Lead Researcher
Our Mentoring Philosophy
We believe great scientists are developed through support, belonging, and challenge. Undergraduate, master’s, high school students, and postdoctoral researchers are fully integrated into every stage of the research process and mentored toward independence, confidence, and scientific leadership in the laboratory.
Current Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr. Lingaraju “Raju” Gorla
Raju started working in our lab as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Spring 2025 semester. He completed his Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic and Supramolecular Chemistry at Jaime I University in Spain. He then worked at Villapharma, a pharmaceutical company, synthesizing novel organic compounds with potential applications in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. He later relocated to the United States to undertake postdoctoral research at Kennesaw State University and the University of Kansas. He is currently working in our research group, developing multifunctional fluorescent polycyclic 1,2-BN-heteroarenes compounds and exploring their applications and visible-light-absorbing photocages to enable the synthesis of challenging organic and biologically active molecules .
Current Graduate Students
Blaise Williams
Blaise joined our research lab as a master’s student in Spring 2025. He earned a B.S. in Biochemistry from KSU in May 2024. Supported by an NIH T32 training grant through the Peach State Bridges to the Doctorate Program, he is developing electron-poor and electron-rich polycyclic 1,2-BN-azaborine compounds and investigating their photophysical properties and applications. After completing his master’s degree, he plans to pursue an MD/PhD in pharmacology.
Mukeh Cafarina Ngubui
Cafarina joined our research lab as a master’s student in Fall 2025. She earned a B.Sc. in Chemistry, with a minor in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Supported by the NSF-LEAPS-MPS program, she is developing visible-light-absorbing photocages to enable the synthesis of challenging organic and biologically active molecules. After completing her master’s degree, she plans to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry or in quality control.
Current Undergraduate Student Researchers
Lilianna “Lili” Kocai
Lili joined our lab in Fall 2023 as a First-Year Scholars student. She continued through the Sophomore Scholars Program and is now part of the Junior and Senior Scholars Program. She has presented her research at NCUR, SURC, and SERMACS. Her current work focuses on developing multifunctional fluorescent polycyclic 1,2-BN-heteroarenes and exploring their potential applications.
Skylor Seetaram
Skylor joined our lab in Fall 2024 through the First-Year Scholars Program and has continued her research as part of the Sophomore Scholars Program. She is majoring in Biochemistry at Kennesaw State University. After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans to pursue graduate studies and further develop her career in scientific research. Her current work focuses on synthesizing electron-poor polycyclic 1,2-BN-heteroarenes and investigating how substituent position influences their optical and electronic properties.
Genevieve “Geni” Insalaca
Geni started working in our lab in the Fall 2025 semester. She is an undergraduate student studying both Criminal Justice and Chemistry, with a concentration in Forensic Chemistry. After earning both degrees, she plans to pursue a Master’s degree, and a future career, in Forensic Science.
Saint-Louis Research Group Alumni
Albert Campbell
Albert began working in our lab as an undergraduate student researcher in Fall 2020 semester. He then received his master’s degree from the Saint-Louis Research Laboratory in Chemical Sciences in May 2024 while being supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) T32 training grant, which supports the Peach State Bridges to the Doctorate Program. He worked on aggregation-induced emission materials and the application of photolabile protecting groups for the synthesis of hydroxamic acids. He is currently working on his Ph.D. at Louisiana State University (LSU).
Ophelia Adjei-Sah
Ophelia joined our research group in the Fall 2022 semester. She successfully earned her M.S. degree in Chemical Sciences from KSU in May 2024 while being supported by NSF-LEAPS. She worked on the application of photolabile protecting groups that absorb in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum for the synthesis of hydroxamic acids. She is currently working as an Analytical Chemist at The Coca-Cola Company global headquarters.
Lyric K. Gordon worked as an undergraduate researcher in our laboratory. She received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from KSU and is currently pursuing a master’s degree.
Kaia Ellis
Kaia joined our research group in Spring 2022 as an undergraduate student researcher. She earned her B.S. in Biochemistry in Fall 2022. She is now earning her Ph.D. at Temple University.
Adeline Boswell
Adeline joined our research group in spring 2022 as an undergraduate student researcher. She earned her B.S. in Biochemistry in May 2023. Adeline is now working at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as a crime lab Scientist in toxicology.
Robert Hughley
M.S. in Chemical Sciences from Kennesaw State University (Fall 2021). B.S. in Chemistry from Georgia College and State (2018)
Robert joined our research group in fall 2020 to work on azaborine fluorescence glucose sensors. Robert earned his M.S. degree in Chemical Sciences from KSU in fall 2021. He is now earning his Ph.D. at Georgia Institute of Technology .
Janiyah Riley
Janiyah joined our research group in spring 2022 as an undergraduate student researcher. She earned her B.S. in Chemistry in May 2022. She is now an associate scientist at Alcon Pharmaceutical where she will be working alongside a team of researchers to manufactured contact lenses. She plans to attend graduate school to earn her Ph.D. soon.
Temitope Folorunsho was an undergraduate student researcher at KSU (Fall 2021).
Samuel Moore was undergraduate student researcher at KSU (Fall 2021-Spring 2022).
Peter Gobran was an undergraduate student researcher at KSU (Spring 2021).
Former Students Mentored as Post Doctoral Associate
Renée Shavnore was an undergraduate student researcher at UWF. She is now a medical student at Ross University School of Medicine.
- Ashton Taylor (left) worked as an undergraduate student researcher at UWF. She is now a graduate student at the University of South Florida.
- Caleb McCliton (middle) was an undergraduate student researcher at UWF. He is now a technician at 3Mc Mobile Mechanical.
- Haliegh Castonguay (right) was an undergraduate student researcher at UWF. She is now completing her doctorate degree in Physical Therapy at The University of North Florida.
Andrew Schroeder was an undergraduate student researcher at UWF. He is now pursuing a MD/PhD degree at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. His PhD thesis focuses on the adaptive immune response to viral infections.
- Lacey Magill (left) was an undergraduate student researcher at UWF. She is now a dental assistant in the Air Force Dental Corps’ Advanced Education General Dentistry II residency program in San Antonio, TX
- Breonna Brown (middle) was an undergraduate student researcher at UWF.
- Julie Wilson (right) was an undergraduate student researcher at UWF. She is now working as an analyst at Eurofins Environment Testing US at Pensacola, Florida.
Saint-Louis Research Group 