https://www.zhukogroup.com/home daily 1.0 2026-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1680796460057-KSD194UO71BME8KDGPGL/Banner_3.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/8344ced3-af43-4995-b9bb-1fbcb3c8451f/IMG_7749.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/c492fd8c-dca5-4384-8be9-f01956217c13/Investigation+of+Templated+Entanglements+in+Polymer+Networks+via+Small-Angle+Scattering+Techniques+Image.webp Home - Enjoy our latest publication on small-angle scattering techniques to investigate templated entanglements in Macromolecules! Congrats to Erin and Fu-Sheng on this exciting work! 03.25.2026 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/078354be-780d-47a1-b6be-45d87bc975eb/daniel+pic.JPG Home - We are happy to have a new undergraduate, Daniel Zhao, joining us! Welcome to the team, Daniel! 02.23.2026 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/68d67718-6ba1-45b5-83c5-6c14d889da81/IMG_2535.jpg Home - We are excited to welcome our new undergraduate Rianna Lee to the group! Happy to have you, Rianna! 02.06.2026 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/9c6a2b69-82c3-47c9-bb33-9cfbc9c0bfb9/Screenshot+2026-01-05+at+9.37.32+PM.png Home - The group welcomes our new post-doc Xiaonan Li! We are excited to work with her and see what she accomplishes in the group! 01.05.2026 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/e5fd57fd-b650-4104-a2a0-02ba039cfb40/Screenshot+2025-12-02+at+10.50.03+AM.png Home - We are excited to welcome our new first year graduate students Niharendra Sarkar and Edina Shub! We look forward to seeing your accomplishments in the group! 12.02.2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/fbb3de2c-65e0-4de8-a2d9-b1ab02e22147/Screenshot+2025-11-06+at+8.39.34+AM.png Home - The group is excited to welcome visiting post-doc Nereida Hidalgo! We look forward to seeing what she accomplishes in her time with us! 11.03.2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1f7000f9-b119-425e-a3ed-e2ee8fde782c/Screenshot+2025-10-27+at+2.10.56+PM.png Home - Enjoy our latest review on advances in ROMP in Progress in Polymer Science! Congrats to Sam Kaplan on this review! 10.26.2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/8351ad45-3ff6-4978-bb48-9b65df02f1fb/cs5c05099_0006.webp Home - Check out our latest publication on selenium-catalyzed allylic amination! Congratulations to Sydney Towell on this exciting work! 09.23.2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/92af600f-5d2d-4260-a28f-211740db0017/Screenshot+2025-09-23+at+1.42.16+PM.png Home - Enjoy our latest publication in the synthesis, and self assembly of PBTZ-based rod coil block copolymers! Congratulations to Hilary Fokwa and Li Ji on this exciting work! 09.09.2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/53f57207-9594-45af-a5ee-85fa761a16f1/Screenshot+2025-09-23+at+1.38.50+PM.png Home - Check out our recent publication on carbodiimide ROMP! Congratulations to Sam Kaplan on this exciting work! 08.26.25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/d354e31c-15fe-4995-9374-82d066604d8b/Screenshot+2025-08-26+at+2.23.09+PM.png Home - The group would like to welcome undergraduate Josna Gosavi! We are excited to see her accomplishments in the lab! 08.26.25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/12a46358-4870-45fa-b723-3914833000bf/Screenshot+2025-06-12+at+2.14.53+PM.png Home - Alex has been awarded the 2025 Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Prize for Artistic and Scholarly Achievement! 06.11.25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/06c96027-97af-4b72-91cf-4d56e18793c2/Screenshot+2025-05-23+at+5.31.09+PM.png Home - Congratulations to Hilary Fokwa for successfully finishing her Ph.D. defense! We are so proud of Dr. Fokwa’s contributions to the design, synthesis, and self assembly of PBTZ-based rod coil block copolymers. 05.23.25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/23f3f677-97f6-46d6-a71a-e628943922eb/Screenshot+2025-05-03+at+10.58.25+AM.png Home - Alex has been selected as a 2025 Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar! 05.02.25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/2a75579b-5b00-4d68-8d7b-8bd0e57915fb/pic.jpeg Home - Check out our recent publication on directed dihydroxylation of a poly(cyclooctadienol). Congratulations to Lauren Cooke on this exciting work! 04.07.25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/4c2e0aa3-d385-44a7-8a7f-73c8e15d0422/Screenshot+2025-04-04+at+9.56.22+PM.png Home - Congratulations to Erin Krist for successfully completing her Ph.D. defense! Dr. Krist is headed to Oak Ridge National Laboratory for her postdoctoral studies. We are so proud of Erin’s work with templating entanglements, and are excited to see what is next for her! 04.04.25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1ce5ed55-eca3-4dad-b7e1-d8d12061067f/Screenshot+2025-04-02+at+6.38.36+PM.png Home - Enjoy our latest publication as part of special issue “Skeletal and Stereochemical Editing” in Accounts of Chemical Research! 04.02.25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/c13daf86-6fca-4fdd-8bdd-8d186df6d227/Screenshot+2025-03-31+at+8.39.47+PM.png Home - Check out this WRAL article highlighting our recent work in chemically recycling tires! https://www.wral.com/news/local/unc-chapel-hill-recycling-tires-method-march-2025/ 03.31.25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/d9ee8a0f-88c5-4ce3-a299-fe9d077c9c8c/Screenshot+2025-03-31+at+8.44.58+PM.png Home - Congratulations to undergraduate researcher Isabella Summers for successfully defending her senior honors thesis! We are so excited to see what is next for her!! 03.31.25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/f13a7acb-f5a2-4480-b9de-e43e9cebb63f/Screenshot+2025-04-02+at+6.34.03+PM.png Home - Check out our latest publication on backbone editing! Congratulations Sydney Towell and Maxim Ratushnyy on their work with deconstructing tires through C-H amination and aza-Cope rearrangement! 03.26.25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/b73de67b-2136-4e31-a9ac-c67bccd5b8c8/Screenshot+2025-03-24+at+5.57.12+PM.jpg Home - Congratulations to undergraduate researcher Daniel Godfrey for receiving summer research funding through the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)!! 03.24.25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/e7cfa4e3-c3b8-432e-b14d-ed7071ff8714/Screenshot+2025-03-11+at+2.25.53+PM.png Home - Congratulations to Alex for winning the 2025 Organometallics Distinguished Author Award! 03.11.25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/bf1204e3-4b7d-4b99-82b5-ae651c152e6f/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+6.07.26+PM.png Home - Alex has received the 2025 Sloan Research Fellowship! Well deserved! 02.18.25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/8c17a9ca-e14f-4021-b8ad-f4384708c608/Lab+Field+Day.jpg Home - Lab Olympics: The lab competed in a series of 5 events (estimation of NaCl weight by eye, estimation of H2O weight by eye, precise TLC plate cutting, Schiff base formation, and RAFT polymerization) to crown a Zhukhovitskiy Group Chemistry Champion. The 2024 winner: [recently minted Dr.] Ben Kruse 12.06.24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/f63de82f-de98-44f8-b531-5335d63205f9/IMG_5020.jpg Home - A big congratulations to undergraduate researcher Daniel Godfrey who was just honored with James H. Maguire Memorial Award which recognizes an outstanding junior-year chemistry major. 11.04.24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/b259aa90-dcef-463c-983c-0c447df5dca9/0.jpg Home - We’d like to celebrate Ben Kruse for graduating with his Ph.D.! The lab will surely miss Ben’s synthetic mind and stellar personality. We are so proud of Dr. Kruse’s work on templated entanglements! 10.31.24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1c241af4-5067-4aec-ae13-6e486deebf67/20241022_162053.jpg Home - Congratulations to Sydney Towell on making the Three-Minute Thesis competition finals! Check out her presentation here! 10.22.24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/dd106d5f-b108-4729-874f-4201d7ce9218/Polyketone.jpg Home - Enjoy our latest on backbone editing of oxidized polyethylene here! Congratulations to Andrew King on this publication! 10.21.24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/d544a741-86bf-46e7-b612-157e76138193/Screenshot+2024-09-13+103932.jpg Home - Take a look at this interesting article about issues with a plastic waste management facility, featuring Alex as an author! https://theconversation.com/making-fuels-from-plastics-in-newaygo-michigan-would-be-controversial-heres-why-232217 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/630cb363-92ef-4a76-88d9-9a99052cdc1d/images_large_ma4c00343_0007.jpg Home - We’re excited to announce the group’s latest on templated entanglements! A big congrats to Erin Krist and Ben Kruse on this publication in Macromolecules. Check it out here! 08.07.24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/f5f6a80f-faec-4c22-8142-549567dfe766/Screenshot+2024-07-29+160043.png Home - The group would like to welcome Post-Doc Dr. Li Ji to Chapel Hill! We are excited to learn from her expertise in polymerization catalysis! o7.24.24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/d5f4eb08-5354-4e6f-ab79-5f94c9ae8526/images_large_om4c00163_0005.jpg Home - A shout out to Drake Johnson, Andrew King , and Fu-Sheng Wang for their most recent publication in Organometallics! Enjoy this nice read on Six-Membered Iridacycles! 07.01.24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/0427cca1-dcbe-404e-af45-2b1ffc1f8d97/1-s2.0-S2589597424001047-gr1_lrg.jpg Home - Be sure to take a look at our newest review article on Trapped Entanglements in Trends In Chemistry! Congrats to graduate students Leah Kosovsky, Erin Krist, and Ben Kruse, as well as Post-doc FuSheng Wang! 06.22.24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/c4742850-55ab-48f5-94b1-ab16e790df93/ezgif-5-9fe033538e.jpg Home - Check out our work in collaboration with the Tonks Group on Architectural Editing in JACS! Congratulations to many students in the group: Rachael Ditzler, Nate Berney, Erin Krist , Ben Kruse, and Hilary Fokwa! 