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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Alexis WorkmanAlexis joined the Kiernicki Lab in January 2023 and plans to go into the medical field. Her research project involves measuring bond enthalpies in rigid systems containing redox-active hydrogen bonds. She is currently on both the Drury Track & Field team and the Drury Triathlon team. When not training or in class, Alexis enjoys being outdoors, spending time with family and close friends, as well as cuddling and playing with her dogs. In the fall of 2022, Alexis was named a Judge Warren L. White Scholar by Drury for her academic achievements.
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Sam CoxSam joined the Kiernicki lab in the summer of 2023 and has a strong desire to enter the medical field. Her research project targets implementing redox-active hydrogen bonds into coordination complexes of the f-block. Sam performed summer research in 2024 at Ole Miss under the guidance of Prof. Randy Watkins. She is a member of Drury Singers, Drury Chorale, and Drury Chamber Choir. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends.
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Rana UmranRana officially joined the Kiernicki Lab in the spring of 2023 and is interested in pursuing a career in research and earning her Ph. D. in Chemistry. Her research project centers on quantifying the enthalpic changes in hydrogen bond strength as a function of redox state. Rana performed summer research in 2024 at Saint Louis University under the guidance of Prof. Jamie Neely. During the 2025 summer, Rana will work under the guidance of Prof. Gwen Bailey at the University of Minnesota. Rana is an executive member of the International Student Association and is involved with Zeta Tau Alpha and the Drury Jazz Band. In the spring of 2025, Rana was named a Goldwater Scholar. In her free time, Rana enjoys spending time with her family and friends, painting, sculpting, and outdoor activities.
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Kelsey UrbanKelsey joined the Kiernicki Lab in the spring of 2024 and is currently planning to attend PA school after her time a Drury. She is an active member in both the DU Pi Beta Phi Chapter and Alpha Lambda Delta while also serving as a Drury Orientation Leader. Kelsey's research project involves probing spatial requirements for hydrogen bond tuning. In her free time, Kelsey enjoys spending time with friends and family, running, being outdoors, and cooking.
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Kelsey KuhlKelsey started in the Kiernicki Lab in the spring of 2024 and plans to become an optometrist. After her freshman year, Kelsey was named a Judge Warren White Scholar for her academic achievements. Kelsey is actively involved in Drury's Pi Beta Phi Chapter, Tri-Beta, and Alpha Lambda Delta. Her research project is designed to probe how substituents effects can influence hydrogen bond tuning. Kelsey enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, baking, and outdoor activities.
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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 will work under the guidance of Prof. Dan Mindiola at UPenn. 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. 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. Following her freshman year, she was named a Judge Warren White Scholar for her academic achievements. 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. 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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Former Lab Members
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student (years in Kiernicki Lab)
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after Kiernicki Lab
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Christin N. Gilchrist
R. Mason J. Huebner
Audrey G. Davis (2022-2025)
Lydia A. Dunaway (2022-2024)
Tori J. Carter (2023-2024)
Gloria Choi (Summer 2023)
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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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External Research Opportunities Obtained by Kiernicki Lab Researchers
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Institution
University of Pennsylvania University of Minnesota Saint Louis University University of Mississippi University of Kansas St. Jude Children's Research Hospital |