We cherish the creativity that arises in a laboratory setting where everyone's ideas are welcomed and valued. We believe the best way to develop the innovative approaches needed to solve complex scientific problems is to value each individual while fostering teamwork.

We have a zero-tolerance policy against oppression of any kind, including but not limited to sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and xenophobia. Everyone is welcome and celebrated in this safe space, where we work to support and uplift one another. We commit to acknowledging and educating ourselves and others about unconscious biases, mistakes, and misstatements.

A smiling man with brown hair and glasses wearing a black collared shirt with white buttons posing against a gray background.

Matthew Ryen Lockett, PhD

NCBI bibliography: Matthew_Lockett
ORCID: 0000-0003-4851-7757

Office: Chemistry Research Laboratories, Rm 567
Email: matthew.lockett@mail.wvu.edu

WVU
Professor, C. Eugene Bennett Chair of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry (2026 - )

UNC Chapel Hill
Professor, Department of Chemistry (2026 - 2026 )
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry (2020 - 2025)
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry (2013 - 2020)

Associate Editor, Analytical Methods (2023 - )
Editorial Advisory Board, ACS Measurement Science Au (2022 -)
Editorial Advisory Board, Analytical Chemistry (2021 - )

Faculty Advisor, UNC Allies of Minorities and Women Science and Engineering (2024 - 2026)
Faculty Advisor, UNC American Chemical Society Student Affiliate Chapter (2024 - 2026)

Logos and text for the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Office of Graduate Education, including the 'UndocuCarolina' program logo, a 'Safe Zone' icon with rainbow colors, and a 'Mental Health First Aid' logo, all on a black background.
Group photo album

Current Researchers

A young woman with curly brown hair, black glasses, and a bright smile standing outdoors in a natural landscape with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.

Alexis Harvey *
Graduate Student

B.S. Chemistry, East Tennessee State University
Kenan Labs, Room C347

​*Alexis is co-advised with Prof. Joanna Atkin

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David Siegel 
Graduate Student

B.S. Chemistry, Florida Gulf Coast University
Kenan Labs, Room C345

A woman with dark curly hair in a ponytail, smiling, wearing a colorful patterned blouse, outdoors in front of a large stone building.

Sarina Jones 
Graduate Student

B.S. Chemistry, Monmouth University
Kenan Labs, Room C344

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Trevohn Robinson
Graduate Student

B.S. Professional Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University
Kenan Labs, Room C347

A young woman with long curly hair, wearing glasses, hoop earrings, a necklace, and a black blazer, smiling against a gray background.

Rayshell Torres-Santana
Graduate Student

B.S. Chemistry, Radford University
Kenan Labs, Room C347

A man with dark hair and a mustache smiling in front of a brick wall, wearing a striped button-up shirt.

Ryan Lidgett
Graduate Student

B.S. Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh
Kenan Labs, Room C345

Portrait of a smiling young man in a plaid shirt standing in front of a brick wall.

Jose Nolasco
Graduate Student

B.S. Chemistry, Wingate University
Kenan Labs, Room C345

A young man with black hair wearing glasses, a white shirt, and a black tie, standing against a plain background.

Evan Huang
Graduate Student

B.S. Chemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology
Kenan Labs, Room C347

Close-up of a wombat on dirt ground.

Wombat (not a lab member, yet)

Group Alumni

Andre D. Orr, Ph.D.(2025) Electrochemical characterization of CO2-reducing hybrid photoelectrodes modified via covalent silicon-nitrogen bonds
Now: Analytical Scientist at CEM Corp.

​Tyler S. Larson, Ph.D.(2023) Mass spectrometry analysis of 2D and 3D cell cultures 
Now: Analytical Scientist at Haleon

Zack R. Sitte, Ph.D. (2023) ​Developing new approach methodologies (NAMs) to increase the physiological relevance and utility of scaffold-based 3D cell culture techniques
Now: Scientist/Engineer II at Stemson Therapeutics

Thomas J. DiProspero, Ph.D. (2021) Development of in vitro liver culture techniques to integrate a physiological relevant microenvironment that recapitulates liver lobule zonation
Now: Dir. of Product Development at Metalytics

Julie C. McIntosh, Ph.D. (2020) Development of methods to accurately quantify cellular viability and multidrug-resistant phenotypes within 3D paper-based tumor models
Now: Associate Principal Scientist at Merck

Nathan A. Whitman, Ph.D. (2019) Development of paper-based breast cancer models to probe the relationship between the tumor microenvironment and the estrogen receptor alpha signaling pathway
Now: Technology Transfer and Patent Manager at the National Cancer Institute

Catherine G. McKenas, Ph.D. (2019) Preparation and Characterization of Chemically Modified Amorphous Carbon Electrodes
Now: The Charles House
​
Rachael M. (Kenney) Skipp, Ph.D.(2018) A 3D Paper-Based Assay to Evaluate Cellular Invasion and Quantify Microenvironmental Cues in Real Time
Now: Senior Staff Scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

​Matthew W. Boyce, Ph.D. (2018) Developing Tools for Paper-Based Cultures to Interrogate Oxygen's Role in Cancer Progression
Now: Senior Data Scientist at CEC Analytics

Dr. Taylor Teitsworth, Ph.D., (Postdoctoral Fellow), ​Now: Assistant Professor, Vassar College
Abel Miranda Buzetta (Technologist), ​Now: UNC School of Medicine 
Ian Baker (Technologist), ​Now: Ask Biosciences
Vershon Battle (Visiting Master’s Student), ​Now: Medical Laboratory Scientist at Duke
Dr. Jiyang Chen, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow), ​Now: Project Manager at WuXi Biologics
Dr. Qi Han, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow), ​Now: Senior Engineer at Freshape
Andrew Truong (Technologist), ​Now: Scientist 1 at Ribometrix
Dr. Xiaoning Zhang, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow), ​Now: Associate Professor at Southwest University, College of Biotechnology

  • Sabrina Cramer, M.S.(2020)

  • C. Chad Lloyd, M.S.(2018)

  • Jennifer Middlebrooks, M.S.(2015)

  • Melanie Sinanian, M.S.(2020)

  • ​Matthew VanGunten, M.S.(2021)

  • Alexis Zimmer, M.S.(2024)

  • Leo Albertini*

  • Mays Albu-Shamah

  • Damaris Alvarenga Agustin

  • Marie-Madeline Bashengezi

  • Elizabeth Bookshire

  • Lauren Brown*

  • Landon Cable*

  • Karen Chen

  • Elizabeth Choi*

  • Levi Chua

  • Gil Cukierman

  • Pearl Dang

  • Erin Dalrymple​

  • William Dennis

  • ​Sarah Diemel

  • Tom Dominic

  • Trevor Fachko*

  • ​Julia Fehr*

  • Diante Fields

  • Briana Fletcher

  • Jack Franchino

  • Sontia Gaither

  • Kopal Gupta

  • Lisa Karlsson​

  • ​Maggie Lee *

  • Zhi-Wei Lin

  • Benedict Liu

  • Christian Lochbaum

  • Adam Loeser*

  • Ociel Ramirez Martinez

  • Kabir Pathak​

  • Wyatt Pellarin

  • ​Andrew Pendergast

  • ​J. Ben Penley

  • Kalon Porter

  • Akshay Sankar

  • ​Rami Sharaf*

  • Donovan Sherman

  • Isaiah Stackleather

  • Kevin Su

  • Anna Vu*

*completed an honors thesis