced biochemist, he decided to explore research in organic chemistry, and joined the lab of Prof. Christopher Uyeda, studying azo ring-opening metathesis polymerizations. Here at Cornell, Allen is interested in making new COFs and using them as porous materials for potential applications in energy storage, catalysis, and chemical separations.
Emily Stacy Emily grew up in Hunterdon County, New Jersey and earned her B.S. in Chemistry and B.S in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech. As an undergraduate researcher, she worked in the Carlier group on the synthesis of betacarboline amides for use as antimalarial drugs. In the Milner lab, Emily works on fluoroalkylation and fluorosulfurylation via gaseous reagents stored and delivered using porous materials. Outside of the lab, she enjoys skiing, reading sci-fi/fantasy, and spending time with her cat Fig.
Yihuan Lai Yihuan was born and raised in China and received a B.S. in Chemistry from Nankai University. While at Nankai she worked under the supervision of Dr. Dazhen to develop iron-catalyzed oxidative coupling reactions. She also did a lot of synthetic organic chemistry during her undergraduate study. In her junior year, she was a visiting student in Prof. Song Lin’s group at Cornell University for half a year, then She liked Cornell very much and tried to pursue a higher degree here. After graduating from Nankai University, she worked as a research assistant at Peking University in China. During that year, her major goal is to develop recyclable polymer materials by ring opening and ring closing reactions of lactones. Her current research interests include electrocatalysis and redox active materials. Outside of Chemistry, Yihuan enjoys drawing, cooking and hiking.
Bayu Ahmad Bayu (by-you) is originally from the metropolitan area of Jakarta, Indonesia but found some comfort in the countryside during his undergraduate study at Middlebury College, Vermont. He studied chemistry alongside minors in computer science and global health and conducted his thesis work on synthesizing a ruthenium-complexed molecular wire monomer with Professor Jeff Byers. He also interned for Professor Tim Cernak at the University of Michigan doing total synthesis and at Merck contributing to discovery chemistry projects. In the Milner group, he seeks to explore the untapped potential of MOFs for catalysis. Outside lab, Bayu is an avid coffee drinker who likes to spend time with his cuddly cat, game, volunteer, ponder over the existence of free will, and do long-distance overland travel. His other passions include advocating for LGBTQ rights and environmental justice.
Mary Eaton Mary was born and raised in sunny Oldsmar, Florida and received her B.S. in Chemistry at the University of Florida. As an undergrad in Prof. Leslie Murray’s research group, Mary studied how multiple transition metal centers can work in concert to activate and functionalize energy-relevant small molecules such as N2, CO2, CO and H2. In the Milner lab at Cornell, she will be working on the application of MOFs in selective C–H activation. In her free time, Mary enjoys soaking up nature, reading a good book, traveling, and learning about wine.
Alexandra Lim Alexandra was born and raised in Washington State and received her B.S. in chemistry from Rice University. While at Rice, she worked on the deuteration of unactivated alkenes using cooperative hydrogen atom transfer (cHAT) under the supervision of Dr. Julian West. In the Milner lab, Alexandra will be working on CO2 capture with -OH based materials. Outside of lab, she enjoys baking, hiking, and listening to music.
Daniel Nakamura Danny grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Rochester. During his time there, he investigated nickel-catalyzed olefin difunctionalization by transposition of amides. In the Milner group, he looks forward to working with MOF catalysts and exploring their unique reactivity. Outside the lab, he spends his time reading, baking, and being terrorized by his cats (Jimmy and Fern).
Katrina Doherty
Katrina grew up in South Windsor, Connecticut and received her B.S. in Chemistry with a Materials Science minor from University of Connecticut. During her undergrad, she worked under the supervision of Dr. Nicholas Leadbeater, researching greener oxidative transformations, particularly using nitroxyl radicals and oxoammonium salts. In the Milner Lab, Katrina looks forward to investigating new redox-active organic materials. Outside of lab, she enjoys playing volleyball, crocheting, baking, and listening to music.
Priyadarshini Baidya
I was born and raised in India and completed my integrated BS-MS dual degree in Chemistry with Biology as a minor subject at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. During my time in IISER, I worked in Prof. Sukhendu Mandal’s lab, focusing on new synthesis methods for tuning the intracluster Ag–Ag interactions in silver cluster-assembled materials, which, in turn, influence their photophysical properties. I am enthusiastic to work on H2S gas delivery using metal-organic frameworks with the Milner group. Outside the lab, I enjoy painting and am currently trying my luck with the Ukulele. Also, I am a certified Potterhead!
