Graduate students that are interested in pursuing research in the field of organic chemistry with interests in catalysis, the development of asymmetric methods, natural product total synthesis, and medicinal chemistry can contact Dr. Lambert as we are currently accepting new graduate students!
*All email addresses on this page are @odu.edu
Shannon Weaver – Email: sweaver@
Undergraduate: Indiana University
Degree: B.S. in Mathematics
Shannon joined the Lambert group in the summer of 2021 after completing her undergraduate studies at Indiana University and post-baccalaureate studies at ODU. Concurrently with her undergraduate program, Shannon served in the United States Navy as an Engineering Laboratory Technician aboard a nuclear aircraft carrier. Shannon is pursuing a PhD. in chemistry with an interest in computational chemistry. Shannon enjoys horseback riding while not in the laboratory.
Shayne Weierbach – Email: sweierba@
Undergraduate: Christopher Newport University
Degree: B.S. in Chemistry
Shayne joined the Lambert group in the Fall of 2021 after completing undergraduate studies in chemistry. Shayne is from Yorktown, VA., and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry at ODU. His main interests in chemistry are natural product synthesis and process chemistry. Outside of school, Shayne enjoys playing chess, hockey, and soccer.
Karen Vargas – Email: kvargas@
Undergraduate: University of New Haven, B.S. in Forensic Science, chemistry concentration
Masters Graduate: University of New Haven, M.S. in Chemistry with graduate certificate in analytical chemistry
Karen joined the Lambert Research group in the Fall of 2022. Originally from New Jersey, she achieved her degrees at University of New Haven in West Haven Connecticut. Karen is interested in drug discovery chemistry and plans to pursue pharmaceutical development after graduation.
Kostantinos “Kosta” Vlasakakis – Email: kvlasaka@
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 organic chemistry, focusing a synthesizing bioactive natural products. His hobbies include discussing politics with philosophy and preparing Greek dishes such as Loukoumades or Greek coffee.
Cylah Bruno – Email: cbruno@
Cylah joined the Lambert group during the spring 2023 semester after completing a B.S. in Biochemistry at ODU. She is from the island of Dominica and is currently working on a PhD in Chemistry while serving in the United States Airforce. Cylah is interested in Medicinal Chemistry with hopes of merging her military and professional career. Outside of the lab she enjoys cooking and traveling to experience different cultures.