Presidential Scholars Program

I am a first-generation college student raised in a working-class, split-family from a small town in Wisconsin. I was fascinated by science at an early age, but I had no idea what STEM career paths might look like outside of being an engineer, pharmacist, doctor, or teacher. As an undergraduate majoring in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, I had the opportunity to get involved in research at an early stage. Through lots of hands-on experience in the lab, I discovered that fundamental science, like creating and understanding new molecules, could enable the development of innovative solutions to some of the world's greatest challenges. I loved the opportunity to create or discover things that no one in the world had ever made before - meaning there was no recipe to follow, things to memorize, and no one really knew the answer (sometimes scary, but also really exciting!) Access to high-quality education, research, and mentoring opportunities at the undergraduate level were completely transformative for my academic and professional development, and were the defining experiences that set me on my career path. I attended the University of Pennsylvania for my Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry, and then spent a couple of years in industry working at Axalta Coating Systems and teaching part-time at local colleges and universities. I've been a faculty member at Brown since 2016, where my research group is focused on addressing pressing, long-standing challenges related to sustainability, the environment, and human health. We try to understand and control the structure of inorganic compounds to enable new functions (properties, reactivity, applications), which includes the development of novel biodegradable plastics, renewable energy platforms, and next-generation imaging agents. 

I have the privilege of being a chemistry faculty member at one of our country’s premier institutions of higher education, and I have made it my personal and professional mission to provide and expand access to exceptional education, research, and mentoring opportunities for all students. I consider mentoring and working with students one of the best parts of my job, and I've mentored > 30 undergraduates in research from across the globe while at Brown. Outside of the lab and classroom, you can find me leading education and outreach programs in the greater community, spending time with my wife and two children, cooking, staying active, and travelling.