Shuyi Lin
Shuyi grew up in the coastal city of Fuzhou, China and received her BA degree in chemistry and environmental studies from Middlebury College. At Middlebury, she investigated photo-physical properties of organic semiconductors with Professor Benjamin Cotts and developed analytical techniques for total P determination in invertebrates with Professor Molly Costanza-Robinson. She also worked with Professor Chelsea Heveran at the Montana State University exploring the potential of mycelium and biomineralizing bacteria as sustainable building materials. As a joint student in the Milner group and the Coates group, she is excited to work on polymer and MOFs. Outside of lab, Shuyi enjoys bird-watching, listening to music, and observing her pet gecko and snake (Radical and Obsidian).
Carolyn Ma
Carolyn grew up in Vancouver, Canada, and then San Jose, California. She earned a B.S. in chemistry with a minor in philosophy from Emory University, where she worked under the supervision of Prof. Huw Davies to develop dirhodium catalysts for selective C–H functionalization. In the Milner group, Carolyn hopes to work on developing new strategies for chemical separations. Outside of lab, she enjoys all things bike related (especially going on long bicycle tours and volunteering as a bike mechanic), as well as reading, cooking, and spending time outdoors!
Yujing Wang
Yujing grew up in Nanjing, China, and received her B.A. in Chemistry and Computer Science from Mount Holyoke College. There, she conducted computational chemistry research in Prof. Maria Gomez’s group, applying Diffusion Monte Carlo to investigate proton delocalization in doped barium zirconate. Then she missed experimental research a lot, and found her passion for synthesis (and spectroscopy)! As a joint student in Milner lab and Musser lab, she is excited to explore electrophotocatalysis. Outside the lab, Yujing enjoys baking, listening to music, and watching musicals.
Clarisse Doligon
Clarisse was born in the Philippines and migrated to the US in high school. She went to a liberal arts college, Franklin and Marshall. She fell in love with chemistry after doing research with Dr. Kate Plass in materials chemistry. There, Clarisse explored the effects of consecutive post-synthetic ion exchanges on Cu2-xS nanorods. She also took a total synthesis class that sparked her interest in organic chemistry, so she interned at Bristol Myers Squibb where she worked on synthesizing photoaffinity labels integrated in ligand directed degrader. In the Milner lab, she wants to explore the combination of her undergraduate research projects: integrate synthetic organic and materials chemistry. Outside of the lab, she loves playing video games with friends and taking care of her pets (Mulan = bunny and Peanut = hamster) and plants. She enjoys going out on a picnic under a tree (sometimes bringing her bunny too) and taking a breather surrounded by nature.
Phuong Nguyen
Phuong grew up in Ho Chi Minh city, Viet Nam and spent 18 years trying to find the perfect Vietnamese milk coffee recipe (she still hasn’t). She went to Johns Hopkins for her Chemistry degree, where she worked with Professor Thomas Lectka on fluorination methods and studied fluorine interactions with other functionalities. Upon joining the Milner group, she will work with MOFs for the first time and see how they can accommodate fluorination. Outside of lab, she enjoys cooking, listening to music, and walking around beautiful sceneries.
Undergraduate Students
Julia Pitolaj My name is Julia and I’m from Rochester, NY. I’m studying chemistry in the College of Arts & Sciences and I look forward to exploring the use of MOFs in organic synthesis as part of the Milner Lab. In my free time, I enjoy playing piano, listening to music, watching TV shows and spending time with friends.
Zayim Jamil My name is Zayim Jamil and I am an undergraduate student from Southborough, Massachusetts pursuing a chemistry major and a psychology minor in the College of Arts & Sciences. I am interested in the applications of MOFs and related compounds in environmental sustainability and drug development. Outside of research, I enjoy spending time with friends, learning obscure facts, competing in esports tournaments, and obsessing over the color green.
Ian Lillie My name is Ian, and I’m an undergraduate from San Diego, California studying Materials Science & Engineering in the College of Engineering. I’m interested in the synthesis of novel materials such as polymers and COFs, and their applications in human health and sustainability. Beyond my academic interests, I’m super outdoorsy and go running every day, rain, sleet or shine! I also love to downhill and cross-country ski, backpack, hike, and have recently taken an interest in rock climbing.
Valerie Chang My name is Valerie and I’m a senior majoring in Chemistry and pursuing minors in Linguistics and History. My research interests include bioinorganic chemistry and inorganic/organic synthesis. Outside of chemistry I’m teaching myself how to knit and play guitar, and my favorite artists are currently Arctic Monkeys, Lana Del Rey, Alice In Chains, and Pink Floyd!
Paige Burch
Hi, my name is Paige Burch and I am an undergraduate student from Long Island, NY. I am studying chemistry in the College of Arts & Sciences. I am interested in the synthesis of MOFs and related materials, and their applications in drug development. In my free time, I love to unwind by working out, drawing & painting, and discovering new music.
Sky Chen
My name is Sky Chen and I’m from New York City. I’m studying chemistry in the College of Arts & Sciences, and I’m interested in researching MOF tandem catalysis for pharmaceutical synthesis. During my free time, I enjoy playing badminton, hanging out with friends, and watching all sorts of shows.