Member Bios

Mark is originally from Philadelphia and has been a scientist in Maine, Chicago, Seattle, and New York. He got his B.A. in Chemistry at Colby College in Maine where he discovered an interested in physical chemistry, followed by a yearlong research internship at Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago where he discovered another interest in materials science. He received his PhD in Physical Chemistry from University of Washington in Seattle in 2018, where his research involved using electro-optical and time resolved optical spectroscopy techniques to study the photophysics of organic and hybrid perovskite semiconductors in the group of Professor David Ginger. In 2018 he moved to Columbia University as a DOE EERE Postdoctoral Fellow to study the ultrafast photophysics of ferroelectric semiconductors using a variety of pump-probe laser spectroscopy and optical microscopy techniques in the group of Professor Xiaoyang Zhu. In fall 2021, he pursued a unique opportunity to work jointly as a postdoc in the groups of Professors Jonathan Owen, James Schuck (Columbia MechE), and Abhay Pasupathy (Columbia Physics) to establish a research effort at Columbia on quantum sensing with nitrogen-vacancy defect centers in diamond for imaging magnetism in two-dimensional materials. Mark is very excited to be working in all aspects of quantum with the Owen group!

Daniel grew up on Long Island and attended Binghamton University, where he received his B.S. in chemistry. While at Binghamton, Daniel gained an appreciation for and enjoyment of inorganic materials chemistry while conducting research in Dr. Wayne Jones’s lab. He then moved on to the University of Texas at Austin where he studied with Dr. Emily Que. His Ph.D. work involved designing nanoparticle conjugates as molecular imaging probes for 19 F magnetic resonance imaging. After receiving his Ph.D. in 2024, Daniel joined the Owen lab where he will apply quantum dots for biological labelling and imaging. Outside the lab, Daniel enjoys running and playing the guitar.

Gus grew up in the suburbs of Paris. He got his bachelor in 2014 and master’s in 2016 at the Ecole Polytechnique/Université Paris-Saclay in France where he worked with Dr. Greg Nocton on small molecule activation by low-valent lanthanide complexes. During his master’s, Gus worked at Harvard University in the laboratory of Prof. Tobias Ritter on the synthesis of 18F‐labeled difluoromethylarenes for PET imaging and at UC Berkeley/Lawrence Berkeley National Lab with Prof. John Arnold and Dr. Stefan Minasian on the synthesis of actinide and lanthanide nanoparticles embedded in covalent organic frameworks. Finding that the Californian weather was not that bad, he joined the laboratory of Prof. Ed Solomon at Stanford University for his PhD in 2017, studying the electronic structure of high-valent iron-oxo species involved in the H atom abstraction step of the catalytic cycle of mononuclear iron enzymes. He joined the Owen lab in 2024 to study nanodiamond formation and functionalization. When not thinking about chemistry, Gus loves to visit some new places in and around New York City, drink beer and criticize harshly the restaurants that he eats at.

Galder was born in Bilbao, Basque Country, and raised in the nearby town of Sestao. He earned his B.S. in Chemistry in 2016 and a Master's in Synthetic and Industrial Chemistry in 2017 from the University of the Basque Country, where he also completed his PhD in Organic Chemistry in 2023 in Prof. Raul San Martin's group. His doctoral research focused on the development of new synthetic procedures based on copper-catalyzed functionalization of alkynes. During his PhD, he also completed a research stay in Prof. Burkhard Koenig’s group in Regensburg, Germany, working on the homologation of carbonyl compounds via photocatalysis. After finishing his PhD, Galder briefly worked in Prof. Juan Ramón González's group, and now he is a postdoctoral researcher between Dr. Mónica Carril’s group at IBF and Aitzol García’s group at DIPC. His current research focuses on the functionalization of gold nanoparticles and quantum dots targeted to neural binding receptors. As part of this postdoc, he is currently visiting the Owen group to further develop functionalization strategies for quantum dots. Outside of work, Galder enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking and playing padel.

Hailing from the lush haven known as Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Johnson earned his BSc with Honours in Chemistry from McMaster University. For his undergraduate thesis, he worked under Prof. Randall Dumont to study the Seebeck effect in organic molecular junctions. Continuing his studies at McMaster, he completed his MSc in Chemistry under Prof. Peter Kruse, where he focused on the development of solid state graphene-based chemiresistive cation sensing devices. Now at Columbia University, his main focus is on the functionalisation of quantum dots and the stabilisation of nitrogen-vacancy centres in synthetic diamonds. Outside of the lab, Johnson's interests include, but are not limited to, running, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, labour organising, music production, and trading card games.

Antony (Tony) was born in Reno, NV, and grew up in Solon, OH. He received his B.S. in cognitive science and chemistry in 2023 from Vanderbilt University, during which he worked with Dr. Janet Macdonald to probe thermodynamic and kinetic origins of phase determination for transition metal selenide nanocrystals. Beyond his work in the chemistry lab, he also worked with Dr. Jessika Boles study the efficacy of post-bereavement services at nearby hospitals and elucidate conceptions of legacy for individuals bereaved by suicide. Outside the lab, Tony enjoys cooking/baking, playing with his cats (Bran Muffin and Falafel), listening to music, and exploring local coffee shops.

Andrew is from the suburbs of New York City, in a small town called Pelham. He worked as a researcher for the Owen Lab in high school, and to continue to pursue his work in this field he decided to attend Columbia University. He plans to major in chemistry and hopes to go to graduate school to pursue a Ph. D. in order to become a professor. Andrew has a real passion for research, but outside of the lab he loves to bake, sing, act, and play rugby.