Graduate Students

Kevin Blanco-Herrero

B.A. Florida International University, 2018
Email: kblanco@ucdavis.edu

Noah Brodsky

B.S. Thomas Jefferson University, 2023
Email: nbrodsky@ucdavis.edu

Noah’s research specialization:
Lanthanide luminescence, organometallic chemistry, natural product analogues

Alexie Clover

B.S. Northern Arizona University, 2021M.S. Western Washington University, 2023
Email: awclover@ucdavis.edu

Alexie’s research specialization:
Synthetic methodology, organosilicon chemistry, process development

David Coppage

B.S. University of California – Santa Cruz, 2016
Email: dacoppage@ucdavis.edu

Post-Baccalaureate Research Program (PREP) Scholar, 2016 – 2017
Joseph F. Bunnett Undergraduate Research Award, 2016
Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Fellow, 2014 – 2016

David’s research specialization:
Sponge-derived marine natural product isolation, characterization, and semisynthetic derivatization

Yuliia Humeniuk

B.S. Neuroscience and Chemistry, The University Of The South, 2024
Email: yhumeniuk@ucdavis.edu

Yuliia’s research specialization:
Medicinal chemistry, drug delivery systems, lipid nanoparticle development

Kevin Martinez Cruz

B.S. Biology, CSU, Fresno, 2020
Email: kecruz@ucdavis.edu

Kevin’s research specialization:
Biologically active molecules, Synthesis, Medicinal Chemistry, Agricultural Chemistry, Process Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Microbiology

Hannah McFadden

B.A. Reed College, 2021
Email: hmcfadden@ucdavis.edu

NSF GRFP Honorable Mention, Chemical Catalysis, 2024

Hannah’s research specialization:
Silanol ligand design and synthesis, organocatalysis, asymmetric synthesis, transition-metal and earth-abundant metal catalysis

Leah Patterson

B.S. Linfield University, 2021
Email: lathompson@ucdavis.edu

Leah’s research specialization:
Target-oriented synthesis, Medicinal chemistry, Organosilicon molecules, Organic synthesis

Tigre Pressley

B.S. Chemistry, University of South Carolina – Upstate, 2022
Email: Tqpressley@ucdavis.edu

Fred P. Corson/Dow Chemical Graduate Fellowship, 2023

Corrina Smith

B.S. University of San Francisco (USFCA), 2024
Email: corsmith@ucdavis.edu

Corrina’s research specialization:
Biologically active molecules, Target-oriented synthesis, Synthesis, Medicinal Chemistry

James Vesto

B.A. Reed College, 2021
Email: jivesto@ucdavis.edu

NSF GRFP Fellow in Chemical Catalysis, 2023 – 2028

Cody Yothers

B.A. Albion College, 2013
Email: cwyothers@ucdavis.edu

STAIR Grant Awardee, 2020

Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology Training Grant, 2017-2018
NIH-NIGMS T32 Training Grant, 2016 – 2017
Corson/Dow Graduate Fellowship, 2016
Borge Fellowship, 2015 – 2016

Cody’s research specialization:
My research focuses on investigating (1) algae as an animal feed and (2) algae lipids as potential therapeutics