Originally from Rochester, New York, I began my studies at Old Dominion University in 2020 in a post-baccalaureate position. I previously received my associate of science degree in Engineering Science from Alfred State College in New York and subsequently joined the U.S. Navy as a nuclear machinist’s mate. Concurrently with serving on an aircraft carrier, I worked toward my bachelor’s degree in mathematics online from Indiana University and completed both my enlistment and bachelor’s degree in summer of 2019. My military experience included years of classroom and on the job education in chemistry and engineering, which prepared me for the rigors of doctoral studies. Having fallen in love with chemistry in the Navy, I wanted to pursue a chemistry Ph.D. after my service was complete.
My area of scientific research combines mathematics and chemistry as a computational chemist. Computational chemistry allows me to predict chemical reaction outcomes using high performance computing (HPC) and machine learning. The bulk of my research uses ODU’s HPC to better understand the stereochemistry of products formed during organic reactions that is subsequently used to ascertain reaction mechanisms.
Additionally, I used ODU’s HPC to compute attributes for a dataset and to write a machine learning program that predicts regiochemistry of C-H borylation reactions. The skills I’m learning at ODU will allow me to join the workforce in designing new pharmaceuticals. ODU is an up-and-coming university that allows students of diverse backgrounds to develop as professional chemists. I personally chose ODU because of its convenient location in Hampton roads and its professors Dr. Craig Bayse and Dr. Kyle Lambert whose research interests overlap with my own.