Boros Group Members
Eszter Boros (PI)
Eszter Boros obtained her B.Sc. (2006) and her M.Sc. (2007) at the University of Zurich and her Ph.D. (2011) in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia. She was a postdoctoral fellow (2011-2015) and later instructor (2015-2017) in Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. In August 2017, Eszter joined the Chemistry Department at Stony Brook University as an Assistant Professor where she was tenured in February 2023. Since June 2023, Eszter is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. When not plotting new and fun experiments with the lab, Eszter enjoys spending time with her family (two boys age 1 and 3), lifting heavy things and dreaming about ice skating on frozen lakes.
Darek Śmiłowicz (Scientist)
PhD - Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Research Advisor: Nils Metzler-Nolte
Darek obtained his B.Sc. and his M.Sc. at the Nicolaus Copernicus University (Poland). He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Germany). During his Ph.D. period, Darek was working extensively on the development of therapeutically relevant metal-peptide bioconjugates using Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis protocols (SPPS). Additionally, he was focused on orthogonally spin-labeled BIM peptides for EPR studies of protein-protein interactions within BCL-2 family proteins. Darek is also interested in the synthesis of drug delivery systems activated selectively by cold plasma. He joined Boros group to explore new metal-based imaging probes and therapeutics for targeted anti-cancer therapy. In free time, Darek and his teddy bear Miki (presented on the left picture) enjoyoing together to the gym and working in the garden.
Axia Marlin (Post-doc)
PhD - University of Western Brittany. Research Advisor: Raphael Tripier
Axia obtained her B.Sc in La Reunion and her M.Sc in Toulouse University (France). She received her PhD in Chemistry from University of Western Brittany in the group of Prof. Raphael Tripier. During this period, she worked extensively on the synthesis and bifunctionalization of TACN derivatives for the conjugation of different biomolecules and the complexation of different metals for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Axia joined Boros group to explore potent siderophore-conjugates as therapeutic tools to combat bacterial infection and also investigate their mechanism of action. In her free time, she enjoys discovering new places, jogging, eating and eating.
Abhijit Bera (Post-doc)
PhD - Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science. Research Advisor: Tapan Kanti Paine
Abhijit received his B.Sc. from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College and M.Sc. from Pondicherry University, India. Then, he received my Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, India. During his Ph.D. He was working on biomimetic applications of supported metal complexes and their potential in oxidations catalysis in the group of Professor Tapan Kanti Paine. Then he moved to the University of Utah to explore CO2 fixation and reduction for energy in the group of Caroline T. Saouma. He joined Eszter's group to explore metal-mediated amide bond cleavage and selective release of metallodrugs. Outside the lab, he is interested in cricket, photography, traveling, and cooking.
Andrey Joaqui(Post-doc)
Ph.D. - University of Minnesota. Research Advisor: Valérie Pierre
Andrey is a native of Cali, Colombia. He earned his B.Sc. in Chemistry under the tutelage of Prof. Dorian Polo at Universidad del Valle. After obtaining his B.Sc. degree, he moved to Minneapolis, MN for his Ph.D. working under the supervision of Prof. Valérie Pierre at the University of Minnesota. His Ph.D. studies focused on the use of metal complexes as molecular imaging agents and modulators of the degradation of DNA-based materials. Andrey will join the Boros group in the Fall of 2023 to work on the development of lanthanide-based imaging probes featuring Cherenkov radiation emissive radioisotopes. In his free time, Andrey enjoys swimming, biking, and playing Underwater Hockey…Yes, it’s a real sport!
PhD Students
Jennifer Whetter
BSc Chemistry 2019, University of British Columbia. Research Advisor: Chris Orvig
Jennifer Whetter is a fourth year PhD student. She received her B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia in 2019, where she developed an interest in chelator development for medically useful radionuclides. She is currently working on the synthesis of bifunctional chelators for cancer imaging and therapy. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking, baking and exploring new places.
Minhua Cao
B.S. Chemistry 2019, CUNY Hunter College. Research Advisor: Lynn Francesconi
Kings Borough Community College. Research Advisor: Patrick Lloyd
Minhua is a fourth year graduate student in the Boros group. She received her B.S. in chemistry from Hunter College City University of New York, where she worked on the synthesis and optimization of HOPO chelators for Zr-89. She currently works on the siderophore project. In her free time, she enjoys baking, hiking, and reading.
Edith Amason
M.A. Chemistry 2023, The University of Texas at Austin.
