If you want to join our team, please apply at the following link:

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This fall, we are happy to report yet another incredible increase in enrollment. We are up 16% from the previous fall semester and 18% for our 5-year average with a record number of students not seen since fall of 2019! I am certain that this is only due in small part to the new building, which is so supportive and welcoming for student learning, and in overwhelmingly due to our dedicated instructional team. Our faculty, staff and graduate students are the reason why so many students select to take chemistry and biochemistry, major in chemistry and biochemistry, and thrive in the environment our team provides! Truly a team effort and highly successful!

We welcomed new graduate students into our department family, while at the same time continue to celebrate so many graduations and accomplishments!

Our space and environment continue to be supportive of research as we are seeing amazing successes in our faculty and the innovative and creative approaches used in the labs by our student researchers and scientists.

It was with great sadness that saw the transfer of our very own Elise Nicks to the English Department. Even though we still visit often, it is simply not the same without her cheerful and sweet presence in our department. We also bade best wishes to Anna Benko as she returns to industry after her long tenure running our Mass Spec Laboratory. Truly we miss them both dearly!

Please mark your calendar for the Department at the Annual Awards Day and Research Symposium (scheduled for May 1st); more details will follow. Also, please come and visit the new building if you haven’t already done so – chemistry is on display for all to see.

Thank you for being part of the Department family and your continued support of our mission!

All my best,

Kristen Murphy
Chair, Chemistry & Biochemistry

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We are happy to welcome six new graduate students for the spring semester, Amanda Captain, Uttam Gomes, Jhoanna Molina, Nethyanji Premananda, Nikole Tamayo, and Munisaa Younus.

We’re excited to have them join our Chemistry & Biochemistry Department and look forward to their contributions to the Department as well as research and discoveries during their time at 51����.

Amanda Captain received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in zoology (2004) and also completed the undergraduate chemistry major there (2008). Amanda completed a teaching license certification program in science education at University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee (MACSTEP) in 2005, with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. Her master’s degree is from Edgewood University in Madison, Wisconsin in Marriage and Family Therapy (2015). Amanda is studying Chemical Education at 51���� with the intent of teaching community college in the future. She is focused on helping students build confidence in science and math as they work towards their future career goals. She is looking forward to working with all the amazing people at 51���� as she works on research aimed at creative supportive, inclusive learning environments for all students.

Uttam Gomes received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in applied chemistry and chemical technology at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh. He earned his second in chemistry from the University of Minnesota – Duluth with research focused on analytical method development for the characterization and identification of microplastics from Lake Superior using fluorescent dye staining, flow cytometry, and pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Uttam previously worked as a high school chemistry teacher in Dhaka, Bangladesh and a production scientist in the GMP manufacturing facility (Madison) under the Life Science division of MilliporeSigma, where he synthesized active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used in cancer treatment medicines. Uttam’s goal is to build on his industry experience and broad applications of chemistry, along with the knowledge gained in his recent academic and professional roles. He aims to contribute to the field of organic chemistry with a strong focus on drug discovery and medicinal chemistry.

Nethyanji Premananda earned her BSc Honors in Chemistry, with concentrations in Biochemistry and Microbiology, from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. During her undergraduate studies, she conducted research in analytical chemistry, focusing on the analysis of heavy metals in a polluted estuary ecosystem. She has worked as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Kelaniya, the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, and the Open University of Sri Lanka. Through her PhD at 51����, she aims to broaden her knowledge, enhance her research and teaching skills, and apply insights from chemistry to practical challenges, contributing to impactful scientific solutions.

Nikole Tamayo completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, ACS certified in Biochemistry, from Southern Oregon University. She then earned her Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of California, Davis for her research on DNA Glycosylase MutY. Nikole plans to pursue Chemical Education Research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her areas of research interest focus on the introductory general chemistry course sequence and include understanding how students apply algebra to solve stoichiometry problems and increasing persistence. Nikole is excited to learn about the chemical education field here at 51���� and hopes her contributions will allow general chemistry to be more accessible to all students.

