Staff Profiles
Department of Chemistry
Dr Simon Mnyakeni Moleele, Senior Lecturer (Organic Chemistry)
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Mrs René S. Pearce-Okwuashi is employed as the Science Foundation Chemistry Lecturer in the Science Foundation Department. She has worked for 16 years in the Higher Education sector and two years in the Department of Basic Education as a Physical Science Teacher.
She is a dedicated Lecturer who is strongly engaged in the social and emotional wellbeing of her students. Her passion lies in teaching rather than lecturing and this can be seen in the annual pass rates of her students. She is also a mentor to some of her previous Science Foundation students who are currently pursuing their postgraduate studies at the University of Venda and some of which are already employed.
She is an Organic Chemist and has published in peer reviewed and accredited journals. Her publications include:
1. Lecturing versus Teaching in Foundation and First Year Chemistry.
René Pearce & Lawrence Okwuashi; Journal of Modern Education Review, July 2013, 3(7), 568-575.
2. Synthesis of 2‐Acetyl‐4‐hydroxynaphtho[2,3‐b]pyran‐5,10‐dione and the 4‐Deoxy Analogue as Models for Comparative Biological Evaluations.
Farouk Ameer ; Robin G. F. Giles ; Victor I. Hugo ; Samir Patel & René Pearce; SYNTHETIC COMMUNICATIONS; JAN. 2011, 34(14), 2565-2573.
3. Synthesis of Methoxy-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthpquinone and Reaction of One Isomer with Aldehydes Under Basic Conditions.
Farouk Ameer; Robin G. F. Giles; Ivan Robert Green & René Pearce; SYNTHETIC COMMUNICATIONS; DEC. 2004, 34(7),1247-1258.
4. Synthesis of 2Acetyl4-hydroxynaphtho[2,3-b] pyran-5,10-dione and the 4-Deoxy Analogue as Models for Comparative Biological Evaluations.
Farouk Ameer; Robin G. F. Giles; Ivan R. Green & René Pearce; CHEMINFORM, DECEMBER 2004; 35(50).
5. Synthesis of Methoxy‐2‐hydroxy‐1,4‐naphthoquinones and Reaction of One Isomer with Aldehydes Under Basic Conditions
Farouk Ameer; Robin G. F. Giles; Ivan R. Green & René Pearce; CHEMINFORM, AUGUST 2004, 35(32).
She is a member of the SENATE committee at the University of Venda.
Links to other profiles:
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/RenePearce
Email address: rene.pearce@univen.ac.za
Work no: 015 962 9345
Office no: SF060, Life Sciences & Chemistry Building
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Qualifications: PhD (University of Witwatersrand), MSc (University of Witwatersrand) (Distinction), BSc (Hons) (University of Fort Hare) (Distinction), BSc (University of Zimbabwe)
Email address: nikita.tavengwa@univen.ac.za
Telephone number: +27 15 962 8279
Office number: SF009, Life Sciences and Chemistry Building
Research interests:
NRF rated researcher, interested in trace analysis of emerging organic pollutants using novel modern analytical techniques. Analytical method development. Chromatographic analysis (HPLC-(UV/MS), GC-(ECD/FID/MS).
List of selected publications:
[1] Herbert Musarurwa, Luke Chimuka, Nikita Tawanda Tavengwa, (2019) Green pre-concentration techniques during pesticide analysis in food samples, Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B, 54 (9), 770-780 [2] Somandla Ncube, Nikita Tavengwa, Akhona Soqaka, Ewa Cukrowska, (2018) Development of a single format membrane assisted solvent extraction-molecularly imprinted polymer technique for extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wastewater followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry determination, J. Chromatogr. A, 1569, 36–43 [3] Lawrence Mzukisi Madikizela, Nikita Tavengwa, Luke Chimuka, (2017) Applications of molecularly imprinted polymers for solid-phase extraction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics from environmental waters and biological samples, Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis 147 (2018) 624–633 [4] Tavengwa, N.T., Cukrowska, E.M. and Chimuka, L. (2017) Application of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers in selective extraction of 2,4-DNT explosive from aqueous solutions, Separation Science and Technology, 52(3), 467-475 [5] Nikita Tavengwa Tavengwa, Pardon Nyamukamba and Luke Chimuka, (2016) Miniaturized pipette tip–based electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers for micro–solid–phase extraction of nitro based explosive compounds, Journal of Separation Science, 39 (24), 4819-4827Full list of publications:
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55842608300
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=1FPZNzQAAAAJ&hl=en
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Qualifications: PhD (North West University), MSc (North West University) (Distinction), BSc (Hons) (North West University), BSc (University of Venda)
Email address: lutendo.murulana@univen.ac.za
Telephone number: +27 15 962 8394
Office number: SF011, Life Sciences and Chemistry Building
Research interests:
Corrosion of Materials, Adsorption studies, Reactions kinetics and Thermodynamics of solutions
List of selected publications:
[1] Lutendo. C. Murulana, Mwadham. M. Kabanda and Eno. E. Ebenso (2016), Investigation of the adsorption characteristics of some selected sulphonamide derivatives as corrosion inhibitors at mild steel/hydrochloric acid interface surfaces: Experimental, quantum chemical and QSAR studies, Journal of Molecular Liquids. 215: 763-779 [2] Lutendo. C. Murulana, Mwadham. M. Kabanda and Eno. E. Ebenso (2015), Experimental and theoretical studies on the corrosion inhibition of mild steel by some sulphonamides in aqueous HCl, RSC Advances. 5: 28743-28761 [3] Mwadham M. Kabanda, Liliana Mammino, Lutendo C. Murulana, Henry M. Mwangi, Wilfred T. Mabusela (2015), Antioxidant Radical Scavenging Properties of Phenolic Pent-4-En-1-Yne Derivatives Isolated From Hypoxis Rooperi. A DFT Study in vacuo and in Solutio, International Journal of Food Properties. 18: 149-164 [4] Lutendo C. Murulana, Ashish K. Singh, Sudhish K. Shukla, Mwadham M. Kabanda and Eno E.Ebenso (2012) Experimental and quantum chemical studies of some bis (trifluoromethyl-sulfonyl) imide imidazolium-based ionic liquids as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in hydrochloric acid solution, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research. 51 (40): 13282–13299 [5] Eno E. Ebenso, Mwadham M. Kabanda, Lutendo C. Murulana, Sudhish K. Shukla and Ashish K. Singh (2012) Electrochemical and quantum chemical investigation of some azine and thiazine dyes as potential corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in hydrochloric acid solution, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research. 51: 12940-12958Full list of publications:
https://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=lutendo+c+murulana&oq=
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=36634738400
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Prof Ipfani David Isaiah Ramaite is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry
Prof Ipfani David Isaiah Ramaite is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry. He has worked for over 25 years in the higher education sector, lecturing undergraduate students in general, industrial and organic chemistry courses/modules. He is also involved in lecturing advanced organic chemistry to honours students. He specializes in synthetic organic and natural products chemistry research in search for new scaffolds for the treatment of TB, malaria and diabetes. He also conducts research in green chemistry and is working on projects for the valorisation of waste organic materials. He has supervised more than 20 honours projects, 8 masters and 1 Phd student to completion. He has served in NRF review panels and has been the HOD of chemistry and Science Foundation. He is currently supervising three honours, 5 masters and two PhD students research projects. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed and accredited journals. His research findings have been presented at local and international conferences.
Among his recent publications are:
- Dorcas B Tlhapi, Isaiah D.I Ramaite, Teunis van Ree, Chinedu P Anokwuru, Taglialatela S Orazio and Heinrich C Hoppe, Isolation, Chemical Profile and Antimalarial activities of bioactive compounds, Molecules 2019, 24, 39; doi: 10.3390/molecules240100039
- Dorcas B. Tlhapi , Isaiah D. I. Ramaite, Chinedu P. Anokwuru, Teunis van Ree and Heinrich C. Hoppe, In Vitro Studies on Antioxidant and Anti-Parasitic Activities of Compounds Isolated from Rauvolfia caffra Sond, Molecules 2020, 25, 3781; doi:10.3390/molecules25173781
- Chinedu P Anokwuru, Sidonie Tankeu, Sandy van Vuuren, Alvaro Viljoen, Isaiah D. I Ramaite, Orazio Taglialatela-Scafati and Sandra Combrinck, Unravelling the Antibacterial Activity of Terminalia sericea Root Bark through a Metabolomic Approach, Molecules 2020, 25, 3683; doi:10.3390/molecules25163683
- Allen T. Gordon, Isaiah D.I. Ramaite, and Simon.S. Mnyakeni-Moleele, Synthesis and biological evaluation of chromone-3-carboxamides, Arkivoc 2020, part v, 148-160; doi.org/10.24820/ark.5550190.p011.356
- Ndivhuwo R. Tshiluka, Mpelegeng V. Bvumbi, Isaiah I. Ramaite, and Simon S. Mnyakeni-Moleele, Synthesis of some new 5-arylidene-2,4-thiazolidinedione esters, Arkivoc, 2020, v. 161-175, org/10.1016/ j.jare.2020.01.008
- Dorcas B. Tlhapi , Isaiah D. I. Ramaite and Chinedu P. Anokwuru. Metabolomic Profiling and Antioxidant Activities of Breonadia Salicina Using1H-NMR and UPLC-QTOF-MS Analysis, Molecules 2021, 26, 6707. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26216707
Full list of publications:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Isaiah-Ramaite
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Dr Simon Mnyakeni Moleele
Designation: Senior Lecturer (Organic Chemistry)
Qualifications: BSCHON (UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG), PHD (UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG)
Telephone: 0159628190
Email address: mnyakeni.moleele@univen.ac.za
Office: NATURAL SCIENCE BUILDING Building
Research interests:
Synthesis of antituberculosis and antimalarial drugs using triazine as a linker. Synthesis of antidiabetic drugs. Isolation of biologically active ingredients from natural products.
