Current Members

Alexandra Velian

Principal Investigator

Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry, MIT 2015
B.S. w/ honors, Caltech 2009
avelian (at) uw.edu

Read more about Professor Velian here.

6th Year Graduate Student

B.S. in Chemistry, University of Michigan 2020

mriehs (at) uw.edu

Outside of working on 2D materials I enjoy reading, playing guitar, and finding new recipes to try out in the kitchen.

Daniel Zhou

6th Year Graduate Student

B.S. in Chemistry, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa 2020

danielyz (at) uw.edu

In the lab, I enjoy being in the glovebox and synthesizing new inorganic compounds. During my free time, I enjoy playing video games, watching sports, and finding new places to eat in Seattle.

Andrei Draguicevic

5th Year Graduate Student

B.A. in Chemistry, Williams College 2021

asd10 (at) uw.edu

My undergraduate research was focused on synthesizing metal binding ligands to remediate environmental heavy-metal pollution. I usually spend my free time playing basketball and cooking, but I’ve recently been exploring Seattle’s restaurants and natural scenery.

Robert Love

5th Year Graduate Student

B.A. Chemistry & B.S. Neuroscience, U. Rochester ’19

rjlove (at) uw.edu

As an undergraduate, I worked on synthesizing, characterizing, and looking at the reactivity of cyclic polyoxovanadate-alkoxide clusters. In my free time, I enjoy exploring new places, camping, and playing board games with friends.

Ella Spurlock

4th Year Graduate Student; NSF GRFP (2024)

H.B.S. in Chemistry, University of Utah 2022

espurloc (at) uw.edu

During my undergraduate degree, my research focused on synthesizing and characterizing the 2D π-d conjugated coordinate polymer CuBHT. Outside of lab, I love to read high fantasy books, train on aerial silks, plays D&D, and spend time in the great outdoors with my friends and partner.

3rd Year Graduate Student

B.S. in Chemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology 2023

hakins3 (at) uw.edu

As an undergraduate, I worked on synthesizing strongly electron donating, weak field ligands for the isolation of tetravalent  lanthanides. Outside of lab, I love to listen to podcasts, play roller derby, and explore new places in Seattle.

Lauren Peck

3rd Year Graduate Student

B.S. in Chemistry, Providence College, 2023
lpeck8 (at) uw.edu

My undergraduate research focused on the synthesis and characterization of iron complexes that contained redox active ligands. I spend my free time reading, baking, and crocheting.

Natacha Oget

2nd Year Graduate Student

B.S. in Chemistry, University of California San Diego, 2024

natoget (at) uw.edu

During my undergraduate degree, I worked on tuning the colloidal synthesis of transition metal dichalcogenides. Outside of lab, I like to cook new recipes, hang out by the lake, and explore Seattle.

Nicholas Giunto

1st Year Graduate Student

B.S. in Chemistry, University of South Florida , 2025

ngiunto (at) uw.edu

My undergraduate research focused on the synthesis and characterization of biocompatible, bismuth-based perovskites. Outside of lab, I enjoy playing video games, hiking, and exploring Seattle.

Yangyang Lyu

1st Year Graduate Student

B.A. in Chemistry and B.A. in Anthropology, Smith College, 2025

yangyl6 (at) uw.edu

My undergraduate research focused on organic synthesis and mechanistic study with iron-catalyzed alpha-amination. Outside of the lab, I enjoyed baking, reading nonfiction, exploring markets, museums, and nature.

Simon Wong

Undergraduate

B.S. in Biochemistry, University of Washington 2026
swong119 (at) uw.edu

Outside of metal cluster synthesis in the lab, I enjoy gaming, creating 3D art, and learning about environmental philosophy and ethics. 

Sabine Kimball

Undergraduate

B.S. in Chemistry, University of Washington 2027
smk09 (at) uw.edu

Outside of lab, I love reading, hiking and backpacking, listening to music, and going to concerts and sports games.