The Kiernicki lab is interested in recruiting highly motivated undergraduate students with a broad interest in synthesis.
Spring 2025
John Kiernicki, Principal Investigator
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John was born in Berlin, a small town in central Wisconsin and the self-proclaimed Fur and Leather Capital. He obtained an A.B. from Ripon College (WI) as a double major in Chemistry and History. John was fortunate to have the opportunity to spend a summer in the lab of Hairong Guan at the Univ. Cincinnati for a 10 week crash course in synthesis. John continued studying the coordination chemistry of polydentate sulfur ligands with transition metals under the guidance of Mas Iimura until he departed for Lafayette, IN and graduate school at Purdue University. At Purdue, John worked almost exclusively with the actinide elements and obtained his Ph.D. under Suzanne Bart. Their work focused on utilizing redox-active ligands to perform multi-electron bond cleavage reactions. After Purdue, John relocated to Ypsilanti for a post doctoral appointment at the Univ. Michigan under Nate Szymczak where he investigated intramolecular boron Lewis acids to promote bond activation reactions. In 2021, John accepted a position at Drury University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics.
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Preston DotsonPreston joined the Kiernicki Lab in the spring of 2024 and hopes to pursue a Ph. D. in chemistry and a career in academia. His research project focuses on measuring hydrogen bonding strength as a function of oxidation states. In the summer of 2025, Preston worked under the guidance of Prof. Dan Mindiola at UPenn. Preston's 2026 summer will be spent at the University of Wisconsin working under the guidance of John Berry. Preston is involved in several clubs on campus and enjoys spending time with family and friends, exercising, and listening to music.
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Tarryn BrumleyTarryn joined the Kiernicki Lab in the Fall of 2024. Her research project focuses on distance relationships of redox-active hydrogen bond donors. Tarryn will spend the summer of 2026 working in the Lamb Lab at the University of Minnesota. She is currently on the Drury Women’s Triathlon Team and enjoys being outdoors and spending time with family and friends in her free time. Following her freshman year, Tarryn was named a Judge Warren L. White Scholar by Drury University for her academic achievements.
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Pauline FoutsPauline joined the Kiernicki Lab in the fall of 2024. Pauline will spend the 2026 summer in the Kenagy Lab at the University of Minnesota studying atmospheric chemistry. Following her freshman year, she was named a Judge Warren White Scholar for her academic achievements. In the Spring of 2026, Pauline was named a Goldwater Scholar. Pauline is involved in several clubs on campus and enjoys being outdoors, running, and spending time with friends and family.
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Lauryn SchumakerLauryn joined the Kiernicki Lab in the spring of 2025 and plans to pursue a Ph.D. In chemistry. Her research project aims to develop simplified models that enable computational insight into hydrogen bond tuning. Lauryn accepted an REU position at Ole Miss for the summer of 2026 to work under the guidance of Prof. Jason Ritchie. After her freshman year, she was named a Judge Warren White Scholar and was elected an executive council member of the Drury University chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha. Lauryn is also an active member of the Student Union Board and several other organizations on campus. When Lauryn has free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.
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Lynae RobbinsLynae joined the Kiernicki Lab in the spring of 2025. Following her graduation from Drury, she plans to pursue a career in the medical field. The focus of her research project involves developing redox-active hydrogen bonding models with a modular Lewis base. Lynae is also a member of the Drury Scarlets dance team, Drury Honors Student Association, and Drury Pre-Health Professionals. In her free time, Lynae enjoys traveling, reading, being outdoors, and spending time with her family and friends.
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Aubrey FosterAubrey joined the Kiernicki lab in January 2026 where she is studying intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. Following her graduation from Drury, she wants to attend optometry school. After her freshman year, Aubrey was named a Judge Warren White scholar for her academic achievements. Aubrey is actively involved in Pi Beta Phi, Tri-Beta, Alpha Lambda Delta, Pre-Health Professionals, and is a Drury Orientation Leader. In her free time, Aubrey enjoys playing golf, baking, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.
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Lily DavisLily joined the Kiernicki Lab in January 2026 and is designing model systems to investigate redox-active hydrogen bonding. Lily hopes to attend Physician Assistant school after graduating. She is involved in Greek life as the Collegiate Chapter President in Tri Delta, an active member in Tri Beta and Alpha Lambda Delta, part of the orientation staff, and a student ambassador. After her freshman year, Lily was named a Judge Warren White Scholar. In her free time, Lily enjoys hanging out with friends and family, spending time outdoors, and traveling.
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Laramie HillLaramie joined the Kiernicki Lab in the spring of 2026 and is investigating reversible assembly processes in small molecule systems. She plans to attend medical school after Drury. On campus, Laramie is involved on the Executive Council of Pi Beta Phi, a Senator for Student Government Association, Beta Beta Beta inductee, Alpha Lambda Delta inductee, an Orientation Leader, Women's Soccer Team Manager, Behavioral Science Club member, and Pre-Health Club member. She enjoy spending time with friends and family and being outdoors!
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Former Lab Members
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student (years in Kiernicki Lab)
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after Kiernicki Lab
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Kelsey H.-L. Urban
Kelsey M. Kuhl
Rana K. Umran
Samantha A. Cox
Alexis M. Workman (2023-2026)
Christin N. Gilchrist (2024-2025)
R. Mason J. Huebner (2023-2025)
Audrey G. Davis (2022-2025)
Lydia A. Dunaway (2022-2024)
Tori J. Carter (2023-2024)
Gloria Choi (Summer 2023)
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University of Central Arkansas Doctor of Physical Therapy program
NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry
The Ohio State University - Chemistry Ph. D. Program
Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
TBD
TBD
University of Kansas School of Medicine
Purdue University - Chemistry Ph. D. Program
University of Missouri School of Medicine
Saint Louis University Medical School - Pre-accepted
Vanderbilt University, Class of 2026
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Past Group Photos
2026 Mizzou Organic Chemistry Day
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Lab Frisbee Golf Spring 2026 at Lake Springfield
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Lab Hike Fall 2025 at the Little Sac Woods Conservation Area
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2025 ACS MWRM (Columbia, MO) with Prof. Rachael Day and her lab
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2025 ACS MWRM with Prof. Rachael Day and her lab
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2025 Research Experience in the Natural Sciences Symposium
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2025 - Spring
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2025 Mizzou Organic Chemistry Day
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2025 Mizzou Organic Chemistry Day
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2024 Heartland Undergraduate Biochemistry Forum with Prof. Rachael Day
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2024 Research Experience in the Natural Sciences Symposium
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2024 Mizzou Organic Chemistry Day
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2024 - Spring
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2023 - Spring
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2022 - Spring
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External Research Opportunities Obtained by Kiernicki Lab Researchers
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Institution
UW-Madison University of Minnesota University of Minnesota University of Mississippi University of Pennsylvania University of Minnesota Saint Louis University University of Mississippi University of Kansas St. Jude Children's Research Hospital |