Stache Lab
Principal Investigator
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Erin Stache
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
she/her
estache@princeton.edu
Frick Chemistry Laboratory, 261
609-258-8065B.S., University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 2008
M.S., Colorado State University, 2011
Advisor: Eric M. FerreiraPh.D., Colorado State University, 2018
Advisors:
Tomislav Rovis (Columbia University)
Abigail G. Doyle (Princeton University)Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow, Cornell University, 2018-2020
Advisor: Brett P. Fors
Post-Doctoral Associates & Fellows
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Sajjad Dadashi-Silab
he/him
B.Sc., Amirkabir University of Technology, 2012
Supervisor: Dr. Hormoz EslamiM.Sc., Istanbul Technical University, 2015
Advisor: Yusuf YagciPh.D., Carnegie Mellon University, 2021
Advisor: Krzysztof MatyjaszewskiPostdoctoral Associate, Cornell University, 2021-2023
Advisor: Erin StacheProfile Details
Sajjad is a postdoctoral associate in the Stache Lab exploring the development of new strategies in transition metal mediated radical polymerizations. His Ph.D. research under Dr. Matyjaszewski focused on studying external control in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) to understand its mechanistic aspects and develop new catalytic systems to mediate the ATRP processes. Prior to his Ph.D., Sajjad obtained an M.Sc. degree at Istanbul Technical University conducting research on photopolymerization systems under the supervision of Dr. Yagci. In 2021, Sajjad started his postdoctoral research with Dr. Stache to study transition metals in polymer synthesis with a special focus on advancing the chemistry of cobalt in mediating radical polymerization reactions.
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Yoon-Jung Jang
she/her
B.Sc., Seoul National University
M.Sc., Seoul National University
Advisor: Tae Lim ChoiPh.D., University of Minnesota
Advisor: Marc HillmyerProfile Details
Yoon-Jung grew up in South Korea. She attended Seoul National University for her undergraduate and master’s degrees, where she focused on C-H amidation polymerization for fluorescent materials. She then moved to the University of Minnesota to earn her Ph.D. under Dr. Hillmyer, focusing on structure-property relationships of sustainable polymers. In 2023, Yoon-Jung joined the Stache lab as a postdoctoral associate at Princeton University.
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Han-Li Sun
he/him
B.Sc., Peking University
Supervisors: Zhangjie Shi, Jianbo WangPh.D., Peking University
Advisor: Rong ZhuProfile Details
Han-Li earned his bachelor’s degree and doctorate from Peking University, under the supervision of Professors Zhangjie Shi and Jianbo Wang. His research focused on developing new transition metal-catalyzed polymerization reactions, specifically copper-mediated cumulene polymerization. Additionally, his area of study also includes small molecule synthesis, primarily focusing on developing hydrofunctionalization of alkenes. Han-Li joined the Stache lab at Princeton University in 2023. Outside of the lab, he has a strong passion for sports, and is particularly fond of boxing and basketball.
Graduate Students
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Lejla Čamdžić
she/her
B.S., Southern Methodist University, 2020
4th Year Graduate Student
Lejla obtained her bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where she researched hypervalent iodine species and their reactivities in the Tsarevsky lab. She joined the Stache lab in 2020, working on leveraging isocyanides in radical polymerization methods to generate novel polymer materials. She enjoys spending time with her roommate’s two cats, listening to music, and any outdoor activities.
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Sewon Oh
he/him
B.S., Boston College, 2020
4th Year Graduate Student
Sewon grew up in South Korea before coming to the US, attending middle and high school in Washington state. He then moved to the east coast to attend Boston College to earn a bachelor’s in chemistry with a minor in mathematics. During his time there he became interested in research, specifically polymer science. During his college career, he returned to Korea to serve in the military service for two years. Upon being discharged, he finished his undergraduate career and came to Cornell University for his Ph.D., where he continues to perform research while being mentored by Dr. Stache from afar. Outside of lab, he likes playing basketball and soccer, cooking, and eye glasses shopping.
