Jaileen (Jai) Myers
(Undergraduate – Summer 2022 – Spring 2024)
Jai (pictured right) joined the Lambert group in summer of 2022 as a biomedical sciences major. After taking organic chemistry II lab, she became interested in researching within the organic field to help understand her coursework better. Jai plans to get a medical degree to become an oncologist in the future.
Stephonda Lewis
(Undergraduate – Fall 2021 – Spring 2023)
Undergraduate Major: Biomedical Science
Stephonda joined the Lambert group in fall of 2021 as a biomedical sciences major. After successful completion of ODU’s M-MARC program, she matriculated into Eastern Medical School, class of 2028. She aspires to become a Pediatric Oncologist where she cannot only treat patients but conduct cancer-related research. Stephonda became fascinated by Oncology in high school after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Genesis Ramos
(Undergraduate – NSF-REU student Summer 2023)
Undergraduate Major: Chemical Engineering
Genesis joined us as a summer researcher through the NSF-REU program where she worked on investigating the electrochemical degradation of lignin. She is currently pursuing her M.S. in chemical engineering at the University of Houston.
Cecilia Cruz
(Undergraduate – NSF-REU student Summer 2023)
Undergraduate Major: Biochemistry
Cecilia joined us as a summer researcher through the NSF-REU program where she worked on investigating medicinal chemistry of atalantums. She joined ODU as an undergraduate student this fall.
Jessica Molen
(Undergraduate – Visiting student Summer 2023)
Undergraduate Major: Biochemistry
Jessica joined us as a summer researcher from Thomas Jefferson University where she worked on investigating hydrazine oxidation’s using Bobbitt’s salt. She plans to pursue graduate studies in chemistry.
Kostantinos “Kosta” Vlasakakis
(Undergraduate – Spring 2021 – Fall 2023)
Undergraduate: Old Dominion University, B.S. in Biology
Kostantinos joined the Lambert group in the Spring of 2021. He was born in Alaska, to parents who were migrants from Greece and he speaks Greek as a second language. He served as a United States Navy Hospital Corpsman for four years, consequently gaining an interest in biomedical field. After transferring to ODU from Tidewater Community College with a Summa Cum Laude Associates of Science, Kosta pursued a B.S. in Biology and is currently working towards a Ph.D. in biochemistry in the Pascal group at ODU.
Jhennalin (Jhenna) Buenavista
(Undergraduate – Summer 2022 – Spring 2023)
Jhenna Buenavista (pictured left) joined the Lambert group in summer of 2022 as a biomedical sciences major. After graduating, she plans to attend medical school in hopes of becoming a pediatrician. Jhenna developed a passion for caring for children while working in child care as well as volunteering with a Hooked on Hope, pediatric cancer nonprofit that provides fun activities/ trips for families.
Bethlehem (Betty) Dawit
(Undergraduate – Spring 2023)
Undergraduate Major: Biomedical Science
Betty graduated as a Biomedical Science Major at ODU with future plans of attending Medical School! She has a passion for global health and served as president of ODU’s Global Medical Brigades club while a undergraduate student.
Robert (Arbor) Reynolds
(Undergraduate – Spring 2021 – Spring 2022)
Arbor joined the Lambert group in the Spring of 2021, after which receiving an ACS Division of Organic Chemistry SURF fellowship to complete research over the summer of 2021. After experiencing chemical research and changing major’s into chemistry, Arbor is now pursuing a Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry at Northwestern University. Arbor joined the Mercouri Kanatzidis group investigating the synthesis and incorporation of organic molecules into new perovskite materials.
Nishi Patel
(Undergraduate – NSF-REU student Summer 2021)
Nishi lives in Salem, Virginia; however, was born and raised in India. She is trilingual in English, Hindi, and Gujarati. Nishi graduated from Salem High School in 2020 and then continued at Virginia Western Community College to pursue an Associate’s degree in Science. Following her research experience in the Lambert group on thiol oxidations during the summer of 2021 as part of the department’s NSF-REU program, she began attending the University of Virginia to pursue Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and South Asian Studies. Nishi has a keen interest in sciences, and was recently admitted into The New York University College of Dentistry class of 2028.
Conor McCormick
(Undergraduate – Visiting Student Summer 2021)
Conor joined the Lambert group during the Summer of 2021 after finishing his junior year at Christopher Newport University and conducted research developing new methods to access nitrogen heterocycles. His hobbies include Drawing, Ice Skating, Running, Video Games, and Mixing Cocktails. Conor obtained his B.S. Degree in Chemistry at CNU as part of the Presidential Leadership Program spring of 2022. He is now pursuing a PhD in Chemistry in the Castellano group at North Carolina State University. We wish you luck in graduate school!
Eric Hayes
(Undergraduate – Spring 2021 – Spring 2022)
Eric joined the Lambert group in the Spring of 2021 and conducted research on thiol oxidations prior to being re-stationed in San Diego. His interest is in organic chemistry with medicinal applications. Eric’s hobbies include golfing, skiing, and woodworking. He was previously a United States Navy helicopter pilot and is currently attending medical school at Eastern Virginia Medical School with aspirations of becoming a physician. Eric we wish you luck at EVMS this fall.
Ramsey Ritter
(Graduate – Fall 2020 – Summer 2021)
Undergraduate: Old Dominion University
Degree: B.S. in Biochemistry
Ramsey joined the Lambert group in the Fall of 2020 after completing his undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at Old Dominion University, where he served as the Community Outreach Officer of the Student Veteran Association. Prior to his undergraduate studies, Ramsey served in the United States Army as a Healthcare Specialist from 2012-2016. His hobbies include: painting, playing bass guitar, and brewing beer. We wish Ramsey good luck as he pursues his PhD with the Bender Research Group.
Olivia White
(Undergraduate – Spring 2021 – Summer 2021)
Olivia joined the Lambert research group to pursue organic chemistry research while pursing a degree in Biochemistry at Old Dominion University. After graduating, Olivia plans to pursue medicine as a physician. Away from school Olivia enjoys serving the community as an EMT.
Kellen McGuire
(Graduate – Summer 2021 – Fall 2022)
Kellen joined the Lambert group in the Summer of 2021 after completing his undergraduate studies in biochemistry, biography, and Spanish. His efforts resulted in one publication in the Journal of Chemical Education, 2022[Link] and he presented his work at the ACS national meeting in the spring of 2022 in San Diego, California. Kellen is currently pursuing opportunities in his home state of Ohio.
John “Jack” Schrider
(Undergraduate – Spring 2022 – Spring 2023)
Undergraduate Major: Chemistry and Biochemistry
Jack is a graduating senior chemistry undergraduate student at Old Dominion University, who joined the Lambert research group summer of 2022. He is interested in further pursuing a chemistry Ph.D in organic synthesis. On his free time, Jack enjoys listening to music and cooking.
Gessica Adorato
(Post Baccalaureate – Spring 2022 – Spring 2023)
Undergraduate Major: Classics
Gessica joined the Lambert group in Spring 2022. She holds a bachelor’s degree in classics from the University of Washington – Seattle where she studied Latin, Ancient Greek, and Sanskrit. Gessica completed her studies in the spring of 2023 and is now currently pursuing a Ph.D in Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh working in the area of computational chemistry. In her free time she enjoys figure skating, art, and sewing.