
Team

PI: Junrui Li
Junrui was born in a historical city, Xiangyang, China.
He obtained his PhD in Chemistry at Brown University in 2019 under the supervision of Prof. Shouheng Sun. He then conducted his postdoc research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, working with Prof. Joel W. Ager III; and then at Washington State University, working with Prof. Yong Wang.
He joined the Department of Chemistry at Clark Atlanta University as an Assistant Professor in Aug, 2023.
His interests include the fundamental principles governing the formation of nanostructured materials, the innovative synthesis and applications of materials, and electrochemistry and catalysis for energy applications and AI-driven materials discovery.
His current hobbies are hiking, piano and singing.
![IMG_20241208_054940132_HDR[2].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/664fdb_218381b14a3d49f68e4398ca1f0e0dcf~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_177,h_230,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG_20241208_054940132_HDR%5B2%5D.jpg)
Olarinde Oluwaseun
My name is Olarinde Oluwaseun, a PhD candidate to be at Clark Atlanta University, joined the department of Chemistry in August 2024. I had BSc Chemistry and also obtained MSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, all in Nigeria.
I aspire to be a Professor of Chemistry, having a private research laboratory where I would be working in collaboration with Pharmaceutical companies in the area of research and development to tackle the prevalent health challenges in my home country.

Afroza Akter
Afroza is a PhD student in chemistry major. Her research interests are developing novel synthesis to obtain atomically dispersed materials and heterostructures for catalysis.

Maliek Williams
Maliek is a PhD student with extensive professional experience as a Quality Control Analyst in the pharmaceutical and food safety industries. He has worked at Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Food Safety Net Services, gaining deep knowledge of GLP, FDA/USDA compliance, and rigorous ALCOA+ data integrity standards.
His technical skills include laboratory management systems like LIMS and LabWare, as well as advanced computational chemistry and data analysis using Gaussian and ChemCraft.
Maliek graduated Cum Laude, with a strong academic background in Chemistry, which supports his current doctoral research

Kennedy Hilson
Kennedy Hilson, a sophomore at Clark Atlanta University, is majoring in Biology with a minor in Computer Science. She aspires to become a physician assistant specializing in plastic surgery, driven by her passion for helping others feel confident and comfortable in their own skin. Kennedy is also committed to advancing scientific research under the guidance of Dr. Li."

Kayla Crawford
Kayla is a Biology senior. She is interested in precise synthesis of nanomaterials and their applications for electrocatalysis and sustainability. She joined the group in 2024 fall.

Rihanna Burciaga
Rihanna is an undergraduate researcher in the Dual Degree Engineering program. She joined the lab as a summer student since last year and continued to thrive in her research. She is supported by the PREM program.

Victoria Atkinson
Victoria is a sophomore majoring in biology (Pre-Med track) and aspires to become a pediatric physician dedicated to improving community health and supporting underserved families.

Ashuntis Gresham
Ashuntis Gresham is a sophomore at Clark Atlanta University majoring in Chemistry on the pre-med track. She aspires to become a cardiovascular surgeon, driven by her passion for advancing patient care and improving outcomes for individuals with heart disease. Ashuntis is actively involved in scientific research through the PREM program, where she conducts nanoparticle research under the mentorship of Dr. Li. Through both her academic studies and laboratory experience, she is committed to contributing to innovative medical solutions and making a meaningful impact in healthcare.
Alumni
Alexandria Dillon
CAU Chemistry undergraduate student (PREM)

Madison Florence
CAU Biology undergraduate student (LSAMP)

Nazhay Kavanaugh
CAU Biology undergraduate student (LSAMP)
Gianna Armand
CAU Biology undergraduate student (LSAMP)

Meet the LENCI Team
Our team is made up of passionate and dedicated researchers, who are committed to the inclusiveness, team work and excellence in research.