B.S. Material Chemistry, Inner Mongolia University, 2010.
Ph.D. Inorganic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academyof Sciences, 2015. Advisor: Prof. Jinkui Tang.
Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Stuttgart, 2017-2018. Advisor: Prof. Joris van Slageren.
Peng Zhang studied material chemistry at Inner Mongolia University where he received his B.S. degree in material chemistry. In 2015, he received a Ph.D. degree from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences where he worked under the guidance of Prof. Jinkui Tang on the synthesis and magnetic investigation of low coordinate lanthanide single-molecule magnets (SMMs). Subsequently, he moved to Germany to work as a postdoctoral researcher with Prof. Joris van Slageren at the University of Stuttgart, on radical-bridged lanthanide SMM. In July 2019, Peng joined the Demir group at Michigan State University. His research comprises the synthesis and magnetic characterization of lanthanide single-molecule magnets containing heavy p-block elements. Feel free to contact Peng via email: zhangP23@msu.edu.
Current Position: Associate Professor at Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China.
Emily Doss joined the Demir group at MSU in June 2022, and graduated from Michigan State University in 2023 with a bachelors degree in chemistry. Her research focused on the synthesis of organic ligands and organometallic rare earth metal complexes.
Current Position: Chemistry graduate student at the The Ohio State University.
Luke Mangas (REU student) studies Chemistry and Mathematics at Eastern Michigan University. At EMU, he conducts computational chemistry research with Dr. Maria Milletti investigating transition metal-catalyzed C-H activation reactions. Luke joined the Demir group at MSU in May 2022 as a part of Michigan State’s REU program. His research focused on the synthesis of organometallic bismuth containing lanthanide complexes for the use in single-molecule magnets.
Current Position: Chemistry graduate student at the University of Wisconsin.
Seoyun Jang joined the Demir group at MSU in October 2021, and graduated from Michigan State University in 2022 with a bachelors degree in human biology. Her research focused on the synthesis of organometallic rare earth metal complexes for applications in molecular magnetism.
B.S. Engineering Science, Oxford University, 1982.
B.S. Chemistry, Grand Valley State University, 2022.
Steven Birnie studied Engineering Science at Oxford University and received his B.S. in Engineering Science in 1982. After concluding a successful career in aerospace engineering, he studied chemistry at Grand Valley State University and received his B.S. in Chemistry in 2022. While at Grand Valley State University, he explored the chemistry of low-valent molybdenum, in Prof. John Bender’s group. In November 2022, he joined Prof. Selvan Demir’s group at Michigan State University. His research interests include the synthesis and characterization of novel organometallic rare earth compounds containing non-innocent ligands. Feel free to get in contact through email: birniest@msu.edu.
B.S. Biochemistry, Concordia College Moorhead, 2022
Trenton Vogt graduated with a triple major in biochemistry, biology, and math at Concordia College Moorhead in 2022. While attending Concordia, he worked under Dr. Donald Krogstad on synthesizing Cisplatin derivatives through an air-sensitive PTA (1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) linking moiety in conjunction with novel RAPTA (ruthenium arene PTA) complexes. He also worked under Dr. Darin Ulness to explore the nature of filled-in Julia Sets arising from centered polygonal lacunary functions as well as the triangular lacunary trigonometric system. In May of 2022, Trenton joined the group of Prof. Selvan Demir at Michigan State University to gain research experience over the summer. His research focused on synthesizing new rare earth compounds that contain heavy main group elements such as bismuth.
Ameer Shouekani studied Human Biology at Michigan State University, through the Lyman Briggs program. He joined the Demir group at Michigan State in November 2019. His research focused on the synthesis and magnetic characterization of mononuclear lanthanide complexes.
Alenis M. Santiago Morera (REU student) is an undergraduate student from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. She is pursuing a Bachelor Degree in Chemical Engineering with a Minor in Pharmaceutical Engineering. Alenis worked in an undergraduate research under Dr. Felix Roman supervision, synthetizing iron oxide nanoparticles using fruit peel extract for water remedies. She joined the Demir group at Michigan State University in May 2021 as part of Michigan State’s Cross-Disciplinary Training in sustainable Chemistry and Chemical processes (SCCP) REU program. Her research focuses on employing nanoparticles for the synthesis of lanthanide pnictogen molecules.
Nathan Slater (REU student) studied chemistry at Oakland University. He works under Dr. Evan Trivedi synthesizing heterobimetallic salen complexes. He joined the Demir group at Michigan State in July 2020 as part of Michigan State’s summer REU program. His research focuses on sustainable methods for lanthanide and actinide separation.
Nelson R. Candelaria Mercado (REU student) studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico. He started his Bachelor studies in August 2013. He works with Dr. Selvan Demir on the synthesis and magnetic characterization of dinuclear dysprosium complexes.
Christina Legendre studied chemistry at both the École Normale Supérieure de Paris and the Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, France. During her studies, she accomplished several long-term internships abroad and gained international research experience. She worked on metal-organic frameworks with Prof. Jeffrey R. Long at the University of California, Berkeley in the United States. She conducted her Master’s thesis on spin-crossover materials with Prof. Eugenio Coronado at the University of Valencia, Spain, earning her Master of Science degree in 2016. In August 2017, she started as a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Göttingen under the supervision of Professor Dr. Selvan Demir and moved with her to Michigan State University in January 2019 to continue Ph.D. studies on of f-elements-based single-molecule magnets. In February 2018, she received a doctoral fellowship from the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie.
Isaac-Johannes Maksso studied chemistry at the University of Göttingen. He started his Bachelor’s thesis in April 2018 in the group of Prof. Demir. He works with Christina Legendre on the synthesis and magnetic characterization of mononuclear dysprosium complexes.
Manuel Oelschlegel was a Master’s student in chemistry at the University of Göttingen. He completed his Bachelor’s thesis in Prof. Franc Meyer’s group. In September 2018, he started a research internship in the group of Prof. Demir where he works mainly on the synthesis and characterization of a dysprosium molecule that has potential to be a single-molecule magnet.
Yue Wang received his Bachelor’s degree in China in June 2015. Since October 2016 he is a Master’s student in chemistry at the University of Göttingen. In April 2018 he started his research internship in the group of Prof. Demir. His work focuses on radical-bridged lanthanide SMMs.