Professor Sophya "Sonya" Garashchuk
M.S., 1992, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
Ph.D., 1999, University of Notre Dame
Postdoc 1999-2001, University of Chicago in the group of John Light
The Quantum Theory group, USC 05/22/2024.
From left to right – Chanikya Jayawardana, Julian Stetzler, Vitaly, Rassolov, Michael
Safo, Sophya Garashchuk.
The Quantum Theory Group at the 2023 SETCA meeting Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA.
From left to right: Back row – Vitaly Rassolov, Austin Hill, Julian Stetzler, Sachith
Wickramasinghe, Matt Dutra.
Front row – Shehani Wetthasinghe, Sophya Garashchuk, Cathryn Murphy.
Current Members
Julian Stetzler
(Co-advised with Vitaly Rassolov) Julian has joined the group in 2022. His undergraduate degree in Math/Chemistry is from Alvernia University. Julian is working on the Exact Factorization theory of the electron-nuclear dynamics.
Michael Anim Safo
Michael has joined the group in October of 2023. His undergraduate degree in Chemistry is from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ashanti Region in Ghana. The topic of his undergraduate research is ‘ Theoretical Insight into the unexpected initial (3 + 2) cycloaddition reaction of mesitonitrile oxide with 1,4-diazepene derivatives’
Key Collaborators
Vitaly Rassolov
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina
Jacek Jakowski
Center for Nanophase Materials Science, Oak Ridge National Lab
Former Members
Graduate Students
Jim Mazzuca, Ph.D. 2014.
In his doctoral research, Jim has explored the effects of substrate motion and of the quantum behavior of the proton during the rate-limiting step of the Soybean Lipoxygenase-1 reaction. Currently, he is a chemistry professor at Alma College, Alma, Michigan. See his path to Ph.D.
Bing Gu, Ph.D. 2016.
In his doctoral research, Bing has developed methods of quantum dynamics scalable to large molecular systems. Currently he is a chemistry professor at the Westlake University, PRC
Sachith Wickramasinghe, Ph.D. 2023.
In his doctoral research, Sachith has unraveled the intricacies of the hydroxide transfer in ion-exchange membranes. Currently, Sachith teaches general chemistry at USC.
Austin Hill, MS 2024.
Niranji Ekanayake, MS 2019.
Postdoctoral fellows
Tijo Vazhappilly (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India)
Michail Volkov
David Dell'Angelo (Université de Lorraine, France)
Lei Wang (Liaoning Normal University, PRC)
Matthew Dutra (University of Cincinnati)
Undegradute Researchers
Mallory Muller
Travis Harris
Ellen Heath
Megan Gee (PhD from USC)
William Petroff
Kelby Killoy (PhD from MUSC)
Shannon McElhenney (PhD program at UC Irvine)
Carson Tang (PhD program at UGeorgia)
Sasha Sawyer (PhD program at UWashington)
Cathryn Murphy (PhD program at Northwestern U)
Alexandria Hoehn (PhD program at UChicago)
Visiting students
Vaibhav Dixit
Narla Darnish
Ievegniia Savchenko
Pre-College students
Nathan Sairam
William McAdams
Micahel Slattery
Albert Wang