About Me
Organic Chemist
I'm Teddy, a research student at the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in pharmaceutically-relevant synthetic and physical organic chemistry. Currently pursuing a B.S. in Chemistry with a focus in Chemical Synthesis and Biology, I've gained a solid foundation in organic chemistry through my coursework and hands-on experiences. As a teaching assistant for Organic Chemistry I, II, and Laboratory, and an active participant in Graduate-level organic chemistry courses, I'm deeply passionate about unraveling the complexities of chemical synthesis and its impact on developing novel pharmaceutical compounds.
Researcher
In addition to my academic pursuits, I'm actively engaged in research as an undergraduate researcher at the Hull Lab at UT Austin. This valuable experience enables me to contribute to cutting-edge organic chemistry research and further enhance my knowledge and skills. Moreover, I hold certifications as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), specializing in Sterile Compounding and Aseptic Technique. These qualifications demonstrate my commitment to upholding the highest standards of safety and precision in the pharmaceutical field.
Web Developer
Beyond my scientific pursuits, I began my journey as a front-end web developer in high school. This early exposure to web development ignited my interest in creating meaningful digital experiences. I believe that the combination of scientific expertise and web development skills allows me to effectively communicate complex concepts and make a positive impact in my community.
Experience
University of Texas at AustinFall 2020 - Fall 2023
B.S. Candidate, Chemistry: Synthesis and Chemical Biology
Completed 12 hours of graduate-level organic chemistry coursework.
- Advanced Organic Chemistry (Synthesis)
- Physical Organic Chemistry
- Organic Spectroscopy
- Advanced Organic Chemistry (Supramolecular) *
Completed 29 hours of advanced science and math coursework.
- Calculus I - III
- Differential Equations with Linear Algebra
- Engineering Physics I, II (and Labs)
- Biology I, II, and Genetics
- Foundations of Data Analysis and Statistics
Completed 30 hours of upper-division chemistry coursework.
- Organic Chemistry I, II (and Labs)
- Inorganic Chemistry (and Lab)
- Physical Chemistry (and Lab)
- Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy
- Analytical Chemistry (and Lab)
- Advanced Analytical Chemistry (and Lab) *
- Biochemistry
* To be completed Fall 2023 semester.
Active member of the American Chemical Society and the Longhorn Pre-Pharmacy Association.
Publications
Rhodium-Catalyzed Tandem Reaction for the Synthesis of α,β-Disubstituted Amides and Esters. (First Author)
Jefferson, T. L.;* Nguyen, T.*; Hull, K. L. Manuscript In Preparation.
Cu-Catalyzed Three-Component 1,5- Olefin Carboamination of Vinylcyclopropanes. (Third Author)
Popov, A. G.* Viviani, V. R. E.*; Skumial, P.; Jefferson, T. L.; Salman, S. G.; Hull, K. L. Manuscript In Preparation.
Undergraduate Organic Chemistry ResearcherSept 2022 - Present
The Hull Group, University of Texas at Austin
Collaborated with Andrei Popov, PhD Candidate under the guidance of Dr. Kami Hull, PhD to mechanistically design and probe novel amine syntheses, and to determine the scope of a 1,5-carboamination reaction of vinylcyclopropanes.
- Familiarized and practiced organic laboratory techniques such as distillations, extractions, solvent crystallization, and chromatography.
- Prepared various experimental organometallic complexes within an organic laboratory glove box, and learned standard safety procedure.
- Mastered different extraction techniques such as column chromatography, total liquid chromatography (TLC), and flash chromatography.
- Practiced characterization techniques learned previously in a graduate-level Organic Spectroscopy course (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, UV/Vis, Mass).
Pharmacy Technician CertificationsFall 2021 - Summer 2022
Certified and Registered Pharmacy Technician
- Passed the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. (CPhT) Certification #30188808
- Certified with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy to become a Registered Pharmacy Technician. (Ph. T.R.) Registration #336050
Sterile Compounding and Aseptic Technique Certified
- Completed 40 hours of work in an ACPE accredited Sterile Compounding course at Austin Community College to become IV certified. NABP ePID #1666702.
- 4.0 CEUs of coursework was comprised of 20 hours of didactic education, and 20 hours of experiential training in a sterilized setting.
- 100% compliance with USP Chapter 797 was demonstrated in order to earn certification.
Organic Chemistry Lab Teaching AssistantJan 2023 to May 2023
CH 220C, University of Texas at Austin
Under the guidance of Dr. Conrad Fjetland, PhD, independently instructed, managed, and graded a group of UT Austin Organic Chemistry Laboratory students.
- Taught and guided students through fourteen organic laboratory experiments through the Spring 2023 semester.
- Graded laboratory reports and provided feedback on how to perform and report experiments in an improved manner. Office hours were held, as well.
Certified Pharmacy TechnicianFeb 2022 to May 2023
CVS Pharmacy
Receive, interpret, and fill written prescriptions and refill requests, and verify that information is complete and accurate.
- Consult and comfort patients, and communicate basic pharmaceutical concepts when needed.
- Create and maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
- Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs, and manage inventory.
Organic Chemistry I Learning AssistantAug 2022 to Dec 2022
CH320M, University of Texas at Austin
Worked with Dr. Andrei Straumanis, PhD to instruct a UT Austin Organic Chemistry I course through guided inquiry.
- Taught students Organic Chemistry I on a semi-weekly basis for the Fall 2022 semester.
- Create and maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
- Held weekly office-hour styled work sessions where students were taught in both one-on-one and group settings.
- Collaborated with other Learning Assistants and Teacher’s Assistants in order to improve quality of course material.
Organic Chemistry TutorAug 2022 to Dec 2022
Sanger Learning Center, University of Texas at Austin
Held private, personalized tutoring with UT Austin undergraduate students at a variety of different difficulties.
- Specialized in Organic Chemistry I and II tutoring, but also instructed various other courses.
- General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, College Algebra, and Calculus I - III were offered during the Fall 2022 semester.
Chemistry Content CreatorMay 2022 to October 2022
StudySmarter
Authored and prepared lessons for Organic Chemistry I and II, General Chemistry, and AP Chemistry.
- Outlined and SEO optimized chemistry lessons in order to maximize outreach.
- Selected Example Lessons:
Physical Chemistry: Introduction to Entropy
Organic Chemistry: Introduction to Spectroscopy
AP Chemistry: Introduction to Acids and Bases - A full list of lessons can be found on my website here.
Chemistry and Algebra TutorSept 2017 to Oct 2018
Haley's Helpers
Provided personalized one-on-one instruction to a variety of ages, ranging from middle school students to high school seniors.
- Tutored Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus AB and BC, General Chemistry, AP Chemistry, as well as basic Organic Chemistry concepts.
- Test preparation was also offered to students for the SAT and ACT.
Front-End Web DeveloperDec 2013 to Oct 2018
Freelance, Self-Employed
Independently ran a self-taught web development business.
- Taught myself front-end web development (HTML, CSS, JS, and PHP), and perfected my ability to imagine, design, create, and deploy websites efficiently.
- Performed within a high-pressure, fast-paced environment by meeting multiple client expectations simultaneously while managing schoolwork.
- A curated selection of examples are available upon request.