Bringing Organic and Inorganic Chemistry Together Reversibly Since 2016
YOUNG LAB
Who Are We?
PROF. MICHAEL C. YOUNG
Principal Investigator
Born in the land of tobacco, Mike began his chemistry career in mountainous Western Carolina studying hydrogen-bonded self-assembly with Prof. Brian D. Dinkelmeyer. Believing that biomimetic systems held great promise for greener catalysis, Mike then traveled to the also mountainous Inland Empire of Southern California to study self-assembled cages and their applications towards organocatalysis with Prof. Richard J. Hooley. Hoping to expand his synthetic chops, Mike then traveled to the hilly part of south central Texas to work with Prof. Guangbin Dong, exploring dynamic covalent strategies for directed C–H functionalization of ketones and amines and occasionally trying to help "Keep Austin Weird." Now he leads his own group in the less-than-hilly Toledo area, attempting to combine all of his hydrogen-bonding and self-assembly know-how towards more useful C–H functionalization for derivatization of sustainable feedstocks for therapeutic, energy, and materials applications.
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OLUTAYO "NATE" FARINDE
PhD Student (2022 - Present)
Olutayo Nathanael earned his B.Sc. in Analytical and Environmental Chemistry from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.
He is currently working on C-H activation and functionalization of allylamines, with the goal of developing new therapeutics, natural products, or materials.
When the lab is closed and the reactions have subsided, he enjoys playing chess and soccer.
RADHA KONDAPALLI
PhD Student (2023 - Present)
Radha Kondapalli joined The University of Toledo to pursue a PhD in organic chemistry in Fall 2023. She completed her Master's Degree from Nagarjuna University in India in Chemistry in 2008. Afterwards, she worked as a chemistry lecturer for 7 years. Her work in the Young group focuses on Synthesis of Polymer precursors as CO2 as synthon using IRLED, synthesis of BOX ligand and synthesis of Conducting Polymers. In her free time, she loves playing chess, listening to music, cooking delicious food for friends and family.
OREOLUWA "ORE" ADEYEMO
PhD Student (2024 - Present)
Oreoluwa graduated from the University of Ibadan in 2019, where she studied Chemistry. She taught for a year and then ventured into business to explore that world. She worked in the field for a year and decided to pursue a PhD in chemistry because she found out she loved Chemistry more.
Oreoluwa loves listening to beautiful music and dancing is a really great hobby of hers. She finds most reigning Nigerian dance steps really exciting and always wants to learn them. She loves working out and exercising her body, but describes herself as "lazy at times". Also, Oreoluwa counts the time spent with friends and family as the best time of her life.
TIRTHA BHATTARAI
Master's Student (2024 - Present)
Tirtha completed his Bachelor's in Biochemistry at the University of Evansville and worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry for three years. He joined Dr. Young's group in the Fall of 2024. He is currently working on synthesizing opioid antagonists. In his free time, he likes to play soccer.
VICTORIA DT HO
BS Student (2024 - Present)
Victoria traded the flip-flops of California for snow boots to attend the University of Toledo as a Biochemistry major. She is an aspiring physician-scientist and educator. In the Young Lab, she is working on developing opioid and opioid reversal drug alternatives, as well as photocaged catecholamines. Victoria’s favorite Disney movie is “Meet the Robinsons,” and her life motto is a quote from that movie: “Keep moving forward!”
ALEXANDRA "ALEX" DIETZE
PhD Student (2024 - Present)
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