Current Post-Bac Students

Karemma Brown

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Tier 1 Mentor – Dr. Megan Lazorski

Tier 2 Mentor – Dr. Damilola Akintayo

Tier 3 Research Project: Mines Project 1 – Boil-off – development of hydrogen capture and storage

Karemma Brown is an alum from Georgia State University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences & Enterprise. An avid proponent of interdisciplinary work and an enthusiast for environmental science, she believes that the most successful projects -no matter how challenging- encourage collaboration and outside-the-box thinking. During her undergraduate experience, she conducted research in computational chemistry and analytical chemistry, where she worked on exciting projects involving nanoplastics and battery nanomaterials. This work was her launchpad into the world of chemistry. Currently, she is working with her mentors, Dr. Sarah Shulda and Dr. Cullen Quine, on a project involving optimizing hydrogen gas capture. In the future, she looks forward to pursuing her doctoral degree in Chemistry, where she plans to specialize in biophysical techniques. Upon receiving her doctoral degree, she aspires to investigate how anthropogenic changes in the environment affect animals and humans and to determine the efficacy of nanoscience in the development of preventative and control measures.  In her free time, Karemma likes to ride bikes, roller skate, practice yoga, read mystery thrillers, and bake sugar-free vegan pastries.

Keairra Brown

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Tier 1 Mentor – Dr. Shailesh Ambre

Tier 2 Mentor – Dr. Nilakshi Devi

Tier 3 Research Mentor: NREL/MSU Denver Project 1 Overview (Renew) – Investigation of photophysical properties of complexes to be used for solar energy conversion applications.

Bio: Keairra is a graduate from Georgia State University (GSU) in Atlanta, GA, where she earned a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Biomedical Sciences and Enterprise. During her time at GSU, she was awarded a NIH-funded Initiative for Maximizing Student Development fellowship and gained research experiences in both computational quantum chemistry and biophysical chemistry, where she worked on projects using computational techniques to accurately model complex nanomaterials and using spectroscopic techniques to quantify plastic nanoparticles. After graduating from GSU, she was ecstatic to join MSU Denver ACS Bridge Post-Baccalaureate program, so she could prepare for graduate school and become the confident scientist she aspires to be. Currently, she is working with Dr. Melissa Gish to learn about spectroscopic methods to aid in characterizing and creating inorganic photosensitizers and photocatalysts. Upon completing the post-baccalaureate program, she aspires to attend graduate school to earn a doctoral degree in Biophysical Chemistry to pursue a career in patent law and/or scientific research as a research scientist in industry, hoping to one day study how to keep drinking water safe. When she isn’t reading research publications, she loves recreating popular and traditional dishes into vegan dishes, going on a bike ride around the city, going to yoga classes, reading a science fiction novel, writing, and hanging out with her mom and sisters.

Erica Scott

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Tier 1 Mentor – Dr. Megan Lazorski

Tier 2 Mentor – Dr. Nilakshi Devi

Tier 3 Research Project: NREL/MSU Denver Project 1 Overview (Renew) – Investigation of photophysical properties of complexes to be used for solar energy conversion applications.

HI! My name is Erica Scott and I’m one of the current members on the post-bacc group. I love this program and I love the doors it has opened for me. My favorite part about the program is the mentorship aspect and the overall support mentally, socially, academically, professional and emotionally! Outside of the program I enjoy exploring Denver, it’s beautiful here! I love hiking and I love trying new food. I also love to workout and jog around The Grove at Commons Park. I do pilates over there three times a week as well as visit coffee shops, ramen bars, and go to the nail salon all in that area! I do miss home sometimes, but this program has definitely built a community and family away from home. I can’t wait to see what more I discover about myself and get to add onto my resume😉 in this program.

Ernesto Saenz-Rascon

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Tier 1 Mentor – Dr. Josh Martin

Tier 2 Mentor – Dr. Damilola Akintayo

Tier 3 Research project –

Toward the end of my senior year, I joined the A-Team (the research group of Dr. Shailesh Ambre), an undergraduate synthetic chemistry group at MSU Denver, where I focused on building small sugar lipids. There, I learned how to link amino acids to sugars under inert conditions. I joined because I felt like my undergraduate experience alone was not enough to get me into grad school. My plan was to work in R&D in industry for a while, build up experience, and eventually make my way into a Ph.D. program. Luckily, I was accepted into the ACS Bridge post-baccalaureate program, where I’ll be doing research and taking classes to prepare for grad school.
What got me into synthetic chemistry is the problem-solving aspect. I enjoy tackling challenges, the interdisciplinary nature of the work, and figuring out how to make something from scratch (or replicate what someone else’s work). Although I am grateful for my biochemistry-based synthetic experience, I feel my calling is more aligned with energy research. I believe making energy more accessible can help people worldwide. Because of this, I plan to shift my focus to inorganic chemistry, aiming to become a well-rounded synthetic chemist with expertise in a variety of materials. The pipe-dream, therefore, is to be a go-to synthetic chemist for labs conducting energy research.

Outside the lab, I love the outdoors. I’m also into strategy games, cars, and world history. And if I had to pick a favorite food? Enchiladas, no question.