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PAST ABU-OMAR GROUP MEMBERS
VISITING SCIENTIST ALUMNI
Arjan Hijlkema
Environmental Chemistry Researcher, Fundación Bioelit
Visiting Scientist, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2022
Fatemeh Niroomand Hosseini
Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry, Islamic Azad University, Iran
Visiting Scientist, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2017-2018
Basudeb Saha
President and CEO, RiKarbon, Inc., Newark Delaware
Visiting Scientist, Purdue University, 2011
Ching-Hsuan Lin
Professor of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
Visiting Scientist, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2018-2019
Masoud Nabavizadeh
Professor of Inorganic Chemistry, Shiraz University, Iran
Visiting Scientist, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2017-2018
Tae-Jin Won
Associate Professor, Changwon National University, Korea
Visiting Scientist, Purdue University, 2008
POSTDOCTORAL ALUMNI
Baoyuan Liu
Senior Scientist, Spero Renewables
Postdoc., University of California, Santa Barbara, 2021-2022
Trenton Parsell
Discovery Scientist, Cook Biotech, West Lafayette, Indiana
Postdoc., Purdue University and University of California, Santa Barbara, 2014-2018
Michael J. Zdilla
Professor of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Postdoc., Purdue University, 2005-2009
Cornell Stanciu
Manager, Oilfield and Industrial Solutions, R&D, Sasol North America, Lake Charles, Louisiana
Postdoc., Purdue University, 2005-2008
Nikos Hontzeas
Senior International Product Manager, Roche Diagnostic Solutions, Tucson, Arizona
Postdoc., Purdue University, 2004-2005
Virginie M. Béreau
Associate Professor, IUT
Paul Sabatier- Département de Chimie, France
Postdoc., University of California, Los Angeles, 1999-2001
Kothanda Rama Pichaandi
Vice President (R&D), Clean Science and Technology, Pune, India
Postdoc., Purdue University and University of California, Santa Barbara, 2014-2018
AyÅŸegül Åženocak
Associate Professor, GaziosmanpaÅŸa University, Tokat, Turkey
Postdoc., Purdue University, 2011-2012
Guodong Du
Associate Professor of Chemistry, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Postdoc., Purdue University, 2005-2008
Elon A. Ison
Associate Professor of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
Postdoc., Purdue University, 2004-2006
Aram M. Nersissian
Professor of Chemistry, Occidental College, Los Angeles, California
Postdoc., University of California, Los Angeles, 1999-2000
GRADUATE STUDENT ALUMNI
Danny Zeng
Unknown
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2022
Tayyebeh Champ
Unknown
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2021
Manxi Xiong
Project Manager, WuXi App Tec
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2021
Jun Hee Jang
Postdoctoral Fellow, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, Colorado
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2020
Shou Zhao
Senior Materials Science Engineer, Spero Renewables LLC, Goleta, California
Ph.D., Polymer Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2018
Thilina Gunasekara
Research Chemist, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry, Purdue University, 2017
Curt Bougher
Senior Engineer, Raytheon Intelligence and Space, Goleta, California
Ph.D., Inorganic Chemsitry, Purdue University, 2017
Paul Pletcher
Propylene Catalyst Chemist, Clariant, Louisville, Kentucky
Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry, Purdue University, 2016
Ian Klein
CTO, Spero Renewables LLC, Goleta, California
Ph.D., Chemistry, Purdue University, 2015
D. Keith Steelman
Researcher, Dow Chemical Company, Freeport, Texas
Ph.D., Chemistry, Purdue University, 2014
Scott Hicks
Staff Engineer, LenelS2, Fairport, New York
Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry, Purdue University, 2014
Judith Ronau
Senior Scientist, Abbvie, Chicago, Illinois
Ph.D., Structural Biology and Enzymology, Purdue University, 2013
Erin Smith
High School Teacher, Maryland
Ph.D., Chemistry, Purdue University, 2012
Jennifer Petersen
Research Analyst, Center for Naval Analyses, Alexandria, Virginia
Ph.D., Chemistry, Purdue University, 2010
Jeanette E. Ziegler
Head of Marketing Communications, MilliporeSigma, St. Louis, Missouri
Ph.D., Chemistry, Purdue University, 2010
Amanda Q. Lee
Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Atara Biotherapeutics, Los Angeles, California
Ph.D., Chemistry, Purdue University, 2009
Shalini Sharma
Director, Product Management, Alx Applied Materials, Palo Alto, California
Ph.D., Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, 2005
Mui Sam
Laboratory Director, Department of Toxic Substance Control, Los Angeles, California
Ph.D., Chemistry, Purdue University, 2005
Johnny Hwang
Operations Manager, Weiland Metal Services, Tustin, California
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 2004
Alon Volner
Chief Chemist, Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 2003
Kimberly J. Miller
Partner, Knobbe Martens Intellectual Property Law, San Diego, California
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 2002
Joachin J. Arias
Science Teacher and Football Coach, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles, California
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 2001
Rhonda K. Larson
Director Global Sales Operations, LinkedIn, San Francisco, California
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 2001
Baoyuan Liu
Senior Scientist, Spero Renewables
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2021
Kalin Hanson
Senior Chemist, NuSil Technology LLC, Carpinteria, California
Ph.D.,Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2021
Julianne Truong
Biopolymer Scientist, Proterra Ag, Los Angeles, California
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2021
Chan Park
Analytical Scientist, Entegris, Ambler, Pennsylvania
Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry University of California, Santa Barbara, 2020
Andrew Preston
Global Product Manager, MilliporeSigma, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry, Purdue University, 2018
Kelsey Cantwell
Organic Chemist, Goodyear Innovation Center, Akron, Ohio
Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, Purdue University, 2017
Jing Yi
Senior Scientist, PepsiCo, Dallas, Texas
Ph.D., Chemistry, Purdue University, 2016
Shou Liu
Systems Diagnostics Scientist, Emerald Therapeutics, Belmont, California
Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry, Purdue University, 2015
Christine Bohn
Lecturer, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California
Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry, Purdue University, 2014
Isaac Corn
Unknown
Ph.D., Chemistry, Purdue University, 2014
Benjamin Wegenhart
Chemist, Swift Fuels LLCS, West Lafayette, Indiana
Ph.D., Chemistry, Purdue University, 2013
Eurick Kim
Lead Analytical Chemist, SI Group, Schenectady, New York
Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry, Purdue University, 2012
Andrew Evans
Associate Professor, Bethel University, McKenzie, Tennessee
M.S., Inorganic Chemistry, Purdue University, 2011
Nicholas E. Travia
Scientist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California
Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry, Purdue University, 2010
Rex A. Corbin
Staff Chemist, Crane Naval Base, Crane, Indiana
Ph.D., Chemistry, Purdue University, 2009
Aristobulo Loaiza
Founder and CEO, Mile 1 Innocation Partner LLC, Apex, North Carolina
Ph.D., Chemistry/Biochemistry, Purdue University, 2008
Richard Himes
Professor of Chemistry, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina
Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, Purdue University, 2005
Andrew A. Han
Unknown
Ph.D., Chemistry, Purdue University, 2005
Lee D. McPherson
Research Analyst, Center for Naval Analyses, Alexandria, Virginia
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 2004
Rebecca A. Eikey
Professor and Department Chair, College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, California
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 2002
Gregory S. Owens
Associate Dean, College of Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 2001
Denny M. Schoch
Physician, Nashville, Tennessee
M.S., Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 2000
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