Chemistry

Dr. Jinwen Zhang is a professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Washington State University. He is an expert in sustainable polymer materials, with nearly 30 years of research experience in synthesis of biobased polymers, recyclable thermosets, and chemical recycling of plastic and composite waste.

Ritama Ghosh will present a seminar titled “Engineering Dendrimer-Based Platforms for Prostate Cancer Therapy.”

Dr. Sebastian Stoian is currently a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Idaho. Dr. Stoian explores iron and cobalt complexes using Mössbauer and electron paramagnetic resonance techniques to reveal their unique magnetic and electronic properties.

Vikrantvir Jain, from Dr. Anjali Sharma’s group is defending his proposal titled “Nanotherapeutics for Targeted and Effective Liver-Specific Drug Delivery.”

Sarah Farahani, a member of Dr. Bell’s group, will present her proposal titled “Applications of 3D Printing Towards the Fabrication of a Fully 3D-Printed Electrochemical Setup.”

Daniel Wu’s proposal explores innovative gas-phase chemical labeling techniques to enhance mass spectrometry’s ability to probe structural features of proteins and lipids. Using a custom SLIM platform, the research focuses on three aims: applying Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange to study structural changes in peptides, using ozonolysis to differentiate lipid isomers, and implementing UV photodissociation for detailed fragmentation analysis. These strategies aim to improve the resolution and structural insight of mass spectrometry in proteomics and lipidomics.

Christian Wentzell, a member of Dr. Kevin Kittilstved’s research group, will present his proposal defense titled “The Interplay of Dopant Incorporation with the Formation of Cadmium Sulfide Magic Size Clusters” on Monday, November 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM in Fulmer 150.

PhD candidate Anunay Pulukuri will present his dissertation, Advances in Targeted Drug Delivery for Cancer: Overcoming Resistance and Enhancing Therapeutic Efficacy.

Aditi Dahiya, a member of Dr. Bose’s group, will present her final defense titled “Controlled Release of Phytochemicals from Calcium Phosphate Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration.”

Shinhyo Bang, from Dr. Xiaofeng Guo’s research group, will present on Thermodynamics of Actinide-Bearing Zircon. This work examines the fundamental thermodynamic behavior of zircon when incorporating actinide elements, offering insights into its stability and potential applications in nuclear waste containment and geochemical processes.