Education
Teaching/Postdoctoral Scholar, 2011–2014, W.M. Keck Science Department, Claremont
Colleges, Claremont, CA
Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, 2011, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
M.S., Computational Chemistry, 2008, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
B.S., Chemistry, 2004, Cum Laude, Honors, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
Research
Group News
- November 2, 2019. Emily Aguilar gave on oral presentation at the Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium (GCURS) at Rice University.
- October 10, 2019. Our gold-catalyzed Friedel–Crafts paper was accepted in the European Journal of Organic Chemistry.
- September 22, 2019. Emily Aguilar, Araceli Alvarez, and Amanda Melanese presented
posters at the local Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native
Americans in Science (SACNAS) Conference at USD.
- August 29–30, 2019. Amanda Melanese presented her poster at the ACS DOC SURF awards
dinner in Boston, MA.
- August 27, 2019. Robert Leon Baxin was admitted to the 2019 MIT Access Program.
- August 26–28, 2019. Amanda Smolin presented her poster at the 258th American Chemical
Society National Meeting in San Diego, CA.
- August 9, 2019. Araceli Alvarez gave an oral presentation at UC San Diego's Summer
Research Conference (SRC) at UCSD.
- August 8, 2019. Maribel Clerk gave an oral presentation at the 2019 Brown Bag Research Talks for the Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry.
- August 8, 2019. Congratulations to Amanda Melanese for winning a Travel Award from the Summer Scholars Poster Showcase.
- August 8, 2019. Brysa Alvarado, Araceli Alvarez, Amanda Melanese, and Kaylee Shoemaker presented
posters at the CSM Summer Scholars Poster Showcase at CSUSM.
- August 1, 2019. Araceli Alvarez and Emily Aguilar gave an oral presentation at the
2019 Brown Bag Research Talks for the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.
- May 8, 2019. Congratulations to Omar Apolinar for winning the CSUSM Chemistry and Biochemistry
Outstanding Faculty Student Collaboration Award.
- May 8, 2019. Karen Fernandez, Omar Apolinar, Jessica Scott, and Amanda Smolin presented Chem 499 posters at the CSUSM Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Research Showcase
- May 1, 2019. Congratulations to Kaylee Shoemaker for getting the 2019 Spring Presidents' Commission Scholars Award.
- April 11, 2019. Congratulations to Brysa Alvarado for getting the 2019 Jean Dreyfus
Summer Scholars Award.
- April 9, 2019. Omar Apolinar received the 2019 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Fellowship. Congratulations Omar!
- April 8, 2019. Omar Apolinar received the 2019 Skaggs-Oxford Scholarship, which provides funding for a joint 5-year program of study in chemistry at Scripps
Research, and in biochemistry at the University of Oxford in the UK (joint Doctor
of Philosophy degree from Scripps and Oxford). Congratulations Omar!
- April 1, 2019. Omar Apolinar, Karen Fernandez, Jacqueline Perez, and Rian Shabo presented
posters at the 257th American Chemical Society National Meeting in Orlando, FL.
- March 31, 2019. Jessica Scott gave an oral presentaiton at the 257th American Chemical Society National Meeting in Orlando, FL.
- March 20, 2019. Amanda Melanese received the 2019 American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry Summer Undergraduate Research
Fellowship (ACS DOC SURF). Congratulations Amanda!
- March 19, 2019. Congratulations to Celi Alvarez for being admitted to the TRiO McNair Program at CSUSM.
- March 1, 2019. Jessica Scott gave an oral presentation at the 2019 Symposium on Student Research, Creative Activities,
& Innovation.
- February 6, 2019. Omar Apolinar, with Keary Engle at Scripps Resaerch, got their manuscript
titled "Catalytic, Enantioselective α‐Alkylation of Azlactones with Non‐Conjugated Alkenes
via Directed Nucleopalladation" accepted and published at Angew. Chemie.
- January 3–5, 2019. Omar Apolinar, Mercedes Nguyen, Jacqueline Perez, and Rian Shabo presented
their posters at the 31st Annual CSU Biotechnology Symposium in Anaheim.
