Newton Group, Spring 2023
Chris
Chris was born and raised in New Zealand, obtaining a BSc (Hons) from Victoria University of Wellington. He conducted his PhD at the Australian National University under the supervision of Professor Michael Sherburn, focusing on the application of cross-conjugated hydrocarbons in total synthesis. Following graduation, Chris conducted postdoctoral studies in the group of Professor Nicolai Cramer (EPFL, Switzerland), working in the areas of enantioselective CH functionalization and biomimetic natural product synthesis. Chris returned to Australia as a DECRA Fellow at the University of Adelaide, before moving to the University of Georgia (USA) in early 2021 to start as an Assistant Professor.
he/him
chris.newton [@] uga.edu
2025 Sandy Beaver Excellence in Teaching Award, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, UGA
2024 NIGMS MIRA
2024 G. E. Philbrook Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching, NEG-ACS
2024 NSF CAREER Award
2023 ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator
2023 Helvetica Chimica Acta: Early Career International Advisory Board
2021 Thieme Chemistry Journals Award
2020 Daniel Walker Medal, University of Adelaide
2018 DECRA Fellowship, Australian Research Council
2016 EPFL Fellowship
2015 RACI Mander Award, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
Graduate Students
Christopher DeAngelis was born and raised in Suwanee, Georgia. He received his BS in Chemistry from the University of Georgia in 2020, where he worked in the Morrison group in the area of chemical education. After developing an interest in transition-metal catalysis, Chris started his PhD in the Newton group working in the fields of catalytic enantioselective spirocyclization, and Cu-catalyzed click-like cycloadditions. Outside of the lab, Chris enjoys cooking, working out past most people’s bedtimes, supporting the Buffalo Bills, and co-leading a Bible study at local breweries.
he/him
christopher.deangelis25 [@] uga.edu
Marshall Liss grew up in Roswell, GA and moved to Athens in fall 2016 to study at the University of Georgia. Here he completed his BS in Chemistry with Honors while studying analytical and materials chemistry. During this period he worked in Professor Jon Amster’s mass spectrometry lab and Professor Pho Nguyen’s physics lab. After returning to UGA to pursue graduate studies, Marshall’s interest shifted towards organic chemistry. When he is not running a reaction, you can find Marshall spending too much money on golf, learning to play chess, or playing board games with his friends.
he/him
marshall.liss25 [@] uga.edu
Geeta Goyal was born and raised in Meerut, a small town in UP, India. She received her dual BS/MS degree, with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Biology, from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, India. During this time she worked on the total synthesis of a pyrrolidinoindole alkaloid, encouraging her to continue research in the field of organic synthesis. After moving to the US, she joined the Newton group at UGA for her PhD. Outside of the lab you can find Geeta cooking delicious food, playing sports, or traveling the world.
she/her
geeta.goyal [@] uga.edu
Jay Lawrence was born and raised in Bowling Green, KY. He received his BA in Chemistry from Northwestern University in 2021, where he worked in the joint Northrup/Priest group in the area of physical organic chemistry, and with the Stoddart group synthesizing photoswitchable compounds. After gaining an interest in total synthesis, Jay started his PhD in the Newton group. Jay enjoys playing golf, chess, and doing crossword puzzles in his free time.
he/him
jay.lawrence [@] uga.edu
Skyler Hollers has in lived several places throughout Georgia. He received his BS in chemistry from the University of North Georgia in 2021. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, he performed research under Professor Brynna Quarles in the area of polymer synthesis. Since then, he joined the Newton group at UGA as a PhD student, where he works on the synthesis of medicinally relevant aromatics via application of the Diels–Alder reaction. Outside of the lab, Skyler likes to watch sports and cook.
