Janet Macdonald
Associate Professor of Chemistry
BSc 2003 McGill University
PhD 2008 University of Alberta
Post Doctoral Fellow 2008-10 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Assistant Professor 2011- 2020 Vanderbilt University
Associate Professor 2020- present Vanderbilt University
My education started in the very small town of Dorset, Ontario in a school with twelve children and one teacher. Mrs. McLennan did a great job fostering my love to learn because decades later, I still have yet to "finish" going to school. As a young student, I seemed to be always staring out the window because I was fascinated by the spinning black and while panels of the Crooks Radiometer on her classroom windowsill and the hoar frost that would cover the glass on winter mornings. I haven't stopped thinking about solar energy and crystal growth since.
Graduate Sudents
Andrey Shults
I am originally from Moscow, Russia. After finishing middle school in my country, I decided to continue my education in the US where I got my B.S. in Biochemistry from Florida State University. For my undergraduate research, I worked with Dr. Geoffrey Strouse on developing dilute magnetic semiconductor nanoparticles. My current research is focused on phase manipulation of metal sulfides. Outside of work, I enjoy outdoor activities and spending time with my friends.
Emma Endres
I am from Bourbonnais, Illinois. I received my B.S in chemistry at Indiana University in 2021. In my undergraduate research under Dr. Sara Skrabalak, where I became interested in nanoparticle synthesis, I studied the galvanic replacement reaction with intermetallic palladium-copper nanoparticle templates and gold precursor as well as platinum precursor. I observed PdCu-Au dimer formation and analyzed its formation as a function of Au precursor injection rate and volume. Currently my research focuses on phase control of iron sulfide particles, specifically via the addition of bidentate ligands. In my free time I like to paint, trying new crafts, and spending time with my friends.
Elizabeth Hays
I was born and raised in Belleville, Illinois. I received my B.S. in Biochemistry at Murray State University, where I worked with Dr. Kevin Miller for undergraduate research. My project was a blend of small molecule synthesis and polymer chemistry, where I ran a lot of columns and ultimately functionalized cellulose with ionic liquid groups. After making the switch to the inorganic world, I am currently working on controlling the phase of metal chalcogenide materials through single source precursors. In my free time, I love to sew, cook, and spend time with family and friends!
Bharat
am from India and received my B.S. and M.S. in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. My research journey has been quite interdisciplinary. I began with a master’s research project on predicting the spin states of quantum mechanically entangled photons. Following this, I worked as a research assistant on a simulation-based project predicting nuclear fusion for unstable nuclei. I then moved on to the synthesis of multiferroic nanostructures for photocatalysis and enhancing the performance of switching devices. At Vanderbilt, in Spring 2024, I worked on the fabrication of CNT membranes for hemodialysis and hemofiltration. My current research focuses on studying localized surface plasmon resonance of metal-semiconductor heterostructures to enhance harmonic generation, which has applications in photothermal therapy, photoabsorbers, and catalysis. In my free time, I enjoy reading books, particularly autobiographies and philosophical works.
Undergraduates
Blake Catlett
I was born and raised in Chattanooga, TN. I am a rising third-year undergraduate majoring in Chemistry, with a minor in Earth & Environmental Sciences. I spent my first year of undergrad at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before transferring to Vanderbilt University, returning to my home state. I joined the Macdonald group in the summer of 2023, continuing a project focused on Anishinaabe rock art chemistry. The main goal is to re-discover the methods that led to the incredibly durable murals. In my free time, I like to cook, chat with friends, enjoy music, and go on drives.
Kathleen Tuong Nguyen Dinh Cat
I am from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, though I have been living in the United States for several years: first in Massachusetts, and currently in Pennsylvania where I attend college. At my home institution, Franklin & Marshall College, I study the effects of tellurium and cadmium exchange on copper vacancies in chalcocite copper sulfide nanorods under Dr. Kate Plass. This summer in the Macdonald Lab, I will be working on a project that ultimately results in synthesizing copper gold selenide quantum dots. In my free time, I enjoy doodling and painting, photography, reading, and cooking with my friends.
Noah Durlam
I’m from Germantown, Wisconsin, and I’m an undergraduate Chemistry major going into my fourth year at Valparaiso University. This summer, I’m completing an REU at Vanderbilt where I’m attempting to recreate Anishinaabe rock art, researching potential natural methods that could lead to a resilient hematite-silica bond. Back at Valpo, I work under Dr. Julie Peller to investigate nanoplastic formation and structure in solution. In my free time, I love playing the piano and playing tabletop-roleplaying games with my friends.