05.22.24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/877c087b-ee71-4098-b917-f5f46e755ded/ma3c02207_0008+-+Copy.jpg Home - Hot off the press is our work on templated entanglements in Macromolecules! Congratulations to postdoc Fu-Sheng Wang and graduate student Ben Kruse! 05.03.24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/426d5aff-9aaf-4924-8d38-a3f492cda052/IMG_8998.jpg Home - We’d like to celebrate Drake Johnson for graduating with his Ph.D.! We surely will miss Drake’s excellent mentorship of many in the lab, and are extremely proud of his accomplishments in heteroatom metathesis polymerization! Dr. Johnson will be continuing his Chemistry career at Luna Labs come this summer! 04.16.24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/d4e0cbaa-f1f7-457a-b8db-8e66c4c05eda/img_9001_720.jpg Home - Congratulations to Andrew King on receiving his Ph.D.! The freshly minted Dr. King is headed to Princeton University this summer for postdoctoral research with the Chirik group, more in tune with his inorganic chemistry roots. We are so incredibly proud of his work advancing the understanding of dinuclear metal catalysts for conjugated polymer synthesis! 04.15.24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/ff00075c-dc08-45d0-971b-9860f2c2226d/20240327_120046.jpg Home - Congratulations to Rachael Ditzler, our very first Ph.D.! We are very proud of her trailblazing work on the editing of polymer backbones via [3,3]-Sigmatropic rearrangements! Dr. Ditzler will be joining P&G this summer! 03.27.24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/3e00916a-416f-4470-be96-502cd7fe2bd0/531622_index_17844.jpg Home - See this awesome Chemistry World opinion piece on backbone editing featuring Alex! https://www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/hooray-for-the-editors/4018817.article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/d74425bc-d4ea-4e52-a96d-cf51c46ec447/531579_indexshutterstock_2016601712converted_314097.jpg Home - Check out this Chemistry World article featuring our lab’s work on backbone editing! https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/editing-polymer-backbones/4018748.article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/b73e0728-a388-48f6-8985-9fc72d7e19a1/AK.jpeg Home - Congrats to Andrew King on winning the Francis Preston Venable award for exemplary research, Killian Family Graduate Student Excellence Fund for exemplary service, and Ralph Walton Bost Fund for exemplary teaching! 12.13.23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/9b65aefc-e59e-43c5-b5d1-f5e0e8e418d2/DJ.jpeg Home - Congrats to Drake Johnson on being awarded the Ernest L. Eliel award for outstanding mentorship, and the Thomas L. Isenhour and E.A. Booth award for outstanding research! 12.13.23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/e0414c97-83b4-457a-9159-0ae34ad8eeba/LS.jpeg Home - Congrats to Lauren Satkowiak on being awarded the Sanford Steelman Fund for excellence in teaching! 12.13.23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/537d0163-071c-4833-8986-300dfd1671ed/LK.jpg Home - Congrats to Leah Kosovsky on being awarded the Richard G. Hiskey Graduate Fund! 12.13.23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/0fa66061-666b-4ca3-b419-2809868f3564/Screenshot+2023-12-13+143509.png Home - Congrats to Drake Johnson, on publishing a perspective in ACS Catalysis on Hetero-ene Metathesis! 12.13.23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/9a3a7223-17b6-41ed-8f7a-ddc4af644b86/images_large_lg3c00022_0006.jpeg Home - Congrats to Andrew King on publishing his work on the influence of catalyst identity for Kumada Cross-Coupling Polymerizations in ACS Polymer Au! 11.8.23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/bb27219d-adf8-4122-94ff-0ad73d2d999b/andwew.jpg Home - Andrew King has been selected to participate in the “2024 Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium”! Congrats Andrew! 11.1.23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/3a4ab56b-962f-40dd-8d6e-65cedc2573f5/EliasA.jpg Home - Congrats to undergraduate student Elias Arroyo on receiving UNC chemistry’s Stern Award! 11.1.23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/4c525f44-74c9-4eec-ae27-7bd07e51aa8a/Screenshot+2023-08-11+141510.png Home - Thank you to The Guardian for highlighting our work on skeletal rearrangements of polymer backbones! https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/05/skeletal-editing-chemistry-molecule-atom-medicine-drug-development-sustainable https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/c43b2057-7d1c-47e3-944b-7ebdc2720eb7/41570_2023_514_Figa_HTML.png Home - Congrats to Rachael Ditzler, Andrew King, Sydney Towell, and Maxim Ratushnyy on publishing their review article titled Editing of polymer backbones in Nature Reviews Chemistry! 8.8.2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/0fadd1a2-7c03-4107-89c9-5208410c245a/Maxim_Syngenta.png Home - Congratulations to post-doc Maxim Ratushnyy, who has departed for a job at Syngenta! We will greatly miss you, Maxim! 6.12.2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/b5bfeaea-d944-4a9d-9585-39f9117cd154/Rachael_PG.png Home - We’ll be missing Rachael Ditzler for a few months, as she has departed for her 3-month internship at Procter and Gamble. Best of luck! 6.12.2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/f95ea491-0843-42b3-acb3-5ee21a205caa/IMG_9879.jpg Home - We’re happy to welcome undergraduate Isabella Summers to the group! 6.10.2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/8a6ce9d1-d445-4a63-ba37-d292548d2775/Pub_Carbodiimide_metathesis_TOC.png Home - It’s official - our work on carbodiimide ring-opening metathesis polymerization is out today in ACS Central Science! Congratulations to Drake Johnson and Sam Kaplan, as well as undergraduate alumnus Joey Toth and highschool student Zian Wang! 05.11.2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/50364901-51a6-419a-987b-9e9e7ae56bc1/IMG_1.jpg Home - Congratulations to Sam Kaplan for passing his second-year oral-exam. Excited to see what the future holds! 4/24/2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/74c7b43d-f0ed-4ff4-a9a0-6a7dad84e61b/IMG_0485+Large.jpeg Home - We’re excited to announce that Sydney Towell has passed her second-year oral-exam and has been awarded the NSF GRFP! Congrats Sydney, excited to see what the future holds! 3/29/2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/59869c14-5bb9-474b-a006-cc457f2396eb/download+%281%29.jfif Home - We are grateful that our work on polymer backbone editing was featured in Chemistry World! https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/editing-the-structure-of-molecules/4017084.article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1bd6b410-05aa-4120-aef8-dbbfef1c7377/image001.jpg Home - We’re excited to welcome undergraduate Matt Satkowiak to the group! 1.27.23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/8192c187-717e-418b-bdec-06c36cd1f527/IMG_8958.jpg Home - We’re excited to welcome high school student Graham Rousseau to the group! 1.23.23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/18bae303-c3f3-46a4-83fc-152f305728e5/thieme.jpg Home - Alex has received the 2023 Thieme Chemistry Journals award! 1.23.2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/8718eebe-06b4-4e79-b7fc-6d6a7646d1a9/6a8E1QBN.jpeg Home - Alex has been selected to receive the Air Force Office of Scientific Research’s Young Investigator Program Award (AFOSR-YIP)! 12.15.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/01d27fe3-a12f-4736-bb67-3d6973ede00d/Pub_Carbodiimide_metathesis_TOC.png Home - Another preprint from our lab is out, this time on carbodiimide ROMP! Congratulations to graduate students Drake Johnson and Samuel Kaplan, as well as visiting high-school student Zian Wang and group alumnus Jozsef Toth! 12.14.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/b4682ddc-530e-4840-bfc6-a957f886f073/headshotunedited.jpg Home - We’re excited to welcome undergraduate Chyanne McKeller to the group! We see awesome chemistry in your future! 12.14.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/d69d43f7-e826-4fef-88b3-27e46f953501/backboneeditreviewTOC.png Home - Congratulations to Rachael Ditzler, Andrew King, Sydney Towell, and Maxim Ratushnny on the preprint publication of their review of polymer backbone editing - check it out here! 12.12.22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/79a28b03-63b8-46cc-abb8-3322f59029e4/LeahLauren.png Home - We’re thrilled to welcome first-year graduate students Lauren Satkowiak (left) and Leah Kosovsky (right) to the group! 12.01.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/baf97230-5582-46fd-8e4e-c77479f9a8da/andwew.jpg Home - Congratulations to Andrew King, who was awarded UNC’s departmental Eliel Fellowship - well deserved! 8.31.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/d91dc01a-312e-49d6-90fe-1c9986c6cfd6/ChemEd_CUREMasks.png Home - Check out research on biodegradable COVID masks in J. Chem. Ed., featuring an idea formulated and realized by several undergraduates (Elizabeth Karlsson, Jia-Hao Hu) in Alex’s polymer lab class! 8.22.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/cf1be363-c689-47c3-aa4b-08738f7e2572/Image+from+iOS+%2854%29.jpg Home - Hilay Fokwa has passed her second-year oral exam - congratulations! Excited to see what the future holds! 7.22.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/f1b6e135-6cb3-4013-880f-9a4c7712f27b/A01C719A-.jpg Home - We welcome post-baccalaureate Nate Berney to the group! 7.01.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/757040cf-751a-4631-ac3c-2d14ee74c976/acs-prf-wide.jpg Home - We’re grateful to the ACS PRF for funding our lab’s research into new polymerization chemistry! 6.10.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/8833da09-e2e1-4fc7-b4fb-9e76ac6c657b/Julia.jpg Home - Incoming graduate student Julia Morris has joined our lab for the summer! 6.7.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/88e17ff3-3c5b-4293-b161-c41a74d9908a/US-DOE-1200x675.jpg Home - We are thankful to the U.S. Department of Energy for funding our lab through the Early Career Research Program! 6.6.