- November 17, 2018. Omar Apolinar, Karen Fernandez, Jessica Scott, and Rian Shabo presented
their research at the Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research (SCCUR) at Pasadena City College.
- November 12, 2018. Dr. Iafe was highlighted in Safety Sense, a newsletter published by the CSUSM Office of Safety, Health & Sustainability (SH&S).
- November 6, 2018. Omar Apolinar, Mercedes Nguyen, Jessica Scott, and Rian Shabo presented
posters at the CSUSM CUGR Student Poster Showcase.
- November 5, 2018. Congratulations to Omar Apolinar for being selected as a 2019 Glenn Nagel Undergraduate Research Award Finalist. Omar will compete for this prestigious award at the 31st Annual CSU Biotechnology
Symposium in January 2019, in Anaheim.
- September 26, 2018. Sharai Mendez was highlighted on the CSUPERB News webpage.
- August 10, 2018. Omar Apolinar presented at poster at the Summer Research Poster Symposium at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA.
- August 9, 2018. Congratulations to Rian Shabo for winning a Travel Award from the
Summer Scholars Poster Showcase.
- August 9, 2018. Mercedes Nguyen and Rian Shabo presented a poster at the CSM Summer Scholars Poster Showcase at CSUSM.
- August 9, 2018. Amanda Smolin gave an oral presentation at the 2018 Brown Bag Research Talks for the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.
- August 2, 2018. Mercedes Nguyen, Jacqueline Perez, and Jessica Scott gave an oral
presentation at the 2018 Brown Bag Research Talks for the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.
- July 27, 2018. Rian Shabo presented a poster at the SoCal Undergraduate Research Symposium at UC Irvine.
- July 26, 2018. Victor Franco Bolanos and Rian Shabo gave an oral presentation at the 2018 Brown Bag Research Talks for the Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry.
- June 2018. Congratulations to Mercedes Nguyen and Rian Shabo for receiving the 2018
Viasat Summer Scholars Award.
- May 18, 2018. Omar Apolinar presented a poster at the 21st Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium at UW Seattle.
- May 9, 2018. Congratulations to James Oakley for winning the ACS Outstanding Student
in Organic Chemistry Award, Mari A. Smith Outstanding Student in Physical Chemistry
Award, ACS Outstanding Student in Inorganic Chemistry Award, and Dept. of Chemistry
& Biochemistry Outstanding Senior in Chemistry Award.
- May 9, 2018. Sam Acosta, Natalie Adamson, Sharai Mendez, James Oakley, Helen Sedrak,
Tyler Stanley, and Jenny Veyna presented Chem 499 posters at the CSUSM Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Research Showcase.
- May 2, 2018. Jenny Veyna was featured on CSUSM News Center.
- April 2, 2018. James Oakley received the 2018 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Fellowship. Congratulations James!
- March 18-22, 2018. James Oakley presented a poster at the 255th American Chemical
Society National Meeting in New Orleans, LA.
- March 2, 2018. Omar Apolinar gave an oral presentation at the 2018 Symposium on Student
Research, Creative Activities, & Innovation.
- February 27, 2018. Omar Apolinar got accepted to the 2018 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) Program. He will be doing research with the Engle Lab at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA. Congratulations, Omar!
- February 9, 2018. James Oakley was featured on CSUSM News Center.
- January 11–13, 2018. James Oakley, Sharai Mendez, and Omar Apolinar presented posters
at the 30th Annual CSU Biotechnology Symposium in Santa Clara.
- November 14, 2017. James Oakley presented a poster at the CSUSM CUGR Student Poster Showcase.
- November 6, 2017. Congratulations to James Oakley for being selected as a 2018 Glenn Nagel Undergraduate Research Award Finalist. James competed for this prestigious award at the 30th Annual CSU Biotechnology
Symposium in January 2018, in Santa Clara.
- October 2017. Congratulations to Iliana Levesque on being chosen to attend the M|CORE (Michigan-Chemistry Opportunities for Research & Education) Graduate Program Preview
Weekend!
- September 28, 2017. Iliana Levesque gave an oral presentation at the Frontiers in Science Seminar Series at CSUSM.