Research Advisor: Emily Que
Edith is a graduate student in the Boros group. She recently received her M.A. in chemistry under the mentorship of Dr. Emily Que at The University of Texas at Austin where she studied the extraction of metal ions into fluorous nanoparticles for PET-MR imaging. Prior to her work at UT Austin, Edith earned her B.S. in chemistry from Sewanee where she conducted research with Dr. Evan Joslin on the synthesis and catalysis of novel ruthenium (II) complexes. Combining the valuable skills from her prior research projects, Edith will work on Ti-45 project, specifically focused on the development of a resin-based approach for the aqueous separation of titanium (IV). Outside of the lab you can find Edith bouldering, throwing pottery, camping, or experimenting in the kitchen.
Owen Glaser
B.S. Biochemistry 2022, Temple University.
Research Advisor: Ann Valentine
Owen is a second year graduate student in the Boros group. He received his B.S. in Biochemistry from Temple University. He is currently working on the chelator project, specifically on the development of targeted Ti-45 PET imaging agents. In his free time, he likes going to the gym, listening to music, and singing.
Georgia Sands
B.S Chemistry 2023, Grand Valley State University.
Research Advisor: Dr.Shannon Biros
Georgia is a first year graduate student in the Boros lab. She received her B.S. in chemistry at Grand Valley State University where she worked under the supervision of Dr. Shannon Biros. Georgia works on the lanthanide project where she develops luminescent lanthanide probes to visualize cancerous tumors. Outside of the lab she enjoys running, hiking, and linocut.
Emma Phuong Tran
B.S. Biochemistry 2023, University of Illinois.
Research Advisor: Dr. Andy I. Nguyen
Emma is a first year graduate student in the Boros group. She is originally from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry from University of Illinois at Chicago (2023) where she conducted research with Dr. Andy I. Nguyen on porous peptide frameworks for catalysts using solid phase peptide synthesis. She is currently working on the siderophore project, focused on synthetic siderophore and its conjugates to treat bacterial infection. In her free time, Emma enjoys playing sports with friends, cooking home dishes, and exploring different cuisines.
Morgan Dierolf
B.S. Biochemistry 2023, Penn State University.
Research Advisor: Dr. Beth Elacqua
Morgan is a first year PhD student in the Boros and Engle groups. She received her B.S. in Chemistry from Penn State University, where she worked under Beth Elacqua researching the pressure induced polymerization of halogen bonded co-crystals. Currently, she works on the antimony project. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, and drawing.
Zhouran Zhong
B.S Biochemistry 2023, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Research Advisor: Professor Jeff Chan
Zhuoran is a first-year graduate student in the Boros group. She obtained her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She used to work in Professor Jeff Chan’s lab on the synthesis of a bifunctional calcium donor project. Now she is working on the metal-mediated amide cleavage project. Outside the lab she likes to go to gym and play video games.
Undergraduates - Research
Administrative Staff
Bubbles the dog
Bubbles, the unofficial mascot of the Boros Lab, unfortunately passed away in fall of 2020. During his time in the Boros Lab, he worked diligently, overseeing his own naps in Eszter’s office and receiving pets from group members and other students. Bubbles hailed from the Canadian province Manitoba and spent time in Vancouver and Boston before moving to Long Island. His research legacy centered on investigating the solubility of dog kibble in his mouth. When not impeding work and meetings in Chemistry 629, Bubbles liked to go on short walks, eat large meals and pass out wherever convenient. R.I.P Bubbles.
Alumni
Cormac Kelderman (Post-doc)
Cormac obtained his BSc and PhD from Monash University, where he investigated the use of bis(thiosemcarbazone) ligands for technetium-99m under the supervision of Assoc Prof Brett Paterson. Cormac joined the Boros group to explore scandium-fluoride ternary complexes for theranostic applications. In his free time, Cormac enjoys gaming, cooking and eating (and drinking).
Raphael Lenacher (Post-doc)
Raphael received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETHZ). He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Zurich, where he was working in the group of Prof. Roger Alberto on the development of Cyclopentadiene based Re/99mTc cancer theranostics. Raphael joined the Boros group to investigate theranostic drugs based on Cerenkov radiation. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and scuba diving.
Grace Ahn (Post-doc)
Grace Ahn was a post-doc in the Boros Lab from January 2018 - March 2021. Grace now works at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. She received her PhD from Texas A&M University, having worked on synthesis of di(hydroperoxy)alkane adducts of phosphine oxides and their application as oxidants in organic reactions. Prior to moving to Texas, she lived in Vancouver, Canada, where she obtained B.S. in Chemistry at the University of British Columbia.
Upon coming to Stony Brook, she has quickly evolved from a main group inorganic chemist to a medicinal radiochemist, coupling bifunctional chelators to antibodies and radiolabeling the resulting immunoconjugates for in vivo nuclear imaging and radiotherapy. It remains a nip and tuck between Zr-89 and Sc-44, when it comes to choosing her favourite PET isotope; the beautiful images we obtained with each isotope can be seen in the Boros group publications. Time outside of chemistry are devoted wholly to football (aka soccer), specifically the Premier League and UEFA CL.