Munisaa Younus completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry in Pakistan, followed by a M.Phil. in chemistry. Throughout her academic career, she has developed a strong background in organic synthesis and characterization of biologically active compounds. In addition to organic synthesis, Munissa is also interested in analytical research, particularly in applying spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques for the identification, quantification, and characterization of chemical compounds. At the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (51����), Munisaa looks forward to enhancing her research skills by combining organic and analytical chemistry approaches. Within the Chemistry Department at 51����, she is excited to collaborate with faculty engaged in synthetic, analytical, and interdisciplinary research, to expand her expertise, contribute to innovative studies, and explore chemistry’s role in solving real-world scientific challenges.

Graduate Degrees Conferred in Spring 2025

Alex Vincent graduated with his PhD in chemistry in the spring of 2025 under the supervision of Prof. Alexander “Leggy” Arnold. Since graduating from UW–Milwaukee, Alex has taken on the role of Director of Chemistry at Geneva Laboratories in Elkhorn, WI, where he leads a team of chemists providing analytical testing to ensure the safety and quality of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. One of the most rewarding aspects of this role is mentoring young scientists and helping them see how the skills we honed at 51���� can directly shape real-world outcomes in patient health.

Alex’s 51���� education gave him the foundation to build a career where science makes a daily impact. He is also excited to share some recent research accomplishments: their article, “Development of novel Alpha 2B adrenergic receptor ligands by using a palladium catalyzed Buchwald–Hartwig amination with a brominated benzodiazepine,” was published in the Royal Society of Chemistry – Medicinal Chemistry, and more recently, the Schwabacher group’s manuscript, “Structure-based designed β-strand mimic elucidates early protein-protein interactions in β-barrel assembly,” was accepted by Nature.

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American Chemical Society Students is a club with open membership to students taking chemistry courses and those majoring in chemistry related fields. Activities are tailored to students by organizing study sessions, a science-related volunteer opportunity per semester, guest speakers from offices around campus for resource outreach, and social events.

Come meet fellow club members and help shape the future of the Chemistry Club!  We discuss research connections, science outreach, and ways to support each other academically and socially. All majors and experience levels are welcome — whether you’re an aspiring chemist, a STEM major, or just here for the snacks and science talk, come hang out and learn more! 

If you are interested in joining the American Chemical Society Students, please contact Shaun Harrington, club secretary, at ACSSMKE25@gmail.com.

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Support for Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF)

The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry continues the longstanding tradition of mentoring SURF students. The SURF program is made possible by the Office of Undergraduate Research and is designed to foster faculty-student research collaborations. Students have the opportunity to engage in thoughtful and progressively sophisticated work central to the overall research program of the principal investigator.

Sarah Benes is a Chemistry major and was a summer SURF student working in Prof. Wilcoxen’s lab. Sarah is developing an artificial metalloenzyme to study how nature leverages metals for catalysis. Over the summer she made a synthetic mimetic of a cofactor that molybdenum in nature. This artificial cofactor will be put into a protein scaffold to make the artificial metalloenzyme for further study. Sarah assisted James Linzel, who is the primary graduate student on the project. Sarah is currently preparing her graduate school applications in hopes to pursue her PhD.

Ryan Burmesch is currently a junior studying Biochemistry that has had the opportunity to work in the Arnold Group for around a year now as a SURF student. His research focuses on exploring potential new drug inhibitors for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). This involves multiple steps to create final products, including synthesis, purification, and analysis through techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). He has been working on this project with a graduate student, Ethan Kowalczyk, in collaboration with Ravid Boger for the Medical College of Wisconsin. Ryan is preparing to apply to medical school and plans to apply the skills and knowledge he has acquired in the laboratory in future medical research and education.

Nicole Haddad is a Biochemistry major who is a current SURF student working in Prof. Peng’s lab. Nicole has previously worked in Prof. Silvaggi’s lab. She is currently assisting graduate student Mayurika Mahendran in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry.

