Michael L. Steigerwald
Research scientist
Michael Steigerwald, formerly a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Bell Laboratories, has demonstrated expertise in theoretical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, solid state chemistry, organometallic chemistry, and materials science.
Nicholas Orchanian
Research scientist
Nick is currently a Columbia Nano Initiative Postdoctoral Research Fellow engaged in researching electric-field-driven catalysis. During his B.Sc. studies at USC, Nick explored molecular spectroscopy to probe fundamental processes relevant to photosynthesis under the mentorship of Prof. Jahan M. Dawlaty. In 2015, Nick joined the group of Prof. Smaranda C. Marinescu at USC to pursue his doctoral studies. His thesis work focused on the development of electrocatalytic molecules and materials for solar energy conversion and artificial photosynthesis, and he received his Ph.D. in chemistry in 2020. Outside the lab, Nick is an avid reader and is passionate about science outreach, expanding literacy, and diversifying academia.
Postdocs
Malik Williams
Postdoctoral research scientist
Malik is from Orlando, Florida. He received his B.A. in Chemistry with a minor in Japanese language and culture from Duke University. He then completed his Ph.D. at Northwestern University under the advisement of Michael Wasielewski, where his thesis work revolved around understanding the structure and function relationships on the excited state dynamics of organic single crystals and organic donor-acceptor cocrystals.
​Qifeng Jiang
Postdoctoral research scientist
Qifeng Jiang received his B.S. in chemistry at Nanjing University, where he conducted research with Prof. Qun-dong Shen on flexible electronic devices based on ferroelectric polymer. He then moved to Johns Hopkins University to complete his Ph.D. studies with Prof. Rebekka Klausen on synthesizing molecular and polymeric organosilane materials. In the Nuckolls group, he is interested in developing novel organic materials with unique optoelectronic properties.
Shantao Han
Postdoctoral research scientist
Shantao obtained his Bachelor degree in Polymer Materials and Engineering from Sun Yat-sen University. Then he pursued his Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry and Physics at Fudan University in the lab of Prof. Mao Chen, focusing on the fluorinated polymers synthesis and lithium battery applications. Now, in the Nuckolls group, Shantao leverages his passion and expertise in Polymers to drive research on solid-state polymer electrolytes and all-organic batteries.
Scott R. Docherty
Postdoctoral research scientist
Scott Docherty obtained a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Edinburgh in 2018, completing projects in the groups of Prof. Christophe Copéret, Prof. Stephen Thomas and Prof. Polly Arnold. In 2023, Scott completed his doctorate in the lab of Prof. Christophe Copéret at ETH Zürich. In the Nuckolls group Scott aims to study the influence of dopants on novel carbon allotropes.
Graduate students
Kelsey Harrison
Graduate student
Kelsey Harrison received her B.S. in Chemistry from UC Santa Barbara where she conducted research with Professor Thuc-Quyen Nguyen on organic electrochemical transistors for biosensing. As a student in the Nuckolls group, she hopes to study organic materials for developing next generation devices.
Haoyu (Nasir) Jiang
Graduate student
Haoyu (Nasir) received his B.S. in chemistry at Nankai University, where he conducted research on transition-metal catalysis. In the Nuckolls group, he hopes to study the synthesis and characterization of organic materials with various applications.
Wenrui (Renata) Lei
Graduate student
Wenrui joined the Nuckolls group as a graduate student in Fall 2021. She hopes to use novel organic materials to fabricate high-energy batteries and other electrochemical devices.
Shayan Louie
Graduate student
Shayan received a B.S. in Biochemistry at the University of Oregon, where he conducted research with Professor Ramesh Jasti on the synthesis of carbon nanotube-like structures known as cycloparaphenylenes. In the Nuckolls group, he hopes to study the interplay between fundamental design, organic synthesis, and device fabrication.
Saya Okuno
Graduate student
Saya Okuno received her B.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego in 2021. At UCSD she did research in Prof. Cliff Kubiak’s lab on CO2 reduction catalysis for three years. Saya joined the Nuckolls lab as a PhD student in 2021 and hopes to work on superatomic materials.
