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June 2026
This month we celebrated the graduations of Leah Patterson (left), Kevin Blanco-Herrero (second from right) and David Coppage (right)! We are so excited for them! What a huge accomplishment! Dr. Leah Patterson is set to start on postdoctoral research this summer at Baylor University with Dr. Aaron Wright! Congrats graduates!
Also graduating from UC Davis this June are undergraduate researchers Afnaan Waqas (left) and Alicia Ngo (right). Both Afnaan and Alicia have worked hard in the classroom, in the lab, and beyond, and we are so excited to celebrate their achievements! Congrats Afnaan and Alicia!
May 2026
Undergraduate researchers Afnaan Waqas (left) and Evan Henchy (right) gave presentations on their research efforts and contributions at UC Davis’ 2026 Larock Conference. Afnaan shared his work on accessing unnatural amino acid derivatives using chiral silanol ligand and silver(I) systems. Evan’s presentation focused on his contributions to accessing anti-seizure therapeutics via silyl-lipids. Congrats Afnaan and Evan for your excellent presentations!
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April 2026
Undergraduate researcher Alicia Ngo gave a wonderful poster presentation, “Synthesis of Silyl C-Laurdan Analogs to Modulate Probe Partitioning in Fluid vs Rigid State of LNP Cell Bilayers” at the 37th Annual Undergraduate Research Scholarship and Creative Activities Conference at UC Davis. Congrats Alicia!
March 2026
New paper alert! Check out graduate student Kevin Blanco-Herrero‘s awesome new paper “Blue Light-Promoted O–H Insertions of Silanols and Functionalization of Silicon Nanomaterials”. Kevin uses blue light to promote Si-OH insertions using diazo compounds. Notably, the reactions are metal-free and have fast reaction times!
January 2026
This month, the Franz lab was featured in the UC Davis College of Letters and Science magazine, called Letters & Science! Check out the article here! The article was inspired by a recent talk given by Professor Annaliese Franz at Science Cafe, the talk series aimed to connect the general public to current and exciting research performed at UC Davis. Annaliese drew inspiration from Legos for her talk (see photo below on the right), covering silicon, synthesis, and the future of therapeutics at UC Davis. Annaliese discussed the group’s silyl lipid nanoparticle project, highlighting the research by Franz lab graduate students Leah Patterson, Yuliia Humeniuk, and Corrina Smith.
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Congrats to graduate student Hannah McFadden for her departmental seminar on silanols and siloxides in metal catalysis! This is a UC Davis Chemistry Department milestone!
Happy New Year! This month the Franz lab started the year off right with our annual goal setting meeting, as well as a safety training. Annaliese scored some delicious goodies, which is always a bonus during group meetings. In true Davis fashion, Annaliese brought them over on her bike!
