Justin Wilson

justinjwilson@ucsb.edu

Yangyang Gao

Oct 2023 – Present

• Ph.D. 2023, Chemistry — Xi’an Jiaotong University
• M.S. 2014, Analytical Chemistry — University of South China
• B.S. 2011, Chemical Engineering — Daqing Normal Universtiy

ygao417@ucsb.edu

If you didn’t choose to be a chemist, what would you be doing instead?
Dentist or seller.
If you were an Olympic athlete, what event would you compete in?
Marathon.

Maddy Denison

Sep 2024 – Present

• Ph.D. 2024, Chemistry — Wayne State University
• B.S. 2017, Chemistry — Albion College

mdenison@ucsb.edu

What is your spirit animal?
Sloth (specifically Flash the Sloth)
What is your favorite fun fact to share?
I want to run a marathon in each state, so far I have done three

Phillip Farias

June 2026 – Present

• Ph.D. 2026, Inorganic Chemistry — University of California, Riverside
• B.S. 2018, Chemistry and Biochemistry — California State University, Los Angeles

pfarias@ucsb.edu

Do you have any hobbies?
Fixing things!
What are five things that make you happy?
My wife and daughter, food (taco bell specifically), when reactions work smoothly, hanging out
with friends and family, finding funny videos on the internet.

Anish Kumar Das

Sep 2026 – Present

• Postdoc, 2026, Chemistry — University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
• Ph.D. 2023, Chemistry — Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram
• M.S. 2018, Chemistry — Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram
• B.S. 2016, Chemistry — Presidency University, Kolkata

anishdas@ucsb.edu

What is your favorite thing about where you grew up?
I grew up in Chandannagar, West
Bengal, India. Chandannagar is especially famous for its Jagaddhatri Puja, known for its exceptionally beautiful lighting, elaborate decorations, and vibrant celebrations. The whole town comes alive during the festival, which makes it a very special part of growing up there. It’s a
place that still feels like home no matter how far I travel.
What is your favorite fun fact?
The same element can have very different personalities depending on its surroundings. Copper, for example, can be part of a colorful metal cluster, a catalyst, or a biological system. Chemistry is full of these unexpected transformations.

Haipei Zou

2021 – Present

• B.S. 2020, Chemistry — University of Sydney

hz565@ucsb.edu

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Go to bed early (but I never make it).
If you were sailing around the world with 1 person, who would you bring?
Doraemon

Jacy Lieberum

2023 – Present

• B.S. 2023, Pharmaceutical Chemistry — Saint Joseph’s University

jclieberum@ucsb.edu

How did you choose your major?
As a kid I was constantly making what I called “concoctions” with household things. I hid one concoction in my sock drawer, which exploded and turned all my socks blue! I was so proud. It’s been chemistry ever since.
What are five things that make you happy?
Concerts, rocks, books, the ocean, & cotton candy water ice

Gillian Weissman

2025 – Present

• B.S. 2023, Chemistry — SUNY Binghamton

gillianweissman@ucsb.edu

If you were one piece of lab equipment, what would you be?
Table top centrifuge
If you were trapped on a desert island and only had three things, what would you bring?
TV, DVD player, and DVD copy of Shrek 2

Viky Villanueva

2026 – Present

• B.S. 2023, Chemistry — UC Santa Cruz

viky@ucsb.edu

What is your spirit animal?
“Tupac Shakur”
What is your favorite thing about where you grew up?
I love my community in Merced. I couldn’t have made it this far in life or school without the amazing love and support of my family and friends. Los quiero un chingo y los extraño cada día. Gracias por todo.

Claudia Ghelarducci

Oct 2026 – Present

• Current Institution: University of Pisa

claudiaghelarducci@ucsb.edu

What is your favorite thing about where you grew up?
There is a tradition called “suspended coffee”: when someone goes to a café, they can pay for two coffees while drinking just one, leaving the other for someone who comes in later and might not be able to afford it. I’ve always loved the kindness and sense of community behind this.
What are five things that make you happy?
Travelling the world and experiencing cultures different from my own, spending time with my family and friends, riding my motorcycle, baking cakes, and solving riddles and brain teasers.

Martin Panicacci

Oct 2024 – Present

• Pre-Chemistry (Biochemistry Track), Class of 2027

martinpanicacci@ucsb.edu

What is your spirit animal?
What I’d really love to be is a Nudibranch or a Jellyfish of some sort, but I think my spirit animal is probably a Tarsier.
What is your favorite snack food?
I’m not sure I have a favorite one but if I did have one it would be from Trader Joe’s

Anna Hesser

Mar 2025 – Present

• Chemistry, Class of 2027

annahesser@ucsb.edu

What’s your favorite element and why?
My favorite element is sodium because it’s essential for life, and I love salt.
If you were trapped on a desert island and only had three things, what would you pick?
My dog, water, and a coconut tree. I will create a coconut farm and live off of coconuts.

Daniel Reyna

Apr 2025 – Present

• Chemistry, Class of 2028

danielreyna@ucsb.edu

If you were one piece of lab equipment, what would you be?
I would be a magnetic stir bar because it seems fun to spin around and be in some liquid at the same time
Do you have any hobbies?
I love to compose music and study the chords and structure of other songs that I like; I think it’s fun to recognize patterns in other songs and think of how to use parts of them in my own work.

Luke Seley

Apr 2026 – Present

• Chemistry, Class of 2029

lukeseley@mail.ucsb.edu

What is your favorite fun fact?
Almost all the almonds in the world are grown in California.
What is your favorite element and why?
Nitrogen. I feel like it’s always there, but I never appreciate it enough. It’s basically as foundational to life as oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen.