Prof. Bo Xu:

Dr. Bo Xu was born in Hubei province of China. He received his undergraduate degree and Master’s degree from East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China). Then he worked as research associate at Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) from 2000 to 2003. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from University of Louisville in 2008 (research advisor Prof. G.B Hammond). he then worked as a research assistant professor at University of Louisville until 2013 when he was enrolled in the 2013 Thousand Youth Talent Program. Now he is a professor in College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University. Shanghai, China.

His research Interest includes development of novel and environmentally friendly synthetic methodologies, especially synthesis of novel fluorinated building blocks for drugs and advanced materials and studies of organic reaction mechanisms. He has authored around 60 journal articles and 4 patent applications.

He is also co-founder of following two start-up companies:

1. ‘Rigid Solutions LLC’, a start-up focus on automation of organic synthesis, Located in Louisville, KY, USA. (www.rigidsolutionsllc.com).

2. ‘Kynetic Pharma LLC’, a start-up company focus on new chemotherapy drugs, Located in KY, USA.
For further inquiries please email Prof Bo Xu

Senior Research Associate:

Dr. Teruo Umemoto received his Ph.D. from Osaka University, Japan. He joined the Sagami Chemical Research Center in 1978, where he started his fluorine chemistry research. He rose to the position of Chief Researcher there before Daikin Industries Ltd recruited him in 1990. Dr. Umemoto became manager of the Basic Research Chemistry Department of Daikin in Tsukuba, Japan. In 1998, he started a new company, IM&T Research Inc., a subsidiary of the Fuji Chemical Industries, in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Umemoto was President and Chief Researcher of IM&T Research until 2011, where he successfully oversaw the takeover of IM&T by UBE America Inc. Dr. Umemoto then had a short stint as a research chemist at Colorado University at Boulder before the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (SIOC) in China invited him as a Visiting Professor, in 2013. In 2014, Dr. Umemoto was selected as one of the “Thousand Foreign Experts” Recruiting Program of the National Government of China, becoming a Senior Research Fellow in the R&D Center of Jiuzhou Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. in Taizhou, Zhejiang, China. In the fall of 2019, Dr. Umemoto joined Professor Hammond’s group at the University of Louisville as a Senior Research Associate. Dr. Umemoto ‘s contributions to the field of fluorine chemistry have been recognized by several international awards, foremost among them being the American Chemical Society Award for Creative Work in Fluorine Chemistry, which he received in 2014.

Graduate Students:

Sahar Miraghaee was born in Tehran, Iran. She received her master’s degree in organic chemistry in Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran from 2016-2018. Now she is pursuing a PhD degree in chemistry department at UofL under the supervision of Professor G. B. Hammond. She is passionate about riding horses and cooking.

Yuhao Yang was born in Jiangxi province, China. He likes playing basketball. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Donghua University, Shanghai, China from 2014-2018. Now he is pursuing a PhD degree in chemistry department at UofL under the supervision of Professor G. B. Hammond.

Renee Pace attended Cedarville University, double majoring with two undergraduate degrees in 2021: a BS in Forensic Science and a BS in Chemistry. During her studies, her research work included synthesis of medicinal compounds and click chemistry. Renee was the Head General Chemistry Laboratory Assistant at Cedarville University in 2019 for labs with 100+ undergraduate students. She completed her 2020internship in Forensic Science at the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. In Fall of 2021, Renee worked as the Organics Division Head and a laboratory technician at Microbac laboratories in Louisville, Kentucky. Her main work as a technician included preparing aqueous samples for toxic metals testing. She also assisted in cyanide, sulfate, and other various testings. Microbac laboratories used Renee to create, lead and run the organics division which specialized in Polychlorinatedbiphenyl detection. Renee is currently pursuing her MS in Chemistry at the University of Louisville under the supervision of Dr. G. B. Hammond, and is on track to graduate in December of 2023. Renee's favorite free time activity is spending time with her 1 year old nephew, Elliot.

Undergraduate Students:

Carter Stinnett was born in Frankfort, Kentucky. He is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in chemistry with a minor in biology at the University of Louisville. Following his graduation in May of 2023, he plans to attend graduate school internationally. In his free time, he enjoys snow skiing and is passionate about environmentalism.

Kyla Mitchell was born in Murray, Kentucky. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of Louisville. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school for her master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. In her free time, she is a waitress at a local restaurant and enjoys traveling.