- August 10, 2017. Tyler Stanley gave an oral presentation at the 2017 Brown Bag Research
Talks for the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.
- August 9, 2017. Iliana Levesque won a poster award for her presentation at the Summer Scholars Research Poster Showcase at CSUSM.
- August 3, 2017. Jasimine Terrell and Iliana Levesque gave an oral presentation at
the 2017 Brown Bag Research Talks for the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.
- July 27, 2017. James Oakley and Omar Apolinar gave an oral presentation at the 2017
Brown Bag Research Talks for the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.
- July 21, 2017. James Oakley presented a poster at the 2017 SoCal Undergraduate Research
Symposium in Chemistry at UCI.
- June 29, 2017. James Oakley presented a poster at the 2017 National Organic Symposium at UC Davis.
- June 12, 2017. Congratulations to James Oakley for receiving a travel grant to the
2017 National Organic Symposium.
- June 2017. Congratulations to Iliana Levesque for receiving the 2017 Viasat Summer Scholars Award.
- May 23, 2017. Dr. Iafe was featured on CSUSM News Center.
- May 10, 2017. Congratulations to Cristofer Thompson for winning the CSUSM Dept. of
Chemistry & Biochemistry Outstanding Student in Undergraduate Research Award.
- May 10, 2017. Cristofer Thompson presented his Chem 499 poster at the CSUSM Chemistry
& Biochemistry Student Research Showcase.
- May 3, 2017. High school student Parker Loux gave his oral Presentation of Learning
for the Internship Program at Del Lago Academy.
- May 2, 2017. Congratulations to Omar Apolinar for getting the 2017 Spring Presidents' Commission Scholars Award.
- April 28, 2017. James Oakley gave an oral presentation at the 2017 CSU Symposium on Student Research, Creative Activities,
& Innovationat California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
- April 18, 2017. Gloria Diaz represented the San Diego Foundation and CSUSM STEM Summer Scholars program in an interview with Whitney Southwhick from NBC7.
- April 3, 2017. Lina Ahlberg, James Oakley, and Cris Thompson presented posters at
the 253rd American Chemical Society National Meeting in San Francisco.
- February 24, 2017. Congratulations to James Oakley for being chosen as a FINALIST at the 2017 Symposium on Student Research, Creative Activities, & Innovation.
- February 2017. Congratulations to Gloria Diaz for getting accepted to the chemistry
PhD program at the University of Michigan!!
- January 23, 2017. Gloria Diaz was highlighted in the Science & Technology Spotlight Series blog at sdfoundation.org.
- January 5–7, 2017. Cristofer Thompson, Lina Ahlberg, Tyler Stanley, James Oakley,
and Sam Acosta presented posters at the 29th Annual CSU Biotechnology Symposium in
Santa Clara.
- November 29, 2016. Lina Ahlberg and James Oakley presented posters at the CSUSM CUGR
Student Poster Showcase.
- October 2016. Congratulations to Gloria Diaz on being chosen to attend the M|CORE (Michigan-Chemistry Opportunities for Research & Education) Graduate Program Preview
Weekend!
- August 10, 2016. Sam Acosta, James Oakley, and Cristofer Thompson presented at the
2016 Summer Scholars Research Poster Showcase.
- June 2016. Congratulations to Cristofer Thompson for receiving the 2016 Genentech
Summer Scholars Award.
- June 2016. Congratulations to Sam Acosta and James Oakley for receiving the 2016 Viasat
Summer Scholars Award.
- May 13, 2016. Congratulations to Gloria Diaz for winning the CSUSM Chemistry and Biochemistry
Outstanding Faculty Student Collaboration Award.
- May 11, 2016. Elie Ghasb, Jessica Maynard, Jackie Robinos, Melisa Dean, Gloria Diaz,
Lina Ahlberg, and Brittney Klasic presented posters at the CSUSM Chemistry & Biochemistry
Student Research Showcase.
- May 11, 2016. Congratulations to Lina Ahlberg for winning the Mari A. Smith Outstanding
Student in Physical Chemistry Award.
- May 11, 2016. Congratulations to Jessica Maynard for winning the ACS Outstanding Student
in Organic Chemistry Award.
