Principal Investigator
Andrew J. Wilson
Associate Professor
Department of Chemistry
Email: aj.wilson [at] louisville.edu
Graduate Students
Dec. 2022 - present
Johann Hemmer (johann.hemmer [at] louisville.edu) CV
M.S. Univali, 2023
B.S.E. Univali, 2019
Johann Hemmer lived most of his life in the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina in Southern Brazil, where he received his BSE in Chemical Engineering from Univali (2019), working under Dr. Gizelle Almerindo on the heterogeneous catalytic deactivation of chemical weapons. After graduating, he worked for 3 years in Univali’s Central Analytical Lab overseeing the Chromatography Sector. Concomitantly, he pursued his MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences under Dr. Clovis Rodrigues in the same institution with an emphasis in Analytical and Environmental Chemistry. In Fall 2022, Hemmer joined the University of Louisville’s Ph.D. program, where he is a member of the Wilson Lab. His research aims to reduce ensemble averaging in electrocatalysis measurements to provide mechanistic understanding at the single entity level.
May 2023 - present
Amandeep Kaur (amandeep.kaur [at] louisville.edu) CV
M.S. Guru Nanak Dev University, 2019
B.S. Guru Nanak Dev University, 2017
I was born and raised in Punjab, India. I completed my B.S. in 2017 from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India. Afterwards, I completed my master’s in chemistry from the same university in 2019. Then, I served as a mentor to undergraduate students in BBK DAV College, Amritsar, India from 2019 to 2022. There, along with teaching, I did research on the synthesis, surface modification, and colloidal stability of nanoparticles and study extraction of nanoparticles using iron oxide nanoparticles. In 2023, I joined the University of Louisville as a graduate student to pursue a Ph.D. In the Wilson Lab my research is focused on spectroscopic detection of intermediates and products in electrocatalytic reactions. In my leisure time I like to listen to music, read, and spend time with my family.
Fredrick Lisili Mufoyongo (fredrick.mufoyongo [at] louisville.edu) CV
B.Ed. (Science) University of Nairobi, 2018
I was born and raised in Kenya. I completed my bachelor's degree in education (science) in 2018 from the University of Nairobi. I worked as a chemistry and mathematics tutor at Averroes Tuition Centre in Nairobi for four years. I joined the University of Louisville in January of 2023 to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry. My research explores using magnetic fields to enhance electrocatalytic nitrate reduction. I am passionate about athletics and I take pleasure in engaging in outdoor activities.
May 2023 - present
Nov. 2024 - present
Astha Jain (astha.jain [at] louisville.edu)
M.S. Banasthali University, 2022
B.S. Banasthali University, 2020
Astha was born and raised in Rajasthan, India. She completed her B.S. and M.S. from Banasthali University, India. Then, she served as a Junior Research Fellow at IIT Banaras, where her research centered on the synthesis and characterization of glass-ceramics. Next, she worked as a Junior Research Fellow at IIT Delhi in the Electro-analytical and Material Research Group of Dr. Pravin P. Ingole, where she learned various synthetic methods and electro-analytical techniques for the characterization of catalysts utilized in energy conversion and storage processes. In Fall 2024, Astha joined the University of Louisville’s Ph.D. program, where she is a member of the Wilson Lab. Her research aims to utilize temperature gradients and hot charge carriers generated from plasmon excitation to enhance electrocatalytic reactions.
Nov. 2025 - present
Augustine Onakpa (augustineeyikwuojo.onakpa [at] louisville.edu)
M.S. Toulouse INP-ENSIACETS, 2024
B.S. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, 2020
Augustine Onakpa earned his master's degree in Green Chemistry and Processes for Biomass from Toulouse INP-ENSIACETS, France, and a bachelor's degree in industrial chemistry from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Nigeria. His research experience spans biomass valorization and catalysis. Outside research, Augustine enjoys mentoring students in chemistry and playing soccer. Augustine is passionate about designing sustainable catalysts for energy storage and conversion devices. Augustine aims to contribute to developing high-performance, sustainable energy systems by combining organometallic and electroanalytical chemistry. His long-term goal is to advance research that bridges fundamental science and applied renewable energy technologies.