List of selected publications:
[1] Isaiah DI Ramaite, Musa D Maluleke, Simon S Mnyakeni Moleele “Synthesis and Evaluation of Isoflavones as Potential Anti-inflammatory inhibitors”, Arab. J. Sci. Eng. 2017, 42, 4263–4271 [2] Chigayo K, Mojapelo PEL, Mnyakeni Moleele SS, Misihairabgwi J ‘Phytochemical and antioxidant properties of different solvent extracts of Kirkia wilsii tubers,” Asian Pac J. Trop Biomed, 2016. 6, 1037-1043 [3] David Gravestock, Amanda L. Rousseau, Anna C. U. Lourens, Simon S. Moleele, Robyn L. van Zyl, Paul A. Steenkamp. “Expeditious synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 2, N6-disubstituted 1,2-dihydro-1,3,5-triazine-4,6-diamines as potential antimalarials” Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2011, 46, 2022-2030 [4] Moira L. Bode, David Gravestock, Simon S. Moleele, Christiaan W. van der Westhuyzen, Stephen C. Pelly, Paul A. Steenkamp, Heinrich C. Hoppe, Tasmiyah Khan and Lindiwe A. Nkabinde, “Synthesis and biological evaluation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-amines as HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)”, Bioorg. Med. Chem., 2011, 19, 4227-4237 [5] S S Moleele, J P Michael and C B de Koning, “Tetralones as precursors for the synthesis of 2,2’-disubstituted 1,1’-binaphthyls and related compounds”, Tetrahedron, 2008, 64, 10573-10580Full list of publications:
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57191979244
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=8583587900
Dr Simon Mnyakeni Moleele – Senior Lecturer (Organic Chemistry)
| Email address | Mnyakeni.moleele@univen.ac.za | ||||||||||||||
| Telephone number | +27 15 962 8190 | ||||||||||||||
| Office number | SF004, Life Sciences and Chemistry Building | ||||||||||||||
Research interests: Synthesis of antituberculosis and antimalarial drugs using triazine as a linker. Synthesis of antidiabetic drugs. Isolation of biologically active ingredients from natural products. | |||||||||||||||
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Full list of publications: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57191979244 https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=8583587900
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Prof Isaiah D. Ipfani RAMAITE, Associate Professor (Organic Chemistry)
| Email address | Isaiah.Ramaite@univen.ac.za | ||||||||||||||
| Telephone number | +27 15 962 8262 | ||||||||||||||
| Office number | SF004, Life Sciences and Chemistry Building | ||||||||||||||
Research interests:
Synthetic and bioactivity studies of heterocyclic compounds. Green Chemistry. Natural Product Research on Local Medicinal Plants: Isolation, Structural elucidation of metabolites and their biological activities. Green Chemistry. | |||||||||||||||
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Full list of publications:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Isaiah_Ramaite https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57194426791 | |||||||||||||||
Qualifications | PhD (University of Venda), MSc (University of Venda), BSc (Hons) (University of Venda), BSc (University of Venda) | |
Email address | mwadham.kabanda@univen.ac.za | |
Telephone number | +27 15 962 9329 | |
Office number | SF001, New Life Sciences Building | |
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Research interests: | ||
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Computational and Theoretical Chemistry. Investigations of the reaction mechanisms of small- to medium-sized molecules of biological and atmospheric relevance. | ||
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List of selected publications: | ||
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| [1] | LO Olasunkanmi, IB Obot, MM Kabanda, EE Ebenso. Some Quinoxalin-6-yl Derivatives as Corrosion Inhibitors for Mild Steel in Hydrochloric Acid: Experimental and Theoretical Studies. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 119 (2015), 16004-16019 | |
| [2] | Xueyun Zheng, Ryan S Renslow, Mpho M Makola, Ian K Webb, Liulin Deng, Dennis G Thomas, Niranjan Govind, Yehia M Ibrahim, Mwadham M Kabanda, Ian A Dubery, Heino M Heyman, Richard D Smith, Ntakadzeni E Madala, Erin S Baker. Structural Elucidation of cis/trans Dicaffeoylquinic Acid Photoisomerization Using Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry. The journal of physical chemistry letters 8 (2017), 1381-1388 | |
