Members

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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 participate in every stage of the research process. They are 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. There, he synthesized novel organic compounds. These compounds have 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 .

Researcher in lab coat and goggles “A researcher wearing safety goggles and a lab coat stands in front of laboratory glassware and equipment.”
Current Graduate Students
Student in lab coat “A student in a lab coat and glasses stands smiling in a chemistry lab with glass apparatus in the background.”

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.

Researcher beside lab equipment “A researcher in a white lab coat stands next to laboratory instrumentation and tubing in a chemistry lab.”
Current Undergraduate Student Researchers
Scientist holding glowing flask “A scientist wearing gloves and safety goggles holds a flask containing green liquid while standing at a lab bench.”

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.

Researcher holding test tube and instrument “A researcher in a lab coat and blue gloves holds a test tube with yellow liquid next to a handheld instrument in a laboratory.”

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).

Student in goggles in lab “A student wearing protective goggles and a lab coat smiles while standing at a laboratory bench.”
A smiling woman wearing a light-colored blouse stands indoors, facing the camera.”

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.

“A researcher wearing a lab coat, safety goggles, and gloves smiles while holding a flask containing green liquid in a chemistry lab.”
“A researcher wearing a lab coat, safety goggles, and gloves smiles while holding a round-bottom flask containing yellow liquid in a chemistry lab.”

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.

A researcher wearing a lab coat, safety goggles, and blue gloves holds a glowing blue liquid sample over a handheld fluorescence device in a chemistry lab.”
“A researcher wearing glasses and a striped shirt operates laboratory glassware connected to a rotary evaporator in a chemistry lab.”

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.

“A researcher wearing a lab coat, safety goggles, and blue gloves smiles while holding two small glowing blue samples over a fluorescence device in a chemistry lab.”
“A researcher wearing a lab coat, safety goggles, and blue gloves adjusts laboratory glassware connected to a benchtop instrument in a chemistry lab.”

Temitope Folorunsho was an undergraduate student researcher at KSU (Fall 2021).

Samuel Moore was undergraduate student researcher at KSU (Fall 2021-Spring 2022).

“A student wearing a lab coat, safety goggles, and blue gloves holds a small glowing sample over a handheld fluorescence device in a chemistry lab.”
“A researcher wearing a white lab coat stands in front of a laboratory fume hood with chemical structures drawn on the glass.”

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. 

A medical professional wearing a white coat stands smiling outside a building with a large ‘Cleveland Clinic Florida’ sign on the wall.”
Three students holding flasks “Three students wearing gloves hold flasks containing glowing green and yellow solutions in a laboratory.
  • 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.

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Three researchers at poster session “Three researchers stand in front of a scientific poster at an academic conference.”
  • 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.