PI - Dr. Jordan Froese
Dr. Froese is from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. He completed his Honors Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry at the University of Toronto and obtained a Bachelor of Education degree from Brock University. He joined Professor Tomas Hudlicky's research group at Brock University where he earned his PhD in Biotechnology researching enzymatic catalysis and natural product synthesis. After completing his PhD, Dr. Froese joined the Vanderbilt Laboratory for Biosynthetic Studies under the supervision of Professor Brian O. Bachmann at Vanderbilt University as a postdoctoral scholar. Here, he worked on the discovery of new biologically active natural products made by cave organisms, and on engineering enzymes through directed evolution. Dr. Froese is a big fan of the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills, he enjoys learning about history, attending concerts, and is what some would consider an "aquarium hobbyist"!
Team Members
A Collaborative & Diverse Group
Bailey Rutkowski
Graduate Student, MS Chemistry
I am from South Bend, Indiana. I am working on my Masters of Science in Chemistry at Ball State. I am expecting to graduate at the end of summer 2024. I am currently the Lab Manager. I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from Purdue Northwest University. When I am not in the lab, I enjoy spending time with my cat and two corgis.
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Ella Talley
Undergraduate Researcher
I am from Evansville, Indiana. I am majoring in Chemistry and PreMed and I expect to graduate in spring 2025. In my free time, I like to run, spend time outside, and watch Netflix.
Julia Stover
Undergraduate Researcher
I am from Indianapolis, Indiana. I am majoring in Microbiology with a minor in Chemistry. I am in a sorority, and in my free time I enjoy volunteering in my community and crocheting!
Daniel O'Dell
Undergraduate Researcher
I am from Modoc, Indiana. I am currently working towards a major in Chemistry with a minor in Chinese, with the hopes of graduating in 2027. I enjoy playing games, practicing my trumpet, and cooking.
Ella Lautzenheiser
Undergraduate Researcher
I am from Terre Haute, Indiana. I am majoring in Microbiology and will be graduating in the spring of 2025. I enjoy reading, going to the gym, and birdwatching in my free time.
Alumni
Graduated Team Members
Cristina Preston
Graduate Assistant
Cristina worked in the Biocatalysis Lab from the Fall of 2019 to the Spring of 2021. She graduated from Ball State with an MA in chemistry. Cristina's work contributed to a published manuscript on which she served as the first author. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry from Princeton University.
Elizabeth Osifalujo
Graduate Assistant
Elizabeth worked in the Biocatalysis Lab from the Spring of 2021 to the Spring of 2023. She graduated from Ball State with an MS in chemistry. Elizabeth's work contributed to two published manuscripts on which she served as the first author. Elizabeth is now working as Research Assistant at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Phillip Betts
Graduate Assistant/Undergraduate Researcher
Phillip worked in the Biocatalysis Lab from the Fall of 2020 to the Spring of 2024. He joined our lab as a freshman through the Teacher-Scholar program and graduated from Ball State with an MS in biology. Phillip's work contributed to four published manuscripts on which he served as a co-author (first author of two). He will be pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry from Kent State University starting in the Fall of 2024.
Aaron Jackson
Undergraduate Researcher
Aaron worked in the Biocatalysis Lab from the Fall of 2019 to the Summer of 2020. Aaron's work contributed to a published manuscript on which he served as a co-author.
Olivia Susi
Undergraduate Researcher
Olivia worked in the Biocatalysis Lab from the Fall of 2019 to the Spring of 2020. She plans to apply to medical school.
Kelsey Scott
Undergraduate Researcher
Kelsey worked in the Biocatalysis Lab from the Fall of 2019 to the Spring of 2020 through CHEM 470.
Zoe Cook
Undergraduate Researcher
Zoe worked in the Biocatalysis lab in the Spring of 2021. Zoe joined the lab through Ball State's Teacher-Scholar program.
Louis Satterwhite
Undergraduate Researcher
Louis joined our lab in the Spring of 2021. Louis completed his Ball State Honors College thesis project with our lab. Louis' work contributed to two published manuscripts on which he served as a co-author.
Sydney Johnson
Undergraduate Researcher
Sydney worked as a volunteer in the laboratory from the Fall of 2021 until the Fall of 2022.
Maria Broering
Undergraduate Researcher
Maria worked in the lab in the Fall of 2022 through CHEM 470.
Spencer Blakely
Undergraduate Researcher
Spencer joined in the Biocatalysis lab in the summer of 2022 as part of Ball State's CRISP program. Spencer completed his Ball State Honors College thesis project with our lab. Spencer's work contributed to a published manuscript on which he served as a co-author.
Angel Nkosi
Undergraduate Researcher
Angel joined the Biocatalysis lab in the summer of 2022 as part of Ball State's CRISP program and continued to work in our lab through CHEM 470. Angel's work contributed to a published manuscript on which she served as a co-author.
Jasney Combs
Undergraduate Researcher
Jasney joined our lab in the summer of 2023 as part of Ball State's CRISP program.
Cole Klingler
Undergraduate Researcher
Cole joined our lab in the summer of 2023 as part of Ball State's CRISP program. Cole's work contributed to a published manuscript on which he served as a co-author.
Brandon Bender
Undergraduate Researcher
Brandon joined our laboratory in the Fall of 2023 through the Teacher-Scholar program, and continued his work through CHEM 470. Brandon's work contributed to a published manuscript on which he served as a co-author.
Hal Plummer
Undergraduate Researcher
Hal joined our lab in the Summer of 2024 through Ball State's CRISP program.
Andrew Sammelson
High School Intern
Andrew worked in the Biocatalysis lab in the summer of 2023 as a volunteer from the Indiana Academy of Mathematics, Science, and Humanities.
Daniel Yoo
High School Intern
Daniel joined our lab in the Spring of 2023 and worked with us through the Fall of 2023. Daniel plans to pursue his undergraduate education at Vanderbilt University.