Chemistry

Graduate Students / Teaching Assistants

CAYDEN KIRBY (Master's Student)

My name is Cayden Kirby and I was born in Sparta, Tennessee. I'm A current Master of Chemistry Candidate concentrating in Biochemistry. As of Fall 2024 I am working in Dr. Xuanzhi Zhan's research group where I am performing cellular expression of proteins found in MAPK cascades. I am tasked with using a novel peptide inhibitor to prevent the activation of specific kinases that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. When I'm not in the lab I find myself reading fiction novels, cooking delicious food, and spending time with those who mean the most to me.

CHRIS HARDY (Master's Student)

I am from Lawrenceburg, TN and received my bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from UT Chattanooga in the spring of 2024. I joined TN Tech as a graduate student the following fall. My research interests primarily fall within the field of computational biochemistry, particularly within the application of artificial intelligence towards the prediction of protein structure. Outside of school I enjoy fishing, reading, and cooking.

CLEMENT OPOKU ACHEAMPONG (Master's Student)

I am from Ghana, where I earned my bachelor’s degree from the University of Cape Coast. In the fall of 2024, I joined Tennessee Tech University, where I’m currently working in Dr. Jesse Carrick’s lab, focusing on organic synthesis. Outside the lab, I enjoy playing soccer, video games, and watching soccer matches on TV.

EMMANUELLA EBINUM (Master's Student)

Originally born and raised in Nigeria, I have always been curious about how the world works. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Science Laboratory Technology (Chemistry Technology) at Delta State University, Abraka, I decided to leap across the globe, joining Tennessee Tech in the fall of 2024, to explore new challenges in the development of analytical methods and environmental chemistry.
While the academic journey is thrilling, nothing excites me quite like a great meal. A true food lover at heart.

MADELYN (Maddi) COONS (Master's Student)

My name is Maddi Coons and I am from Murfreesboro, TN. I am a current Master of Chemistry Candidate with a concentration in Forensic Chemistry. I currently do research with Dr. Jeffrey Boles using Raman Spectroscopy to detect clandestine drugs and using different cutting agents to see if these affect the detection limits of the clandestine drugs. Along with this, I am working to see how field deployable Raman Spectroscopy would be for forensic labs such as the TBI and FBI. When I am not in the lab, I enjoy running, reading and spending time with friends and family.

OLUWASOLA IFEDAYO (PhD Student)

I am popularly called "SUREBOY", I was born and brought up in Lagos, Nigeria. I received my Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) Degree certificate in Industrial Chemistry from Federal University Of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. I have over 9 years working experience in Oil and Gas industry.  

I am currently a member of Dr Andrew Callender's lab as a master's student. My current research focus is on "Detection of polycyclic musk compounds in indoor dust by In-Tube Extraction (ITEX) HS-GC-MS".

PATIENCE MANSAH NORTEY (Master's Student)

I’m Patience Mansah Nortey, a Master's student from Ghana 🇬🇭. I earned my bachelor's degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, and joined Tennessee Tech in fall 2024. As a member of Cojocaru’s lab, I am working with Dr. Andreea Cojocaru on developing active pharmaceutical ingredients as ionic liquids to enhance drug delivery systems. In my free time, I love being outdoors, playing soccer, watching movies, and traveling.