Kristina Nugent
: Doctoral Student (2017 - present)
B.S. Chemistry, Iowa State University
nugentk2017@fau.edu
Background: As an undergraduate at Iowa State University, Kristina was a McNair Scholar Program recipient. She also worked under Dr. Levi Stanley at Iowa State on replacing rhodium(II) with a cost-effective cobalt(II) for hydroacylation catalysis.
Current Projects: It has long been thought that isolated carbon-carbon triple bonds do not undergo nucleophilic addition except under the action of transition metal catalysts. Expanding on the work of Dr. Edith Nagy (PhD in 2017), Kristina has discovered that such additions are possible with carbon nucleophiles leading to cyclic products. Her current efforts are directed towards uncovering the mechanism of this unprecedented reaction.
Elyse Jutte
: MS Student (2020 - present)
B.A. Chemistry, Florida Atlantic University (2017, Magna Cum Laude)
ejutte@fau.edu
Background: Elyse graduated as Valedictorian from Lake Placid High School. Her highlights at FAU include receiving the 2017 ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry and being awarded first place for best poster in the 7th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium for a poster presentation titled: “Drug Discovery in Class: In Silico Design of PCSK9 Inhibitors as Potential Cholesterol Lowering Drugs”. After receiving her B.A., Elyse was employed at PBSC as a math and science tutor for two years before returning to FAU to pursue MS studies.
Current Projects: Elyse has teamed up with Jared to synthesize a variety of vitisinol D analogs, that we have termed resveramorphs (RVMs), to further ongoing structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies involving these natural product inspired compounds. In collaboration with the Dawson-Scully Group (FAU Biology), analogs created by Elyse will help to elucidate the biological mechanism of action of RVMs as neuroprotective agents.
Silas Hintze: MS Student (2021 - present)
B.S. Chemistry, FAU (2021)
shintze2019@fau.edu
Background: Silas graduated high school as a homeschooled student in 2017 and attended Broward College where he earned his Associate of Arts degree. In 2019, he transferred to FAU to continue his education. After finishing his undergraduate studies in 2021, he was awarded the FAU Clark Scholarship for Excellence in Organic Chemistry. The following semester, he enrolled as a Master’s Student.
Current Project: Silas is currently collaborating with Kristina Nugent on elucidating a mechanism for alkyne cyclization, in part, to optimize the formation of cyclic ether products.
Jared Kahn: Doctoral Student (2022 - present)
B.S. Chemistry, FAU (2022)
jkahn2019@fau.edu
Background: Jared graduated from West Boca Raton High School in 2016. After a gap year, he attended Palm Beach State College where he earned an Associates of Arts Degree. He then transferred to FAU in 2019 to earn his BS in Biochemistry in 2021 while engaging in undergraduate research in the Lepore Group. For his academic and research merits, Jared was awarded "Most Outstanding Senior Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Student" by the ACS Division of Organic Chemistry for 2021-2022. He is now a PhD student in the Lepore Group.
Current Project: In collaboration with Elyse Jutte and the Dawson-Scully Group (FAU Biology), Jared has set out to synthesize additional vitisinol D analogs, coined resveramorphs (RVMs). Members of this compound class have been identified as potent neuroprotective and antiepileptic agents in a variety of biological models. Jared is continuing to pursue these synthesis efforts to help reveal a structure-activity relationship (SAR) for the RVM class and eventually a mechanism of action. Additionally, Jared is developing an enantioselective approach as well as more efficient synthesis routes to vitisinol D analogs.
Diego Alvarado: Undergraduate Researcher (2022 - present) working with Kristina Nugent.
Ara Alexis Barboza: Undergraduate Researcher (2022 - present) working with Jared Kahn.
Susan Lepore: Lab Manager
Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.), Florida & Indiana
M.S. Civil (Geotechnical) Engineering, Purdue University (1996)
B.S. Civil Engineering, University of South Florida (1993)
Background: Before joining the Lepore Group, Susan was a Senior Geotechnical Engineer responsible for the design and construction of foundations for bridges and high-rise buildings. She was also the President & CEO of a custom synthesis chemical firm that she established with Dr. Lepore.
With the Lepore Group: As the Lepore Group's Lab Manager, Susan's support helps to provide our chemists with a safe research laboratory where productivity is optimized. She orders chemicals and lab supplies, coordinates equipment repairs and maintenance, oversees research budgets, updates the Group's website, and assists Dr. Lepore with a variety of research grant-related matters. Perhaps her most important duty, however, is to assist Dr. Lepore with monitoring lab safety and hazardous waste disposal, and to interface with FAU's Environmental Health & Safety Division to help assure that our lab is safe and eco-friendly.
Rose Marie:
Rose Marie holds a special place in the group. Rose was the last of the litter because she had a pink nose and white fur instead of tan for the “typical german shepherd”. She completed doggy school at 8-months old and now works full-time to relieve the stress and struggles of everyday life.
