Research Experiences
Chemical Education Researcher | January 2021 – Present
Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA
Keck Science Department at Scripps, Claremont McKenna, and Pitzer Colleges | Claremont, CA
Research Assistant | August 2016 – July 2021
Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA
2018 GEM Fellow Graduate Research Assistant | May 2018 – August 2018
Los Alamos National Laboratories | Los Alamos, NM
Undergraduate Researcher | June 2013 – July 2014
William H. Casey’s Laboratory – University of California, Davis | Davis, CA
Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA
Keck Science Department at Scripps, Claremont McKenna, and Pitzer Colleges | Claremont, CA
- Designed, implemented, and analyzed a chemical education project focused on studying how students view chemistry in the world around them. My research started at USC will continue in my new position at the Keck Science Department with a follow up study.
Research Assistant | August 2016 – July 2021
Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA
- Studied interfaces with focus on the relationship between the orientational structure of a material and its properties. Interfaces include water at charged surfaces, monolayer organic materials and air, and heterogeneous catalysts. Utilized programs including Matlab and IgoPro to analyze spectroscopic data. Synthesized solid-state catalysts. Designed flow cell for spectroscopic applications. Applied spin casting techniques to materials development. Mentored undergraduate student and trained her in synthesis, spin casting, atomic force microscopy, and FTIR. Mentored undergraduate and graduate students and trained them in laser alignment, data acquisition, and data analysis. Performed inelastic neutron scattering spectroscopy on catalysts at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source in Didcot, UK.
2018 GEM Fellow Graduate Research Assistant | May 2018 – August 2018
Los Alamos National Laboratories | Los Alamos, NM
- 2018 GEM Fellow recipient. Modified experimental set up for sum harmonic generation spectroscopy to decrease acquisition time. Used Solidworks to design parts for modification. Tested CCD camera with LabVIEW.
Undergraduate Researcher | June 2013 – July 2014
William H. Casey’s Laboratory – University of California, Davis | Davis, CA
- Synthesized transition metal μ3-oxo-centered trimers, with emphasis on iron chemistry for use in fuel cells. Synthesized inorganic keggins as models for mineral formation. Performed high-pressure NMR on the keggins.
Publications
Ariel E. Vaughn, Angelo Montenegro, Erica S. Howard, Muhammet Mammetkuliyev, Sabrina Falcon, Matthew Mecklenburg, Brent C. Melot, and Alexander V. Benderskii
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 2021 12 (42), 10366-10371 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c02731
Angelo Montenegro, Ariel E. Vaughn, Muhammet Mammetkuliyev, Bofan Zhao, Haotian Shi, Dhritiman Bhattacharyya, Alexander Benderskii, and Stephen Cronin. Scientific Reports. In Review.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 2021 12 (42), 10366-10371 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c02731
Angelo Montenegro, Ariel E. Vaughn, Muhammet Mammetkuliyev, Bofan Zhao, Haotian Shi, Dhritiman Bhattacharyya, Alexander Benderskii, and Stephen Cronin. Scientific Reports. In Review.