Dr. Christopher Jeffrey

Professor Christopher Jeffrey was born and raised in the upper Midwest. As the first to go on from his family to college, he graduated from Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin with his B.S. in chemistry in 2002 conducting research in synthetic photochemistry under the direction of Professor Kevin McMahon. After his undergraduate studies, he pursued M.S. and Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Minnesota under the direction of Professor Thomas R. Hoye. His work was focused on expanding the capabilities of new carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions, the discovery of the sea lamprey migratory pheromone, and the synthesis of an important biologically active natural product. After graduating from Minnesota in 2007, Prof. Jeffrey was awarded Princeton University’s Council of Science and Technology Postdoctoral Fellowship, where he worked with Professor Erik J. Sorensen on the total synthesis of cortistatin A, a unique marine natural product with specific anti-cancer properties. In 2010, he joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nevada, Reno as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2016. His research work has focused on the discovery of new reactivity for the formation of important carbon-nitrogen bonds and understanding the causes and consequences of natural product diversity in collaborative research at the interface between chemistry and ecology. His work has merged numerous fields and collaborators in chemistry and biology, integrated hundreds of citizen scientists through the Earthwatch Foundation, and trained students at all levels of education. His work has resulted in a patent, 20 publications, and numerous invited talks at international conferences and departments as an independent scientist and was recognized by a 2012 CNPq Science Without Borders Award and the 2015 Mousel-Feltner award for excellence in research and/or creative activity. He has mentored 10 PhD students and 17 undergraduate student researchers since 2010 and was awarded a 2013 Senior Scholar Mentor Award.

Education::

Council on Science and Technology Postdoctoral Fellow (2007-2010), Princeton University (Erik J. Sorensen)
Ph.D. (2007), University of Minnesota (Thomas R. Hoye)
B.S. (2002), Carroll College

Mail

Current Members

Laboratory Technician II

Jennifer McCracken

I work directly with the center’s scientific directors, graduate and undergraduate students to help facilitate their research. I help to manage the Jeffrey laboratory with purchasing, inventory, training students, operating instrumentation, as well as independent work in large and small scale plant extraction and natural product isolations. Outside of the lab my time is joyously spent with my new growing family, traveling, cooking, reading, and singing silly songs to my baby.

B.S. Professional Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, 2017

Graduate Student (Ph.D. Candidate)

Alexandra English

My research projects seek to understand how complex biotic and abiotic interactions affect the phytochemical diversity and overall success of tropical and agriculturally relevant plants. I enjoy utilizing my interdisciplinary background to answer ecological questions from a chemical perspective. I am also passionate about chemical education and have been recognized for my success in teaching General, Organic, and Spectroscopic chemistry. When not in the lab I enjoy backpacking, bouldering, and baking sourdough.

B.S. Organismal Biology, University of Kansas, 2016

Graduate Student (Ph.D. Candidate)

Megan Burroughs

My research focuses on the isolation and characterization of ecologically relevant, and novel natural products (Piper family) through Preparatory HPLC coupled with MS, NMR spectroscopy, and SCXRD through co-crystallization and MOF crystal chaperones. I am very enthusiastic about teaching and mentoring undergraduate students. Outside of the lab, I love to read, bake, and travel.

B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 2014

Graduate Student (Ph.D. Candidate)

Garrett Larson

I am working on the biomimetic total synthesis of natural products previously isolated in the Jeffrey Lab. I enjoy the synthetic challenges and spectroscopic puzzles involved with total synthesis. Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time with my dog, playing guitar, and hiking around Reno.

B.S. Biology, University of Idaho, 2019

Graduate Student (Ph.D. Candidate)

Tanzil Mahmud

I study extreme photoprotection in lichens and cyanobacteria through natural products discovery and photochemistry. I like summer and meadows. Music moves me.

B.S. Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Dhaka, 2016

Graduate Student (M.S. Student)

Christopher Harris

I do research on the total synthesis of natural products including photochemical dimerizations of chromene compounds found in the plant genus Piper. In my free time, I like to hang out with friends and family and take my dog Zuse on hikes.

B.S. Professional Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, 2021

Graduate Student (Ph.D. Candidate)

Zachary Ledvina

My research focuses on synthetic and biomimetic approaches to synthesizing novel natural products isolated by the Jeffrey Lab. I am consistently pushed and excited by the creativity and puzzle-solving skills that natural product synthesis invokes. Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading, spending time with friends, hiking, and working out.

B.S. Chemistry and Biology, Northwest Nazarene University, 2022

Graduate Student (M.S. Student)

Brittany George

My research interests focus on the synthesis of natural products. My passions lie in the intricacies and precision required to craft these complex molecules found in nature. I hope to use synthetic methodologies to contribute to the development of novel compounds with potential therapeutic, ecological, and industrial significance. Beyond the lab I enjoy creativity. Painting, drawing, crocheting, and crafting cocktails are a few of the ways I express myself.

B.S. General Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, 2023

Graduate Student (Ph.D. Student)

Jordan Gonseth

I focus on the total synthesis of natural products primarily found in the plant genus Piper. I find solving synthetic problems to be one of the most rewarding aspects of chemistry due to the difficulty and complexity that they provide. In my free time, I enjoy outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking, and snowboarding.

B.S. Biochemistry-Chemistry, Colorado Mesa University, 2023

Graduate Student (Ph.D. Student)

Hatice Tugba Selvi

My research focuses on ecologically guided discovery of bioactive natural products. When I’m not in the lab, I like snuggling with my cat and reading books.

B.S. Chemistry Education (2020), M.S. Chemistry (2023), Middle East Technical University

Dr. Christopher Jeffrey

Current Members

Undergraduate Students

Nayeli Stopani-Humes

Jinqi Gao

Katherine Chacon

Dylan Friend

Kim Giannantonio

Past Members

Celso Oliveira Jr., Ph.D. (2021)

Casey Philbin, Ph.D. (2019)

Kaitlyn Oschenrider, Ph.D. (2019)

Ryan Littlefield (2015)

Karissa Montes, M.S. (2016)

Michael D. Leonard (2014)

Trang Nguyen, Ph.D. (2015)

Arjun Achyara, Ph.D. (2015)

Devendar Anumandla, Ph.D. (2015)

Korey Barnes, Ph.D. (2014)