Stuart Lab

Dr. David Stuart

Associate Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D. | University of Ottawa, 2010
Postdoctoral Fellow | NSERC, Harvard University, 2010-2012

503-725-2696
dstuart@pdx.edu

Research lab website

Research Interests

The Stuart Research Group is an organic chemistry group primarily engaged in the discovery and development of new chemical reactivity for the advancement of synthetic organic chemistry. A particular emphasis is placed on the innovation of novel reagents and catalysts that lead to sustainable synthetic methods and result in the efficient production of a range of useful organic compounds. Hypervalent iodine features prominently in our approaches. The techniques of physical organic chemistry will be utilized to explore the reaction mechanism of conceptually new and unusual chemical reactivity. The reagents and the reactivity developed in our group are envisioned to contribute to the improvement of an array of research areas and industries, including medicinal chemistry, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and high tech (liquid crystals).

Group Members

Joseph Hatton

PhD Candidate

My name is Joseph Hatton (he/him) a first year Ph.D student in the Stuart group. My research interests align in synthetic and physorganic chemistry. I finished my BS in Biochemistry at SDSU in May of 2022. Outside of the lab I frequently attend live music venues and explore the nature of the PNW.

Nicole Javaly

PhD Candidate

Nicole Javali (she/her) is a graduate student in Chemistry at Portland State University. Her work focuses on the periodic trends in hypervalent halogen compounds using a mixture of organic and computational techniques. She started the chemistry department's anti-racism workshops, and sits on the department's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. She received the department's Equity Fellows award in Spring 2022. Outside of lab you can find her stress-baking and talking to her two very cute black cats.

Soocheta Jha

PhD Candidate

Soocheta Jha is a graduate student in Dr. Stuart's research group. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanistic details in the reactivity of diaryliodonium salts using the techniques of physical organic chemistry.

Bryan Metze

PhD Candidate

My name is Bryan Metze (He/Him/His) and I am a second year Ph.D student in the Stuart group. My research focuses on the use of hypervalent iodine compounds in synthetic organic chemistry. Specifically, I study aryne extrusion from diaryliodonium salts under mild conditions. When not in the lab, I enjoy mountain hikes and riding my skateboard around downtown Portland.

Riley Roberts

PhD Candidate

My name is Riley Roberts (He/Him/His) I'm a Ph.D student in the Stuart group conducting synthetic organic chemistry. My research focuses on the generation of arynes via hypervalent iodine compounds. I earned my BS in biochemistry from Western Washington University where I studied the 70S ribosome. When I'm not in the lab you can find me building computers.

Lab Alumni

Dr. Shubhendu Karandikar

Ph.D. Chemistry | Portland State University, 2023

Dr. Souradeep Basu

Ph.D. Chemistry | Portland State University, 2022

Dr. Rory Gallagher

Ph.D. Chemistry | Portland State University, 2022

Dr. Aleksandra Nilova

Ph.D. Chemistry | Portland State University, 2020