Cook Group PhDs
Amanda Oldacre, Defended May 10th, 2018
B.S., Biochemistry, Niagara University, 2014
PhD, Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2018
Post-Cook-Group: Postdoctoral Researcher, Lehigh University, Young Group
Last known position (2019): Assistant Professor of Chemistry, St. Lawrence University
Cory Hauke, Defended January 8th, 2019
B.S., Chemistry (natural and synthetic polymers), State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry, 2008
PhD, Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2019
Post-Cook-Group: Postdoctoral Researcher, NC State University, Castellano Group
Last known position (2022): TD Yield Engineer, Intel
Anjula Kosswattaarachchi, Defended May 1st, 2019
B.S. (Hons.), Chemistry, University of Colombo
LLB (Hons.), University of London
PhD, Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2019
Last known position (2019): Processes and Technologies Engineer, Intel Corporation
Cressa Ria P Fulong, Defended November 25th, 2019
B.S., Chemistry, University of the Philippines Diliman, 2008
M.S., Chemistry, University of the Philippines Diliman, 2012
PhD, Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2019
Last known position (2019): TD Module & Integration Yield Engineer, Intel Corporation
Matthew R. Crawley, Defended January 8th, 2021
B.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2015
PhD, Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2021
Last known position (2024): Postdoctoral Researcher, University at Buffalo, Cook Group
Vincent Pastore, Defended May 4th, 2021
joint with Rzayev Group
B.S., Chemistry, James Madison University, 2016
PhD, Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2021
Last known position (2024): Electron Microscopy Application Scientist, Nanoscience Instruments
Lauren Rosch, Defended July 22nd, 2022
M.S., Medicinal Chemistry, University at Buffalo, Detty Group, 2019
B.S., Chemistry, Frostburg State University, 2016
PhD, Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2022
Last known position (2024): Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Niagara University
Gregory Sokolow, Defended December 9th, 2022
joint with Morrow Group
B.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2017
B.A., Biology, University at Buffalo, 2017
PhD, Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2022
Last known position (2025): Senior Analytical Chemist, Sumitomo Bakelite North America Inc.
Heshali Welgama, Defended December 12th, 2023
B.S., Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 2017
PhD, Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2023
Last known position (2024): LTD Module and Integration Yield Engineer, Intel Corporation
Austin Gilbert, Defended December 20th, 2023
joint with Watson Group
B.S., Chemistry, Canisius College
PhD, Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2023
Last known position (2024): Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Wisconsin
Daoyang Zhang, Defended July 16th, 2024
B.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2019
PhD, Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2024
Last known position (2025): Postdoctoral Researcher, Texas A&M
Cook Group Masters
Lakshani Weerarathna, Defended January 11th, 2021
B.S., Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 2017
M.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2021
Last known position (2022): PhD Student, Monash University, Junkers Group
Xiaotong Zhang
joint with Benedict Lab
B.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2018
Last known position (2022): PhD Student, University at Buffalo, Benedict Group
Sandeep Kumar
B. Tech. Chemical Engineering, Sri Venkateshwara College of Engineering, India, 2017
M.S., Chemical Engineering, University at Buffalo, 2020
Richi Routray
B.S., Chemistry, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, 2018
M.S., Chemistry, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, 2020
M.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2024
Lindsey Lovern
B.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2022
M.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2025
Cook Group Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Yuzhen Zhang, 2014-2017
B.S., Chemistry, Linyi Normal University, 2004
M.S., Chemistry, Guangxi Normal University, 2007
Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry, University of Zurich, 2013
Postdoctoral Researcher, Bowling Green State University (Azenbacher Group), 2013-2014
Postdoctoral Researcher, University at Buffalo, 2014-2017
Visiting Scholar, University of Hong Kong
Last known position (2019): Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Guangxi University for Nationalities
Dr. Jiong Zhou, 2019-2020
B.S., Polymer Science and Engineering, Anhui University
PhD, Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Huang Group, 2019
Postdoctoral Researcher, University at Buffalo, Cook Group 2019-2020
Last known position (2022): Professor of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University
Amanda Grass, Ph.D., 2021-2022
B.S., Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
B.S., Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
PhD, Chemistry, Wayne State University, Groysman Group, 2020
Cook Group Undergraduate Researchers
Matthew Crawley, 2014-2015
B.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2015
Last known position: Postdoctoral Researcher, University at Buffalo, Cook Group
Patricia Johnson, 2015-2016
B.S., Chemistry, minor in Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, 2015
Last known position (2019): PhD student, Duke University, Craig Group
Robert Glasser, 2016-2017
B.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2017
M.S., Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, 2018
Last known position (2022): Analyst, Eurofins
Bradley Schurr, 2016-2017
B.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2017
M.S., Chemistry, University of Rochester, Matson Group, 2017-2019
Last known position (2022): Research Associate, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Yijie Zhu, 2017-2018
BS, Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2018
Sewon Kim, 2018-2019
B.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2019
Last known position (2019): Masters student, Medicinal Chemistry, University at Buffalo
Joshua Hazelnis
B.S., Chemistry and Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, 2020
Last known position (2022): PhD student, Chemistry, University of Michigan, Maldonado Group
Daniel Morphet
B.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2021
Last known position (2022): PhD student, Chemistry, Harvard, Nocera Group
Dan Lord
B.S., Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, 2022
Daniel Petrov
B.S., Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, 2022
Last known position (2022): Data Science Intern, Linde
Will Roberts
B.S., Chemistry and Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, 2022
Meghan Sullivan
B.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2023
Last known position (2025): PhD student, Chemistry, Harvard University, Nocera Group
Anish Avasthi
B.S., Chemical Engineering, University at Buffalo, 2023
Last known position (2025): PhD student, Chemical Engineering , University of Michigan, Kamcev Group
Trevor Higgins
B.S., Physics, University at Buffalo, 2023
B.A., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2023
Last known position (2025): PhD student, Chemistry, University at Buffalo, Zurek Group
Lea Kyle
B.S., Biochemistry, University at Buffalo, 2024
Brooklyn Nguyen
B.S., Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, 2024
Owen Szeglowski
B.S., Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2025
Last known position (2025): PhD student, Harvard University, Nocera Group
Ethan Jacob
B.S., Biochemistry
Minor: Pharmacology and Toxicology
Cook Group Visiting Scholars
Dr. Yang Zhou, 2014-2015
B.S., Chemistry, Shandong University, 2005
PhD, Inorganic Chemistry, Shandong University, 2010
Last known position (2019): Lecturer, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University
Holly Jones, 2015
M. Chem., Chemistry with Study in America, University of Sheffield, UK
Last known position: PhD student, University of Sheffield, Ward Group
Jiong Zhou, 2016-2017
B.S., Polymer Science and Engineering, Anhui University
PhD, Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Huang Group, 2019
Postdoctoral Researcher, University at Buffalo, Cook Group 2019-2020
Last known position (2022): Professor of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University
Johanna Kauling, 2019-2020
B.S., Chemistry, University of Münster, 2018
M.S., Chemistry, University of Münster, 2021
Last known position (2022): Ph.D. Student, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster