The Johnston Group (@JNJChem) header
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Student-run account for the Johnston group at Vanderbilt University. Follow for the latest news, pubs, and all things chemistry!

Nashville, TN
Joined December 2012
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We're excited to welcome our newest rotation student, Alex Sakkas! Alex joins our group after his graduation from Northeastern and industry research in lipid synthesis and small molecule discovery.
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Congrats to Rachel for presenting her work with the Johnston Lab as a Chembio Summer NSF REU at the 15th Annual VINSE Undergraduate Research Poster Session. Great work, Rachel! @VanderbiltChem @VICB_Vanderbilt @VanderbiltVinse @elonuniversity
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Congratulations, Dr. Melanie Padalino! @VanderbiltChem @VUGradSchool
Please join the Vanderbilt Department of Chemistry for the final dissertation defense of Ph.D. candidate Melanie Padalino.
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Congratulations, Dr. Scott Benner! @VanderbiltChem @VUGradSchool
Please join the Vanderbilt Department of Chemistry for the final dissertation defense of Ph.D. candidate Scott Benner. Scott's presentation is titled: Umpolung Amide Synthesis with Nitrosoalkanes: Pursuit of the Elusive N-Acyl Nitrone for 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions
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Congratulations, Dr. Preston Gourville! @VUGradSchool @VanderbiltChem
Please join the Vanderbilt Department of Chemistry for the final dissertation defense of Ph.D. candidate Preston Gourville. Preston's presentation is titled: The Total Synthesis of Feglymycin, Cochinmicin I, and Cochinmicin V Using Umpolung Amide Synthesis
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To kick off the fall semester, the lab would like to welcome our two new rotation students, Emma and Christian!
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Enjoyed hanging out with this group of Beckman Scholars and a tremendous colleague-Mentor in SoCal – Tammy’s latest results are a perfect poster backdrop!
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Scott and Preston represent the group at the annual VICB symposium – congrats on your selection for flash talks!
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Congrats to undergraduate Albert Wang for landing a VUSRP Fellowship to support his summer research in the lab!
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Welcome to our first rotation student of 2025, William Stark! William hails from Furman University, where he just graduated with a B.S. in chemistry.
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The lab welcomes Chase Pyrah, an undergraduate student from Utah State University! Chase is conducting research through Vanderbilt University’s NSF REU summer program and joined Team Aryl Glycine!
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Congratulations Paige! P(hd)aige successfully defended her dissertation outlining her optimization of the properties of ent-verticilide as an antiarrhythmic therapeutic for dysregulated RyR2. We wish her all the best as she starts her career at Corden Pharma in Boulder, CO!
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Congrats to the Magic Methyls for placing atop the leaderboard for the 2025 Merck Synthesis Challenge!
Replying to @VanderbiltChem
@VanderbiltChem students are participating in unparalleled hands-on experiential learning opportunities. From placing fifth in the 2025 @Merck Compound Challenge to conducting research with faculty through @BeckmanFnd, meet the group. vu.edu/pi7ey
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Check out which of the 23 compounds exhibited increased passive permeability, creating a path to an RyR2-targeting antiarrhythmic with improved cell permeability.
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We're thrilled to have our first rotation students of the year - Alex, Reed & Sarah - in the Johnston Lab. @VanderbiltChem @VUGradSchool
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Congrats to Cait for presenting her work with the Johnston Lab as a Chembio Summer NSF REU at the 13th Annual VINSE Undergraduate Research Poster Session. Nicely done, Cait! @VanderbiltChem @VICB_Vanderbilt @OglethorpeUniv
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Join us on August 13 as Zihang sticks his landing, in true Olympic style! @VanderbiltChem @VUGradSchool
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The Johnston Group retweeted
Board Chair Dr. Andrew Lyon welcomes #beckmansymposium attendees to #boston and shares a film about Dr. Beckman.
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