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/c5c7e282-1b2a-4f18-b25d-cfe32445fccf/AndrewPaperTOC.png Home - Our latest publication comes from Andrew King, who worked to demystify a fascinating bimetallic polymerization mechanism. Great work, Andrew! 5.11.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1b7b9927-5be5-4235-b126-8bc9a8b0a694/NSF.jpg Home - Our lab was selected to receive a grant from the NSF! We are very grateful to the NSF CHE division for this funding! 4.27.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/f831d278-b321-4a3f-a725-d2129b8140bb/EliasA.jpg Home - Our undergrad Elias Arroyo was awarded the Rauch-King summer research fellowship and will be joining us full-time over the summer! 04.12.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/275427e7-86ca-4e13-87a5-da30639ac5da/ErinOrals.jpg Home - Congratulations to Erin Krist for passing her second-year oral exam! Keep up the good work! 04.11.2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/0f594d8d-e6a0-4eec-ba32-241619939919/CEN+figure.png Home - Our latest publication was highlighted in C&EN - take a look here! Congrats, Rachael! 12.04.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/68a763dd-8a2f-4c39-b9a1-a645d6dc30bc/SydneySam.png Home - We welcome two first-year graduate students to the Zhuko group, Sydney Towell (left) and Samuel Kaplan (right)! Looking forward to the great work they’ll be doing! 11.24.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/80d54146-b00d-4eab-89b6-1aaeb962bda0/Sigmatropic+RAR+1+TOC.gif Home - Rachael gives us something else to be thankful for this holiday season! Check out our second paper in JACS here - great work! 11.22.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/f321ec86-c307-41de-9264-68105a505725/NSF.jpg Home - We are grateful to the National Science Foundation for supporting our research through a CAREER grant to study trapped entanglements in polymer networks to make tougher soft materials. 11.15.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/da60f0e2-3fc9-486f-9598-e149755d90da/FuSheng-Brittany.png Home - We’ve got two new faces in the Zhukho lab - postdoc Fu-Sheng Wang (left) and undergraduate Brittany Blitstein (right)! Check them out on the Members page. 11.08.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1635017705066-E907QE9PSAACZCPS8EQ2/Brook+RAR+TOC.gif Home - We’re thrilled to have our first paper published - check it out here in JACS! Congratulations to post-doc Maxim Ratushnyy! 10.22.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1634922719318-OQT4U4CH5WAR5MOLO0BX/pumpkin+carving+2021+cropped+2.jpg Home - October is upon us again, and that means more pumpkin carving! Check out our line-up of the best pumpkins Chapel Hill has to offer (no one else had carved any yet…)! 10.20.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1627503634548-RQGQ0NG1EZBJMZN9ERQ7/KohenZian.png Home - We also welcome two new faces - Kohen Goble (left), an undergraduate who will be working with us for the foreseeable future, and Zian Wang (right), an ambitious high-school student who will be getting a taste of research this summer! 7.15.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1627503576707-Y6FILVJCPL1T3IQD2XE4/yasmin_ajirniar1.jpg Home - This summer we’re excited to be joined by incoming graduate student Yasmin Ajirniar, who is doing a “zero-year” rotation in our group! 6.10.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1623106470873-HUV7BWJIHGI00FEPLU5X/IMG_5192.jpg Home - Our undergrad Joey Toth has accepted a position at Roche, and has departed our lab for some industry experience! Bittersweet, we’ll miss you Joey! 6.01.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1619128068870-5XWW21NZZGDBFHXO2U87/IMG_20210422_170810%2B%25281%2529.jpg Home - Our 4th PhD candidate Ben Kruse passed his 2nd year oral exam this evening! Excited to see what the future holds! 4.22.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1618598897099-GSLUJYEC696OXFINEL4Y/orals%2Bphoto%2B1-1.jpg Home - Drake Johnson has passed his 2nd year oral exam, becoming our 3rd bona fide PhD candidate! Congratulations, keep looking forward! 4.15.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1617720337279-SAP0MAIXN7RIVXOCR9KF/alex3m.png Home - Alex has earned the 3M Non-tenured Faculty award for early career achievements! 4.06.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1617330599246-9IQ0F01LRTA6Z14QU57P/Image%252Bfrom%252BiOS%252B%2525284%252529.jpg Home - Ben Kruse has racked up another prestigious fellowship, this time through the DoD NDSEG program! Congratulations, two-for-two! 3.30.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1617067116087-174QH5YGK8BIJIET1R25/Image%252Bfrom%252BiOS%252B%2525283%252529.jpg Home - Our second PhD candidate, Andrew King, passed his 2nd year oral exam! Great job, one step closer! 3.29.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1616812883757-1SCNTOP9WJ54DFMRFK1Y/Image%252Bfrom%252BiOS%252B%2525281%252529.jpg Home - Rachael Ditzler passed her 2nd year oral exam, and is our first PhD candidate! Congratulations, keep up the good work! 3.26.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1616529279553-EC21GBFLF37Y6S49H8NV/NSFrecipients.png Home - We’re thrilled to announce that two of our students have received the NSF GRFP Fellowship - Rachael Ditzler and Ben Kruse! Well deserved! 3.23.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1610458916696-MJAR83ZNLNEAARTTPAWS/alexzwide.jpg Home - Alex received the Junior Faculty Development Award! 1.12.2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1605735799736-TJ8X83W224GJYEEHFILK/NewStudents2020_3.png Home - We’re thrilled to welcome three new graduate students to the Zhukhovitskiy lab - Erin Krist, Hilary Fokwa, and Joseph Collins! Looking forward to the great work they’ll do! 11.16.2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1603482349168-XFWMWV32YUWH3VFQ02EF/IMG_5192.jpg Home - Congratulations to our undergraduate Joey Toth, who earned the Stern Scholar award for excellence in upper-level chemistry labs! Well deserved! 10.23.2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1602530595458-2KKQFJ4DM0GUFC2Q2ZJB/IMG_20201009_182650.jpg Home - Halloween is imminent! We, along with our rotation students, carved up some of the best pumpkin designs of our generation! Which one is the best? 10.09.2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1591891765840-V7344CAI5I8WGTEJPSYL/Image%2Bfrom%2BiOS%2B%25282%2529.jpg Home - We also welcome Maxim Ratushnyy to the group! Maxim joins us from UT Dallas, where he worked previously with Prof. Vladimir Gevorgyan on synthetic methods development. He’s a polymer guy now! 6.10.2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1591283955849-K1AHR9QOY8ZQFUJUD8LR/joeyandjoe.png Home - We welcome two new members to the group this summer! Undergraduate Joey Toth (left), who will be working with us for the foreseeable future, and incoming graduate student Joe Collins (right), who is rotating with us this summer. 6.04.2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1590608281751-F582YBCGJCYUUDPIQWAZ/IMG_20200526_022122_01.jpg Home - We all tried a bit of quarantine yoga over Zoom together to loosen up - the most physically intensive activity we could all be convinced to do. Thanks for leading us, Katrina! 5.21.2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1589410019616-PS0NNABVONIJ1ME9MZG6/Image%252Bfrom%252BiOS%252B%2525281%252529.jpg Home - Congratulations to our stellar undergrad Skylar McGaughey, who just graduated with an Honors BA in Chemistry, and a minor in Spanish! She’s moving on to the UNC Adams School of Dentistry - we’ll miss her! 5.11.2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1583700852254-FZM9HTCA2KD3WIASA9XS/IMG_6499.jpg Home - We may have gotten a bit ahead of ourselves at the local escape room - choosing the most difficult one for our first time led to a disastrous defeat! Some of us took the loss harder than others. 3.06.2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1578768530457-5HPG6P55UYLHYGS415I8/Image%25252Bfrom%25252BiOS-1%25252B%252525281%25252529.jpg Home - Our own Ben (center), and Irene (Leibfarth group, right), won the 4th annual Paper of the Year competition between the polymer groups at UNC, with this paper from MIT’s Zhao group! Travis (Leibfarth group, left) begrudgingly transfers the prized “Curios Henry: Limited Edition 1996” trophy of unknown origins. 1.09.2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1575787287006-CITQRFAB6YOPT20S39YM/Image+from+iOS.jpg Home - Our first class of graduate students has officially joined — we welcome Rachael Ditzler, Drake Johnson, Andrew King, and Ben Kruse to the group! 12.06.2019 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1572144164548-RL1U5TFBPMISBAB399JQ/New+undergrads.jpg Home - We welcome two undergraduates—Skylar McGaughey and Elias Arroyo—to the group! 10.26.2019 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1558748172695-HS68W7O24GKXS0F8UFDY/image-asset.jpeg Home - The Zhukhovitskiy group opened its doors on July 1st! Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with a passion for any flavor of synthesis and an interest in polymers are encouraged to contact Alex! (Shown in picture: Prof. Jeff Johnson, not Alex.) 10.18.2019 https://www.zhukogroup.com/random daily 0.75 2023-06-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56e049e08a65e26059119cd5/1462307933447-M3RK3DCCA0RXY4BTQXOZ/img-05.jpg Random https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56e049e08a65e26059119cd5/1459879174445-MIOY5PULB1XAW864NVA8/img-06.jpg Random https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56e049e08a65e26059119cd5/1458581832673-UZTVQK3KYBRBZJEV2TA9/EmptyName-13.jpg Random https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/0b750da8-42c1-4717-b5d2-b624480163cd/Fu-Sheng+website.jpg Random - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/52ddf9c0-dbe5-497d-96dd-eca450c56c6e/Image+from+iOS+%2852%29.jpg Random - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1576539825087-A27JJMFIF1LZCLR5OTXQ/croppedweb.jpg Random https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1576539877933-H7IRBUFR7RCYT0ASBAEJ/tragic.jpg Random https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1576169540351-J83KFCO29UQUZQQ5GNOP/KingA Random https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1687211246951-I9P7L0T4FL7XYF69H6RX/IMG_3647.jpg Random https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1605733219481-B7XVZDQKVAIY0SZPPQRX/HilaryF1.jpg Random https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/07a8200a-c972-4ce9-9408-8a60e5a45128/samk.jpg Random - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/40b031c4-7e09-4a0c-a691-54947419a295/LaurenSatkowiak_web.jpg Random - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1576185199784-30LNNHSQDQL0TUPS9WPK/IMG_4278.jpg Random https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1605733058253-6PEW3O5YF817BA67ARIQ/ErinK1.jpg Random https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1605733103150-SUVM5DWW94WJHAMT4O6P/ErinK2.jpg Random https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1e515e15-5f5c-4e09-9b78-91a4c31ee780/IMG_3828+%281%29+%281%29.jpg Random - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/9de3cb1e-bfdb-4608-8b4d-85d3624e4d58/LeahKosovsky_web.jpg Random - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1b146bbc-98ff-4e5c-bbfa-def389d890d4/headshotunedited.jpg Random - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/059202e7-34ed-4042-9557-9b8e1ed0f1e5/EliasA.jpg Random https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1627502729270-L1AWF82DHMS0BXMY2AX6/Zian.jpg Random - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/ca866d4b-f2b3-48b7-a9c0-f8613b880e47/image001.jpg Random - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/cd54f24b-2854-4055-a60e-dca9f625056b/A01C719A-.jpg Random - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/ef2f130a-41ce-44bf-9bc7-a92f0523798f/IMG_8958.jpg Random - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/ab4ecc7b-6f26-4063-8dab-811c3657c51f/IMG_9879.jpg Random - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.zhukogroup.com/about-alex daily 0.75 2025-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1559418546205-1EKT1ZJCF5IHW7QQF8CY/IMG_20190222_152008.jpg About Alex https://www.zhukogroup.com/publications daily 0.75 2026-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/07905c0c-d6f5-455c-aeb6-a50422785510/Investigation+of+Templated+Entanglements+in+Polymer+Networks+via+Small-Angle+Scattering+Techniques+Image.webp Publications - 39. Investigation of Templated Entanglements in Polymer Networks via Small-Angle Scattering Techniques Krist, E. C.; Wang, F.-S.; Hore, M. J. A.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Investigation of Templated Entanglements in Polymer Networks via Small-Angle Scattering Techniques. Macromolecules 2026 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/3769a5dc-5fb4-433b-bbeb-1a8f0dcacf44/Screenshot+2025-10-27+at+2.10.56+PM.png Publications - 38. Recent Advances in Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerizations Kaplan, S. W.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Recent Advances in Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerizations. Prog. Polym. Sci. 2025, 171, 102039. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/26498879-2d1f-4dfe-ab20-44c8723ffb74/cs5c05099_0006.webp Publications - 37. Mechanistic Insights toward Accelerated Selenium-Catalyzed Allylic and Propargylic C–H Amination Towell, S. E.; Wang, F.-S.; Godfrey, D. R.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Mechanistic Insights toward Accelerated Selenium-Catalyzed Allylic and Propargylic C–H Amination. ACS Catal. 2025, 15, 19, 16908-16916. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/19c6e086-0143-4129-9bc0-d5ec48bcd05e/Screenshot+2025-09-09+at+2.15.15+PM.png Publications - 36. Synthesis and Solution Self-Assembly of Poly (benzotriazole)-b-poly(alkyl methacrylate)s Fokwa, H. D.; Ji, L.; Wang, F.-S.; Krist, E. C.; DeLancey, S. S.; Mandala Kol, A.; Jackson, M. N.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Synthesis and Solution Self-Assembly of Poly (benzotriazole)-b-poly(alkyl methacrylate)s. Polym. Chem. 2025, 16, 4341-4348. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/4beafc12-07ba-4b6a-92ce-4c6fdb4267b8/Screenshot+2025-08-26+at+2.29.04+PM.png Publications - 35. Carbodiimide Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization and Depolymerization Using Terminal Iridium Imido Initiators Kaplan, S. W.; Satkowiak, M. C.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Carbodiimide Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization and Depolymerization Using Terminal Iridium Imido Initiators. Organometallics 2025, 44, 17, 1945–1950. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/0685a9ec-e0f6-42bf-ad7b-90a44d620238/pic.jpeg Publications - 34. Directed Dihydroxylation of a Poly(cyclooctadienol) toward Densely-Hydroxylated Polyol Adhesives Cooke, L. S.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Directed Dihydroxylation of a Poly(cyclooctadienol) toward Densely-Hydroxylated Polyol Adhesives Polym. Chem. 2025, 16, 2128-2132. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/6ed5d2a2-06af-4075-b9a6-181b6062eabb/Screenshot+2025-04-02+at+6.38.36+PM.png Publications - 33. Skeletal Editing of Polymer Backbones and Its Impact Across the Polymer Lifecycle Towell, S. E.; Jareczek, M. J.; Cooke, L. S.; Godfrey, D. R.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Skeletal Editing of Polymer Backbones and Its Impact Across the Polymer Lifecycle Acc. Chem. Res. 2025, 58 (8), 1275-1283. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/2fb2e51a-fc20-4b47-a6e5-fb4bdc988f37/Screenshot+2025-03-26+at+12.47.01+PM.png Publications - 32. Deconstruction of Rubber via C-H Amination and Aza-Cope Rearrangement Towell, S. E.; Ratushnyy, M.; Cooke, L. S.; Lewis, G. M.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Deconstruction of Rubber via C-H Amination and Aza-Cope Rearrangement Nature 2025, 640, 384-389. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/ff33dcd9-058d-420c-8027-c4020c7fcd24/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.52.11+PM.png Publications - 31. Backbone Editing of Oxidized Polyethylene: Insertion of Oxygen and Nitrogen Atoms via Hydroxyalkyl Azide-Mediated Rearrangements King, A. J.; Sherrier, R. P.; Aubé, J.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Backbone Editing of Oxidized Polyethylene: Insertion of Oxygen and Nitrogen Atoms via Hydroxyalkyl Azide-Mediated Rearrangements Polym. Chem. 2024, 15 (44), 4554 - 4561. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/0ffd0f7f-0d7c-4fb6-8723-e8571bfb5c7b/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.51.47+PM.png Publications - 30. Supramolecular Templation of Entanglements in Organogels Krist, E. C.; Kruse, B. J.; Dickenson, J. C.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Supramolecular Templation of Entanglements in Organogels. Macromolecules 2024, 57 (16), 7878-7883. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/d2240a93-dcab-4ee4-9f8d-6aae795f5acd/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.51.16+PM.png Publications - 29. Six-Membered Iridacycles with Five Nitrogen Atoms in the Ring Johnson, J. D.; King, A. J.; Wang, F.-S.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Six-Membered Iridacycles with Five Nitrogen Atoms in the Ring. Organometallics 2024, 43 (14), 1593–1599. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/b9a6b9d2-d69a-420b-85f8-99c74b5abc49/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.50.55+PM.png Publications - 28. Trapped Entanglements in Polymer Networks: Formation and Characterization Wang, F.-S.; Kosovsky, L. M.; Krist, E. C.; Kruse, B. J.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Trapped Entanglements in Polymer Networks: Formation and Characterization. Trends Chem. 2024, 6 (8), 447-458. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/e8dc44f3-facb-4cb0-9a5f-20d39edd235c/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.50.26+PM.png Publications - 27. Architectural Editing of Polyesters and Polyurethanes via Palladium(II)-Catalyzed [3,3]-Sigmatropic Oxo-Rearrangements Ditzler, R. A. J.; Rapagnani, R. M.; Berney, N. K.; Koby, R. F.; Krist, E. C.; Kruse, B. J.; Fokwa, H. D.; Tonks, I. A.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Architectural Editing of Polyesters and Polyurethanes via Palladium(II)-Catalyzed [3,3]-Sigmatropic Oxo-Rearrangements J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146 (22), 15286–15292. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/aec35ddd-9c95-4800-91bd-213572f3aa3d/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.47.58+PM.png Publications - 26. Valence Can Control the Nonexponential Viscoelastic Relaxation of Multivalent Reversible Gels Le Roy, H.; Song, J.; Lundberg, D.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V.; Johnson, J. A.; McKinley, G. H.; Holten-Andersen, N.; Lenz, M. Valence Can Control the Nonexponential Viscoelastic Relaxation of Multivalent Reversible Gels. Sci. Adv. 2024, 10 (20), eadl5056. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/8841dc5d-7e48-406b-9c6a-d7d9a3d2cd96/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.45.18+PM.png Publications - 25. Supramolecular Templation of Entanglements and Their Spectroscopic Detection in Polymer Elastomers Wang, F. S.; Kruse B. J.; Dickenson, J. C.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Supramolecular Templation of Entanglements and Their Spectroscopic Detection in Polymer Elastomers. Macromolecules 2024, 57 (9), 4016–4023. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/ef1058f1-b591-47c6-b6b4-8520de8b1c61/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.43.18+PM.png Publications - 24. Hetero-ene Metathesis Johnson, J. D.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Heteroene Metathesis. ACS Catal. 2024, 14, 21–33. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/0b3d06ae-44f5-45bb-8049-7577bee51922/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.39.44+PM.png Publications - 23. Influence of Metal Identity and Complex Nuclearity in Kumada Cross-Coupling Polymerizations with a Pyridine Diimine-Based Ligand Scaffold King, J. A.; Wang, J.; Liu, T.; Raghavan, A.; Tomson, N. C.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Influence of Metal Identity and Complex Nuclearity in Kumada Cross-Coupling Polymerizations with a Pyridine Diimine-Based Ligand Scaffold. ACS Polym. Au. 2023, 3 (6), 475–481. