Thomas M. Chiarella

Pursue a Ph.D-level career utilizing my organic chemistry skills-especially in synthesis, purification, and characterization of small molecules.

Graduate Student Researcher - University of Iowa - Iowa City, IA

(2022-01 - 2026-07)

Ph.D candidate supervised by Professor Florence Williams. Researching new organic reactions and methodology.

• Discovered and developed a method to reduce nitroarenes to anilines using in situ generated boron triiodide.
• Expanded this work to include aromatic aldehydes and ketones.
• Became proficient in synthetic methods, including purifications (chromatography, recrystallization), NMR (1H, 11B, 19F, 13C, HSQC), Shlenk Techniques, and proper lab etiquette
• Maintained a clean and safe work environment

Undergraduate Research Assistant - The College of New Jersey - Ewing, NJ

(2019-09 - 2020-12)

• Developed a method to perform a lithium-halogen exchange on a brominated thiophene derivative.

Teaching Assistant - Organic Chemistry Lab - University of Iowa Chemistry Department - Iowa City, IA

(2021-09 - 2025-05)

• Instructed undergraduate organic chemistry lab sections-up to 20 students per semester
• Trained students in reaction setup, distillation, purification, and analytical methods such as NMR and IR
• Evaluated lab reports and offered constructive feedback
• Taught proper safety protocols

Chemistry Intern - Adesis Inc. - New Castle, DE

(2020-09 - 2021-07)

• Worked alongside professional chemists in an industrial setting
• Executed multistep syntheses at scales ranging from milligram to kilogram quantities
• Purified compounds using preparatory HPLC
• Understood the atmosphere of working as a chemist in an industrial setting and learning how to make and purify chemicals that can be shipped to a buyer

PhD in Chemistry - Chemistry - The University of Iowa (2021-08 - 2026-12)

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry - Chemistry - The College of New Jersey (2016-08 - 2020-12)