Our Group
Our research interests are in the development of novel synthetic methods, computational investigations of chemical reactivity, and the total synthesis of biologically relevant natural products. By developing robust and more environmentally sustainable methodologies, particularly those involving catalysis, we seek to streamline access to the complex architectures found within natural products, as well as, core structural motifs that are of interest to both medicinal and synthetic chemists.
Welcome our new undergrads!
Dr. Lambert receives NASA – VSGC grant!
Congratulations Stephonda!
Join us in congratulating Stephonda on becoming the second ever recipient of the Perisie Scholarship! Her award will cover all tuition and living expenses to attend Eastern Virginia Medical School this fall. We’re so proud of you Stephonda! [link]
Welcome to our group James
Welcome our new undergrads!
Congratulation’s Shannon!
Join us in celebrating our graduate researcher, Shannon Stephens. Shannon was very recently selected as a VSGC Graduate Research Fellow for the 2024-2025 academic year, through Virginia Space Grant Consortium. Her research will focus on computationally modeling changes in dissolved organic carbon as it travels through water ways and into the ocean.
Congrats on graduating Jennifer!
Dr. Lambert receives ODU College of sciences award
Congratulations Dr. Lambert on receiving the College of Sciences 2023-2024 Outreach Award for his work in organizing ODU’s Reign in Science event!
Congrats Gessica!
New Publication!
New Publication!
Science Ambassadors – Reign in Science Day! – 2023
Old Dominion University Department of Chemistry held it’s third Reign in Science Day organized by Drs. Bender, Hardy, and Lambert. Our interdepartmental Science Ambassadors took the opportunity to teach local families about their STEM research through interactive and engaging research activities. Other activities included planetarium shows, tours of the building and a tie dye station! Click here to see us featured on the ODU website!
Welcome Cylah!
Congratulation’s Shannon!
Congratulations Jennifer!
Join us in celebrating Jennifer in her selection as the first ODU student to be chosen for a Goldwater Scholar award! Funded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation and Department of Defense, Jennifer was selected as one of 413 students out of over 5000 applications. She’s even celebrated on our school’s website!
Welcome new undergrads!
New Group Photo!
Welcome Jean!
Welcome new undergrads!
Congrats Kosta
Good Luck Stephonda!
Congrats Robert!
Inaugural Science Ambassadors – Reign in Science Day!
This past Saturday (9-18-21) Old Dominion University Department of Chemistry held it’s first Reign in Science Day organized by Drs. Bender, Hardy, and Lambert. Our Science Ambassadors took the opportunity to teach local families about their recent chemistry research through interactive and engaging research activities. Some of the research demonstrations included assembling puzzles of natural products (great job Kellen!), predicting favorite ice cream flavors using machine learning concepts (great job Shannon!), and other activities such as planetarium shows, elephant toothpaste and hydrogen balloon demos, lab tours and converting pennies into brass curated by Shayne and Robert (awesome job guys!), among others. It was a great opportunity to give back to the community and it was fun to see everyone having a good time!
First Landing State Park Field Trip
Welcome Shayne!
Welcome Shannon and Kellen!
Congrats Robert!
Congratulations to Robert! Robert was awarded an American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship for his proposed title: “New Methods Employing Borrowing Hydrogen Catalysis to Synthesize Biologically Important Nitrogen Heterocycles” and will support his efforts this summer. He will present his research findings at a poster session this September at Pfizer’s R&D site in Groton, Connecticut. To learn more about the ACS SURF program and Robert’s Fellowship click HERE.
Congrats Olivia and Kosta!
Congratulations to Olivia and Kosta! Olivia and Kosta’s undergraduate research project, which is focused on developing selective, metal-free methods for the oxidation of sulfur-containing compounds has been selected for funding by the ODU Perry Honors College and Office of Research to support their efforts this summer and over the next year!