Postdoctoral Researchers
Young Ju Yun
Young Ju completed her B.S. in Biology Education and her M.S. in Biological Science at Pusan National University, South Korea. She obtained her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Illinois Institute of Technology in 2022 under the guidance of Prof. A. Jean-Luc Ayitou. Her Ph.D. research focused on synthesizing and studying photophysical characteristics of polyaromatic organic triplet chromophores, which can be used for light-harvesting and other photonic applications such as photon/energy up-conversion (TTA–PUC). When she is not in the lab, Young Ju enjoys exploring the city, traveling, watching movies, and spending time with family.
Mara L. Paterson
Mara completed her B.S. in Chemistry in 2019 at Valparaiso University, working with Prof. Kevin Jantzi. She then moved to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she earned her Ph.D. in 2024 under the guidance of Prof. Steve Zimmerman. Her graduate work focused on the design, synthesis, and mechanistic investigations of logic-gated acid-degradable polymers. Mara joined the Kalow group in 2024, where she is interested in photocontrolled dynamic covalent chemistry. Outside of lab, she can often be found baking, painting, befriending cats, and/or exploring Chicago.
Graduate Students
Sixth Year
Alexis Martell
Alexis graduated from Cornell University in 2019 with his B.A. in Chemistry. During his time at Cornell, he worked with Dr. Margaret Frey, exploring temperature-responsive polymeric coatings for cotton fabrics. He is currently interested in investigating the formation of covalent adaptable networks in order to help create future sustainable materials. When not in the lab, Alexis enjoys biking, listening to new music, socializing, and exploring the city.
Fifth Years
Daniel Hart
Daniel graduated from Brigham Young University in 2021 with a BS degree in Chemistry. While at BYU he performed research in the lab of Dr. Walter Paxton with a focus on synthesizing novel and stimuli responsive block copolymers. This foundation in polymers led him to the Kalow lab, where he is interested in studying covalent adaptable networks for use as sustainable materials. When he is not in the lab, Daniel likes to read, spend time with his kids, bake, and take naps.
Haley McAllister
Haley graduated from Franklin and Marshall College with her B.A. in Chemistry. With Dr. Katherine Plass, Haley conducted research on metal chalcogenide nanoheterostructures and their potential for photocatalytic and thermoelectric devices. Her current research interests revolve around photocontrolled hydrogels. Outside of the lab, she enjoys going on nature walks, attending musical theatre productions, and eating quiches.
Jonathan Sklar
Jonathan graduated from Stanford University in 2021 with a BS in Chemistry and a BA with Honors in Philosophy. At Stanford, he worked in Prof. Yan Xia’s lab on novel ladder polymer materials for membrane gas separation where he developed a soft spot for polymers with unusual backbone structures. Jonathan’s current research in the Kalow lab involves the light mediated synthesis of conjugated polymers. When not in lab, Jonathan enjoys karate, reading philosophy, food, and perhaps a little too much youtube.
Fourth Years
Ethan Fuller
Ethan graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 2022 with a B.S. degree in Chemistry. At CWRU, he worked with Dr. Hatsuo Ishida on benzoxazines, a relatively new type of polymer, investigating how hydrogen bonding can affect its polymerization. Ethan’s current research in the Kalow lab looks at the light-mediated synthesis of conjugated polymers. When not in the lab, Ethan enjoys hanging out with his friends, cooking, playing the saxophone and video games.
Emmanuel Garcia Villatoro
Emmanuel graduated from Mexico National Autonomous University (UNAM) in 2019 with a B.S in Chemistry and in 2021 with a M.S. in Chemical Sciences. During his time at UNAM, he worked under the guidance of Prof. Jorge Peon designing modular antenna—photoswitch systems for the biphotonic activation of the switching processes via ultrafast energy transfer. His current research focuses on dynamic covalent networks. Outside the lab, he enjoys taking walks, video games, exploring new places, and going to live music performances.
Third Years
Zamira Harris-Ryden
Jolly Patro
Jolly completed her Bachelor of Science at Caltech in chemistry where she conducted research with Prof. Maxwell Robb studying polymer mechanochemistry. She worked on demonstrating mechanically triggered small molecule release in bulk polymeric materials. She’s currently interested in photocontrolled hydrogels and better understanding polymer network topology. Outside of lab, Jolly enjoys long walks, baking, coloring, embroidery, playing the viola, and watching TV.
Second Year
Callie Goins
Callie graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2024 with a B.S. in Chemistry, concentrated in polymers. While at Georgia Tech, she worked in the group of Dr. John Reynolds on the IR switching, photostability, electrochemistry, and other properties of electrochromic polymers and small molecules. Her current research focuses on developing photoswitches for use in mixed ionic/electronic conductors. Outside of the lab, Callie enjoys figure skating, which she has done competitively for 16 years, traveling, and spending time with friends.
First Years
Anna Rogers
Anna graduated from Harvey Mudd College in 2025 with a B.S. in Chemistry. Working with Prof. Whitney Fowler, she studied the aggregation-induced emission of peptide amphiphile nanofibers for fluorescence sensing. Her current research in the Kalow Lab focuses on the sequence-oriented synthesis of conjugated polymers. When not in lab, Anna likes swimming, climbing, art, baking, video games, and exploring new places.
Tianmu Ma
Tianmu graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Chemistry. During his time at UT, he worked under the guidance of Dr. Eric Van Anslyn, focusing on electrochemically active sequence-defined oligourethanes for data storage. His current research interest is integrating mechanochemistry with dynamic polymer networks. Outside the laboratory, he enjoys playing the trumpet, video games, and hiking.
Undergraduate Students
Tomas Castillo
Tomas is a rising sophomore at Northwestern University, majoring in Chemistry, and is originally from Miami, Florida. His research’s main focus is the development of light-responsive hydrogels that incorporate Azoheterarene photoswitches. Outside of the lab, Tomas enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing video games, and gardening.
Jose Elechiguerra
Jose is a junior chemistry student at Northwestern University, originally from Mexico City, Mexico. His interest is in the photocontrolled synthesis of conjugated polymers. During his free time he enjoys playing basketball and video games as well as watching anime.
Sarah Lin
Sarah is a sophomore chemistry major at Northwestern University who originally came from Vancouver, Canada. Her research involves the development of scalable routes to antiaromatic polymers. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing the bass guitar, watching documentaries, and doing ballet.
Shoki Matsushima
Shoki is a rising sophomore chemistry major at Northwestern, originally from Tokyo, Japan. He is interested in the development of dynamic covalent bonds through light. Outside of the lab, he enjoys trying different coffee shops, visiting the aquarium to watch penguins, and playing the Japanese traditional string instrument called Shamisen.
Cami Rogers
Cami is a junior chemistry student at Northwestern University from San Diego, CA. Her interest lies in the connection of mechanochemistry to dynamic polymer networks. When not in the lab, Cami enjoys thrifting, yoga, and reading.
Hailey Silva
Hailey is a sophomore majoring in chemistry at Northwestern University and is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada. Her main interest is creating synthetic pathways for reversible photocontrolled polymer networks. When she is not in the lab, she enjoys rollerblading, exploring Chicago and other big cities, cooking, and watching anime.
Group mascot
Donatello
Donatello is a tortoise. He likes kale, escarole, and especially carrots. In his free time (ie all the time) he enjoys digging, sitting on top of his log, falling off of his log, and sleeping.
The Kalow lab is currently recruiting students and postdocs interested in working in the interdisciplinary, dynamic environment of a new lab. Want to join? More info here!