Principal Investigator
Megan N. Jackson
Assistant Professor
megan.jackson [at] unc.edu
Megan began her scientific career as an undergraduate at Caltech. There, she conducted research in the laboratory of Prof. Harry Gray, where she was introduced to molecular synthesis, spectroscopy, and inorganic chemistry. This introduction to coordination chemistry and organometallics served as the lens through which she approached heterogeneous electrocatalysis as a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellow in the Surendranath lab at MIT. After receiving her Ph.D. in 2019, she joined the Long lab at UC Berkeley, supported by an Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship and a University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Award. Her postdoctoral research focused on bringing molecular-level understanding to the factors governing the materials properties of metal-organic framework crystals. She joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2022. Her favorite transition metal is Pt.
Postdocs
Grace grew up in Azle, TX. She obtained her B.S at Texas A&M University in 2019 while working under Dr. Sarbajit Banerjee on fluorescent LaOCl nanoparticles. She earned her PhD in 2024 in both chemistry and materials science at Princeton University under Dr. Leslie Schoop. Her work focused on using chemistry to synthesize 2D magnetic materials and topological materials. Grace enjoys board games, cooking, and watching Nic Cage movies.
gvv [at] unc.edu
Graciela (Grace) Villalpando
Graduate Students
Jaeyoung is from Seoul, South Korea. She finished her undergraduate studies there at Ewha Womans University with degrees in chemistry and digital humanities. Then she pursued a master’s degree in analytical chemistry at the same institution, focusing on the development of electrochemical sensors for in vivo experiments. Outside of the lab, she is interested in playing instruments, knitting, and crocheting.
jaeylee [at] unc.edu
Jaeyoung Lee
3rd Year
Devon was born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She attended Colorado State University where she graduated in 2022 with a B.S. in chemistry and a minor in global environmental sustainability. There she worked with Prof. Amy Prieto researching colloidal nanoparticle syntheses. Devon’s hobbies include hiking, paddleboarding, and arts and crafts.
leimkuhl [at] unc.edu
Devon Leimkuhl
3rd Year
Kenneth is from San Gabriel, California. He attended the University of California, Irvine, with a double major in Chemistry and Earth System Science. He worked with Prof. Maxx Arguilla to synthesize 1D vdW materials. In his free time, he likes to go to concerts, play basketball and video games, and to loaf around at home.
kchua [at] unc.edu
Kenneth Chua
3rd Year
Alessandra was born in France and lived in Ghana and Italy before moving to the United States and calling Virginia home. She obtained a degree in chemistry from McDaniel College in 2023, working with Dr. Dana Ferraris on multi-step synthesis to inhibit the enzymatic ADP-ribosylhydrolase activity in macrodomains. She also worked in Dr. Kenneth Karlin’s laboratory at Johns Hopkins University, synthesizing tripodal tetradentate ligands for copper complexing. Alessandra likes reading, hiking, and singing along to the Mamma Mia! soundtrack.
amandala [at] unc.edu
Alessandra Mandala
2nd Year
Emily is from Huntsville, Alabama. She attended the University of Alabama with a major in chemistry and a minor in math. She worked with Prof. Elizabeth Papish doing anticancer research with ruthenium complexes. In her free time she likes to crochet, play animal crossing, and spend time with her cat Peaches.
emiblevi [at] unc.edu
Emily Blevins
2nd Year
Erin Stockdale
1st year
Erin is from Glens Falls, New York. She attended the University of Rochester with a double major in Chemistry and Environmental Studies. There, she worked with Prof. Ellen Matson to synthesize low-valent non-aqueous actinide complexes. Outside of the lab, she likes hiking, running (slowly), and trying out new recipes.
emstock[at] unc.edu
Stephanie was born and raised in Cumming, Georgia before moving to Carmel, Indiana in 2016. She attended Purdue University (Boiler Up!) where she graduated in 2024 with a B.S. in chemistry and a minor in psychology. During this time she worked with Dr. Tong Ren, developing novel organometallic iron complexes supported by macrocyclic frameworks. Outside of the lab, she likes to cook, bake, hike, and spoil her cat, Frank the Tank.
sdelance[at]unc.edu
Stephanie DeLancey
1st year
Nuren was born in Miami, Florida, and raised in Cartersville, Georgia. He attended Mercer University, majoring in chemistry and minoring in math. At Mercer, Nuren worked with Drs. Caryn Seney and Adam Kiefer to study heavy metal pollution in artisanal and small-scale gold mining communities. When not in the lab, Nuren enjoys hiking, playing video games, and writing poetry.
nlara[at]unc.edu
Nuren Lara
1st Year
Undergraduate Researchers
Natalie is from Dallas, TX. She is pursuing a B.S. in Chemistry and a B.A. in Music and joined the Jackson lab in 2024. Outside of the lab, you can find Natalie practicing her viola, taking care of her houseplants, or going on long walks around Chapel Hill.
natdruff [at] unc.edu
Natalie Druffner
3rd Year
Former Undergraduate Researchers
Miguel Reyna, B.S. Chemistry, '24
Graduate student at UCLA
Jonathan Nguyen
Group Photos