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/2b54594a-684d-45f1-8a45-bba365408701/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.34.46+PM.png Publications - 22. Carbodiimide Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization Johnson, J. D.; Kaplan, S. W.; Toth, J.; Wang, Z.; Maw, M.; Sheiko, S. S.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Carbodiimide Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization. ACS Cent. Sci. 2023, 9 (6), 1104–1110. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/66f34a5f-ffd7-483a-89f3-81dc872cd323/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.31.40+PM.png Publications - 21. Editing of Polymer Backbones Ditzler R. A. J., King A. J.; Towell, S.; Ratushnyy M.; Zhukhovitskiy A. V. Editing of Polymer Backbones. Nat. Rev. Chem. 2023, 7, 600–615. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/0ed21315-4e79-4872-a115-f4d602e848ca/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.29.05+PM.png Publications - 20. Development of Bioderived Alternatives to N95 Face Masks in a Remote Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience Karlsson, E. E.; Hu, J; Davern, M. J.; Cong, Y.; Yan, J.; Surratt, J. D.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. J. Chem. Educ. 2022, 99 (9), 3196–3202. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/cc1541b1-8405-4485-be0d-545d580eb974/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.24.06+PM.png Publications - 19. A Chain-Growth Mechanism for Conjugated Polymer Synthesis Facilitated by Dinuclear Complexes with Redox-Active Ligands King, A. J.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, e202206044. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/58a48eea-acee-4aa3-8250-f8b75aaefffa/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.21.18+PM.png Publications - 18. Advancing the Logic of Polymer Synthesis via Skeletal Rearrangements Zhukhovitskiy, A. V.; Ratushnyy, M.; Ditzler, R. A. J. Synlett 2022, 33. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/a9f6cfac-0523-48bd-ba2c-318f8255c2e9/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.15.32+PM.png Publications - 17. Sigmatropic Rearrangements of Polymer Backbones: Vinyl Polymers from Polyesters in One Step Ditzler, R. A. J.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 48, 20326–20331. * Highlighted in C&EN here, in Nat. Rev. here, and in the Spring 2022 Carolina Scientific here! * https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/2818b24a-2040-4907-a1fa-deb9dc7189a7/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.13.41+PM.png Publications - 16. Polymer Skeletal Editing via Anionic Brook Rearrangements Ratushnyy, M.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 17931–17936. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/c7fbfa70-41ee-4b81-bada-45e9d21b43e8/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.11.32+PM.png Publications - 15. A Dinuclear Mechanism Implicated in Controlled Carbene Polymerization Zhukhovitskiy, A. V.;# Kobylianskii, I. J.;# Thomas, A. A.; Evans, A. M.; Delany, C. P.; Flanders, N. C.; Denmark, S. E.; Dichtel, W.R.; Toste, F. D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 6473–6478. (#contributed equally) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/bdb9619e-4e1a-4036-b337-48ecef86ffc9/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.07.58+PM.png Publications - 14. Main-Chain Zwitterionic Supramolecular Polymers Derived from N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Carbodiimide (NHC-CDI) Adducts Gallagher, N. M.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V.; Nguyen, H. V.-T.; Johnson, J. A. Macromolecules 2018, 51, 3006–3016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/4d097435-3673-4298-9481-d8cf93618503/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.05.01+PM.png Publications - 13. Supported Au Nanoparticles with N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands as Active and Stable Heterogeneous Catalysts for Lactonization Ye, R.;# Zhukhovitskiy, A. V.;# Kazantsev, R. V.; Fakra, S. C.; Wickemeyer, B. B.; Toste, F. D.; Somorjai, G. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 4144–4149. (#contributed equally) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/fbead439-d3a5-48e1-8cc2-545f4df233be/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+3.02.15+PM.png Publications - 12. Migratory Insertion of Carbenes into Au(III)–C Bonds Zhukhovitskiy, A. V.;# Kobylianskii, I. J.;# Wu, C.-Y.; Toste, F. D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 466–474. (#contributed equally) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/37eddf3a-0ab6-40d5-989e-c14878cf9850/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+2.12.29+PM.png Publications - 11. Supported Dendrimer-Encapsulated Metal Clusters: Toward Heterogenizing Homogeneous Catalysts Ye, R.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V.; Deraedt, C. V.; Toste, F. D.; Somorjai, G. A. Acc. Chem. Res. 2017, 50, 1894–1901. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/2e838258-3f6d-4961-93b6-cb846792cb23/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+2.10.15+PM.png Publications - 10. Polymer Structure Dependent Hierarchy in PolyMOC Gels Zhukhovitskiy, A. V.; Zhao, J.; Zhong, M.; Keeler, E. G.; Alt, E. A.; Teichen, P.; Griffin, R. G.; Hore, M. J. A.; Willard, A. P.; Johnson, J. A. Macromolecules 2016, 49, 6896–6902. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/3ac6e362-7d1f-418a-a3e9-214cec28b94a/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+2.07.43+PM.png Publications - 9. Block Co-PolyMOCs by Stepwise Self-Assembly Wang, Y.; Zhong, M.; Park, J. V.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V.; Shi, W. and Johnson, J. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 10708–10715. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/489408c8-b047-4b37-ac75-848f3fdaf073/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+2.04.42+PM.png Publications - 8. Reactions of Persistent Carbenes with Hydrogen-Terminated Silicon Surfaces Zhukhovitskiy, A. V.; Mavros, M. G.; Queeney, K. T.; Wu, T.; Van Voorhis, T.; Johnson, J. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 8639­–8652. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/82d92ed3-e602-4d92-8735-bcd245f60273/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+2.02.31+PM.png Publications - 7. Highly Branched and Loop-rich Gels via Formation of Metal-organic Cages Linked by Polymers Zhukhovitskiy A. V.; Zhong, M.; Keeler, E. G.; Michaelis, V. K.; Sun, J. E. P.; Hore, M. J. A.; Pochan, D. J.; Griffin, R. G.; Willard, A. P.; Johnson, J. A. Nat. Chem. 2016, 8, 33–41. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/155f950a-c05a-437b-a9f1-95fd589b8a03/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+1.59.51+PM.png Publications - 6. Carbene Ligands in Surface Chemistry: From Stabilization of Discrete Elemental Allotropes to Modification of Nanoscale and Bulk Substrates Zhukhovitskiy A. V.; MacLeod, M. J.; Johnson, J. A. Chem. Rev. 2015, 115, 11503–11532. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/b0e2eaec-481b-4e3a-aef3-b557517144a7/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+1.45.53+PM.png Publications - 5. Cycloelimination of Imidazolidin-2-ylidene N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Mechanism and Insights into the Synthesis of Stable “NHC-CDI” Amidinates Zhukhovitskiy, A. V.; Geng, J.; Johnson, J. A. Chem. Eur. J. 2015, 21, 5685–5688. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/c0f88692-0074-435f-93cf-b5337afd2bdc/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+1.19.19+PM.png Publications - 4. Addressable Carbene Anchors for Gold Surfaces Zhukhovitskiy, A. V.; Mavros, M. G.; Van Voorhis, T.; Johnson, J. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 7418–7421. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/6a2161d5-153d-488c-b641-c66c0dd0a487/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+1.08.29+PM.png Publications - 3. Using EPR To Compare PEG-branch-nitroxide 'Bivalent-Brush Polymers' and Traditional PEG Bottle-Brush Polymers: Branching Makes a Difference Burts, A. O.; Li, Y.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V.; Patel, P. R.; Grubbs, R. H.; Ottaviani, M. F.; Turro, N. J.; Johnson, J. A. Macromolecules 2012, 45, 8310–8318. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/3074e7f0-63ed-431d-b01a-a551f45dac08/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+1.02.00+PM.png Publications - 2. 'Brush-First' Method for the Parallel Synthesis of Photocleavable, Nitroxide-Labeled PEG Star Polymers Liu, J.; Burts, A. O.; Li, Y.; Zhukhovitskiy, A. V.; Ottaviani, M. F.; Turro, N. J.; Johnson, J. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 16337–16344. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/4d50afa2-20c4-46a3-ac68-47856131e81a/Screenshot+2025-02-20+at+12.20.29+PM.jpg Publications - 1. Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Ladder-Type Molecules and Polymers. Air-Stable, Solution-Processable n-Channel and Ambipolar Semiconductors for Thin-Film Transistors via Experiment and Theory Usta, H.; Risko, C.; Wang, Z.; Huang, H.; Deliomeroglu, M. K.; Zhukhovitskiy, A.; Facchetti, A.; Marks, T. