This summer, our group was delighted to host Dylan,  an REU student from St. Joseph university,  who joined us to gain hands-on research experience. Over the course of the program, Dylan contributed to ongoing projects in the lab and developed valuable skills in organic synthesis, photopharmacology  and scientific communication.

He wrapped up his time with us by presenting a poster showcasing his research accomplishments, highlighting both his hard work and the progress he made during the summer. We thank Dylan for his dedication and enthusiasm, and we wish him the very best in his future scientific endeavors (including coming back to work more in the lab with us)!

We’re excited to share that members of the Kienzler Lab—Emmanuel, Samuel, Theo, and Himanshu—recently attended and presented at the 2025 GRS/GRC Conference on Artificial Molecular Switches and Motors, held in New London, New Hampshire, contributing to lively discussions on light-responsive systems, dynamic molecular tools, and next-generation switches for a wide array of applications. Each member showcased ongoing work from the lab, representing our latest innovations in photopharmacology, photoswitch design, and photoswitch applications.

It was a fantastic week of science, collaboration, and community at the forefront of molecular motion!

While part of our lab traveled to New London, NH, for the Gordon Research Conference on Artificial Molecular Switches and Motors, the rest of the team stayed closer to home and attended the ACS Connecticut Valley Section Organic Chemistry Symposium at Connecticut College in New London, CT.

At the symposium, Claire presented a poster on her latest research, sharing results and engaging with the broader organic chemistry community. It was a great opportunity to showcase the diversity of our projects and represent the lab at two important meetings happening at the same time!

The Kienzler lab took a break from the bench for a day of science, history, and good food in New Haven. We spent the afternoon exploring the recently renovated Yale Peabody Museum, where we took in fascinating exhibits ranging from ancient fossils to Indigenous artifacts and biodiversity displays.

After soaking in the natural history, we made our way to the legendary Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana to share laughs and classic New Haven-style pizza. It was a great day to connect outside the lab and appreciate both the scientific and culinary heritage of the area.

Another successful MELD Chemistry outreach event (now on two separate dates) welcomed over 200 high school students from around Connecticut for a hands-on introduction to azobenzene synthesis; brightly colored dyes and important pieces of molecular machines. Guided by graduate mentors, students learned how light-responsive molecules are made and how they can change shape under different colors of light. We’re proud to keep inspiring future chemists through engaging, real-world lab experiences!

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Our ARM student from Glastonbury High School, Khushi, successfully completed her research study and presented her work at the Annual STEMposium held at her school.

Congratulations to Jose Matute on receiving the award for best short talk at the 2025 Connecticut Valley/Central Massachusetts ACS undergraduate research symposium 

Our undergraduates (Michael Vrionides, Neveah Hutchins, and Arjun Ahuja) presented an impressive array of posters at the 2025 Undergraduate Frontiers Exhibition.

Great presentations from the Kienzler Lab at the 2025 R.T. Major Chemistry Symposium! It was a pleasure engaging with our guest speakers, Dr. E.W. “Bert” Meijer (Eindhoven  University of Technology) and Dr. Brett A. Helms (Berkeley laboratory)

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The Kienzler lab welcomes a new graduate researcher; Swagata and three undergraduate researchers; Rowan, Nevaeh and Razil. We’re excited to have you on board and look forward to exploring new discoveries together!