he/him
skyler.hollers [@] uga.edu
Jessica Budwitz was born in Denver, CO but grew up in Canton, GA. Jessica obtained her BS in Chemistry at the University of Georgia in 2022, where she worked in the Newton Lab studying new applications of the Diels–Alder reaction. Still ever committed to her furans, Jessica continued in the Newton group as a PhD student in the fall of 2022. Outside of the lab, Jessica enjoys baking, doing miscellaneous arts and crafts projects, and going on road trips.
she/her
jessica.budwitz [@] uga.edu
Amanullah Mohammed Sani was born and raised in Ghana. He received his BS degree in Chemistry at University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani, Ghana in 2021. During this time he worked on a molecular modelling approach to identify multi-target inhibitors against the Zika virus. Amanullah is now a PhD student in the Newton, group where he is working toward pursuing a career in organic synthesis. Outside of academica, Amanullah enjoys playing and watching soccer, graphic design, and watching movies.
he/him
amanullah.mohammedsani [@] uga.edu
Jonathan Lin grew up in San Jose, CA. He obtained a BS in chemical biology and a BA in music at UC Berkeley. He then obtained an MS in chemistry at UC Davis where he worked with Dr. Sheila David studying the chemistry behind DNA repair. Jonathan joined the Newton group in the fall of 2023. Outside of lab you can find Jonathan making music in his home studio or swimming laps.
he/him
wjlin [@] uga.edu
Peter Franqui grew up in Billings, MT, where he obtained a BS in chemistry from Montana State University, Billings. He worked as an extractionist/analyst at an environmental lab focused on pesticides, herbicides, and other chemical contaminants before coming to UGA. Peter joined the Newton group in the fall of 2023. When he's not in a lab coat, he's spending an unreasonable amount of time on the golf course.
he/him
peter.franqui [@] uga.edu
Abigail Wester is from Villa Rica, GA. She earned her BS in Chemistry from The University of West Georgia in 2023, where she worked under Dr. Partha Ray on the synthesis of potential anti-folate drugs. Her passion for synthetic chemistry led her to join the Newton group in Fall 2024. In her free time, she likes learning to play guitar, and taking pictures of her dachshunds doing anything.
she/her
Abigail.Wester [@] uga.edu
David (Tommy) Piland was born and raised in Thomasville, GA. He received his BS in Chemistry from Georgia State University where he worked under Dr. Jeremiah Harden studying fluorescence shifts in chalcone derivatives. After graduating, he came to UGA and joined the Newton lab as a PhD student in Fall 2024. Outside of the lab, Tommy likes to cook, read, and play pool downtown. Go dawgs!
he/him
David.Piland [@] uga.edu
Undergraduates
Mason Creager is from Cumming, GA. After transferring from Mercer University he is now working toward his BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UGA, while also training at Athens Tech to become an advanced EMT. Outside of his studies, Mason enjoys whitewater kayaking, hiking, and camping.
he/him
Mason.Creager [@] uga.edu
Alumni
University of Georgia
Audrey Conner
Undergraduate Researcher, 2022–2024
Next: Graduate student in the Robb Group, Caltech, CA
Mary Stuart Herlihy
Undergraduate Researcher, 2022–2023
Next: Research Associate in Medicinal Chemistry, Gilead Sciences, CA
Dat Dam
Visiting SURO Student, Summer 2023
Next: Joint BS (Chem) and BA (Psych), Gettysburg College, PA
University of Adelaide
Jennifer Kuziola
Visiting MSc from the University of Rostock, 2018
Next: Graduate student in the Cornella Group, Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Germany
Liam Franov
Summer Research Scholar, University of Adelaide, 2018
Next: Honors in the George Group, University of Adelaide
Isuru Dissanayake
BS (Hons), 2018
Next: PhD in the Fallon Group, University of Adelaide
Emma Becroft
Summer Research Scholar, University of Adelaide, 2019
Next: Honors in the George Group, University of Adelaide
Daniel Overend
BS (Hons), 2019
Next: High school teacher
Jacob Hart
Joint PhD in Newton and George Groups, 2023
Next: Postdoctoral Researcher in the Grant Group, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore