News

Dr. Cheng-Wei Lin and Dr. Xueying Chang Publishes in Accounts of Chemical Research

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.accounts.5c00592

Congratulations to Dr. Cheng-Wei Lin and alumna Dr. Xueying Chang for their recent Account on aniline oligomers, showing how their well-defined molecular structures enable precise control over doping behavior, crystal growth, and functional properties. By treating aniline oligomers as tunable small molecules, the study demonstrates new insights into redox chemistry, nanostructure formation, surface functionalization, and applications ranging from membranes to long-cycle-life supercapacitor electrodes, revealing advantages that surpass traditional conducting polymers.

Welcome Michelle Mercado to the Kaner Group

From left to right: Sophia Uemura, Dr. Mackenie Anderson, and MIchelle Mercado

We are excited to welcome Michelle Mercado, a rising fourth-year Chemical Engineering major at UC Irvine, to the Kaner group! She joins us for her second summer through the UC LEADS program, participating in an eight-week research experience with Sophia Uemura and Dr. Mackenzie Anderson. Outside the lab, Michelle enjoys learning piano, crocheting, caring for her growing houseplant collection, and spending time with her two cats, Joy and Coco.

Maher El-Kady’s “Energy to Spare” film named finalist for the Jackson Wild Media Awards in the Science & Nature – Short Form category

Dr. Maher El-Kady (Ph.D. ’13) is featured in the Chemistry Shorts film Energy to Spare: Building Better Batteries, showcasing his research on zinc-ion batteries as a safer, more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion technology. Several Kaner group graduate students (Gray Carson, Isabelle Davis, Puyuan Du, Bradley Kroes, Haemin (Joanne) Oh, and Zhiyin (Tara) Yang) also appear in the film, which blends engaging visuals with insights into next-generation energy storage for the renewable energy era.
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Congratulations to our 2025 Kaner group graduates

Dr. Spencer Hamilton
From left to right (Malachi Warneke, Dr. Kaner, Suzy Matinyan, Min Kyu Lee, and Celeste Elkort)

Several Kaner group members celebrated their graduations this year with notable honors, including Spencer Hamilton (Ph.D.) receiving the Herbert Newby McCoy Commencement Award; Haemin (Joanne) Oh (MACS) with the Excellence in Research Award; Min Kyu Lee (MACS) with the Outstanding Capstone Research Award; Celeste Elkort (B.S. Chemistry) with the James Blaine Ramsey Commencement Prize; and Suzy Matinyan (B.S. Chemistry) with the Maria Rebecca and Maureen Bellettini Commencement Award.

Congratulations also to graduates Puyuan Du (MACS), Malachi Warneke (B.S. Chemistry), Puyuan Du (MACS), Mark Munteanu (M.S., Materials Chemistry), and Mikołaj Sidziński (B.S. Bioengineering)