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 5586–5608. https://www.zhukogroup.com/research daily 0.75 2024-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/32e6fd2b-1549-43d8-9634-3fe30decc835/Perspective_MechFigure_prev_ui.png Research - Metathesis toward heteroatom-rich polymers A comparison of some of the most abundant biological and synthetic polymers reveals a compositional dichotomy: the former feature backbones that are typically far more heteroatom-rich than the latter. The high heteroatom content is associated with well-defined shape/folding, which in turn enables emergent functions like catalysis and signaling. Inspired by this biological paradigm, we seek to develop new approaches to access abiotic nitrogen-rich polymer backbones with high precision. Toward this end, we are exploring metathesis of nitrogen-containing functional groups like carbodiimides and diazenes, which represent fundamental challenges in inorganic and organometallic chemistry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/259c8a2f-73c9-494c-ab1e-52654e6022e3/%5Bremoval.ai%5D_1f684534-b756-45b2-a8a9-2661211ea73f-backbone-editing-vs-c-h.png Research - Editing of polymer backbones Polymer modification is one of the pillars of polymer science whose strategic significance stems from its divergence: from one scaffold, one could access vast new spaces of structures and properties. In this realm, the focus has by and large been on the side-chains and end-groups of polymers, whilst their backbones have received considerably less attention. Yet, the ability to precisely edit the backbone of a polymer could fundamentally transform its identity and associated properties, much like editing a sentence can radically change its meaning. Hence, our group is developing a broad scope of backbone editing methods as well as strategies to control their site-selectivity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/f1c8b2c7-ade9-46a4-bfcc-d8b44c766aca/Entanglements+figure.png Research - Templated entanglements in polymer networks Trapped entanglements—topological crosslinks among polymer chains—are in many ways the dark matter of polymer networks: believed to be critical for holding a material together under applied load, they are challenging to detect directly and are known largely by their effects on the surrounding matter. We are exploring supramolecular chemistry as a central strategy to systematically vary the number density and topology of entanglements to, ultimately, understand how the local entanglement topology manifests itself in the mechanical properties of materials at the macroscopic scale. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/ef6714fc-7411-4953-991d-6d61f2ebda3c/Conjugated+polymers.png Research - Synthesis and assembly of conjugated polymers Nanophotonics has game-changing potential for data processing and sensing applications. State of the art in this field is embodied by inorganic—primarily doped silicon—nanomaterials, whose utilization is limited by cost and scalability of their vacuum-based manufacture and processing. To address these limitations, we are developing conjugated polymer analogues which could be readily integrated into light-weight “smart” textiles, artificial skin of robotics, and sensors. En route to these goals, our research build fundamental knowledge surrounding both the synthesis and self-assembly of conjugated nanomaterials, which will serve as foundation for long-term advances in polymer nanotechnology. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1715795897118-NE6CK0B6BVDCVGNJMEZW/%5Bremoval.ai%5D_1f684534-b756-45b2-a8a9-2661211ea73f-backbone-editing-vs-c-h.png Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1715795897158-W7NQ89BAGO3051VHUNE8/Conjugated+polymers.png Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1715795897786-V6QAGLSK65FGI8MPJAWQ/Entanglements+figure.png Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1715795897815-V1YWGEAUZF393JPYXQAZ/Perspective_MechFigure_prev_ui.png Research https://www.zhukogroup.com/contact-us daily 0.75 2022-07-05 https://www.zhukogroup.com/teaching daily 0.75 2026-01-15 https://www.zhukogroup.com/outreach daily 0.75 2024-06-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/70489bde-b0fa-4e33-86e0-6c15f96119ed/thumbnail_processed-12269EE0-7AD0-456C-8CF6-DC6CF0788D92.jpg Outreach - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/6099a220-585e-4a2c-8a65-1493c0a54ba0/RachelOutreach.jpg Outreach - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/71099203-f9eb-4f7a-a77f-cc6fc2e508e2/image-asset.jpg Outreach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/f3872175-7f3f-4ff2-8f57-92a59a0cd9f7/IMG_6394.jpg Outreach - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/ff70bbe0-05f8-40fc-8bb3-3ed338880560/PXL_20210514_134417521.jpg Outreach - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/7ba16405-2802-41c5-ac1c-e07682b6bc15/Lakewood+outreach+pic+1.jpg Outreach - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/a3c7b35d-3be2-4157-a583-e52710245512/Lakewood+outreach+pic+2.jpg Outreach - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/94659be5-5063-4867-974f-8062188e1f2b/Rachael+hilary+outreach+pic+1.jpg Outreach - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.zhukogroup.com/former daily 0.75 2026-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/10d6e55f-682d-4084-aec1-51e01528efb0/thomas+pic.webp Former - Undergraduate Student at UNC Chapel Hill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/3824619d-b5d6-414a-8e4d-f29df0cbf83d/IMG_7889.webp Former https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/34b20af2-62d8-4111-9d51-9cd28a1c341c/Nere+pic.webp Former https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/3ed035be-1860-4fd1-bb8e-7373355b6fea/Screenshot+2025-12-01+at+10.40.44+AM.png Former https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/e45ff2c1-ca39-469a-be96-ed9b8bc5c30e/Screenshot+2025-09-09+at+10.47.25+AM.png Former - Undergraduate Student at UNC Chapel Hill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/f26f54ff-472a-47df-b051-7a2612a13910/Screenshot+2025-07-25+at+12.05.20+PM.png Former - Research Chemist at AeroVironment https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/cfb30628-7187-41e4-bfa6-118fd825feca/Screenshot+2025-05-12+at+11.05.31+AM.png Former - Post-doc at Oak Ridge National Laboratory https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/827f84ce-e48d-4283-a6ae-3b150ca08184/Screenshot+2025-05-12+at+11.02.05+AM.png Former - Graduate Student at UC Santa Barbara https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/5fbf93c3-7051-4803-b024-4ec625690851/Screenshot+2025-04-28+at+10.47.39+PM.png Former - Undergraduate Student at UNC Chapel Hill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/09023161-91f1-40f9-a3fa-2459a4777e0f/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+6.32.40+PM.png Former https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/bb27219d-adf8-4122-94ff-0ad73d2d999b/andwew.jpg Former - Post-doc at Princeton University (Chirik group) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/bb34c482-e5eb-45ee-a081-d2f3969b8287/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.06.40+PM.png Former - Graduate Student at UNC Chapel Hill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/20d1b6e1-0d5f-4714-a33c-66efe2da2d16/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.10.12+PM.png Former - Principal Materials Scientist at Luna Labs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/5cbca897-e91a-48a4-a237-fcf3826b8bbd/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.15.20+PM.png Former - Scientist at Astrazeneca; Incoming Graduate Student in Chemistry at Purdue University https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/97decc88-8c2b-441c-b062-56138702aafc/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.17.11+PM.png Former - Scientist in F&HC Strategic Innovation and Technology at P&G https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/00c29763-2184-4cfd-a890-33cb20bb50ba/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.18.43+PM.png Former - NC-State Class of 2027 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/45dc5502-b4f8-44ce-93e9-6ed9692b92dc/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.23.05+PM.png Former - NC-State Class of 2027 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/9fac7b76-e7ea-41b2-9dd9-970114e01b90/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.24.24+PM.png Former - Product Development Specialist at 3M https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/2b0c224c-d1ac-4417-bcc2-c009329d708a/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.26.58+PM.png Former - Research Specialist at NC PURE; Incoming Graduate Student in Chemistry at Texas A&M University https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/584b200b-371d-4d7a-a59c-b5b4269eb1aa/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+9.02.03+PM.png Former - Undergraduate Student at UNC Chapel Hill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/e902e355-24a5-4270-b0b3-225ee2076631/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.28.30+PM.png Former - Tribeca Pediatrics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/35cad577-2b83-472a-ae5c-0d6da465ac5a/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+9.00.46+PM.png Former - Graduate Student at UNC Chapel Hill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/68b8f245-3d7f-45ea-a407-933a1373b1c1/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.29.13+PM.png Former - Incoming Graduate Student in Materials Chemistry at NC State University https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/e55a3d0c-d0cc-45d8-ab50-20099e6b8976/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.36.12+PM.png Former - Graduate Student at UNC Chapel Hill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/3e694f43-949c-4e9d-9dc5-4afa72487080/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.56.34+PM.png Former - Masters in Nursing at Emory University https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/aab659f6-882a-499f-a3d7-3797e15b8653/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.33.45+PM.png Former - Graduate Student in Chemistry at Northwestern University https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/a483177e-53c6-4c06-a444-d8fb982c6e89/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.50.47+PM.png Former - DMD Candidate at University of Pennsylvania https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/f3f22a2c-7bda-4a02-a509-9b4d1747d1da/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.50.47+PM.png Former - Masters of Accounting at UNC Chapel Hill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/b4052e3d-9924-4641-a4e3-f66d83f5261e/Screenshot+2025-02-19+at+8.35.23+PM.png Former - Dental Student at UNC Adams School of Dentistry https://www.zhukogroup.com/gallery-1 daily 0.75 2025-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1775064395872-9EUHNC6TIF7J4TN7XN93/IMG_2949.JPG Gallery - ACS Spring 2026! ACS Spring 2026! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1768490124797-QJ0DFYEVMTJOBT88YOVM/IMG_0533.jpg Gallery - Happy Holidays 2025! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1761831324879-GX2R1071FB4S7RZA3UX2/Screenshot%2B2025-10-30%2Bat%2B9.32.22%2BAM.png Gallery - A Spooky Selection! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1761831191925-EUGUDIX0XGXFEZIRO6CX/Screenshot+2025-10-30+at+9.31.33+AM.png Gallery - Pumpkin Carving 2025! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1775067421632-91GQ6PRLLOWHJCJ0PYM9/Group+pic+spring+25.jpg Gallery - Group Photo, Spring 2025! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1752332820248-6ZGX2FWEIXAVJN87M2JP/IMG_8579.png Gallery - Lab Karaoke! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1752332565213-AQ73UJWLCKW61IEFNZZR/IMG_8601%2B2.jpg Gallery - Culture Day 2025! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1730484936983-XJIP01YFM4ZLZENR0QF7/IMG_4358.JPG Gallery - Pumpkin Carving 2024! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1775067642274-HKHY4T341F381JY21FPI/Group%2Bpic%2Bspring%2B24.jpg Gallery - Group Photo, Spring 2024! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1730489317774-3UFWJCR2H1FV3VMMUS8K/Slide1.jpg Gallery - Celebration of Women in Chemistry Conference 2024! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1730485100197-FRPH38IWH2JPMTY3PKFE/20241022_162053.jpg Gallery - Sydney in the 5-minute Thesis Finals! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1717071049514-IMOIADPAZT1MI6Q9XWJS/IMG_0216.jpg Gallery - Triangle Soft Matter, 2024! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1717071097946-N8PH9H5TZWBF8LXIIPFX/IMG_9223.jpg Gallery - Grads 2024! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1717070804402-WTLVI7ZZLP0RL7I6I7LP/IMG_6033.jpg Gallery - Pickleball Tournament! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1717070944492-N5U7QA70R675KEZW2I39/IMG_6031.jpg Gallery - Hawker's Dinner! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1717070769401-3KKGTO6C0TEQQUG8XDQ9/IMG_1521.jpg Gallery - Best Second Years Ever! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1717070860079-9N2O5PI2RH1K5TOFOQKW/IMG_8238.jpg Gallery - Pick your favorite! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1717071013872-ZZAQRHHNT5KAHO2PUTG3/IMG_8237.jpg Gallery - Pumpkin Carving 2023! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1775067231518-0WCM0I51AVWBPAI5AGQY/Group+pic+spring+23.jpg Gallery - Group Photo, Spring 2023! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1717070828717-L342B5TUADEM6O9NWBI2/IMG_3202.jpg Gallery - Chemistry Volleyball Tournament! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1717070971566-Y0YUOYJVDTOEZFML6XFZ/IMG_1589.jpg Gallery - Coffee with Maxim! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1717070905511-5JDSQASZK04BIAMNTK5N/20230218_220130.jpg Gallery - Dinner! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1717070746772-FAP4QHAUMHO30T9US95U/20230218_174213.jpg Gallery - Ski Trip! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1634922628229-IPEHFIYM4WNHHKM3CT21/pumpkin%2Bcarving%2B2021%2Bcropped%2B2.jpg Gallery - Pumpkin Carving 2022! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1775067120672-Z0S1MRZDTU8ZWCYDBVRR/Group+pic+spring+22.jpg Gallery - Group Photo, Spring 2022! Group Photo, Spring 2022! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1611711800013-KYP37IWZ15UXLOGLYMQA/IMG_7301+copy+%281%29.JPG Gallery - Group Photo, Winter 2021! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1611711525791-UYV2TZW6IZFKXH9XIQS7/PANO_20201219_182503.vr.jpg Gallery - Panorama - click me -- Holiday 2021! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1602531047310-BS86G1DJAU09VGTC5RJ1/IMG_20201009_182650.jpg Gallery - A great line-up - who's is the best? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1602531179510-4LCYUMP6NY3CAH5DUP82/img_3020.png Gallery - Pumpkin Carving 2021! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1590475955643-5W0XCT6UBG7AQMDPPG8P/IMG_20200526_022122_01.jpg Gallery - Our shot at a quarantine yoga session led by our friend Katrina! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1583701431175-1KVD6BI5ICBI1NNB0XNZ/IMG_6499.jpg Gallery - Escape room attempt - we almost made it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1578771412438-XYBA2NG7DOR8QSQX7JXQ/IMG_20200111_134118.jpg Gallery - The coveted "Curios Henry: Limited Edition 1996" POTY trophy! Available for viewing for a small fee from Jan. 2020 - Jan. 2021 in Zhukhovitskiy lab https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1578771310295-Y3UVLZYML4ULYHQ5HI71/Image%2Bfrom%2BiOS-1%2B%25281%2529.jpg Gallery - Ben and Irene win Paper of the Year! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1576537983180-HYIVH66XKY0JJNK4EMQB/IMG_20191214_211546.jpg Gallery - Ugly Sweater Contest (Ben won!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1576538312535-3B6TNPYCF60LGSLFW419/IMG_20191214_212047.jpg Gallery - Gift exchange - Drake is confused. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1576538338176-D9EYUC4NO1RBELC1H2F3/IMG_20191214_185141.jpg Gallery - Ukrainian fine-dining! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1576537973659-PGVPFNDS88N06JS9F13W/IMG_20191214_211625.jpg Gallery - Holiday Season 2019 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1575785749552-57E5SPUQUGBI30GOYMKD/Image+from+iOS.jpg Gallery - Group Photo, Fall 2019! Inaugural group photo with the first class of grad students and undergrads! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1575786834853-M4YA2XN3KI017D50CIL4/IMG_20191021_134325.jpg Gallery - Unpacking begins! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1575786805809-XTLJCQIP9QFWDKJ1QBT8/IMG_20191022_172157.jpg Gallery - Apologies to the janitorial staff... https://www.zhukogroup.com/instruments daily 0.75 2020-03-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1584209397686-K2YL3DHGBSYLYSB9W2LU/Analytical%2BGPC%2Bwide.jpg Instruments - Analytical GPC (Wyatt/Agilent) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1584209438248-1RT2OXHENP07RF9GIG7S/Prep%2BGPC.jpg Instruments - Prep GPC (Japan Analytical) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1584209253039-KKN3HQNN5CJURKMM55D9/Glovebox.jpg Instruments - Glovebox 1 (Vigor) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1719349925699-MLO275NNYKP7E7JQ4EKP/IMG_0651.jpg Instruments - Glovebox 2 (MBraun) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1584209273281-P0XFYZ5NEN2R83IGKK2L/Solvent.jpg Instruments - Solvent System (PPT) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1612473923004-C7MPM95TR5JD0O4E3QT8/IMG_20210203_190857.jpg Instruments - Schlenk line setups https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1584209487036-O6B3EUNZBK6BNCXAVESZ/Biotage.jpg Instruments - Autocolumn 1 (Biotage) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1612473922308-KRT5G9TWXJ7QJZGWMGS6/IMG_20210203_190620.jpg Instruments - Autocolumn 2 (Yamazen) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1719349694346-YMPYCKR3TR96B6TV4DZO/Rotovap%2B1.jpg Instruments - Rotovaps (x4, IKA) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/1612473920933-KWYGSO034QJEDWM3U5BF/IMG_20210203_190149.jpg Instruments - Cryocool (Neslab) https://www.zhukogroup.com/current daily 0.75 2026-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/f5f6a80f-faec-4c22-8142-549567dfe766/Screenshot+2024-07-29+160043.png Current - Li Ji was born and raised in Anhui province, China. In 2016, she attended Fuzhou University and obtained her master’s degree in Chemistry under the supervisor of Prof. Saihu Liao and Y. Tang—during this time, her research focused on polymer chemistry and organometallic chemistry. After finishing her studies at Fuzhou, she decided to join Prof. Y. Tang group at SUSTech (Southern University of Science and Technology) to pursue her PhD in Chemistry. Most of her PhD studies focused on the synthesis of titanium and chromium catalysts and their use to prepare highly branched polyolefins and polar polyolefin elastomers. Upon completion of her doctorate, Li moved to UNC Chapel Hill and joined the Zhukhovitskiy group to pursue her academic interests in polymer science. When not in the lab, she likes playing badminton. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/90064869-f00b-48b2-ab42-fde1ce64ca81/Screenshot+2026-01-05+at+6.26.29+PM.png Current - Xiaonan was born and raised in Luoyang, Henan Province, China. She obtained her Ph.D. from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (SIOC) in Prof. Guosheng Liu’s group, working on selective difunctionalization of alkenes. She then moved to Boston College for postdoctoral research focused on stereocontrolled radical polymerization. She has now joined UNC to pursue further research in polymer chemistry and catalysis. When she’s not in the lab, she enjoys discovering cute finds and checking out new eateries and scenic spots with friends and family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/07a8200a-c972-4ce9-9408-8a60e5a45128/samk.jpg Current - Sam grew up in East Quogue, New York. He attended Case Western Reserve University where he graduated with a B.S. and M.S. in Macromolecular Science and Engineering. During his time at CWRU, he worked under Dr. Valentin Rodionov, working on brush-assisted assembly of silica nanoparticles and electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction. Outside of the lab Sam enjoys scuba diving, fly fishing, and playing rugby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/c9c76c86-9539-42cb-a4ee-c8644d8f5a67/IMG_3828+%281%29+%281%29.jpg Current - Sydney was born in New Jersey but raised in West Chester, PA. She then moved across the country to obtain her B.S. from Harvey Mudd College. While studying there she worked under Professor Adam Johnson doing various projects related to organometallic catalysis. Now she has come to UNC to pursue her interests at the intersection of polymer and inorganic chemistry. In her free time, she enjoys playing trombone, biking, and doing jigsaw puzzles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/6126d172-c44c-45f2-8e33-e46a3a29f714/IMG_3117.JPG Current - Leah grew up in Northborough, Massachusetts, and stayed in New England to attend Connecticut College. She majored in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology (BCMB) with a minor in Environmental Studies and a certificate