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Hanning Jiang
she/her
B.S., Purdue University, 2021
3rd Year Graduate Student
Hanning comes from Beijing, China. She attended Purdue University and worked in analytical (Dr. Kenttämma) and organic (Dr. Mei) labs. Upon graduation, she joined the Stache lab due to strong interest in alleviating plastic pollution. Her career dream is simply degrading a million tons of plastic within her lifetime. In her free time, Hanning loves baking, crocheting, and making artworks.
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Megan Matter
she/her
B.S., University of Florida, 2021
3rd Year Graduate Student
Megan went to undergrad at the University of Florida, where she studied english and chemistry. In the lab of Dr. Seidel, she studied the oxo-Pictet-Spengler reaction using thiourea catalysts. In the Stache lab, Megan works on expanding small molecule synthesis methods using the photothermal effect exhibited by carbonaceous nanoparticles. In her free time Megan enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with her cat, Chloe.
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Cristina Preston-Herrera
she/her
B.S., Ball State University, 2018
M.A., Ball State University, 2021
3rd Year Graduate Student
Cristina attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. During her undergrad, she conducted research on adhesive polysulfides synthesized from garlic extract components. For her master’s she helped develop an assay system for the detection of metabolites produced from Rieske deoxygenase variants made from a directed evolution platform. Cristina is very excited to get back into polymer synthesis in the Stache lab. When she’s not working in the lab, you can find her traveling to new places with her husband, baking, or taking too many pictures of her two dogs, Teddy and Logan.
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Clotilde Tagnon
they/them
B.S., The University of Texas at Austin, 2021
2nd Year Graduate Student
Clotilde attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a B.S. in chemistry, working in Dr. Zacharia Page’s lab developing novel 3D printing strategies and synthesizing dyes with expanded functionalities. They joined the Stache lab at Cornell University to learn how to depolymerize commodity polymers and is stoked to continue their education at Princeton University. In their free time, Clotilde enjoys spending time with their cats Selene and Helios, playing video games, and making art.
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Rory Devin
he/him
B.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2023
1st Year Graduate Student
Born and raised in Littleton, Colorado, Rory completed his undergraduate degree in biochemistry/biophysics and mathematics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. At RPI, he was involved in computational biophysics studies of collagen peptides with Dr. Makhatadze. He also spent 6 months working on total synthesis in the group of Dr. Hanessian at the Université de Montréal in Quebec. Outside of the lab, Rory enjoys skiing, bicycle racing, and mountaineering as well as playing the piano and choral singing.
Alumni
Graduate Students
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Jacob Darien
he/him
B.S., University of Wisconsin Madison, 2022
2nd Year Graduate Student
Jacob attended the University of Wisconsin Madison for undergrad, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in applied mathematics. While there, Jacob conducted research under Dr. Boydston on mechanochemically responsive small molecules for incorporation into 3D-printable functional materials. In 2022, Jacob moved out east to join the Stache lab at Cornell in pursuit of using photothermal conversion as a methodology for small-molecule synthesis before moving down with the group to Princeton in 2023. Outside of the lab, Jacob spends his free time playing D&D, doing yoga, or practicing his guitar.
Undergraduate Students
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Roy Kim
he/him
Princeton University
2nd Year Undergraduate Student
Roy was born and raised in Northern Virginia. He is studying chemistry at Princeton University as an undergraduate student. As part of the Chemistry REU program, Roy worked in the Stache lab under Megan Matter on direct thermal amidation utilizing photothermal agents. In his free time, Roy enjoys cooking, camping, and hiking.
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Leana Salgado
she/her
Rutgers University – Camden
4th Year Undergraduate Student
Leana is an undergraduate student attending Rutgers University – Camden, where she is studying biochemistry with a minor in mathematics. At Rutgers, she works under Dr. Salas-de la Cruz optimizing cellulose nanocrystals using ionic liquids to develop novel materials. She joined the Stache lab for the Chemistry REU program and worked with Lejla Čamdžić on esterifying polyketones derived from polyisocyanides. In her free time, Leana likes to go to the gym, read, and go to the beach.