Principal Investigator: Professor Nicholas D. Ball
Dr. Nicholas Ball grew up in Chattanooga, TN. He received his B.A. in Chemistry at Macalester College where he conducted undergraduate research in the lab of Professor Ronald G. Brisbois focusing on a modified Songashira reaction generating bisarylethynes. After Macalester, he joined the laboratory of Professor Melanie S. Sanford at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. In the Sanford Lab he studied the structure and reactivity of Pd–fluoride and trifluoride complexes toward the formation of organofluorine compounds. After completing his Ph.D. in 2010, he headed to the California Institute of Technology to pursue his postdoctoral studies with Professor David A. Tirrell as a NIH Postdoctoral Fellow. In the Tirrell laboratory, he transitioned into chemical biology studying the role of selenium-based amino acids for the identification of low-abundant proteins. Nicholas started as an Assistant Professor at Amherst College in 2013. In 2015 Dr. Ball joined the faculty at Pomona College and is now an Associate Professor of Chemistry with tenure.
Dr. Nicholas Ball grew up in Chattanooga, TN. He received his B.A. in Chemistry at Macalester College where he conducted undergraduate research in the lab of Professor Ronald G. Brisbois focusing on a modified Songashira reaction generating bisarylethynes. After Macalester, he joined the laboratory of Professor Melanie S. Sanford at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. In the Sanford Lab he studied the structure and reactivity of Pd–fluoride and trifluoride complexes toward the formation of organofluorine compounds. After completing his Ph.D. in 2010, he headed to the California Institute of Technology to pursue his postdoctoral studies with Professor David A. Tirrell as a NIH Postdoctoral Fellow. In the Tirrell laboratory, he transitioned into chemical biology studying the role of selenium-based amino acids for the identification of low-abundant proteins. Nicholas started as an Assistant Professor at Amherst College in 2013. In 2015 Dr. Ball joined the faculty at Pomona College and is now an Associate Professor of Chemistry with tenure.
Current Laboratory Members
Robbins Postdoctoral Scholar
Dr. Ryan Cammarota graduated from Carleton College in 2012, where he received a B.A. in chemistry and played collegiate soccer. He completed his PhD in inorganic chemistry in 2018 at the University of Minnesota with Professor Connie Lu, where his research focused on developing new strategies for harnessing metal-metal interactions to catalyze reactions that neither metal alone could mediate. His PhD thesis received the 2019 University of Minnesota Doctoral Thesis Excellence Award for best dissertation in the chemistry department, as well as the Best Dissertation Award Honorable Mention for runner-up thesis in all physical sciences and engineering divisions. Upon completing his PhD, he ventured toward the intersection of organic chemistry, computational chemistry, and data science as a postdoctoral researcher with Professor Matthew Sigman at the University of Utah. His postdoctoral research was highly collaborative within the NSF Center for Selective C−H Functionalization (CCHF), where he developed predictive models based on new molecular descriptors for reactive site spatial constraints that guided the design of improved dirhodium C−H functionalization catalysts. He is excited to gain further teaching and mentoring experience at Pomona College as a Robbins Postdoctoral Fellow, which he hopes to draw upon in the future to establish an interdisciplinary research program fusing organometallic chemistry and data science. As part of the Ball lab, he will be focused on applying machine learning classification algorithms to predict reaction outcomes. In his free time, Ryan enjoys travelling, re-watching old TV shows, and playing soccer and board games.
Post Baccalaureate Scholar
Sam Khasnavis '21 is a current post-bac scholar and Pomona graduate ('21). As an undergraduate he was a.a Chemistry and Philosophy double major and a Beckman Scholar. Sam competed on the Pomona Pitzer Men’s Track and Field Team as a Shotput, Discus, and Hammer Thrower. Sam has interests in a variety of areas such as woodturning, confectionary cooking, and billiard sports. Sam is funded by the Beckman Foundation and NIH. Sam will be heading to Stanford in the Fall (2022) for the Chemistry Ph.D. Program.
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Undergraduate Students
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Jonathan Elisabeth '23 is a Pomona College junior from Miami, Florida. He is studying chemistry as an ACS and Linares Scholar. His interests include music and weightlifting. Jonathan is a 2022 Goldwater Scholar.
Nathan Friede ‘22 is a Pomona College senior thesis student majoring in Chemistry. He lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas and enjoys playing music and cooking. Nathan will be heading to Caltech in the Fall in the Chemistry Ph.D. program.
Min Kyoung Kim ’23 is a Pre-Med student and junior at Pomona College. Min has been part of Ball Lab since her sophomore year and is currently majoring in Economics. Her hobbies include playing waterpolo, hiking, and volunteering. Faisal Mustafa '22 is a Pomona College senior.
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Cade Novara ’23 is a Pomona College junior from Salt Lake City, Utah. He is a Public Policy Analysis Major with a concentration in chemistry on the pre-health track. His hobbies include hiking, backpacking, and skiing
William Patrick ’24 is a Pomona College sophomore student from Seattle, Washington. He is on the pre-health track and currently majoring in molecular biology. His hobbies include skiing, spending time outdoors, and scuba diving.
Theo Yassa ’24 is a Pre-Health student and sophomore at Pomona College majoring in Chemistry. He lives in Kittery, Maine, and likes playing music and soccer.
