Chemistry, UTK

Mike Best, professor and associate head of undergraduate education, was recently named Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year at the Chancellor's Academic Honors Banquet. Congratulations Dr. Best! https://chem.utk.edu/best-named-undergraduate-research-mentor-of-the-year/

Congratulations to our most recent PhD and MS graduates! We are so proud of all that you've accomplished and look forward to seeing what comes next for you. University of Tennessee College of Arts & Sciences Association of Chemistry Graduate Students

Brooke Smith joined the PhD program in 2021. Smith was always interested in science and found herself drawn to chemistry as she learned how the core principles of chemistry relate to the world around us. Smith notes her experience in the chemistry graduate program has given her the skills and confidence to design and carry out her own work in a synthetic lab, and provided her with a community and relationships that will stay with her long after graduate school.

Smith is planning to pursue a career in industry, specifically the biotech sector where she can leverage her knowledge of chemical biology and medicinal applications for the improvement of human health. Congratulations Brooke!

B.S. student Loudon Rogers was originally a biology major until an in-depth organic chemistry class changed his mind. In the spring of his sophomore year, he switched his major to chemistry and never looked back. Rogers has excelled in the department, serving as a supplemental instruction leader for CHEM 260 and becoming an undergraduate member of the Zhao research group. At the 2026 Rock Top Undergraduate Chemistry Research Symposium, Rogers received a poster presentation award.

Rogers will begin graduate studies in chemistry at the University of Georgia this fall. Congratulations Loudon!

PhD student Anna-Kay West joined UT in 2020 from Manchester, Jamaica. West’s interest in chemistry began in high school, which carried her through an undergraduate degree in biochemistry. A growing interest in research convinced her to pursue her PhD at UT, where she says the community built with her fellow students became a critical part of her graduate school experience.

West plants to pursue a career in research and hopes to explore her interest in science communication. Congratulations Anna-Kay!

Madeline Belew is a Knoxville native who began her undergraduate studies at UT in 2022. In just 4 years, Belew has earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry while accumulating extensive patient care experience at UT Medical Center. After commencement, she plans to attend perfusion school in pursuit of becoming a cardiovascular perfusionist. Congratulations Madeline!

Commencement is here and we are ready to celebrate some of our soon-to-be alumni!

Kevin Siniard came to UT in 2017 as an undergraduate student and stayed to pursue his PhD. During his time as a graduate student in Professor Sheng Dai’s research group, Siniard published more than 20 articles and was the first author for 6. He has been the recipient of a number of awards including the Gleb Mamantov Graduate Chemistry Scholar award, the Dr. Robert A. and Phyllis F.J. Yokley Fellowship, and the Judson Hall Robertson Graduate Award in Analytical Chemistry.

After graduation, Siniard will begin work as a Core Engineering Senior Associate at Y-12 and is looking forward to building a future and family with his wife. Congratulations Kevin!

Congratulations to Professor David Jenkins, Jacob Barrett, and Phattananawee Nalaoh on their recent publication in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. University of Tennessee College of Arts & Sciences Association of Chemistry Graduate Students
https://chem.utk.edu/jenkins-publication-investigates-metal-organic-nanotube-interactions/

We are so proud of our graduate students and the work they're doing.

Today we highlight the recent work of Happy from Do’s lab in JACS!!

Please join us tomorrow, 2/25, for the inaugural Lietzke Lecture featuring Dr. Geraldine Richmond from the University of Oregon. Reception begins at 10:30am followed by the lecture at 11am in the Student Union room 270. No registration necessary. Details available at https://calendar.utk.edu/event/chemistry-2026-inaugural-lietzke-lecture?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=widget&utm_source=Calendar
University of Tennessee College of Arts & Sciences