2024

• June. Ernest presented a poster at the second semi-annual NSF C-CAS conference, held at the University of California, Los Angeles.
• May. Bukola Ogunyemi has been awarded the most outstanding PhD student in the Department of Chemistry. Congrats, Buki!
• May. Blake Day has joined the group as a new graduate researcher. Welcome to the group, Blake!
• April. Eric D. F. and Ernest B.’s article titled “Chromogenic detection of the organophosphorus nerve agent simulant DCP mediated by rhodium(II,II) paddlewheel complexes” was published in ACS Sensors. Congrats, Eric and Ernest!
• April. Taylor Totorp presented a poster at the second annual Chemistry Department Undergraduate Research Symposium.
• March. Bukola Ogunyemi and Ernest Bennin successfully passed their candidacy examinations. Congrats, Ernest and Buki!
• January. Alexis Pugh, Micah Lewis, Paul Pitcher, and Joseph Abudu have joined the group as new graduate researchers. Welcome to the group!

2023

• December. Desiree M. and Bukola O.’s article titled “Effect of tethered sulfur ligands on the association constants of dirhodium(II,II) paddlewheel complexes” was published in EurJIC. Congrats, Desiree and Buki!
• November. Ernest Bennin visits Olaf Wiest at Notre Dame for computational studies arranged by the NSF C-CAS program.
• October. Anthony A. and Bukola O.’s article titled “Rh(II)-catalyzed Si–H insertion with nosyl-hydrazone-protected aryl donor diazo compounds” was published in ACS Omega. Congrats, Anthony and Buki!
• June. Congratulations to Eric and Desiree on their successful dissertation defenses. Congrats to Drs Fussell and Moore!
• April. Paul, Malcolm, and Grace presented posters at the second annual Chemistry Department Undergraduate Research Symposium.
• February. Our paper on the Hammett study of our Rh(II) complexes with tethered axial ligands was featured in a Virtual Issue to highlight the work of early career researchers in organic and inorganic chemistry.  
• January. Bukola Ogunyemi and Ernest Bennin have joined the group as new graduate researchers. Welcome to the group Ernest and Buki!

2022

• July. Congrats to Dr. Anthony Abshire for his PhD defense!
• May. Cris’s Hammett study on our Rh(II) complexes with tethered axial ligands was published in JOC. Congrats, Cris! 
• April. Say hello to our newest PhD grad! Dr. Cris Zavala successfully defended his dissertation. Way to go, Cris!
• April. Paul, Malcolm, and Grace presented posters at the first annual Chemistry Department Undergraduate Research Symposium.
• January. Paul Pitcher, Malcolm Bailey, and Grace Shelton have joined the group as undergraduate researchers. Welcome to the group!

2021

• December. Congrats to Mitchell for graduating!
• September. Anthony, Desiree, and Jobe’s review article on heteroleptic rhodium complexes has been published in Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry. Great work, team!
• May. Eric’s crystal structure paper on DBU adducts of rhodium paddlewheel complexes was published in Crystals. Congrats to Eric!

2020

• December. Derek successfully defended his dissertation. Congratulations to Dr. Derek Cressy! 
• October. Derek, Cris, Will, and Anthony’s paper on tuning Rh(II)-catalyzed cyclopropanation with tethered thioether ligands was published in Dalton Transactions. Congrats, guys! 
• July. Will successfully defended his Master’s thesis. Congrats, Will!
• January. Jobe Courtney joined the group as an undergraduate researcher.  Welcome Jobe!

2019

• November.  Eric and Ampofo were the recipients of a Student/Faculty Research Award from the UT Graduate School to study the detection of organophosphorus nerve agents.  Congrats!
• October. Cris participated in a career day with Centro Hispano de East Tennessee by performing chemistry demos.  Good work, Cris!
• September. Congrats to Will and Anthony for their EurJOC publication on using Darko rhodium catalysts for silyl-hydrogen insertion.
• September. The Darko lab and other scientists at UT showcased the connection of science and art at the Art of Science Exhibition at the Arts & Culture Alliance Emporium.
• August. Mitchell Regelson joined the group as an undergraduate researcher.  Welcome, Mitchell!
• January. Congrats to Brad, Derek, and Jay for their Inorganic Chemistry paper titled “Synthesis and Catalytic Properties of Dirhodium Paddlewheel Complexes with Tethered, Axially Coordinating Thioether Ligands.”

2018 

• October. Will and Derek presented posters at the Center for Selective C-H Functionalization Annual Meeting.
• August. Laura Altawil joined the group as an undergraduate researcher.
• June. Cristian Zavala joined the group.  Welcome Cris!
• May. Congrats to “cool hand” Jay for graduating.  Kimberly Hollister joined the group as our latest REU student, and Melodi Harfouche joined as an undergraduate researcher.  Welcome, Kim and Melodi!
• April. Will was the recipient of the George L. Sivils Graduate Student Award. The award provides a research stipend and funds for a conference presentation. Congrats, Will!
• March. Will and Derek received Graduate Senate Travel Awards to present their work at the ACS Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans.
• February. The Office of Research & Engagement presented the Darko lab with an award for Excellence in Laboratory Safety.
• January. Derek was selected as a recipient of a Chancellor’s Fellowship for Spring 2018.  Congrats, Derek!