Current Members
Dr. Christopher Dares
Academic Background
Assistant Professor FIU 2016 - Present
Post doc. UNC-Chapel Hill 2012 - 2016
PhD York U. 2006 - 2012
BS York U. 2001 - 2006
About Me
I only have one shirt, enjoy poutine, listening to The Tragically Hip, and any activity that gets me moving. When I'm not at work, you will likely find me at the beach (or in Idaho).
Dr. Alberto Ruiz-Reyes
Academic Background
Post Doc FIU 2018 - 2020
Adjunct Faculty Broward College 2018
Adjunct Faculty MDC 2017 - 2018
PhD U. of Havana 2015
MS U. of Havana 2009
BS U. of Havana 2007
Currently:
Postdoc extraordinaire - working on ligand syntheses while honing my skills in electrochemistry. Equally good at making you run around the tennis court.
Marlom Martinez
Academic Background
PHD FIU 2020 - Present
BS FIU 2020
About Me
I'm co-advised by Dr. Kavallieratos. I'm interested in ligands for actinide separations and how they adjust actinide oxidation states.
Barbara Garcia-Moreno
Academic Background
PHD FIU 2021 - Present
MS U.Havana 2021
BS U.Havana 2019
About Me
I'm looking at different ways of distinguishing f-elements with a specific interest on photochemistry.
Mariel Morales
Academic Background
PHD FIU 2021 - Present
BS U.Havana 2021
About Me
I'm investigating photoelectrochemical redox chemistry of f-elements at metal oxides.
Rodrigo Lacau
Academic Background
PHD FIU 2023 - Present
BS FIU 2022
About Me
I'm functionalizing TiO2 electrodes with ligands to adjust f-element oxidation states.
Isabel Cordoba
Academic Background
PHD FIU 2023 - Present
BS FIU 2022
About Me
Dropping the base everyday! But making sure my electrodes still work even in these alkaline conditions.
Jacques Deroin
Academic Background
PHD FIU 2024 - Present
BS U Maryland 2024
About Me
Drip is eternal. When I'm in the lab, you'll find me working on making molecular assemblies.
Bryanah Hack
Academic Background
PHD FIU 2024 - Present
MS Tennessee Tech U 2024
About Me
Tennessee-grown PhD student now using Ru(bpy) for nuclear applications. What can't Ru(bpy) do?
Laura Garcia Carreras
Academic Background
PHD FIU 2025 - Present
MS Univ. Barcelona 2025
BS Univ. Barcelona 2024
About Me
New Chem PhD student powered by curiosity, and an unhealthy love of XPS—because if electrons are spilling secrets, I’m here to listen.
Alumni
Jeffrey McLachlan
Academic Background
PhD FIU 2017 - 2022
BS FAU 2017
About Me
I'm now a postdoc at UC-Berkeley/LBNL. You may find my publications in SciFinder under my alias "Jefferson Steelflex".
Xiangyang Hou
Academic Background
PhD FIU 2018 - 2023
BS Zhengshou U. 2018
About Me
I'm now roaming the labs of Prof. Henry White at U-Utah. See you on the slopes!
Gabriela Ortega
Academic Background
PhD FIU 2019 - 2024
BS FIU 2019
About Me
I'm now a consultant with McKinsey & Co. If you have a problem, I can help you work through it.
Rhodney Pierre
Academic Background
MS FIU 2021 - 2025
BS FIU 2019
About Me
Hi! Check out my Ragone plot that now includes my energy storage materials.
Dr. Johan Gonzalez-Moya
Academic Background
Post Doc FIU 2018 - 2021
Post doc. CETENE 2016 - 2018
PhD UFPE 2012 - 2016
MS U of Havana 2005 - 2008
BS INSTEC 2000 - 2005
Current Position:
You can find me at FMU where I'm an Assistant Professor. Come by and say 'hi'.
Dr. Matthew V. Sheridan
Academic Background
Research Professor Shoochow University 2019 - Present
Post doc. FIU 2017 - 2019
Post doc. UNC-Chapel Hill 2014 - 2017
PhD UVermont 2010 - 2014
BSE UMass Lowell 2006 - 2010
About Me
You name it, I've done it - no matter how outragious it sounds. I'm working at TerraPower helping with next gen solutions in health and energy fields.
Nicole Cortés-Medina
Academic Background
MSFIU 2017 - 2020
BS U. Puerto Rico, SP 2017
Currently
Working at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Alejandro Hernandez
Academic Background
MS FIU 2018 - 2020
BS FIU 2018
Currently
QA/QC Industry chemist.
Other Alumni not pictured
Dr. Michael J. Lopez (2017-2019)
Elefteria Halivelakis (2019-2021)
Evan Jones (2020-2022)
Adamaris Valdes (2022)
Marjorie Thermitus (2021)
Ashley Zuniga (2021)
Claudia Gomez (2021)
Maria Romero (2021)
Bryana Lopez (2020-2021)
Felipe Periero (2020)
James Pirez (2020)
Raul Balarezo Diaz (2020)
Juan Restrepo (2020)
Daniela Gomez (2019)
Ozair Ahmed (2019)
Monique Moussa (2019)
Najib Nacyer (2019)
Luis Urdaneta (2017-2019)
Stephanie Castro Baldivieso (2018)
Sam Morgan (2018)
Britany Kroner (2018)
Amanda Chung (2018) - REU
Francis Kitaka (2018) - REU
Fayola Robillard (2018)
James Vempala (2017)
Christopher Schnoor (2017)
