About Me
I am a 5th year graduate student at the University of Oklahoma studying physical/computational chemistry. My research is primarily focused on the modeling of reaction mechanisms, allowing for a better understanding of catalytic activity and product formation. I am particularly interested in the chemistry of metal-organic frameworks, surface catalysis, and organometallic chemistry, as well as approaches to make modeling these systems faster, more accurate, and more insightful.
For the most up-to-date list of publications, see my Google Scholar page.
My CV can be found here: Curriculum Vitae
Education
2021-Present
Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry
University of Oklahoma
Advisor: Prof. Yihan Shao
2020
B.S. in Biochemistry
University of Texas at Dallas
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Sengupta, S.; Pei, Z.; Lander, C. W.; Wickizer, C. R.; Homma, Y.; Afshari, H.; Mao, Y.; Huo, P.; Zhang, Y.; Tretiak, S.; Bumm, L. A.; Furis, M. I.; Shao, Y.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2026, 28, 7021–7034.
[14] Nitric Oxide Insertion into a Metalloporphyrin–Carbon Bond.
Londoño-Salazar, J.; Ye, G.; Lander, C. W.; Kapfunde, T. A.; Yamamoto, N.; Akhmedov, N. G.; Zhang, Y.; Shao, Y.; Richter-Addo, G. B.
JACS Au 2026, 6, 1488–1494.
Altınçekiç, N. G.; Lander, C. W.; Yu, J.; Roslend, A.; Shao, Y.; Noh, H.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 38, 34777–34790.
[12] Toward an Understanding of Linear Scaling Relations through Energy Decomposition Analysis.
DiCenso, J.†; Lander, C.†; Pei, Z.; Sengupta, S.; Le, T.; Zhang, Y.; Gunasooriya, G. T. K. K.; Wang, B.; Mao, Y.; Shao, Y.
JACS Au 2025, 5, 3092–3103.
[11] Towards non-blinking and photostable perovskite quantum dots.
Mi, C.; Gee, G. C.; Lander, C. W.; Shin, D.; Atteberry, M. L.; Akhmedov, N. G.; Hidayatova, L.; DiCenso, J. D.; Yip, W. T.; Chen, B.; Shao, Y.; Dong, Y.
Nat Commun 2025, 16, 204.
Singh, S. P.; Chaudhary, U.; Lander, C. W.; Daroczi, A.; Shao, Y.; Sharma, I.
ACS Catal. 2025, 15, 9886–9896.
Altınçekiç, N. G.; Lander, C. W.; Roslend, A.; Yu, J.; Shao, Y.; Noh, H.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 33485–33498.
[8] Training machine learning potentials for reactive systems: A Colab tutorial on basic models.
Pan, X.†; Snyder, R.†; Wang, J.N.†; Lander, C.†; Wickizer, C.†; Van, R.; Chesney, A.; Xue, Y.; Mao, Y.; Mei, Y.; Pu, J.; Shao, Y.
J Comput Chem 2024, 45, 638–647.
Ghosh, B.; Alber, A.; Lander, C. W.; Shao, Y.; Nicholas, K. M.; Sharma, I.
Org. Lett. 2024, 26, 9436–9441.
[6] Catalytic Stereoselective 1,2-cis-Furanosylations Enabled by Enynal-Derived Copper Carbenes.
Ghosh, B.; Alber, A.; Lander, C. W.; Shao, Y.; Nicholas, K. M.; Sharma, I.
ACS Catal. 2024, 14, 1037–1049.
Ingram, Z. J.; Lander, C. W.; Oliver, M. C.; Altınçekiç, N. G.; Huang, L.; Shao, Y.; Noh, H.
J. Phys. Chem. C 2024, 128, 9556–9565.
[4] Reaction Pathway for the Aerobic Oxidation of Phosphines Catalyzed by Oxomolybdenum Salen Complexes.
Rusmore, T. A.; Lander, C.; Nicholas, K. M.
Eur J Inorg Chem 2024, 27, e202300506.
[3] Visualization of electron density changes along chemical reaction pathways.
Lander, C.†; Satalkar, V.†; Yang, J.†; Pan, X.; Pei, Z.; Chatterji, A.; Liu, C.; Nicholas, K. M.; Cichewicz, R. H.; Yang, Z.; Shao, Y.
Mol. Phys. 2023, 121, e2113566.
[2] Effect of an Amyloidogenic SARS-COV-2 Protein Fragment on ɑ-Synuclein Monomers and Fibrils.
Jana, A. K.; Lander, C. W.; Chesney, A. D.; Hansmann, U. H. E.
J. Phys. Chem. B 2022, 126, 3648–3658.
[1] Computational Evaluation of Potential Molecular Catalysts for Nitrous Oxide Decomposition.
Nicholas, K. M.; Lander, C.; Shao, Y.
Inorg. Chem. 2022, 61, 14591–14605.
Awards & Honors
2025
Excellence in Graduate Research Award
University of Oklahoma Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
In recognition of excellent contributions in scholarly activity and outstanding performance in research
2023
Roger E. Frech Scholarship
University of Oklahoma Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
For outstanding research in the fields of physical, inorganic, or analytical chemistry
2023
Harwell Endowed Scholarship
University of Oklahoma Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
For outstanding academic achievement
2021
Kenneth M. Nicholas Graduate Fellowship
University of Oklahoma Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Awarded to one incoming first-year graduate student studying synthesis/catalysis
2016-2020
Academic Excellence Scholarship with Distinction
University of Texas at Dallas
Scholarship for academically talented first-time freshmen
Presentations
Conference Presentations
Spring 2025
ACS San Diego - Oral
Fall 2024
ACS Southwest Regional Meeting - Poster
Spring 2024
ACS New Orleans - Poster
Fall 2023
ACS Southwest Regional Meeting - Oral
Teaching
Previous Courses
CHEM 3423: Physical Chemistry I - Role: Lecturer
Undergraduate course in physical chemistry covering thermodynamics, phase equilibria, kinetics, and reaction mechanisms.
Summer: 2025
CHEM 3421: Physical Chemistry I Lab - Role: TA Lab Instructor
Undergraduate lab course in physical chemistry emphasizing measurement and calibration, while covering topics in thermodynamics, phase equilibria, kinetics, and reaction mechanisms.
Spring: 2025
CHEM 1415: General Chemistry II Lab - Role: TA Lab/Recitation Instructor
Undergraduate lab and recitation in general chemistry emphasizing scientific writing technique, while covering topics in thermodynamics, acid-base chemistry, kinetics, and electrochemistry.
Fall: 2021, 2022; Summer: 2022