- April 29, 2016. Gloria Diaz gave an oral presentation at the 2016 CSU Symposium on Student Research,
Creative Activities, & Innovation at CSU Bakersfield.
- April 23, 2016. Lina Ahlberg and Gloria Diaz presented a poster at the Southern California
Undergraduate Research Conference (SCURC) at CSU Long Beach.
- April 6, 2016. Gloria Diaz presented a poster at the 75th San Diego ACS Anniversary
Symposium at SDSU.
- March 13, 2016. Gloria Diaz and Brittney Klasic presented posters at the 251st American
Chemical Society National Meeting in San Diego.
- February 26, 2016. Congratulations to Gloria Diaz for being chosen as a FINALIST at the 2016 Symposium on Student Research, Creative
Activities, & Innovation.
- January 8, 2016. Gloria Diaz and Brittney Klasic presented posters at the 28th Annual CSU
Biotechnology Symposium in Anaheim (January 7–9, 2016).
- June 2015. Congratulations to Melisa Dean, Gloria Diaz, Brittney Klasic, and Jessica
Maynard for receiving the 2015 Summer Scholars Award.
Peer Reviewed Articles
(* denotes undergraduate student)
*Oakley, J. V.; *Stanley, T. J.; *Jesse, K. A.; *Melanese, A. K; *Alvarez, A. A.;
Prince, A. L.; Cain, S. E.; Wenzel, A. G.; Iafe, R. G. "Gold-Catalyzed Friedel–Crafts-like Reaction of Benzylic Alcohols to Afford 1,1-Diarylalkanes." Euro. J. Org. Chem 2019, accepted for publication.
Karabiyikoglu, S.; Iafe, R. G.; Merlic, C. A. "Ring-Closing Metathesis with Vicinal Dibromoalkenes as Protected Alkynes: A Synthetic
Approach to Macrocyclic Enynes." Org. Lett. 2015, 17, 5248–5251.
*Vinson, A. R. S.; *Davis, V. K.; *Arunasalam, A.; *Jesse, K. A.; *Hamilton, R. E.;
*Shattuck, M. A.; *Hu, A. C.; Iafe, R. G.; Wenzel, A. G. "Gold-Catalyzed, SN1-Type Reaction of Alcohols to Ethers and Cbz-Protected Amines." Synlett 2015, 26, 765–770.
Iafe, R. G.; *Kuo, J. L.; Hochstatter, D. G.; *Saga, T.; *Turner, J. W.; Merlic, C. A. "Increasing the Efficiency of the Transannular Diels-Alder Strategy via Palladium(II)-Catalyzed
Macrocyclizations." Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 582–585.
Iafe, R. G.; Chan, D. G.; *Kuo, J. L.; Boon, B. A.; *Faizi, D. J.; Saga, T.; *Turner, J. W.;
Merlic, C. A. "Cyclization Strategies to Polyenes Using Pd(II)-Catalyzed Couplings of Pinacol Vinylboronates." Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 4282–4285.
Gutierrez, O.; Iafe, R. G.; Houk, K. N. "Origin of Stereoselectivity in the Imidazolidinone-Catalyzed Reductions of Cyclic
α,β-Unsaturated Ketones." Org. Lett. 2009, 11, 4298–4301.
Ess, D. H.; Wheeler, S. E.; Iafe, R. G.; Xu, L.; Celebi-Olcum, N.; Houk, K. N. "Bifurcations on Potential Energy Surfaces of Organic Reactions." Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 7592–7601.
Iafe, R. G.; Houk, K. N. "Intramolecular Hetero-Diels-Alder Reactions of Imine and Iminium Dienophiles: Quantum
Mechanical Exploration of Mechanisms and Stereoselectivities." J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 2679–2686.
Iafe, R. G.; Houk, K. N. "Stereoselectivity Control by Torsional Steering in an Intramolecular Diels-Alder Reaction
of Vinyl Oxocarbenium Ions." Org. Lett. 2006, 8, 3469–3472.
Conference/National Meeting Presentations
(* denotes undergraduate student)
- Smolin, A.; Apolinar, O.; Iafe, R. G. (2019, September) Development of late-stage functionalization of chiral bisphosphorylimides. Poster
presented at the 258th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, San Diego, CA.