Shaun Harrington is a senior majoring in Biochemistry and a summer SURF and current Senior Excellence in Research Awards (SERA) student working in Prof. Arnold’s lab. Shaun has been working closely with graduate student Maya Fernando on a project focusing on the design and synthesis of novel ligands targeting the Alpha-2B adrenergic receptors. Using a palladium-catalyzed reaction, Shaun has synthesized many benzodiazepine-based analogs, some of which have promising affinity towards Alpha-2B adrenergic receptors. This work has allowed Shaun to gain experience with advanced organic chemistry techniques, such as compound characterization, reaction optimization, and broader skills in synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry. Earlier this year Shaun received the Senior Excellence in Research Award, which is given to a select group of seniors who have demonstrated significant research involvement during their time at 51����. He hopes to use everything I’ve learned in the Arnold Group to pursue a PhD in chemistry. Dr. Arnold’s mentorship has been one of the most meaningful parts of my undergraduate journey and I am very thankful for his support, along with everyone else in the Arnold Group.

Ricardo Hughes is a Biochemistry major who is a current SURF student working in Prof. Hossain’s lab. Ricardo’s research has been designing and synthesize analogs of JRM-28 by incorporating different alkyl halides and capping groups to optimize potency and pharmacological properties. He is assisted in the lab with graduate student Omolola Mary Adedeji. After graduation, he plans to pursue graduate studies in chemistry that merges biochemistry, computational chemistry and drug discovery.

Amirabbas Jafari is a Chemistry major who is a fall SURF student working in Prof. Peng’s lab. Amirabbas is currently working with graduate student Wasiu Awoyera on running Polyacrylamide gel and running the column. After graduation, he plans on attending graduate school – hopefully at 51����.

Amirhossein Jafari is a chemistry major SURF student working in Prof. Hossain’s lab. Amirhossein has been involved in synthesizing analogs with various cap groups and conducting computational screening of HDAC2 ligands along with graduate students Omolola Mary Adedeji and Justice Mallen. He has been focusing on molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations to assess ligand binding affinity, stability, and interactions within the HDAC2 active site. These computational insights help identify promising candidates for synthesis and biological evaluation. Amirhossein plans to continue in the field of medicinal and computational chemistry, focusing on drug discovery and molecular design. His future goal is to pursue graduate studies in chemistry or biochemistry.

Julia Jakusz is a Biomedical Sciences student with a Biomedical science submajor and minors in Spanish and biology. She is currently a SURF student in Prof. Peng’s lab working with graduate student Thilini Fernando. They are working with in vivo investigation of H2O2-activated prodrugs with PDX-mice. Julia is currently applying to medical school during the 2026 cycle.

Cody Miller is a General Biology major who is studying pre-vet studies though Cody’s research at the moment is mainly focused on organic and biochemistry. Cody is a fall SURF student working in Prof. Peng’s lab. Cody is currently doing cytotoxicity assays with their novel chemotherapeutics and plans to do in vivo studies soon with the same chemotherapeutics working with graduate student Thilini Fernando. While Cody does not have any direct plans to work in the chemistry field, he intends to become a zoological vet in the future.

Nicholas Pajek is a biochemistry major carrying out research to develop a paper-based analytical device (PAD) for the determination of metal ions working in Prof. Dietz’s lab as a summer and fall SURF student. Ultimately, the goal is to introduce PADs in our undergraduate analytical courses (esp. CHEM 221). In this project, Nick has been working with graduate student Tori Williamson. Nick hopes to pursue a career in chemical research following graduation.

Joseph Parlier is a double major in Chemistry and Mathematics and member of the Honors College who was a summer SURF and current SERA student in Prof. Woehl’s lab. Joe is assisting with the setup of the research lab, which was delayed by almost one year because the lasers were not operational due to the inadequate cooling capacity of the in-house chilled water loop. He is also becoming knowledgeable about point spread function theory, which is a current theoretical research focus in the Woehl Lab. In particular, he is looking into the use of two- and three-dimensional Jones matrices to model the evolution of the electric field’s amplitude vector as light waves traverse the optical elements in a typical microscopy setup. Joe is interested in pursuing graduate school in a chemistry related field.

