Meet the Team!
Principal Investigator
Nadia Léonard
CHEM 3223
Graduate Students
4th Year Graduate Student
Chae Yeong Kim
Chae was born in Seoul, South Korea, and got her BA at Dongguk University(DGU) in 2017. She managed to get out of POSTECH and earn an MS in 2019. She now is pursuing her Ph.D. in Léonard’s group at UCSB. Outside of the lab, she likes to explore many hobbies. So far she has explored her interest in playing tennis, poker, and learning bjj, surfing and still exploring more.
2nd Year Graduate Student
Robert Till
Robert Till grew up in Royersford, Pennsylvania. While at Bucknell University, Robert studied asymmetric natural product derivatization of bile salts under the mentorship of Professor Michael Krout. After earning a B.Sc. in Biochemistry in 2023, Robert joined Professor Nadia Leonard's research group at UC Santa Barbara, focusing on developing transition metal catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of small molecules. When not working in the lab, Robert likes computer programming, video games, and discovering new wines.
2nd Year Graduate Student
AJ Chavez (co-advised w/ Abu-Omar)
AJ Chavez grew up in Downey, California, went to the USC and received a B.S. in Chemical Biology. During his time, he worked under Travis Williams and worked on the use of formic acid as a liquid organic hydrogen carrier using an Iridium catalyst. After his undergraduate, he decided to get his PhD at UCSB, where he joined Mahdi Abu-Omars group to investigate biomass upcycling. During his first year, he helped discover a class of nickel catalysts and wanted to explore their electrocatalytic properties under co-advisement of Nadia Leonard. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, hanging out with his friends and going on adventures!
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate Student (Class of 2024)
Edward Vaughn
I’m a Biochemistry major from San Gabriel, California. Although I started out as a biology major, I was pulled deeper into the field of chemistry after taking a year of organic chemistry and somehow enjoying it, and am now doing my best to explore this new interest. Outside of the lab, I love visiting cafes with friends, climbing, and playing guitar.
Undergraduate Student (Class of 2025)
Esther Abass
Esther was born in Berkeley, California and now lives in Sacramento with her family. Growing up she always found all of her science classes interesting but was always fascinated and curious when it came to chemistry experiments. This fascination along with having a lot of freetime during the pandemic helped her with making the decision to major in chemistry. Out of the lab she enjoys beach walks, going to concerts, finding new music, trying new dishes, and judging ice cream spots with her friends!
Undergraduate Student (Class of 2025)
Aidan Kalinowski
I am a Biochemistry major from Newport Beach, California. I am a chemist because I am fascinated by both the mechanics and aesthetics of the natural world, and I want to know its mysteries. My free time is spent in nature, watching Scorsese movies, reading novels, or playing metal guitar.
Undergraduate Student (Class of 2026)
Ariel Lee
I'm a chemistry major and art minor from the Bay Area. I enjoy learning about the world through the lens of chemistry and getting the chance to make things in the lab. The summer after my 1st year, I conducted undergraduate research in the Fortier Lab at the University of Texas at El Paso which affirmed my interest in inorganic and organometallic chemistry. Material science and chemistry with energy-related applications are also interesting to me. My hobbies include drawing, painting, photography, dance, cinematography, and video editing. Quite a few of my hobbies I pursue as a member of my dance team here at UCSB called SS805. I also enjoy listening to music, mostly K-pop, and watching anime.