Members

Siamak Mahmoudi

Postdoctoral scholar

Hi! I received my BS and MS in Iran and then my PhD from the University of Kentucky, all in mechanical engineering, and then joined Risko's group where I engage in the automation of electrochemistry experiments. I spend my free time with my dog. 

Joel Bombile

Postdoctoral scholar

Rebekah Duke

Graduate student

I obtained a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Lipscomb University in May of 2020. My current research focuses on polymeric dihedral angle rotations. I am a researcher and developer for D3TaLES. Outside of the lab, I enjoy cooking and baking, exploring the outdoors with my husband and dog Maxwell, and dabbling in amateur philosophy.

Kehinde Fagbohungbe

Graduate student

Hello! I am a graduate student in the University of Kentucky (UK) Department of Chemistry, with affiliation to the UK Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER). I currently do computational materials chemistry research, with a focus on atomistic molecular dynamics simulation of conjugated polymer systems for flexible electronics and renewable energy applications.

Moses Ogbaje

Graduate student

I obtained my bachelor's degree in industrial chemistry from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in May of 2028. I am currently focusing on the development and implementation of computational approaches to study and discover organic semiconductors. Outside research, I am a big fan of chess, music and Marvel movies.

Sashen Ruhunage

Graduate student

I am a chemistry graduate student with a strong interest in computational chemistry. I have completed my undergraduate studies at the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, College of Chemical Sciences in Sri Lanka. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am passionate about video games, basketball, and traveling.

Megan Brown

Graduate student

Hi, I am Megan Brown, a graduate student in the Risko Group. I received my Bachelors of Science in Chemistry in the spring of 2022 from Centre College. My research currently focuses on characterizing the chemistry and morphology of polymer-electrolyte interfaces involved in charge transport. Outside of research, I enjoy crocheting, baking bread, and spending time with my pets.

Sahar Bayat

Graduate student

Hello! I am Sahar!  I received my bachelor and master degree in catalyses chemistry from Shahid Beheshti Uiversity, Iran. Currently I am a graduate student at University of Kentucky at Risko's lab. My  areas of work include transition metal chalcogenide catalyses and MD simulation. Aside from my studies and research I enjoy outdoor activities and of course love to spend time with my cat!

Emmanuel Adejumo

Graduate student

Shasanka Lamichhane

Undergraduate student

I am an undergraduate chemistry major and I have been working with the Risko group since 2023. Currently, I am interested in studying the crystallization dynamics of redox-active molecules and developing ways to automate the computational study of small systems. In my free time, I love to travel and run.

Lucy Rosys

Undergraduate student

Vijaykumar Karthikeyan

High school student

Hey! I am a student at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School ’24. I am in the MSTC Program at Dunbar and that has allowed me to pursue research. I love science and I am grateful I have been able to learn so much here at Risko Lab. Outside of that I love sports and spend a lot of my time outside on the Soccer Field!

Risko Lab Alumni

Postdoctoral Scholars

Connor Callaway

Hussein Hijazi

Ying-Li Huang

Uma Shantini Ramasamy

Sean M. Ryno

Karl J. Thorley

Karol Jarolimek

Adam Rigby

Graduate Students

Uswaththa Perera (PhD)

Keerthan Rao (PhD)

Jordan Chelle

Vinayak Bhat  (PhD)

Chamikara Karunasena  (PhD)

John C. Quinn

Josiah Roberts  (PhD)

Walker Mask  (MSc thesis)

Edward Kirkbride Loya

Qianxiang Ai  (PhD)

Shi Li  (PhD)

Undergraduate Students

Kyle Eldridge

Khamil Allen Thomas

Parker Sornberger

Corey Roberts

Eesh Kulshrestha

Andrew Smith

Hanna Suarez

Jodie Canada

Mitchell Stokan

Stephen Goodlett

Camron De’vine

Kate E. Fraser

William Smith

Asare Nkansah

Brandyn Thompson

Michael Heifner

Nicholas Telesz

Kristen Brooks

Maxwell Duff

Tristan Finn

Corrine F. Elliot

High School Students

Sophia Mancini

Tenzin Nangsel

Franklin Marrs

Ally Watrous