Natalie Raschka is a Biomedical Science student that is also pursuing chemistry and biology minors. She is currently a SURF student in Prof. Peng’s lab for the fall. She is assisting Thilini Fernando in her Cytotoxicity lab. Her research project focuses on the cytotoxicity study of photo inducible DNA cross-linking agents. Natalie has a goal of applying to medical school to either become a physician or a researcher.

Lucas Ross is Chemistry major who is a fall SURF student working in Prof. Saha’s lab. He is currently developing a machine learning model to predict binding energy of two proteins.

Angelina Skoropat is a senior majoring in Biochemistry who intends to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. In the Frick lab, Angie is studying malate dehydrogenase (MDH), which is an enzyme crucial in various metabolic pathways, including the citric acid cycle. Abnormal MDH levels have been implicated in heart attacks and some cancers, making MDH a potential target for therapeutic intervention. To facilitate the analysis of MDH, Angie will use recombinant DNA techniques to generate genes encoding MDH fused to either a yellow or green fluorescent protein. When expressed in cells, the genes can be used to track MDH levels in response to cellular stress, potentially leading to insights into various human diseases, such as diabetes or cancer. Proteins produced by the new genes could also be used to understand how MDH catalyzes multiple chemical reactions.

Undergraduate Degrees Conferred in Spring 2025

Biochemistry:

Samantha Mae Dresselhaus
Alexander Taro Freeman
Allison Getty
Zain Cadin Miles
Elizabeth Marie Reece
Mitchell James Worman
Chemistry Majors:
Daniel Macfarlane Smith
Emma Marie Stutler

Chemistry Minors:

Hailey Rae Ammerman
Emily Estelle Belmont
Zechariah Thomas Cummings
Trinity Nicole Ikner
Hammad Khan
Aaron Martell Moreno-Padilla
Cora Elizabeth Norrbom
Jatin Pandey
Emily Ruth Stange
Daniel Szwed
Makena Rose Vesperman
Laurel Paige Wegerbauer

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Dr. Xiaohua Peng, who joined 51���� in 2009, was recently promoted to full professor. Her research explores innovative ways to design tumor-targeted cancer therapies and bioorthogonal theranostic systems, with support from the National Institutes of Health. Her team recently made an exciting discovery — combining an H₂O₂-activated prodrug with vitamin C achieved complete tumor remission with no observed side effects or recurrence. Beyond her research, Dr. Peng is passionate about mentoring students and fostering collaborations that connect chemistry with the life sciences.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is pleased to announce the promotion of Shama P. Mirza, PhD, to Full Professor, recognizing her scholarly excellence, impactful research, dedicated mentorship, and sustained service. An expert in analytical chemistry, mass spectrometry, and proteomics, Professor Mirza advances MS-based approaches for translational biomedical research, with a focus on cancer biology, pharmacokinetics, and biomarker discovery, particularly in glioblastoma. She has built a highly productive research program with numerous peer-reviewed publications. Through an NSF MRI grant, she led the acquisition of an Orbitrap Exploris mass spectrometer playing a key role in strengthening 51����’s research infrastructure and, as Director of SAILARC, expanded access to advanced analytical technologies. A committed educator and mentor, she has received multiple mentoring honors. Her leadership and service have strengthened 51����’s research mission.

Prof. Leggy Arnold was awarded a $416,696 grant by the National Institute of Environmental Health Science for their project “Medical countermeasures to chlorine exposure based on GABA(A) receptor targeting”. 

In the News

51����’s new Chemistry building was honored in the 2025 Mayor’s Design Awards.

Kevin Blackburn’s knowledge of building operations and his understanding of departmental needs was critical to the successful opening of the new Chemistry Building. His expertise on flow logistics, hazardous materials management, safety and security was critical during the design phase and continued to be essential to the architects, engineers, contractors and movers.

He successfully purged the old building of $5 million of capital assets, starting in 2014. He weighed in on building design and function, ordered new equipment and safely moved equipment and chemicals into the new spaces.

Blackburn credits the success of this project to his coworkers, adding, “There are wonderful folks on campus, and it would not be proper to accept this award without stating this acknowledgment.”

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