- *Perez, J.; *Shabo, M.; *Fernandez, K.; *Nguyen, M.; *Bolanos, V. F.; Ahlberg, L.;
Iafe, R. G. (2019, April) Gold-catalyzed arylation of benzylic alcohols to afford bioactive 1,2,3-benzotriazole
derivatives. Poster presented at the 257thACS National Meeting & Exposition, Orlando, FL.
- *Apolinar, O.; Ahlberg, L.; Iafe, R. G. (2019, April) Development of Chiral Bisphosphorylimides as Organocatalsts for Asymmetric
Friedel-Crafts Reactions. Poster presented at the 257thACS National Meeting & Exposition, Orlando, FL.
- *Scott, J.; *Levesque, I.; *Acosta, S.; Iafe, R. G.Microwave Assisted, Gold-catalyzed Ritter-type Reaction of Benzylic Alcohols. Oral
presented at the 257thACS National Meeting & Exposition, Orlando, FL.
-
*Nguyen, M.; *Perez, J.; Iafe, R. G. (2019, January) Microwave-Assisted Gold(I) Reaction of Benzylic Alcohols for the Preparation
of Modified 1,2,3-Benzotriazoles. Poster presented at the 31st CSU Annual Biotechnology
Symposium, Anaheim, CA.
-
*Shabo, M.; *Franco-Bolanos, V.; Iafe, R. G. (2019, January) Preparation of Bioactive 1,2,3-Benzotriazole Targets by a Microwave-Assisted
Gold(I) Catalysis Procedure. Poster presented at the 31st CSU Annual Biotechnology
Symposium, Anaheim, CA.
-
*Apolinar, O.; Iafe, R. G.(2019, January) Chiral Bisphosphorylimides as Organocatalysts for Enantioselective
Friedel–Crafts Reactions. Poster presented at the 31st CSU Annual Biotechnology Symposium,
Anaheim, CA.
- *Oakley, J. V.; *Stanley, T.; Iafe, R. G. (2018, March) Microwave-assisted Gold(I)-catalyzed Friedel–Crafts-like Arylation
of Benzylic Alcohols to Afford 1,1-Diarylmethanes. Poster presented at the 255th ACS
National Meeting & Exposition, New Orleans, LA.
- *Oakley, J. V.; *Mendez, S.; *Stanley, T.; Cain, S.; Iafe, R. G. (2018, January) Gold(I)-Catalyzed Friedel–Crafts-like Arylation of Benzylic Alcohols
to Afford 1,1-Diarylmethanes. Poster presented at the 30th CSU Annual Biotechnology
Symposium, Santa Clara, CA.
- *Apolinar, O.; *Adamson, N.; *Ahlberg, L.; *Thompson, C.; *Diaz, G.; *Dean, M.; *Klasic,
B.; *Maynard, J.; *Ghasb, E.; Iafe, R. G. (2018, January) Chiral Bisphosphorylimides as Organocatalysts for Friedel–Crafts Reactions. Poster
presented at the 30th CSU Annual Biotechnology Symposium, Santa Clara, CA.
- *Oakley, J. V.; *Stanley, T.; Iafe, R. G. (2017, June) Gold(I)-Catalyzed Friedel–Crafts-like Arylation of Benzylic Alcohols
to Afford 1,1-Diarylmethanes. Poster presented at the 45th National Organic Chemistry
Symposium, Davis, CA.
- *Oakley, J. V.; *Stanley, T.; Iafe, R. G. (2017, April) Gold(I)-Catalyzed Friedel–Crafts-like Arylation of Benzylic Alcohols
to Afford 1,1-Diarylmethanes. Poster presented at the 253rd ACS National Meeting & Exposition, San Francisco, CA.
- *Ahlberg, L.; *Thompson, C.; *Diaz, G.; *Klasic, B.; Iafe, R. G. (2017, April) Chiral Bisphosphorylimides as Organocatalysts for Friedel–Crafts Reactions.
Poster presented at the 253rd ACS National Meeting & Exposition, San Francisco, CA.
