Past Group Members

Despite what we think sometimes, people actually do move on to other things....



Michael Wentzel
  • B.S. in Chemistry/ B.A. in Philosophy Creighton University
  • M.S. in Organic Chemistry University of Pennsylvania
  • joined in 2005
  • Currently in the PhD program at the Univ. of Minnesota
Erin O'Brien
  • B.S. in Chemistry
    Mount Allison University
  • M.S. in Organic Chemistry
    Colorado State University
  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry
    University of Pennsylvania
  • joined in 2003
  • Currently at Roche, Palo Alto
Raja Annamalai
  • B.S. in Chemistry
    Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry
    University of Pennsylvania
  • joined in 2001
  • Currently a postdoc with Laura Kiessling at the University of Wisconsin
J. Brian Hewgley
  • B.S. in Chemistry
    University of Tennessee
  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (2005)
    University of Pennsylvania
  • Worked on the kinetics of the oxidative biaryl coupling
  • Currently at GE, Albany
Carol Mulrooney
  • B.S. in Chemistry
    University of Conneticut
  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (2006)
    University of Pennsylvania
  • Worked in the area of biaryl coupling and toward the total synthesis of cercosporin
  • Currently at Broad Inst., Boston
Michael Fennie
  • B.S. in Chemistry from Canisius College
  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (2006)
    University of Pennsylvania
  • Worked in the area of bifunctional catalysis and toward the total synthesis of purpuromycin
  • Currently at Sanofi-Aventis, Bridgewater
Sandeep Basra
  • B.S. in Chemistry
    Imperial College, London
  • Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry
    University of Bristol
  • joined in 2005
  • Currently at DF-MP, Germany
James Ianni
  • B.A. in Chemistry
    Cheyney University
  • M.S. in Analytical Chemistry
    Drexel University
  • Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry
    Drexel University
  • Post doc 2002-2006
    University of Pennsylvania
  • Worked on computational chemistry to forge new chemical methodologies and software
  • Currently at High Performance Technologies, Aberdeen Proving Ground
Rakeshwar Bandichhor
  • B.Sc. in Chemistry
    Univ. of Lucknow
  • M.Sc. Tech in Pharmaceutical Chemistry
    Univ. of Lucknow
  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry
    Univ. of Lucknow, India/Univ. of Regensburg, Germany
  • Post doc with Dr. Oliver Reiser
    University of Regensburg
  • Post doc 2004-2005
    University of Pennsylvania
  • Worked on total synthesis of purpuromycin
  • Currently at Dr. Reddy's Lab
Rajesh Kamble
  • B.Sc. in Chemistry
    Pune University( Nowrosjee Wadia College)
  • M.Sc. in Chemistry
    Pune Univ.( Poona College of Arts Commerce and Science)
  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry
    IIT-Kanpur
  • Post doc 2005-2006
    University of Pennsylvania
  • Currently Research Associate at University of Pennsylvania Radiology Department
Stephen Waters
  • B.S. in Chemistry
    University of Pittsburgh
  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (2005)
    University of Pennsylvania
  • Worked toward the total synthesis of purpuromycin
  • Did a post doc at Sloan-Kettering with Sam Danishefsky
  • Currently Assistant Professor at The University of Vermont
Evan Divirgilio
  • B.S. in Chemistry
    SUNY Bingimton
  • M.S. in Organic Chemistry (2004)
    University of Pennsylvania
  • Worked in the area of biaryl coupling
  • Currently at Amgen, Thousand Oaks
Puay-Wah Phuan
  • B.S. in Chemistry
    University of Oregon
  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (2003)
    University of Pennsylvania
  • Worked in the areas of molecular switches/sensor and addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes
  • Did a post doc at UCSF with Fred Cohen
  • Currently Assistant Research Chemist, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, UCSF
Erin DiMauro
  • B.A. in Chemistry
    Wesleyan University
  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (2003)
    University of Pennsylvania
  • Worked in the area of bifunctional catalysis
  • Currently at Amgen, Boston
Xiaolin Li
  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (2002 - the group's 1st Ph.D. graduate)
    University of Pennsylvania
  • Currently at GNF (Novartis Foundation),San Diego
Dana Anna Freed of the West Virginia Freed's
  • M.S. University of Pennsylvania 2000
  • Teaching
Jason Skudlarek
  • M.S. University of Pennsylvania 2000
  • Working at Metastatix, Georgia
Cathy Evans
  • Undergraduate Researcher 1997-1999
  • PhD from Boston College, with Scott Miller
  • Currently at Infinity Pharmaceuticals in Boston
Karen Marcantonio
  • M.S. University of Pennsylvania 1999
  • Works at Merck Process in Rahway

The first group picture.
The beginning of good things to come.

Past Group Members (no pictures)