º£½ÇÉçÇø

º£½ÇÉçÇø Chemistry Graduate Students Awarded University Dissertation Fellowships

April 28, 2025

The º£½ÇÉçÇø Department of Chemistry proudly announces two graduate students, Udyogi Conthagamage and Stefanie Klisch, have been selected as 2025–2026 º£½ÇÉçÇø Dissertation Year Fellowship recipients. The competitive, university-wide fellowship awarded by the º£½ÇÉçÇø Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School recognizes exceptional doctoral candidates for academic excellence and impactful research during the final stages of their Ph.D. training. | Learn more

º£½ÇÉçÇø Chemistry Alum Danielle S. Meador: Rooted in Louisiana, Rising in Chemistry

April 25, 2025

For º£½ÇÉçÇø Chemistry alumna Dr. Danielle Songe Meador, Louisiana isn’t just home, it’s the heart of her journey, both personally and professionally. From her hometown of Meraux, just southeast of New Orleans, to her leadership role in the chemical industry, Meador’s path is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to leave your roots to grow.  

Alumni Spotlight

García-López Named Scialog Fellow

April 10, 2025

Prof. Víctor García-López was honored as a Scialog Fellow at the second meeting of Scialog: Automating Chemical Laboratories, a program organized in partnership with the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, the Beckman Foundation, the Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation, and the Walder Foundation. Scialog supports early career faculty in advancing research within areas of high scientific importance. The initiative promotes innovative thinking and the formation of multidisciplinary teams to address critical scientific challenges. By encouraging collaboration and bold ideas, Scialog helps participants accelerate their research and strengthen their competitiveness for future funding opportunities. |

Boyd Professor Emeritus Isiah Warner Inducted into º£½ÇÉçÇø College of Science Hall of Distinction

March 28, 2025

Boyd Professor Emeritus Isiah Warner was honored as a 2025 inductee into the º£½ÇÉçÇø College of Science Hall of Distinction. Prof. Warner’s remarkable career influenced the scientific community through his exceptional research, education, and mentorship contributions. His efforts helped expand access to science education and foster a culture of excellence, inspiring and guiding future leaders in STEM. | Learn more

º£½ÇÉçÇø Chemistry Welcomes Ashley Thibodeaux

March 17, 2025

º£½ÇÉçÇø Chemistry is pleased to welcome Ashley Thibodeaux as the new Assistant to the Chair. Ashley brings over 20 years of º£½ÇÉçÇø experience across departments such as Economics, English, and Entomology, as well as prior roles with the LA Division of Administration and º£½ÇÉçÇø Hospitals. She earned her Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in 2017 while working full-time, demonstrating her strong commitment and work ethic. Outside of work, Ashley enjoys baking, reading, and spending time with her family. We’re excited to have her on board, be sure to stop by and say hello!

º£½ÇÉçÇø Researchers Harness Natural Compounds to Combat Louisiana’s High Cancer Rates

February 24, 2025

º£½ÇÉçÇø Chemistry's Assistant Professor Fatima Rivas and graduate student Jake Barras are leading groundbreaking research exploring how natural products can be used to develop new treatments for metabolic syndrome and obesity—both of which increase cancer risk. | Learn more

º£½ÇÉçÇø's Antibiotic Breakthrough

Bacterial biofilms make chronic infections hard to treat, protecting bacteria from antibiotics with a tough layer of proteins, sugars, and DNA. But there's good news! º£½ÇÉçÇø Chemistry Professor Mario Rivera and his research team have discovered a new class of antibiotics that break through these defenses by blocking bacteria’s access to iron, a vital nutrient they need to survive. 

Prof. García-López Receives 2025 Thieme Chemistry Journals Award

February 17, 2025

º£½ÇÉçÇø Chemistry Assistant Professor Víctor García-López has been named a 2025 recipient of the , an annual honor recognizing promising early-career researchers worldwide who have recently begun independent academic careers as assistant or junior professors. Awardees are selected by the editorial board members of SYNTHESIS, SYNLETT, and SYNFACTS, who seek out exceptional talent in chemical synthesis, catalysis, and related areas of organic chemistry. The award includes a one-year complimentary subscription to these journals and a certificate. 

Big Idea Award for Molecular Switches Research

January 29, 2025

Assistant Professor Víctor García-López received an º£½ÇÉçÇø Provost’s Fund - Big Idea Phase I award for his work on light-activated, non-genetic molecular switches to control mechanosensitive channels in neurons. In collaboration with Professor Ryoichi Teruyama (º£½ÇÉçÇø Biological Sciences) and researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the project will utilize the molecular switches to understand mechanosensitive channels better and offer insights into treating certain neurological diseases. | Learn more