- *Oakley, J. V.; *Stanley, T.; Iafe, R. G. (2017, January) Gold(I)-Catalyzed Friedel–Crafts-like Arylation of Benzylic Alcohols
to Afford 1,1-Diarylmethanes. Poster presented at the 29th CSU Annual Biotechnology Symposium, Santa Clara, CA.
- *Ahlberg, L.; *Thompson, C.; *Dean, M.; *Diaz, G.; *Ghasb, E.; *Klasic, B.; *Maynard,
J.; *Robinos, J.; Abrous, L.; Iafe, R. G. (2017, January) Chiral Bisphosphorylimides as Organocatalysts for Friedel–Crafts
Reactions. Poster presented at the 29th CSU Annual Biotechnology Symposium, Santa Clara, CA.
- *Acosta, S.; *Ghasb, E.; Iafe, R. G. (2017, January) The Microwave Assisted, Gold(I)-Catalyzed Ritter Reaction. Poster
presented at the 29th CSU Annual Biotechnology Symposium, Santa Clara, CA.
- *Ahlberg, L.; *Dean, M.; *Diaz, G.; *Ghasb, E.; *Klasic, B.; *Maynard, J.; *Robinos,
J.; Abrous, L.; Iafe, R. G. (2016, April) Bisphosphorylimides as Organocatalysts for Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts
Reactions. Poster presented at the 75th San Diego ACS Anniversary Symposium, San Diego, CA.
- *Ahlberg, L.; *Dean, M.; *Diaz, G.; *Ghasb, E.; *Klasic, B.; *Maynard, J.; *Robinos,
J.; Abrous, L.; Iafe, R. G. (2016, March) Bisphosphorylimides as Organocatalysts for Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts
Reactions. Poster presented at the 251st ACS National Meeting & Exposition, San Diego, CA.
- *Ahlberg, L.; *Dean, M.; *Diaz, G.; *Ghasb, E.; *Klasic, B.; *Maynard, J.; *Robinos,
J.; Abrous, L.; Iafe, R. G. (2016, January) Bisphosphorylimides as Organocatalysts for Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts
Reactions. Poster presented at the 28th CSU Annual Biotechnology Symposium, Anaheim, CA.
- *Tran, N.; *Mesa, K.; *Wall, J.; Iafe, R. G.; Wenzel, A. G. (2014, March). Chiral Thiophosphoramides as Ligands for Gold(I) Catalysis.
Poster presented at the 247th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Dallas, TX.
- *Davis, V. K.; *Arunasalam, A.; *Vinson, A.; Iafe, R. G.; Wenzel, A. G. (2014, March). Gold(I)-Catalyzed, SN1 Etherification of Alcohols. Poster presented at the 247th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Dallas, TX.
- *Panzer, Z. R.; Iafe, R. G.; Wenzel, A. G. (2014, March). Diastereoselective, Bronsted Acid-Catalyzed, Aza-Friedel
Crafts-like Reaction Between Aryl Compounds and Imines. Poster presented at the 247th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Dallas, TX.
- *Panzer, Z. R.; Iafe, R. G.; Wenzel, A. G. (2013, April). Betti Bases for Application in Green Organocatalysis.
Poster presented at the 245th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, New Orleans, LA.
- *Kuo, J. L.; Iafe, R. G.; Merlic, C. A. (2012, March). Palladium(II) Catalyzed Intramolecular Insertions for
Polycyclic Ring Synthesis. Poster presented at the 243rd ACS National Meeting & Exposition, San Diego, CA.
- Iafe, R. G.; Merlic, C. A. (2011, March). Strategies for Palladium(II) Catalyzed Cyclization
Reactions. Poster presented at the 241st ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Anaheim, CA.
- Iafe, R. G.; Houk, K. N. (2007, March). Density Functional Theory Study of C-H Activation of
Arenes and Alkanes with Cp*RhPMe3. Poster presented at the 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL.
