My current research in the Atwood lab is focused on the sequesturing of heavy metals using an aromatic aminothiol ligand for environmental applications. I am particuarly focused at the moment on the ability of this ligand, B9, and its derivatives' ability to sequester elemental mercury, as well as solving the exact structures for the complexes formed in this process. My research interests and activities include synthesis of ligands and inorganic complexes, isolation and separation techniques for these complexes, and a wide array of analytical processes to elucidate both structure and function for the ligands and their inorganic complexes with heavy metals. My prior research has been mostly focused on transition metal photochemically active complexes as well as boron dipyrrin (BODIPY) dyes, though I have also worked with computational methods related to surface chemistry using Density Functional Theory (DFT) as well as heterogenious catalysis research relating to supported Ni-other metal bimetallic catalysts used to produce green diesel.

I have been a TA for CHE 105, 109, and 110 recitation (General Chemistry); CHE 231 lab (Organic chemistry lab semester 1); and am currently a TA for CHE 111 lab (General Chemistry Lab) in my time at the University of Kentucky. My current office hours for students in my general chemistry labs are Tuesday 12-2 and Friday 1-2 in the General Chemistry Learning Center (Jacobs Science Building Room 219).