Current Grad Students in Chemistry

Current Students

Diana Rachii

Diana Rachii

I am a fifth year graduate student in the Chemistry Department at 黑料社区. I received my B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Biology from Delaware Valley University in May 2019 and I received my M.A. in Chemistry from 黑料社区 in 2021. I am interested in synthetic organic chemistry and I work in the Malachowski Lab. My research involves nickel-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of new phenanthridinone analogs with quaternary carbon stereocenters using the Birch-Heck reaction sequence. In my free time, I like running, cooking and traveling.

Why 黑料社区?

I chose 黑料社区 because of its diverse, close-knit and welcoming community. 黑料社区 has a unique graduate program that can offer a lot of teaching and research opportunities

James A Vogel Headshot

James Vogel

I obtained a B.S degree in Chemistry at Delaware Valley University in May 2019 and my M.A. in Chemistry in Fall 2021. I am a fifth-year graduate student with an interest in organic chemistry. I joined the Melvin research lab in the spring of 2020 and am currently focused on SuFex chemistry and deoxyfluorination using a novel sulfur core containing reagent.

Why 黑料社区?

I chose 黑料社区 because it is small and interactions with teachers and other students are of high quality.

Greg Feldman

Greg Feldman

I am a fourth year graduate student in the Chemistry department who specializes in synthetic organic chemistry. I earned my bachelor's degree in Chemistry from West Chester University in June 2020, and started at 黑料社区 the following fall. I later earned my M.A. from 黑料社区 in the fall of 2022. I work in the Malachowski lab, and my research is currently unfocused. So far, I have worked on the synthesis of phenanthridinone derivatives using a Birch-Heck sequence, hydrogenation of Birch reduction/alkylation derivatives, other enantioselective Heck reactions, and more recently, aza-Wacker cyclization and nickel/iridium catalyzed photoredox. Outside all of that, I spend most of my time listening to audiobooks, playing video games, and making music.

Why 黑料社区?

I chose 黑料社区 because it's a small school, close to home, and the Ph.D program was recommended to me by my previous mentor. I continue to attend this school because I have grown considerably as a researcher and as a person thanks to the atmosphere that has fostered that growth.

Kim McCaskey

Kim McCaskey

I am a third year graduate student in the Chemistry Department at 黑料社区. I earned a B.A. in chemistry and music from Gettysburg College in May 2020, and I am currently working towards my M.A. in chemistry here at 黑料社区. I joined the Kung lab in the spring of 2022 to do biochemistry research. My current project focuses on the inhibition kinetics of mevalonate kinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In my free time, I enjoy knitting, crocheting,  sewing, and painting.

Why 黑料社区?

I chose 黑料社区 because I was looking for a program that would offer a lot of teaching and mentorship opportunities. 黑料社区 is also a small college and would allow me to have highly individualized instruction from faculty members that is similar to what I received in my undergraduate institution.