in sustainability from the Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment (GNCE). As a NOAA Hollings Scholar, she conducted research with Dr. Ashok Deshpande on the chemical characterization of microplastic polymers. Under the supervision of Professor Marc Zimmer, she continued this research in the chemistry department at Connecticut College. After venturing south to UNC for graduate school, she joined the Zhukhovitskiy group to pursue her interest in polymer chemistry. Outside of the lab, she enjoys photography and spending time outdoors with her dog, friends, and family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/a6f17306-6f4b-426c-83ce-90f3035122f3/Screenshot+2025-12-01+at+4.21.43+PM.png Current - Lauren was born and raised in Grand Blanc, Michigan, where there are more hot dog stands than sunny days. Her family moved to Clayton, North Carolina when she was in middle school. She earned her B.S. in chemistry with highest honors from UNC Chapel Hill while working with Dr. Michel Gagné on the development of platinum complexes with iodonium-type reactivity. After deciding she couldn’t move back to Michigan, hot dogs and all, she decided to pursue her graduate education at UNC Chapel Hill in the Zhukhovitskiy group. Outside of the lab, Lauren enjoys reading old-timey books, sewing quilts, and befriending older women to acquire new soup recipes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/81aa0b88-d384-4391-98cd-4927e4bd3a32/IMG_8800.jpg Current - Mark was born and raised in La Grange, Illinois, though will just tell you he’s from Chicago, despite being a 20-minute drive from the city. He attended Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) where he earned a bachelor’s in chemistry with a secondary major in educational studies. At WashU, under the advisement of Dr. Jonathan Barnes, he synthesized mechanically interlocked macrocycles (catenanes) for employment as crosslinkers in polymer systems. Mark also worked in chemical education, looking at the development of inclusive practice within chemistry peer-leaders under the supervision of Dr. Gina Frey. After graduating, he left the Midwest in favor of mild winters and exciting work at UNC in the Zhukhovitskiy group. Outside of chemistry, Mark enjoys hiking, Pokémon, and, uniquely, spending quality time with friends and family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/c918c92e-d8ef-41f6-9896-b2bbb91e94d3/Sayan_JPG.jpg Current - Sayan was born and raised in India. He attended the Indian Institute of Science Education and Resesrach (IISER) Kolkata where he earned a BS-MS dual degree in chemistry. During his time at IISER Kolkata, he worked on the design and synthesis of sulfur dioxide releasing polymers for biomedical applications under the supervision of Dr. Priyadarsi De. After graduating, Sayan chose to further his academic journey in the United States, joining the Zhukhovitskiy Group at UNC Chapel Hill as a graduate student. Beyond his passion for chemistry, Sayan enjoys traveling, watching movies, and immersing himself in novels. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/411e596b-44f5-413c-82df-e170d1755022/Afrah_JPG.jpg Current - Afrah was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. She earned her B.S. in chemistry with honors and her B.A. in interdisciplinary Asian studies at UNC Chapel Hill as a Chancellor’s Science Scholar (Go Heels!). During her undergrad at UNC, she worked under Dr. Alexander Miller studying hydrogen atom transfer with first-row transition metal photohydrides. Since she could not bear the thought of leaving her beloved alma mater, she decided to pursue graduate studies at UNC in the Zhukhovitskiy group. Outside of chemistry, Afrah enjoys playing pickleball, watching movies, and spending time with her friends and family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/545b7336-e2d3-4354-9c17-467592186267/Website+Pic+of+Sawyer.jpg Current - Sawyer grew up in Moorpark, CA, and attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where received a B.S. in Chemistry and a B.A. in Archaeology. Sawyer did the bulk of his lab work under Dr. Michael Inkpen as a Beckman Scholar studying molecular electronics and single molecule conductance. On the archaeology side of things, under Dr. Lynn Dodd, Sawyer helped to curate an interactive virtual reality experience of the isthmus of Catalina Island off the coast of California. Now he has made the cross country road trip to UNC to work in the Zhukhovitskiy group. Outside of chemistry, Sawyer is an avid singer, scuba diver, and enjoys drawing in between. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/d5df805b-96a7-49bb-8ac7-883ad0bf0a6e/David_JPG.jpg Current - David grew up in Albany, CA, a small town just north of Berkeley. In high school, he enjoyed math, physics, and athletic training, but he actually loathed his chemistry class. Coming to college, he didn’t know what to study but his mother wanted a doctor so he entered as a biology major. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the most interesting, and whenever David had questions regarding biological processes, the answers always seemed to be written in organic chemistry. With the help of Dr. Bruce Lipshutz as a professor and eventual research advisor, David begrudgingly grew to enjoy the intricacies of synthesis and catalysis until he finally changed his major to chemistry. David made his way from California to North Carolina to obtain his Ph.D. in the subject, (satisfying mom’s wishes) and joined the Zhukhovitskiy group! Outside of curating his growing love for chemistry, David enjoys running, biking, rowing, cooking, and playing with his housemate’s German Shepard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/bef39638-d366-4196-a0e0-eab5be1d53d3/Screenshot+2025-12-01+at+1.26.35+PM.png Current - Niharendra was born and raised in North Bengal, India. He graduated in 2025 with an Integrated BS-MS degree in Chemical Sciences from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, India. During his studies, he worked on RAFT and Free radical polymerizations and completed his master's thesis under the supervision of Prof. Priyadarsi De, focusing on "UCST and Non-Conventional Emission in Acrylic Acid–Maleimide Copolymer Networks". Coming to UNC Chapel Hill this year, he aspires to fulfil his long-standing dream of pursuing higher studies in Polymer chemistry. Outside the lab, he enjoys singing, cooking, and playing ping-pong. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/d3db4132-cde3-46e6-b0df-d9894c84eae0/Screenshot+2025-12-01+at+4.21.25+PM.png Current - Edina was raised in both New Jersey and North Carolina and claims roots to both, although she does pump her own gas! She stayed local to attend NC State University, where she received a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Biological Science while working under Dr. Vincent Lindsay on the development of synthetic methodologies utilizing 1-sulfonylcyclopropanols as cyclopropanone equivalents. To explore the other side of the Wolfpack-Tarheel rivalry, Edina decided to continue her chemistry education at UNC Chapel Hill and joined the Zhukhovitskiy group. Outside the lab, Edina enjoys rowing, knitting, and spending time in the great outdoors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/88e352aa-1f60-4cf8-990f-86f9f56c08b0/Screenshot+2025-04-21+at+10.00.07+PM.png Current - Brenna was born in Tucson Arizona, but switched to the east coast and moved to North Carolina in 2012. She spent half of her undergraduate career working on merocyanine dye synthesis under Klaus Hahn. While the colorful dyes were mesmerizing, she found a passion for polymers in her studies. She is currently pursuing a degree in chemistry with a focus in polymer science with a double major in Japanese. Outside of the lab Brenna enjoys playing farm sim RPGs, reading comics, and guesstimating recipes with hopes they’ll still turn out well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/9cedc824-e326-4c50-996f-9fcb4ad3c124/Screenshot+2025-10-23+at+5.19.59+PM.png Current - Zuhair is from Jerusalem, Palestine and grew up in Apex, North Carolina. He didn’t click with chemistry right away, but organic chemistry won him over. He is currently pursuing a degree in chemistry and hopes to earn a PhD and share his passion for the field through teaching. Outside the lab, Zuhair enjoys playing soccer and pickleball, running, and spending time with friends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/cdc3015d-2cee-45ac-b88d-d0c4120e44fb/Screenshot+2025-08-22+at+1.43.16+PM.png Current - Josna was born in Buffalo, New York and grew up in Rolla, Missouri. In middle school, her family moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina where she spent the remainder of her childhood. She is currently pursuing a degree in Chemistry, with a concentration in biochemistry. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in research or medicine, depending on where her passions take her. For fun, she likes to sing, read, crochet, go to the gym, and spend time with her friends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/a3d16619-540d-4c5b-bc93-5bdc9787b959/IMG_2535.jpg Current - Rianna is a junior, double majoring in chemistry and geology. She was born in Hong Kong and moved to Charlotte, NC during middle school. Outside of academics, she enjoys exploring museums, baking cookies, and doing jigsaw puzzles. After college, she hope to pursue a career in science communication or a higher degree, wherever the wind blows. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce72ba254ad9b0001f7c015/32b535ca-8b41-4058-80d7-2efb01caf779/daniel+photo.JPG Current - Daniel is from Shenzhen, China. He came to North Carolina for college. He is currently pursuing a degree in Chemistry while exploring a potential double major. He is especially interested in organic chemistry and materials science. Outside of academics, he loves playing and watching basketball, as well as sports such as scuba diving, snowboarding, and hiking. He is adventurous and driven by curiosity, and he enjoys taking on new challenges and exploring the unknown. After college, he hopes to continue into research or a technology-focused field where he can apply chemistry to solve problems.