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.

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]

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!

Join us in congratulating Jennifer in graduating with a double major in both Chemistry and Biochemistry! Jennifer plans to matriculate as a master’s student this Fall at ODU.

Congrats Gessica!

Congratulation’s to our previous group member Gessica Adorato on being chosen as a NSF GFRP graduate student fellow! Good luck on all of your research at University of Pittsburg.

New Publication!

Check out our new publication “Green Oxidation of Aromatic Hydrazide Derivatives Using an Oxoammonium Salt”. This work was in collaboration with the Milligan group at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. Congrats Shannon and Shayne on the good work.

New Publication!

Check out our new publication “Advancements in the synthesis of polyoxygenated oxepanes and thiepanes for applications to natural product”. Congrats Shayne on completing such a thorough review article!

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!

We are excited to welcome our new graduate student, Cylah to our research group! Cylah is a recent graduate of Biochemistry ODU and will be completing her PhD with us.

Welcome Jean!

We are so excited to welcome our very first post doctoral fellow, Jean Bray! Jean joins us from University of Connecticut where she recently graduated. Thank you Jean for moving here and becoming the newest member of our research group.

Congrats Kosta

Join us in celebrating Kosta for his selection into the Undergraduate Research & Creativity Grant Program from ODU’s Perry Honors College.

Good Luck Stephonda!

Stephonda will be joining Northwestern’s chemistry department this summer for organic chemistry research. We’re sure she will learn a lot and hopefully have some fun in Chicago while she is there!

Congrats Robert!

Join us in celebrating Robert graduating and heading to Northwestern University to pursue graduate studies! As a graduating senior, Robert was honored as the top physical chemistry student for 2021 – 2022 academic school year. Were all very proud of you 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!

Welcome Shayne!

Shayne Weierbach joins us this fall after completing his studies in chemistry at Christopher Newport University.

Welcome Shayne!

Welcome Shannon and Kellen!

Shannon Weaver joins us this summer after completing her studies in chemistry at ODU and Kellen McGuire joins us this summer from Heidelberg University after completing his studies in biochemistry. Welcome to the group 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!

Lambert Group On Twitter!