The Team
Dr. Ben Elling
Ben grew up in Rochester, NY. He received his BA in chemistry from Cornell University, where he synthesized polymers for anion exchange membranes in the lab of Geoff Coates. After, he attended Stanford University, where he became the first PhD student of Yan Xia and developed methods for sequence-specific polymerization via the ring-opening metathesis of substituted cyclopropenes. Prior to his appointment at Wesleyan, Ben was a postdoctoral scholar in the lab of Professor Will Dichtel, where he designed new covalent adaptable networks and investigated strategies for mixed plastic compatibilization.
Students
Jessa Zovinka
PhD Student
Jessa grew up in Ebensburg, PA. They received their BA in chemistry from Mary Baldwin University, where they studied the degradation of Bisphenol-F under UV light in the lab of Peter Ruiz-Haas. When not in the lab, Jessa enjoys hiking, raising chickens, and playing roller derby with the Shoreline Roller Derby League. Here in the lab, their work focuses on synthesizing polymers that incorporate carbon dioxide as a comonomer.
Abdul Bashir
PhD Student
Abdul was born and raised in Kaduna State, Nigeria, where he received his BSc degree in industrial chemistry from Kaduna State University and master’s from Federal University of Lafia. Prior to joining Wesleyan, he obtained his master’s at University of Manchester, where he worked on chemical recycling of polyethylene terephthalate. Abdul is passionate about finding solutions to current environmental problems without compromising the future of the next generations. In his free time, Abdul likes to be around friends, connecting with family over calls, and travelling. He joined the Elling Lab in summer of 2024 and is currently working on covalent adaptable networks.
Oliver Clarke
Undergraduate (‘25)
Ollie was born in Boston, Ma and grew up in Somerville, where he attended school before transferring to Milton Academy. At Wesleyan, Ollie is a chemistry major. Outside of academics, Ollie plays on the boys varsity soccer team, volunteers on Long Lane Farm, and writes for Wesleyan Business Review. In the lab, he is investigating the polymerization of ROMP monomers with sulfur-containing functional groups.
Sophia Morgan
Undergraduate (‘25)
Sophia is studying chemistry and computer science at Wesleyan and has combined her interests in the Elling Lab. She joined the lab in her sophomore year and is investigating reversible cycloadditions for covalent adaptable networks, both experimentally and through computations with Gaussian. Outside of the lab, Sophia enjoys spending lots of time outside, and she is now a captain of the Wesleyan Sailing Team, where she learned to sail her freshman year.
Kayla Alexander
Undergraduate (‘25)
Kayla was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, where she graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School as a chemical engineering major. At Wesleyan, she is majoring in chemistry with a minor in French studies. On campus, she is co-director for the Fusion Dance Crew, a member of Ujamaa’s Creative Team, and a barista at Pi Café. In the lab, show’s working on a project involving carbon dioxide polymerization.
Sunjay Riener
Undergraduate (‘25)
Sunjay was born and raised in New York City before moving to New Jersey. He attended the Pingry school until transferring to the Lawrenceville school for high school. From taking various classes within the pre-med track, Sunjay has developed a passion for neuroscience and organic chemistry. In his free time, Sunjay enjoys cooking, golfing, and skiing. He joined the Elling Lab in the Summer of 2023. In the lab he is currently testing the reversibility of [6+4] cycloadditions.
Charlie Silver
Undergraduate (‘25)
Charlie grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois before attending Wesleyan University for college. He is a chemistry major and a member of the men's lacrosse team. In his free time, he enjoys reading novels, hiking, and spending time at the beach. He is interested in materials chemistry and joined the Elling Lab in the spring of 2024. His research at the Elling Lab focuses on reversible cycloadditions for use in covalent adaptable networks.
Claire Larson
Undergraduate (‘26)
Claire grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico before going to Wesleyan University for college. At Wesleyan, she is a double major in chemistry and E&ES. Claire is a facilitator for the Green Fund, an organization designed to finance on campus sustainability projects. Her research interests are environmental chemistry or geochemistry and in the Elling lab she is working on synthesizing monomers for copolymerization with carbon dioxide.. Outside of school, she loves to hike, take spin classes, and travel.
Charlie Nielsen
Undergraduate (‘26)
Dale
Dog
Dale is a dog who was adopted in the winter of 2021 by Professor Elling. He love eating, sleeping, and otherwise being a menace.
Dexter Ixcoy Perez
Undergraduate (‘26)
Dexter Ixcoy Perez was born and raised in The Bronx, NY. Originally a prospective MB&B major, he developed a passion for organic chemistry and is now majoring in both fields. In the lab, he is investigating thermally reversible cycloadditions for covalent adaptable networks. Outside of his academics, he is a social captain on Wesleyan’s Throw Culture ultimate frisbee team and loves reading and weightlifting.
Christie Kim
Undergraduate (‘27)
Christie grew up in Bergen County, NJ, where she graduated from Northern Valley Old Tappan. At Wesleyan, she is pursuing a chemistry major. In her free time, Christie enjoys reading, trying out new recipes, and spending time with friends. She joined the Elling Lab in the fall of 2024, where she is working on new ROMP monomers.
Julian Frank
Undergraduate (‘27)
Julian was born in Boston, MA, and grew up in Arlington where he attended school. At Wesleyan, he is a chemistry major and is interested in pursuing a PhD and one day becoming a research professor. Outside of the lab, Julian loves to ski, sail, and play various instruments including the cello and banjo. He joined the Elling Lab in the fall of 2024 and is currently investigating the thermodynamics of ring-opening metathesis polymerization.
Former Members
Alex Stubin
(BA ‘24)
Currently: Medical Assistant at Generation Next Fertility
Kyle Sylvester
(MA ‘23, BA ‘22)
Currently: Co-recruiting coordinator and hitting coordinator at Eastern Connecticut State University
Angela Rojas Merchan
(BA ‘24)
Currently: PhD student at Northeastern University
Graham Gilchrist
(BA ‘23)
Currently: PhD student at University of Florida in Sumemrlin/Evans groups.
Jeremy Kim
(MA ‘24, BA ‘23)
Currently: PhD student at UNC Chapel Hill.
Sarah Timbie
(BA ‘23)
Currently.: MPH Student at Rollins School of Public Healt
Maya Milrod
(BA ‘24)
Currently: PhD student at Northwestern University working with Tobin Marks, studying computational chemistry to study catalytic chemical recycling of polymers.
