Alumni
Graduate Students
Alex Bagdasarian
B.S., UC Davis, 2015
Ph.D. UCLA, 2019
Nickname: "Bags"
Scientist at Denali Therapeutics
Alex was born and raised in Cupertino, CA. He left his hometown of Apple headquarters to attend UC Davis where he conducted research under Dr. Mark J Kurth. His research consisted of heterocyclic methodology as well as synthesizing biologically active heterocycles. He graduated in 2015 with a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. His hobbies include taking long walks in the chemistry building hallways, playing fetch with his cat, and cooking.
B.S., UC Davis, 2015
Ph.D. UCLA, 2019
Nickname: "Bags"
Scientist at Denali Therapeutics
Alex was born and raised in Cupertino, CA. He left his hometown of Apple headquarters to attend UC Davis where he conducted research under Dr. Mark J Kurth. His research consisted of heterocyclic methodology as well as synthesizing biologically active heterocycles. He graduated in 2015 with a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. His hobbies include taking long walks in the chemistry building hallways, playing fetch with his cat, and cooking.
Brian Shao
B.S., UC Davis, 2015
Ph.D., UCLA, 2019
Nickname: "Shao Shao"
Scientist at Terray Therapeutics
Brian was born and raised in Alhambra, CA. After receiving his B.S. in pharmaceutical chemistry at UC Davis, he decided to throw away his free time and hobbies to slave away in the Nelson Lab. Before joining, he liked to go to the gym and play StarCraft and CS:GO at home.
B.S., UC Davis, 2015
Ph.D., UCLA, 2019
Nickname: "Shao Shao"
Scientist at Terray Therapeutics
Brian was born and raised in Alhambra, CA. After receiving his B.S. in pharmaceutical chemistry at UC Davis, he decided to throw away his free time and hobbies to slave away in the Nelson Lab. Before joining, he liked to go to the gym and play StarCraft and CS:GO at home.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Jonathan Gordon
Ph.D., Caltech, 2015 (Prof. Brian M. Stotlz)
Sc.B., Brown University, 2009 (Prof. Jason K. Sello)
nickname: "Jonald"
Jonny did his undergraduate research at Brown University with Professor Sello in the area of rare-earth metal catalysis for 4-component Ugi reactions. At Caltech, his graduate work focused on the syntheses of Transtaganolide and Basiliolide natural products. He is a Los Angeles native who is a big fan of the L.A. Lakers and the L.A. Dodgers.
Ph.D., Caltech, 2015 (Prof. Brian M. Stotlz)
Sc.B., Brown University, 2009 (Prof. Jason K. Sello)
nickname: "Jonald"
Jonny did his undergraduate research at Brown University with Professor Sello in the area of rare-earth metal catalysis for 4-component Ugi reactions. At Caltech, his graduate work focused on the syntheses of Transtaganolide and Basiliolide natural products. He is a Los Angeles native who is a big fan of the L.A. Lakers and the L.A. Dodgers.
Matthew Asay
PhD, UC Riverside / Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III
Postdoc, Humboldt Fellow TU Berlin, JSPS Fellow University of Tsukuba
Nickname: Matt
Senior Research Scientist at Universal Display Corporation
Matt was born in SLC, Utah but generally claims the ambiguous ‘SoCal’ because he hasn’t lived in Utah in a long time. He received his PhD from UC, Riverside in the Lab of Prof. Guy Bertrand making carbene related ligands. During his PhD he spent a year in Toulouse, France also making carbene related ligands in the LHFA. Upon completion of his doctoral degree he began a world tour with postdoctoral research stays in Germany and Japan where he learned many of the intricacies of fundamental silicon chemistry. After a return to UCR to work with Prof. Vince Lavallo on carborane cluster chemistry Matt began an independent research career at UNAM in Mexico City. He now finds himself again on American soil using carborane anions. He enjoys American Football, French Rugby, German Football, Japanese Karaoke, and Mexican cochinita pibil.
PhD, UC Riverside / Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III
Postdoc, Humboldt Fellow TU Berlin, JSPS Fellow University of Tsukuba
Nickname: Matt
Senior Research Scientist at Universal Display Corporation
Matt was born in SLC, Utah but generally claims the ambiguous ‘SoCal’ because he hasn’t lived in Utah in a long time. He received his PhD from UC, Riverside in the Lab of Prof. Guy Bertrand making carbene related ligands. During his PhD he spent a year in Toulouse, France also making carbene related ligands in the LHFA. Upon completion of his doctoral degree he began a world tour with postdoctoral research stays in Germany and Japan where he learned many of the intricacies of fundamental silicon chemistry. After a return to UCR to work with Prof. Vince Lavallo on carborane cluster chemistry Matt began an independent research career at UNAM in Mexico City. He now finds himself again on American soil using carborane anions. He enjoys American Football, French Rugby, German Football, Japanese Karaoke, and Mexican cochinita pibil.