Grants
- 2019: Hamilton. $1,000
- 2019: CSUPERB PCS. $8,000
- 2019: ACS DOC SURF. $5,000
- 2018: FC PD Grant. $800
- 2018: OGSR GPSM. $1,732
- 2018: NCHEA *NSPIRE Graduate Student Lecture Series. $3,000
- 2018: Jean Dreyfus Lectureship for Undergraduate Institutions. $18,500
- 2018: OGSR GPSM. $3,000
- 2017: CSUPERB PCS. $8,000
- 2015. OGSR GPSM. $3,000
- 2015. CSUPERB NI. $15,000
Courses
*To enroll in CHEM 399/CHEM 499, you must go through the Department's application process. CHEM 697/CHEM 698 is restricted to Chemistry MS students.
Vitae
Assistant Professor, 2014–Present, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California
State University San Marcos
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2011–2014, W.M. Keck Science Department at the Claremont
Colleges
Lecturer, 2011, UCLA Extension
Professional Societies:
- American Chemical Society, member
- Royal Society of Chemistry, member
- Sigma Xi, full member
- Alpha Sigma Nu, member
Awards:
- 2019, Safety, Health & Sustainability Safety Champion
- 2019, CSM Award for Outstanding Faculty Student Collaboration (w/ Omar Apolinar, Scripps
Research Institute/University of Oxford), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
CSUSM, CA
- 2019, Advisor of the Year Tukwut Leadership Award, ASI, CSUSM, CA
- 2019, President's Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching Innovation & Excellence,
CSUSM, CA.
- 2018, Kerri Mowen Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award, OGSR, CSUSM, CA
- 2017, Cougars Affordable Learning Materials (CALM) Program, Spring 2017 Award (w/
JT & EG), CSUSM, CA
- 2016, CSM Award for Outstanding Faculty Student Collaboration (w/ Gloria Diaz, University
of Michigan), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, CSUSM, CA
- 2011, Hanson-Dow Award for Excellence in Teaching, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
UCLA, CA
Outreach
- Mercedes Nguyen, Rosa Romero, and Maria Vidaca were interviewed by KUSI to hype up the "Better Than Magic" Chemistry Show.
- Congratulations to the CSUSM ACS Student Chapter for being selected to receive an Honorable Mention award for its activities conducted during the 2017-2018 academic year.
- ChemExpo 2018: "Chemistry is Out of This World!" Miramar College, October 27, 2018. ACS Club @ CSUSM.
Back row: Monif Alsalek (PR). Middle row: October DeYoung, Maria Vidaca (Sec.), Stacey Comstock, Rosa Romero (Pres),
Emily Lyon, Maribel Clerk, Prof. Iafe. Front row: Roberto Leon Baxin
Back row: Matt Baldwin, Colton Breyer. Middle row: Maria Vidaca, James Oakley (VP), Tyler Stanley, Alyssa Dubord (Sec.),
Nicolette Gonazalez, Jenny Tran, Emily Lyon, Rosa Romero (PR), Jessica Dang, Prof.
Iafe. Front row: Sarah Shiotani, Sharai Mendez (Pres.)
"Better Than Magic" Chemistry Show
- ChemExpo 2016: "Forensics: Solving Mysteries with Chemistry" Miramar College, October 22, 2016. ACS
Club @ CSUSM
- STEM in your Backyard Facebook 2016, Main Street, Vista, CA, October 9, 2016, ACS Club @ CSUSM
- Super STEM Saturday, CSUSM, March 12, 2016.
- STEM in your Backyard, Main Street, Vista, CA, March 6, 2016, ACS Club @ CSUSM
- ChemExpo 2015: "Chemistry Colors Our World: Exploring the Chemistry of Pigments, Dyes,
and Light!" Miramar College, October 24, 2015. ACS Club @ CSUSM
- Discover CSUSM, CSUSM, April 11, 2015, ACS Club @ CSUSM
- Super STEM Saturday, CSUSM, March 14, 2015
Front row: Katie Reuter, Lina Ahlberg, Gloria Diaz, Jasmine Javier. Back row: Prof.
Iafe, Elie Ghaseb, Matt Kromer, Prof. Schmidt
- ChemExpo 2014: "The Sweet Side of Chemistry: Candy!" Miramar College, October 25,
2014. ACS Club @ CSUSM
Advisor, 2015
Amanda Smolin. Major: Chemistry MS