Alexia Cosby (Graduate Student)
Alexia Cosby was a PhD student in the Boros Lab who graduated in winter 2021. She worked on the synthesis and characterization of luminescent lanthanide CRET probes. She is currently doing a post-doc at the University of California at Berkeley with the Abergel Lab. She received her B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Oregon in 2017, where she researched inorganic synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles, and M.S. in Chemistry from Stony Brook University in 2019. When she is not in the lab, Alexia can be found playing with her cats and cooking tasty foods.
Apurva Pandey (Graduate Student)
Apurva Pandey was a former Ph.D. student in the Boros Lab, who defended in fall 2021. She is currently doing a post-doc in the lab of Michael Evans Group at the University of California, San Francisco. She received her M.S. in Chemistry from University of Delhi, India where she specialized in Inorganic Chemistry. She joined Boros lab in 2017 and worked on the Siderophore project, synthesizing theranostic probes for bacterial infections. Apurva is a proud Ravenclaw, when not in lab she can be found watching space videos, painting and collecting Harry Potter merchandise.
Brett Vaughn (Graduate Student)
Brett Vaughn was a PhD student in the Boros lab, and successfully defended his thesis in the summer of 2021 for his work on the development of theranostic bifunctional chelators. He is currently doing a post-doc at Memorial Sloan Kettering/Cornell Weill in New York City in the lab of Sarah Cheal. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from Kansas State University in 2010 when he worked on gallium-doped quantum dots. He enjoys cooking, movies, and bicycling.
Kirsten Martin (Graduate Student)
Kirsten Martin was a PhD student. She successfully defended her thesis in the spring of 2023. Her work focused on the synthesis of luminescent lanthanide probes for in vivo imaging. In her free time, Kirsten enjoys baking and doing puzzles. Since May 2023, she serves as Lab Manager of the Abergel lab at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories
Angus Koller (Graduate Student)
Angus Koller is a fifth year PhD student. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Maine in 2019, where he worked on developing a link between enzymatic activity and phenolic concentrations to diseases in apples. He is currently working on inorganic solution chemistry and speciation towards the development of titanium(IV) radiochemistry. In his free time he trains service dogs with Canine Companions for Independence.
Helena Esseln (Undergraduate)
Helena was an undergraduate exchange student from the University of Konstanz. She worked with Raphael on the lanthanide project. In her free time, she likes reading and listening to music.
Shawn Eisenberg (Undergraduate)
Shawn graduate from Stony Brook University in the spring of 2023. She worked with Darek on solid phase peptide synthesis. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Iowa. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, reading, and hanging out with her bunny, Freya.
Lillian Wang (Undergraduate)
Lilian was an undergraduate in the Boros Lab who majored in Health Science. She worked with Angus on oxophilic metal chelation. She is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and enjoys her free time reading, eating and binging on TV shows.
Joelle El Hamouche (Undergraduate)
Joelle was an undergraduate member of the Boros lab. She worked with Minhua on the siderophore project. She hopes to continue exploring medicinal chemistry research after undergrad and, in her free time, enjoys biking and spending time outdoors.
Piyusha Lotlikar (Undergraduate)
Piyusha graduated in 2021 from the Honors College majoring in Chemistry. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Chemistry at Cornell University. She worked with Kirsten on the luminescent lanthanide project. She is from Elmont, NY and spends her free time reading through nonfiction books, enjoying the outdoors, and planning out her next big cooking and baking projects.
Chloé Savino (Undergraduate)
Chloé Savino graduated in 2020 from the Honors College majoring in Chemistry. She working on the siderophore project with Apurva. She is originally from Long Island, New York. In her free time, Chloé enjoys swimming, skiing, and listening to Broadway soundtracks. She is currently pursuing her MD at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Justin Devaraj (Undergraduate)
Justin Devaraj graduated in 2019 with a B.S. in biology and worked in the Boros lab for just under two years. Next year he will be attending the Stony Brook University Paramedic program and applying for the masters degree program in Physiology and Biophysics at Stonybrook university.
Daniel Thach (Undergraduate)
Daniel Thach graduated in 2019 with a B.S. in biology. He worked in the Boros lab for two years. After graduation, Daniel intends on taking a gap year before pursuing medicine, and, in the meantime, plans to work in cancer pharmaceutical research.
Gregory Quevedo (Undergraduate)
Gregory Quevedo was a senior biochemistry major from New York City, and worked in the Boros lab for just under two years. After undergrad, he plans to pursue a career in medicine.