MEET THE ACTIVES
Officers
Master Alchemist
Emma Langworthy (βα) Biology |
Co-Vice Master Alchemist
Kay Herlihy (βα) Biochemistry |
Co-Vice Master Alchemist
Peter Walther (βα) Chemistry and Physics |
Master of Ceremonies
Brenna Bradfield (βα) Biochemistry |
Cyber Alchemist
Adam Ordaz (ββ) Chemistry |
Health and Safety Officer
Audrey Beaver (ββ) Biological Sciences |
Research Coordinator
Gianna Derrenbacher (ββ) Animal Science |
Research Coordinator
Robert Satterwhite (ββ) Chemistry |
Treasurer
Kai Winstead-Leroy (ββ) Biochemistry |
Recorder
Grisha Dekhtyar (ββ) Biochemistry |
Reporter
Danilo Alamillo (ββ) Chemistry |
Alumni Secretary
Sam Margolin (ββ) Chemistry |
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Actives
Scott Borchers (ββ)
Biochemistry |
Ariana Chavez (ββ)
Chemistry |
Mason Chou (βα)
Chemistry |
Alexandra Dowdy (ββ)
Biochemistry |
Ashley Freeman (ββ)
Chemistry |
Benjamin Grosscup (βα)
Chemistry |
Andrew Harper (ββ)
Biomedical Engineering |
Erin Ituralde (ββ)
Chemistry |
Katherine Le (ββ)
Biochemistry |
Christy Liao (βα)
Biochemistry |
Daniel Lopez (ββ)
Biochemistry |
DJ Marinez (ββ)
Chemistry |
Sophia Newcomer (ββ)
Biochemistry |
Nicholas Parr (ββ)
Nutrition |
Hannah Roth (ββ)
Animal Science |
Mateo Wolfe (βα)
Biochemistry |
Liane Wong (ββ)
Biological Sciences
Biological Sciences
Some Professional Branch AXE members who work at Cal Poly.
Dr. Grace Neff
Gamma Zeta 2001 Graduate School: University of Oregon, PhD in Inorganic Chemistry Current Research at Cal Poly: I'm very interested in working with students on non-lab based senior projects on topics related to the History of Science, particularly Women in the History of Science. In the past, I was involved in teaching K-12 teachers science through the Central Coast Science Project, so I'm also interested in developing materials for hands-on science in K-12 classrooms. Fun Fact: Huge fan of shows like CSI, Criminal Minds, Mindhunter |
Dr. Seth Daniel Bush
Gamma Eta 2000 Graduate School: University of California, Berkeley (Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, focused on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Magnetic Resonance Imaging technique development and application) Current Research at Cal Poly: -Studying and describing the emergence of Science Faculty with Education Specialties -Developing, implementing and studying teacher professional development programs -Improving teacher recruitment and training -Building and testing inquiry-based science toys, games and manipulatives -Designing, validating and implementing assessment tools to gauge growth of expert-like chemical thinking Fun Fact: He is deathly afraid of umbrellas and turkeys |
Dr. Katherine Rose Watts
Gamma Zeta 2016 Graduate School: University of California, Santa Cruz (Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry) Current Research at Cal Poly: Biosynthetic pathways in Actinobacteria Fun Fact: She has been to Hawaii and the Virgin Islands for research expeditions in graduate school |
Dr. Nisa Morey
Beta Eta 2008 Graduate School: University of North Texas (Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry, but fits under Bioinorganic Chemistry) Current Research at Cal Poly: Her students and her do research in what can be classified as analytical inorganic chemistry. Her students synthesize novel organic framework molecules, en route to heavy metal detection in aqueous systems using fluorescence. Fun Fact: She's been obsessed with Hello Kitty since she was 5 years old |
Dr. Andres W. Martinez
Alpha Alpha 2002 Graduate School: Harvard University (Ph.D. in Chemistry, but his thesis work fits under Analytical Chemsitry) Current Research at Cal Poly: Development of paper-based sensors for detecting analytes in the field. Fun Fact: He played three games in Bolivia's professional basketball league |
Dr. John P. Hagen
Gamma Zeta 2008 Graduate School: Stanford (Thesis about phospholipid mono-layers at the air water interface) Current Research at Cal Poly: Soluble Surfactants Fun Fact: He is a Harry Potter fanatic |
Dr. Eric Jones
Gamma Zeta 2016 Education: I got a BS in polymer chemistry and a PhD in biochemistry, both from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. I then worked as a postdoc at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA, and did a second postdoc at the University of Washington, Seattle, working on protein spectroscopy. Current Research at Cal Poly: My current research involves developing assays for protein concentration and function. I'm currently working on identifying enzymatic activity in two proteins of unknown function with structural similarity to known oxidoreductases. I'm also working to purify and develop an assay for a unique class of mushroom toxins. Most of my research projects involve both protein chemistry and physical chemistry methods. Fun Fact: I am a brutal, ruthless Scrabble player. |
Dr. Phillip J. Costanzo
Gamma Zeta 2008 Graduate School: University of California Davis (PhD in Organic Chemistry) Current Research at Cal Poly: Novel polymer synthesis for the development of stimuli-responsive materials Fun Fact: He has a black belt in Kenpo and Filipino stick fighting and a 4th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do |
Dr. Christopher Dettmar
Gamma Zeta 2017 Graduate School: Purdue University (Ph.D. in Chemistry, focused on Second-order nonlinear optical detection of crystallization in biomolecules) Fun Fact: He loves board games. Here is his current collection: https://boardgamegeek.com/collection/user/cmdettmar |
Dr. Derik Frantz
Education: B.S. Juniata College (2005), M.Sc University of Zurich (2008), Dr. sc. nat. University of Zurich (2012), Postdoctoral Fellow Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2012–2014) Current Research at Cal Poly: Research in the Frantz Group focuses on the synthesis and characterization of unusual molecules with unique structures and reactivities. Of particular interest are molecules with substantial strain and antiaromatic compounds. Fun Fact: I love cats. |
Dr. Erik Sapper
Education: PhD, Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University; MS, Polymers and Coatings Science, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo; BS, Chemistry, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Current Research at Cal Poly: Evolutionary algorithms and multiobjective search methods for materials informatics and machine learning model development, with an emphasis on polymers, polymeric materials, and coating formulations. Fun Fact: I love the beach, but I hate the sand. |
Dr. Steven Wilkinson
Education: B.S., The College of William & Mary; Ph.D. Louisiana State University (Biochemistry); Postdoc, University of California San Diego Current Research at Cal Poly: My research group is focused on two areas of research in protein biochemistry: 1) Elucidating DNA binding mechanisms of winged helix-turn-helix proteins; 2) Determining the structural requirements of small molecule osmolytes for conferring thermal stability to globular proteins. Fun Fact: I have been chased by a rhino, knocked down by a tiger and almost killed by a wildebeest. |