The Blakemore Laboratory
Inspired by sustainability and stewardship, our group synthesizes new compounds and studies reactivity involving actinides, lanthanides, and light gases. We draw on perspectives from inorganic/organometallic chemistry, molecular electrochemistry, and surface science.
RECENT BLAKEMORE GROUP NEWS
22 December 2025 – Congratulations to Noah Tucker, who has been named the recipient of a KU Undergraduate Research Award for Spring 2025! This award comes with a $1,000 scholarship to support Noah, who is working on generation of tailored uranyl complexes supported by crown-ether-type ligands. Congratulations, Noah!
18 December 2025 - Congratulations to graduate student Jared Schaeffer (G3), who has been named a trainee with KU's NIH-funded Training Grant in Chemical Biology! In this program, Jared will explore the interdisciplinary research area of Chemical Biology, while being supported for full-time research in our lab. Jared's project centers on development of new chelators for radiopharmaceuticals, and study of related f-element speciation with advanced spectroscopy. Way to go, Jared!
18 November 2025 – Our paper with the title “Synthesis, Isolation, and Study of Heterobimetallic Uranyl Crown Ether Complexes” has been selected for an inaugural College Research Product Award. These new awards, which are granted by the KU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and are made possible by KU alumnus Dr. Tony Arnold, recognize research products that make significant contributions in their respective fields. In our case, synthesis of new uranyl complexes supported by crown ether ligands, as reported in JACS in 2024, represents a particularly attractive finding that has opened new vistas for exploration! Special congratulations to Dr. Riddhi Golwankar and Alex Ervin, the lead authors of our paper, on the occasion of this recognition!
15 October 2025 - Congratulations to Alex Ervin (G5) and Fynn Cooper (G4) who have been named recipients of research funding support from the KU Doctoral Student Research Fund (DSRF) for 2025! Alex and Fynn wrote individual proposals for consideration in the DSRF competition which takes place annually at KU. Alex's proposal focuses on synchrotron spectroscopy being conducted jointly with Tonya Vitova's group, and Fynn's proposal focuses on generation of new thorium compounds via aqueous processing. Congrats, Alex and Fynn!