Lab Personnel
Andrew Ralph
I am a graduate student interested in studying the physical and chemical properties of materials. My current projects involve studying the structure function relationship between metal organic framework (MOF) surface area and electrochemical response in addition to using MOF thin films as a means to synthesize metal nanoparticle catalysts on industrially relevant supports to study the dry dehydrogenation of methanol to formaldehyde under ultra-high vacuum conditions. In my free time I like to lift weights, hang out with friends, play the electric guitar, and play video games like league of legends.
Adele Chalmers
I am a graduate student with my research focus on developing catalysts derived from crystalline Ni-BTC Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) to optimize ethylene production. My work encompasses the synthesis and catalytic testing of template-derived NiO, utilizing our flow reactor and various characterization techniques to evaluate performance.
In my free time, I love being outdoors—whether I'm skiing, boating, hiking, camping, or playing pickleball. I also cherish time spent with my family and friends. Looking ahead, I plan to attend medical school to pursue a career as an ophthalmologist.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time outdoors and being involved in the community. I also work as a medical assistant, volunteer at a mental health hospital, and help lead at Y-serve! In my free time, I especially enjoy hiking and skiing.
In my free time, I love being outdoors—whether I'm skiing, boating, hiking, camping, or playing pickleball. I also cherish time spent with my family and friends. Looking ahead, I plan to attend medical school to pursue a career as an ophthalmologist.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time outdoors and being involved in the community. I also work as a medical assistant, volunteer at a mental health hospital, and help lead at Y-serve! In my free time, I especially enjoy hiking and skiing.
Joel Christopherson
I am a graduate student. My current research focuses on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). One project involves decomposing thin-film MOFs to study their catalytic behavior for methanol conversion, while another centers on engineering defects within MOFs to enhance their performance in gas capture applications. Overall, I’m interested in how structural modifications influence reactivity and material performance in practical systems.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy running, skiing, scuba diving, cooking, and spending time outdoors.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy running, skiing, scuba diving, cooking, and spending time outdoors.
Russell Mercer
I am an undergraduate studying biochemistry with a minor in computer science. I currently work with Andrew Ralph on the production and analysis of metal-based catalysts. My work has included exploring and developing the production of metal-organic frameworks—crystalline materials useful for increasing catalytic surface area. In addition, I've helped to repair an ultra-high vacuum chamber for specialized catalysis studies.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time outdoors and being involved in the community. I also work as a medical assistant, volunteer at a mental health hospital, and help lead at Y-serve! In my free time, I especially enjoy hiking and skiing.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time outdoors and being involved in the community. I also work as a medical assistant, volunteer at a mental health hospital, and help lead at Y-serve! In my free time, I especially enjoy hiking and skiing.
Andrew Bishop
I am an undergraduate chemical engineering student specializing in the petroleum industry. I helped publish a paper on the characterization of a Ce-doped Ni/Nb catalyst in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane. Currently, I am working on a paper to study a Ni-BTC MOF catalyst in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane. Outside of the lab, I am the Vice President of the BYU Society of Petroleum Engineers, and enjoy going to the gym, bowling, and spending time my wife.
Adam Smith
I am an undergraduate. My research focuses on developing catalysts derived from crystalline Ni-BTC Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) to optimize ethylene production. My work encompasses the synthesis and catalytic testing of template-derived NiO, utilizing our flow reactor and various characterization techniques to evaluate performance.
In my free time, I love being outdoors—whether I'm skiing, boating, hiking, camping, or playing pickleball. I also cherish time spent with my family and friends. Looking ahead, I plan to attend medical school to pursue a career as an ophthalmologist.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time outdoors and being involved in the community. I also work as a medical assistant, volunteer at a mental health hospital, and help lead at Y-serve! In my free time, I especially enjoy hiking and skiing.
In my free time, I love being outdoors—whether I'm skiing, boating, hiking, camping, or playing pickleball. I also cherish time spent with my family and friends. Looking ahead, I plan to attend medical school to pursue a career as an ophthalmologist.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time outdoors and being involved in the community. I also work as a medical assistant, volunteer at a mental health hospital, and help lead at Y-serve! In my free time, I especially enjoy hiking and skiing.
Hailey Quinn
I am an undergraduate chemical engineering student. Over the past two years, I have been working on a Bi- and Tri- Metallic Metal Organic Frameworks project to make Cu-Zn-Al catalysts. These catalysts are effective at converting greenhouse gases into methanol, effectively reducing pollution. We are planning to test how the catalysts crystallinity pattern affects its overall effectiveness in conversion. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing pickleball, going for walks, reading, crafts, and watching movies.
Brandon Judd
I am an undergraduate currently working alongside Andrew Ralph to investigate the relationship between bimetallic MOF surface area and redox activity. We have spent the last several months synthesizing and characterizing our Zn, Zn-Co, and Co MOF compounds using FTIR, BET, XRD, and other techniques, and we will now be using CV to explore these compounds' ability to oxidize glucose.
When not in lab or school, I love hiking, running, skiing, disc golf, playing piano and violin, and speaking German (which also happens to be my secondary major, after Chemistry).
When not in lab or school, I love hiking, running, skiing, disc golf, playing piano and violin, and speaking German (which also happens to be my secondary major, after Chemistry).
Alieta Christiansen
I am an undergraduate. My project is focused on modifying the powder phase layer-by-layer MOF growth method to be more viable for industrial scale-up. I am also working on applying new MOF growth methods to various types of MOFs. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy swimming, reading, and listening to music.
Sophia Thomas
I’m a 3rd year undergraduate student, and working on optimizing a MOF hierarchical structure for phosphate removal from wastewater. In my free time I enjoy reading, cooking with family, and walking my dog.
Recently Graduated Alumni
Blake Butikofer
Collette Sommerville
Callie Wallace
McKay Rindfleisch
Additional Alumni
Past Graduate Students:
Conner Nelson
Hans Anderson
Zhou Zheng
Anh Christine Nguyen-Sorenson
Justin Park
Past Undergraduate Students:
Zachary Pribyl (2014-2016)
Jongsu Choi (2015)
Preston Anderson (2015-2016)
Christian Shafer (2015-2017)
Drake Hansen (2016)
Jae Cho (2016)
Andrew Jo (2016)
Ethan Gunnell (2016-2017)
Clifton Anderson (2016-2018)
Camille Jackson (2016-2019)
Mark Chavez (2017)
Isaac Cloward (2017)
Spencer Lee (2017-2019)
Kelsey Canizales (2017-2020)
Dana Kuntz (2018)
Andrew Smith (2019)
Benjamin Chipman (2019)
Emma Orcutt (2019-2020)
Jack Sultan (2019, 2021)
Lindsey (Alder) Sanders (2019-2022)
Destiny Apilado (2020)
Kaitong Li (2020)
Robert Ellis (2020-2021)
Kellie Herron (2022-2022)
Colin Smith (2020-2022)
J.T. Elmer (2022)
Seth Hall (2021-2023)
Ali Prue (2021-2025)
Caleb Boyack (2022-2024)
Blake Butikofer (2023-2025)
Maren Rawlins (2020-2021)
Alieta Christiansen (2025-2026)
McKay Rindfleisch (2025-2026)
Collette Somerville (2023-2026)
Callie Wallace (2021-2026)