Meet the Team
Alison Fout | principal investigator
BS Gannon University | MS UNC Charlotte | PhD Indiana University | Postdoc Harvard University
The lab recently moved! What drew you to Texas A&M? Fantastic students, excellent colleagues, collegial atmosphere, and awesome infrastructure.
What’s your approach to mentoring students? I try to gauge my approach on the student; some students want to talk science daily, others want a more hands-off approach and will talk to me when they need to. Either way, I try to cater my mentoring style to what students need. This is hard, but happy students are productive students.
What’s the most rewarding part of research? Seeing an idea come to fruition and watching the students bring those ideas to life. Interacting with students on a daily basis and seeing them grow from a pair of hands in the lab into a colleague is what makes this job so special.
After a long day, what’s the best way to relax? Relax? I am almost always on the move between work and my husband, two kids, and two dogs, but if I finally get a chance to just sit down, I love to read. And I enjoy when my students suggest books to read that they have enjoyed. It gives me insight into them and they are almost always very good books.
Shourya Gupta | Postdoctoral Research associate
Ph.D. in chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvanthapuram, 2023
What drew you to the Fout group? I read papers from the Fout group during my Ph.D. and have always found the chemistry very interesting. All the lab members are really nice and helpful. Alison is very caring and gives the freedom to do science and learn in one's own way. So all of the above drew me to the Fout lab!
What’s always on your Spotify playlist? Songs by A. R. Rahman
What is your ideal vacation spot? The beach
Contact: sgupta116@tamu.edu
Erick Nuñez Bahena | Postdoctoral Research associate
Ph.D. in chemistry, The University of British Columbia, 2023
What drew you to the Fout group? The variety of research areas covered in the Fout lab. Also, I really like how the group uses a variety of techniques and tools that complement each other to answer interesting research questions.
What’s always on your Spotify playlist? Mostly speed metal, although I also enjoy listening to indie rock.
What is your ideal vacation spot? Anywhere where delicious food is readily available
Contact: ericknb@tamu.edu
Daoyang Zhang | Postdoctoral Research associate
Ph.D. in Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 2024
What drew you to the Fout group? The research itself, and how Dr. Fout guides and mentors her students.
What got you interested in chemistry? The fact that chemistry research is the combine of manual and mental job
What is your ideal vacation spot? Somewhere relaxing, where I don't need to do a lot of explorations
Contact: daoyangz@tamu.edu
Jewel Moore | Fourth year
BS in chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 2021
What drew you to the Fout group? I knew I wanted to join a group that values green chemistry, but what really drew me were the students! I love being in a group that values collaboration and friendliness.
What do you enjoy about research? While research is structured to an extent, there is so much room for exploration and discovery. Every day in lab looks different, so I never get bored!
Do you have any pets? Yes! My little zoo consists of my three dogs, Franklin (who sometimes makes guest appearances in lab), Cherry, and Tobias, and my cat, Catherine. They're my little rocks.
Contact: jmmoore@tamu.edu.
Brennan Vaught | Fourth year
BS in chemistry, minor in visual arts, Hampden-Sydney College, 2021
What drew you to the Fout group? The group checked all my boxes--interesting and impactful research, a PI that cares about their grad students and not just their research, and a close-knit group of coworkers.
What do you enjoy about research? I enjoy the interface of many fields and using techniques within those fields to solve problems, answer questions, etc.
What's always on your Spotify most-played? Simply, a variety. I tend to listen to a lot of the Grateful Dead, Goose, or Widespread Panic but also a lot of indie and southern rock.
Contact: bvaught3@tamu.edu
Nir Kadosh | Third year
BS in chemistry, The Ohio State University, 2022
What drew you to the Fout group? Alison's research background and future focuses were incredibly interesting to me, but the thing that sealed the deal was the group dynamic!
What’s your research background? Analytical spectroscopy, with a focus on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. I performed spectroelectochemical experiments at my undergrad.
Do you have any pets? I have a pug named Stella.
Contact: kadosh2018@tamu.edu
Hsien-Liang Cho | Third year
BS in chemistry, National Tsing Hus University, 2019 | MS, National Taiwan University, 2021
What drew you to the Fout group? The great group dynamic attracted me and also the reduction of oxyanions was pretty cool.
What got you interested in synthesis? I like to create!! I think chemists are like magicians. We can construct anything we imagine. That is the power of synthesis.
What's your ideal vacation spot? Iceland. I really want to see the northern lights and icebergs at some point in my life. Although it's pretty cold in Iceland, I think it's still worth going there to enjoy the wonderful scenery.
Contact: hlcho1001@tamu.edu
Shrivignesh S | Third year
BS in chemistry, MS, Indian Institute of Science, 2022
What drew you to the Fout group? The enthusiasm of the graduate students drew me in, and also I love the modularity of the tripodal ligands.
What got you interested in synthesis? The idea of combining seemingly unrelated molecules to see them fall in place together attracted me.
What's always on your Spotify most-played? Lost stars - Keira Knightly.
Contact: shrivigneshs@tamu.edu
Elizabeth March | Second year
B.S. in Chemistry from Arizona State University, 2023
What drew you to the Fout group? I was interested in the Fout group and their research before I even applied to Texas A&M, but the group dynamic and the people are what ultimately drew me to the group!
What’s your ideal vacation spot? Either Ireland or Scotland. There is so much history to learn about and the countrysides of each seem gorgeous.
What's always on your Spotify most-played? My music taste can go from Taylor Swift to something like Queen really quickly but recently I've been listening to Taylor Swift on repeat.
Contact: emarch.01@tamu.edu
Aishee De | Second year
MSc Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, 2023
What drew you to the Fout group? Alison’s Genuine care for her students, the collaborative environment and the group dynamics!
Do you have any pets? Yes, I also have a deep love for cats and dogs
What's your ideal vacation spot? the hills! I find their calming influence very appealing
Contact: aishee1999@tamu.edu
Soumyalika Chowdhury | Second year
BS and MS in Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science education and Research Kolkata, 2023
What drew you to the Fout group? The collaborative work environment- the group dynamics along with the research of the group were the key factors that drew me to the group
What’s always on your Spotify playlist? Mostly the Coke studio songs
What's your ideal vacation spot? I love the hills. I feel that the serenity and the calmness of the hills is perfect for a break from your work and to feel re-energised
Contact: sc18ms058@tamu.edu
Chao-Hsien Lee | Second year
BS in Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 2021
What drew you to the Fout group? Exciting and interesting chemistry. Friendly lab vibe
What’s always on your Spotify playlist? Jonathan Lee
What's your ideal vacation spot? Italy, the food is so good
Contact: ch_lee@tamu.edu
Fiona Roche | First year
BA in Chemistry, The College of Wooster 2024
What drew you to the Fout group? The students. I knew I wanted to join a group that had a sense of community and is supportive
Do you have any pets? My dog, Sadie !
What's your ideal vacation spot? Someday I would love to go to Italy or Greece
Contact: froche24@tamu.edu
Cassandra
Keeping the vibes fresh