The Knight Group

Graduate Students

Kevin Coghlan

kcoghlan at live.unc.edu

Kevin is a graduate student in the polymer division from Duxbury, Massachusetts. In May of 2020, received his B.S. in chemistry with a minor in biology from Northeastern University. While at Northeastern, he worked with Dr. Rein Kirss on developing improved NMR methods for catalytic rate determination. Kevin also worked with medicinal chemistry at Goldfinch Biopharma and food coatings at Mori during his two undergraduate co-ops. Outside of lab, he spends his time swimming, running, and avidly supporting Boston sports teams.

Matthew Bogen (he/him)

mbogen at live.unc.edu

Matthew is a graduate student in the polymer division from Canfield, Ohio. He received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Westminster College in Pennsylvania, where he pursued research on luminescent lanthanide metal complexes and the extraction of lanthanides from end-of-life technology. Outside of the lab, you might find him watching NBA basketball, playing the newest video games, reading comic books, or ranting about how much he loves the city of Cleveland and its various sports teams.

Abby Gringeri (she/her)

gringeri at unc.edu

Abby grew up in northern New Jersey and received her B.A. in Biochemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. While an undergraduate, she worked in Dr. David Chenoweth’s lab synthesizing novel procollagen mimics and peptide macrocycles. She is excited to continue exploring bioinspired materials and self-assembly with the Knight lab’s hybrid peptide-polymer amphiphiles. Abby has volunteered with the nonprofit Body Empowerment Project since 2021 to design and implement eating-disorder prevention programs for students, and she is the founder of the organization’s UNC chapter. Outside of the lab, she enjoys running, art, and playing with her cat.

Bridgette Elder (she/her)

bpoff at unc.edu

Bridgette is a graduate student in the organic division from southwest Virginia. She received her undergraduate degree in chemistry from Roanoke College, where she conducted research focused on developing palladium-catalyzed reactions. When not in the lab, she enjoys hiking, lifting weights, and playing pickleball.

Jaina Bemis (she/her)

jainabe at unc.edu

Jaina grew up in Alton, Illinois before attending Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. There, she spent her time doing electrochemistry research and exploring her passion of "thoughtful arguing" through debate, eventually earning her BS in Forensic Chemistry in 2023. Her current research interest lies in the high-throughput analysis of peptoids. When not in the lab, you can find her crocheting, baking, or playing board games with friends.

Will Swofford (he/him)

wswoffo at unc.edu

Will is a graduate student in the polymer division originally from Greensboro, NC. He completed his undergraduate degree in Chemistry at Appalachian State University (Roll 'Neers) where he worked in Al Schwab's lab on coordination polymers. Will also worked in coatings chemistry at Axalta Coatings Systems for 3 summer internships. Outside of lab, you can find him mountain biking, hiking, snowboarding, or playing video games!

reidcope at unc.edu

Reid is a graduate student in the Polymer division, originally from Enterprise, Utah. He attended Southern Utah University (Sko Birds!), where he earned his B.S. in Chemistry with minors in Mathematics and Physics. Reid participated in two summer internships working on FROMP (frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization), one with Dr. Matt Sigman at the University of Utah, and the other with Dr. Jeff Moore at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. When he isn't in the lab, Reid enjoys running, playing video games, hiking, and talking about being from Utah.

Carly Slough

Reid Cope

carlyst at unc.edu

Born and raised in Knoxville, TN, Carly attended Furman University in South Carolina where she earned her B.S. in chemistry and Japanese studies. Her undergraduate research efforts in the Daub lab focused on [2 + 2] and [3 + 2] photocycloadditions with the aim of synthesizing biologically relevant pyridone natural products. Now a graduate student in the organic division, Carly is curious about the intersection and application of organic, biological, and polymer chemistry. If she’s not doing science, she is probably playing volleyball, running, or lifting!

Kelly Hooper

Sam Robinson

khoop at unc.edu

Kelly is a graduate student in the polymer division from Spring Hill, TN. In December of 2023, she received her B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. There she worked with Dr. Meredith Barbee on the incorporation of mechanophores into commercially available polyurethane foam and the synthesis of single chain polymer nanoparticles in hopes of incorporating them into hydrogel networks. Outside of lab, she enjoys hiking, reading, and hanging out with friends.

samurob at unc.edu

Sam is a graduate student in the organic division, originally from Fayetteville, Tennessee. He earned his B.S in chemistry from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he worked with Dr. Meredith Barbee on synthesizing biomimetic polymer networks. Sam also participated in a summer of research with Dr. Arun Ghosh at Purdue University where he worked on synthesizing HIV-1 protease inhibitors. Outside of lab, Sam enjoys running, hiking, and playing Magic the Gathering.

Postdoctoral Researchers

Kam Poon

kcpoon at unc.edu

Kam is postdoctoral research associate from London, U.K. He completed his DPhil in Polymer and Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Oxford in 2024 under the supervision of Professor Charlotte Williams, where he researched sustainable polymers from carbon dioxide and bio-derived feedstocks, focusing on network design to enhance material properties. During his doctorate, he undertook a secondment at Duke University with Professor Matthew Becker on the 3D printing of sustainable materials. In 2020, he obtained his MSci in Chemistry at University College London, working with Dr Clare Bakewell on photoswitchable catalysts for ring-opening polymerisation. Outside of the lab, he enjoys cooking, traveling, cricket, and the lifelong struggle of supporting Arsenal.

Undergraduate Students

Kevin O’Keefe

Kevin O’Keefe is a chemistry major on the polymer track with a French minor from Scituate, MA. He is interested in the potential uses of polymer chemistry to affect biological systems. Outside the lab, he enjoys swimming and is involved in the Carolina International Relations Association.

Emory Katz

Emory Katz, an undergraduate from Morrisville, NC, is pursuing a major in chemistry (on the biochemistry track) and Romance languages. Her academic interests lie in the intersection of chemistry and biological function, particularly their applications for human health and well-being. Outside of her studies, she enjoys swimming, reading, and watching movies with friends!