Jack H. Smith
Graduate student
Jack grew up in Newbury Park, California until he moved to the Bay Area to attend UC Berkeley. While there, he studied anionic behavior at water-air interfaces using SFG spectroscopy under Prof. Richard Saykally and completed his B.S. in both Chemistry and Chemical Engineering in 2021. Continuing his studies at Columbia in NY, he is a joint student in the Roy and Nuckolls groups working on synthesis and characterization of doped organic superconductors. In his free time, Jack can be found on the volleyball court, playing piano, baking like a pro, or eating like a pro.
Sarah Candelaria
Graduate student
Sarah is from Tucson, Arizona, and lived there until she decided that she’d had enough of looking at cactus. She traded the desert for the lake and received her B.S. in Chemistry from UChicago, where she spent three years functionalizing cellulose nanocrystals to modify bio-based polymer matrices under Prof. Stuart Rowan. In the Nuckolls lab, Sarah hopes to synthesize and characterize novel organic materials with useful electronic properties. Outside of lab, you can probably find her running, rock climbing, hanging out with her cats Miso and Benny, or eating tofu.
Anna Champ
Graduate student
Anna grew up just outside New Orleans, Louisiana before moving to College Station, Texas to attend Texas A&M University (whoop!). While there, she studied anion exchange reactions of cesium lead halide perovskite nanorods under Professor Matthew Sheldon. After completing her B.S. in Chemistry, Anna finally left the South to begin her studies at Columbia, joining both the Roy and Nuckolls labs as a joint student. Outside of the lab, she enjoys crafting delicious meals, playing rugby, and hanging out in nature.
Palak Jariwala
Graduate student
Palak grew up in Northern Virginia and moved to Los Angeles where he attended UCLA. At UCLA, he received his B.S. in Chemistry/Materials Science and worked on solid-state organic photochemistry with Prof. Miguel Garcia-Garibay. Moving back to the East Coast, Palak is now a joint student between the Roy and Nuckolls groups. Outside of the lab, Palak enjoys exploring new restaurants in NYC, playing video games, and watching NFL.
Luke T. Lackovic
Graduate student
Luke Lackovic received his B.S. in chemistry from the University of South Carolina where he conducted research under Prof. John Lavigne on organoboron materials and their Lewis acidities. As a student in the Nuckolls group, he hopes to develop and characterize novel organic electronic materials.
Aracely Gonzalez
Graduate student
Aracely was born and raised in Oceanside, California. She ventured north to the University of California, Riverside for her undergraduate studies. At UCR she explored the bottom-up synthesis of silicon nanoclusters, conjugated oligosilanes, and germanium doped nanoclusters under Prof. Timothy Su. After obtaining her BS in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry, Aracely decided to branch out of California by continuing her studies at Columbia, joining the Nuckolls and Roy labs as a joint student. Aracely is a recipient of the 2025 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. In her free time she enjoys reading and people watching.
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Emma Lian
Graduate student
Emma was born and raised in Brooklyn and completed her undergraduate studies in Long Island, receiving her BS in chemistry at Stony Brook University. There, she worked under Professor Benjamin Hsiao to repurpose different forms of biomass waste into nanocellulose fibers for sustainable applications. In the summer of 2023, she was a MRSEC REU student here at Columbia and worked under Professor Milan Delor. Now, she has returned as a joint student between the Roy and Nuckolls groups. Outside of the lab, Emma enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, doing arts and crafts, and trying new restaurants around the city.
Yizhe (Anthony) Chen
Graduate student
Anthony grew up in Shanghai and later moved to the Chicago suburbs, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Mathematics from Northwestern University. At Northwestern, he studied the light-driven processes in organic radical-chromophore systems under the supervision of Professor Michael R. Wasielewski. Drawn to life in major cities, he moved to New York to pursue his graduate studies at Columbia University. In the Nuckolls Lab, he aims to advance the development of next-generation batteries and other organic electrochemical materials. Outside of the lab, Anthony has been an avid photographer for over a decade.
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