Bio
ChristiAnna is a first generation college graduate, she earned her B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in mathematics from the University of North Carolina – Wilmington in 2017, in the fall of the same year she began her Ph.D. journey at the University of Florida working under the advisement of Dr. George Christou, completing her Ph.D in the fall of 2022. During her time at UF she conducted research in metal oxide cluster chemistry working with different 3d/4f transition metals for magnetism, catalysis, and quantum device applications. During her Ph.D. she was a part of a DOE funded EFRC, the Center for Molecular Magnetic Quantum Materials, M2QM. Upon completion of her degree, she continued working as a post-doctoral researcher for M2QM in the physics department while also serving as interim Director of the Center for X-ray Crystallography for the Department of Chemistry. She is an advocate for STEM outreach and teaching youth about the wonderful world of STEM, for four years she was an organizer for Molecular Mania, a Halloween themed event organized by the Center for Catalysis at UF exhibiting various chemistry experiments, she also volunteered for cleanup of the Florida coast and was a mentor to incoming graduate students. In addition to her volunteer work, she is an avid semi-professional photographer, reader, and gamer.
Her current interests include inorganic and organic materials for medicinal and technological applications. She is a Postdoctoral Research Associate working in the Isotope Applications Research Group here at ORNL and is currently investigating the use of radionuclides for medicinal applications.
Professional Experience
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) August 2023 - Present
• Experimental research into radiopharmaceutical therapies, development of small molecules for targeting mutated proteins in cancer cells.
• Chelator synthesis for the capture of radionuclides.
• Communications chair, ORPEX24, for the Oak Ridge Postdoctoral Association (ORPA)
• Mentor to student interns for the SULI program.
• Proposal writing
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Florida January 2023 – August 2023
The Center for Molecular Magnetic Quantum Materials, M2QM
• Experimental research involving the synthesis and characterization by various spectroscopic and physical techniques of molecular metal-oxo compounds of transition metal and/or lanthanide metals as required by the overall objectives of the M2QM Center.
• Provide assistance to other members of the M2QM Center in the handling and mounting of such compounds for study.
• Assist in the preparation of manuscripts for publication.
• Mentor graduate students in their Ph.D research.
Research Assistant, University of Florida August 2017 – December 2022
Advisor: Dr. George Christou
• Utilized systematic investigations to isolate factors that contribute to the growth of Co/Oxo clusters.
• Employed a variety of characterization techniques including powder X-Ray diffraction, single crystal X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible light Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), electrochemistry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR), elemental analysis (C, H, N)
• Established training protocols for safety in the lab, ensured current and new members were properly instructed and up to date with safety training
• Submitted hazardous waste for Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) pick up and disposal, ensured all safety protocols were followed and maintained
• Maintained waste records adhering to the EHS procedures established by the University of Florida
• Maintained monthly self-audits as dictated by EHS, ensuring all hazardous waste was contained in satellite accumulation areas and all safety protocols were followed.
Awards
Scipreneur Challenge Pitch Competition Winner, 2024
Finalist Your Science in a Nutshell Competition, 2024
Graduate Student Teaching Award, 2019
Grinter Fellowship Recipient, 2017-2020
Ruritan Scholarship Recipient, 2015
Teal Scholarship Recipient, 2013 – 2017
Dean’s List, University of North Carolina Wilmington: 2013-2014, 2016-2017
Honors College, University of North Carolina Wilmington 2013 – 2017
AmeriCorps Scholarship Recipient, 2013-2019
National Youth Leadership Forum for Medicine Alumni, 2010
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - Chemistry, August 2017 – December 2022
Ph.D. Inorganic Chemistry
University of Florida, Gainesville Fl., USA
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry, August 2013 - May 2017
University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington NC., USA
Professional Affiliations
National Postdoc Association, 2023 - Present
Oak Ridge Postdoctoral Association, 2023 - Present
American Chemical Society - Inorganic division, 2019-present
Other Publications
Hurst, J. M.; Yadav, R.; Boeck, P. T.; Ghiviriga, I.; Brantley, C. L.; Dobrzycki, Ł.; Veige, A. S., Snapshot of Cyclooctyne Ring-Opening to a Tethered Alkylidene Cyclic Polymer Catalyst. Chem. Sci. 2024. Advanced Article.
Yadav, R.; Brantley, C. L.; Ghiviriga, I.; Abboud K, A.; Lester, D. W.; Veige, A. S., Probing tungsten-alkylidyne cyclic polymer initiator decomposition pathways with oxidants. Polyhedron. 2024, 256, 116987.
Acosta, C.; Belov, D.; Lamur, A; Brantley, C. L.; Solans-Monfort, X.; Rue, K. Christou, G.; Bukhryakov, K., Mononuclear Four-Coordinate Bis-Fluoride Bis-NHC Complexes of Chromium(II), Iron(II) and Cobalt(II). Inorg. Chem. 2023, 62, 44, 18108-18115.
Singh, A.; Brantley, C. L.; Lee, K.; Abboud, K.; Peralta, J.; Christou, G. Structural and Magnetic Analysis of a Family of Structurally Related Iron(III)-oxo Clusters of Metal Nuclearity Fe8, Fe12Ca4, and Fe12La4. Chemistry 2023, 5, 1599-1620.
Armenis, A. S.; Bakali, G. P.; Brantley, C. L.; Raptopoulou, C. P.; Psycharis, V.; Cunha-Silva, L.; Christou, G.; Stamatatos, T. C. A family of mono-, di-, and tetranuclear DyIII complexes bearing the ligand 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(picolinoylhydrazone) and exhibiting slow relaxation of magnetization. Dalton Transactions 2022, 51 (47), 18077-18089, 10.1039/D2DT02921A.
Hoffman, S.; Yu, J.-X.; Liu, S.-L.; Brantley, C.; Stroscio, G. D.; Hadt, R. G.; Christou, G.; Zhang, X.-G.; Cheng, H.-P. Majorana Zero Modes Emulated in a Magnetic Molecule Chain. arXiv preprint arXiv:2110.12019 2021.
Brantley, C. L.; Coombs, T. C. Intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions of N-substituted maleimides. Tetrahedron Letters 2017, 58 (48), 4519-4524. DOI: .