
Principal Investigator: Professor Nicholas D. Ball
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 he joined the faculty at Pomona College and is now an Associate Professor of Chemistry.
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 he joined the faculty at Pomona College and is now an Associate Professor of Chemistry.
Current Laboratory Members

Sabrina Carneiro`21 is from São Paulo, Brazil. Sabrina is a Junior and a Linares Scholar
at Pomona College.
at Pomona College.

Jonathan Elisabeth '23 is a Pomona College sophomore from Miami, Florida. He is
studying chemistry as an ACS and Linares Scholar. His interests include music and
weightlifting.
studying chemistry as an ACS and Linares Scholar. His interests include music and
weightlifting.

Nathan Friede ‘22 is a Pomona College Junior majoring in Chemistry. He lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas and enjoys playing music and cooking.

Junha Gu '21 is a Molecular Biology major on the pre-health track at Pomona College. He
is a senior living in Cypress, CA. Some of his hobbies are playing tennis and going bowling.
is a senior living in Cypress, CA. Some of his hobbies are playing tennis and going bowling.

Sam Khasnavis '21 is a Chemistry and Philosophy double major on the pre-health track
at Pomona College. Sam competes 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 Pomona
SURP program.
at Pomona College. Sam competes 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 Pomona
SURP program.

Pedro Martinez '21 is thesis student from Ponce, Puerto Rico . Pedro is a senior at
Pomona College and funded by the Pomona Chemistry Department.
Pomona College and funded by the Pomona Chemistry Department.