Synthesis in Paradise
The Group
Pure compounds since 2014.
PI: Matthew F. Cain (MFC),
Cain Lab: Undergraduate Army, 9/9/2024
Left to right: Macy, Yuri, MFC, Heather, and Nico aka "The Brinemaker"
The researchers behind these pure compounds range from undergraduates to graduate students to community college lecturers to Postdoctoral Research Fellows.
Current researchers:
Matthew Riek (BS Chemistry, Allegheny College; PhD Student)
Garrett Nada (BS Chemistry, UH Manoa Spring 2019 Graduate; now MS Student)
Chase Roche (Undergraduate, BS Chemistry, Expected Graduation: Spring 2024)
Yuri Ah-Tye (Undergraduate, BS Biochemistry, Expected Graduation: Spring 2025)
Dominique Levy (Undergraduate, BS Chemistry, Expected Graduation: Spring 2026)
Heather Sinclair (Undergraduate, BS Microbiology, Expected Graduation: Spring 2026)
Macy Mazzeo (Undergraduate, BS Chemistry, Expected Graduation: Spring 2026)
Joining in Spring 2025 ... Grace Martin (Undergraduate transfer student from University of Minnesota)
Former researchers:
Graduate Students
Dr. Mika Nakashige, PhD Spring 2021, Previous: BA Chemistry (with Honors), Williams College. Currently: Chemist at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Oahu, HI.
Beatrice Chinen, MS Summer 2021, Previous: BS Chemistry, UH Manoa Spring 2017 Graduate with Honors. Currently: Research Stockroom Manager, UH Manoa.
Dr. Preston Miura-Akagi, PhD Fall 2023, Previous: BS Chemistry, UH Manoa Spring 2015 Graduate. Currently: Job Search
Miranda Howard, MS Spring 2024, Previous: BA Chemistry, Assumption College Spring 2019. Currently: Finishing up.
Undergraduates
Caitlin Maile, graduated Spring 2015, moved to Oregon; Currently: Real job
Brandon McMurtry (BS Chemistry, UH Manoa Spring 2016 Graduate); Currently: Graduate Student, Columbia University
Uyen Freitas (BA Biochemistry, UH Manoa Spring 2015 Graduate); Currently: Completed DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) at UH Manoa. Now, a practicing DNP :)
Jarin Loristo (BS Chemistry, UH Manoa Spring 2016 Graduate); MS in MBBE, UH Manoa 2019. Currently: Lab Analyst, Genomics and Bioinformatics at UH Cancer Center.
Lesley Wong (BS Chemistry, UH Manoa Spring 2016 Graduate); Currently: Pharmacy School, University of Washington
Shelly Oshiro (BS Biology, UH Manoa Spring 2017 Graduate); Currently: ʻImi Hoʻōla Post-Baccalaureate Program at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) then JABSOM for medical school :)
Cameron Reissmueller (BS Chemistry, UH Manoa Spring 2017 Graduate); Currently: Searching for a real job
Cyrus Ma (BS Chemistry, Graduated Spring 2019); Currently: Physician Assistant Program, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
Michael DiMartino (Undergraduate, Transferred to University of Pennsylvania); Graduated from UPENN. Currently: Enrolled in joint MD/PhD program between University of Southern California and CalTech!
Daniel Zhou (Undergraduate, BS Chemistry, UH Manoa Spring 2020 Graduate); Currently: Graduate Student, University of Washington.
Gabor A. Nemeth (BS Chemistry, UH Manoa Spring 2020 Graduate); Currently: Applying to graduate programs
Celeste Guiles (BS Chemistry (Physics minor), UH Manoa Spring 2021 Graduate); Currently: PhD program in Aerospace Engineering at University of Colorado - Boulder.
Jazmyne Guittap (BS Chemistry, UH Manoa Spring 2022 Graduate); Currently: Applying for jobs.
Tomoko Kitano (BS Chemistry, UH Manoa Spring 2023 Graduate); Currently: Review Analyst I at HMSA.
Nils Melbourne (Undergraduate, Triple Major, Graduation Spring 2024): Currently, finishing up the triple major!
Summer Researchers
Sierra McCarty (Undergraduate
Researcher, Bowdoin College,
Graduated Spring 2022.
Currently, Kirk Kerkorian School
of Medicine at UNLV, Class of 2027)
Dr. Daniel Brayton (UH Manoa Instructor, PhD in Chemistry, UC-Irvine)
Kevin Magnuson (University of Hawaii Manoa (and other campuses) Lecturer, MS in Chemistry, UH Manoa 2012)
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Brant Landers (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Former Institution: UH Manoa); Currently: Environmental consultant
Dr. Jakub Hyvl (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Former Institution: MIT); Currently: Assistant Professor, UH Manoa
The first official (and low quality) group photo was taken at our "we survived the first term" party, which ironically was held early in the second term (1/2015). Unfortunately, Kevin could not attend, but (left to right) Shelly, Matt, Caitlin, and Preston enjoyed some awesome Japanese food at a Akasaka, a tiny hole in the wall restauarant in Honolulu. And yes, we are sitting on the floor.
Slightly higher quality photos below.
The second official (and higher quality) group photo was taken at Dave and Buster's (6/2015). The group continues to balloon, reaching an all-time high of 7 researchers.
Second Row (left to right): Preston, Brandon, Matt, and Kevin
First Row (left to right): Uyen, Mika, Caitlin, and Shelly
We had a pretty good time!
Seconds before Caitlin accepts defeat in a giant game of Connect 4. Matt was undefeated all night. :)
Kevin doing virtual jump rope.
Brandon and Uyen in a motorcycle race.
Uyen is driving without a license.
"Red Cup"
D&B keeping up with the times ... no bouncing
Round 2 at D&B's (9/29/2016)
Left to right: Preston, Brant, MFC, Kevin, Mika, Jakub, Matt, Rice (Amy), and Cameron.
Missing: Shelly :(
Cain Lab Group Photo 4/21/2023:
Left to right: MFC, Tomoko, Chase, Yuri, Preston, Garrett, and Miranda
Missing: Matt & Nils :( :(