| [3] | KRN Serobatse, MM Kabanda. An appraisal of the hydrogen atom transfer mechanism for the reaction between thiourea derivatives and OH radical: A case-study of dimethylthiourea and diethylthiourea. Computational and Theoretical Chemistry 1101 (2017) 83-95 | |
| [4] | MM Kabanda, KRN Serobatse. A DFT study on the addition and abstraction reactions of thiourea with hydroxyl radical. Journal of Sulfur Chemistry 39 (2018), 23-46 | |
| [5] | KP Otukile, MM Kabanda. A DFT mechanistic and kinetic study on the reaction of phloroglucinol with •OH in different media: Hydrogen atom transfer versus oxidation. Journal of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry 18 (2019), 1950017 | |
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Full list of publications:
https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=84XA7b4AAAAJ&hl=en https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mwadham_Kabanda2 https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=15834833000
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Qualifications | PhD (University of Pretoria), MSc (University of Pretoria), BSc (Hons) (University of Limpopo), BSc (University of Cape Town) | ||||||||||||||
Email address | Malebogo.Legodi@univen.ac.za | ||||||||||||||
Telephone number | +27 15 962 8519 | ||||||||||||||
Office number | SF008, New Life Sciences Building | ||||||||||||||
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Research interests:
Synthesis of Metal Complexes as chemotherapeutic agents for TB, Malaria and Diabetes. Development of cathode materials for sodium and lithium ion batteries. Chemistry Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. | |||||||||||||||
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| Qualifications | PhD (North West University), MSc (North West University) (Distinction), BSc (Hons) (North West University), BSc (University of Venda) | ||||||||||||||
| Email address | lutendo.murulana@univen.ac.za | ||||||||||||||
| Telephone number | +27 15 962 8394 | ||||||||||||||
| Office number | SF011, Life Sciences and Chemistry Building | ||||||||||||||
| Research interests: Corrosion of Materials, Adsorption studies, Reactions kinetics and Thermodynamics of solutions | |||||||||||||||
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| Full list of publications: https://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=lutendo+c+murulana&oq= https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=36634738400
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| Qualifications | PhD (Stellenbosch University), MSc (Stellenbosch University), BSc (Hons) (Stellenbosch University), BSc (University of Zimbabwe) | ||||||||||||||
| Email address | Eustina.Batisai@univen.ac.za | ||||||||||||||
| Telephone number | +27 15 962 8121 | ||||||||||||||
| Office number | SF006, Life Sciences and Chemistry Building | ||||||||||||||
Research interests:
Supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering. Structure-property relationships in metal organic frameworks (MOFs), inclusion compounds and pharmaceutical co-crystals | |||||||||||||||
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Qualifications | PhD (University of Witwatersrand), MSc (University of Witwatersrand) (Distinction), BSc (Hons) (University of Fort Hare) (Distinction), BSc (University of Zimbabwe) | ||||||||||||||
Email address | nikita.tavengwa@univen.ac.za | ||||||||||||||
Telephone number | +27 15 962 8279 | ||||||||||||||
Office number | SF009, Life Sciences and Chemistry Building | ||||||||||||||
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Research interests:
NRF rated researcher, interested in trace analysis of emerging organic pollutants using novel modern analytical techniques. Analytical method development. Chromatographic analysis (HPLC-(UV/MS), GC-(ECD/FID/MS). | |||||||||||||||
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Full list of publications:
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55842608300 https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=1FPZNzQAAAAJ&hl=en https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nikita_Tavengwa2
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Qualifications | Msc (Sefako Makgatho University), Bsc (Hons) (Sefako Makgatho University), BSc (University of Venda) | ||||||
Email address | Ephraim.ramurafhi@univen.ac.za | ||||||
Telephone number | +27 15 962 8921 | ||||||
Office number | SF005, Life Sciences and Chemistry Building | ||||||
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Research interests: Extraction and characterization of Organic compounds from plants that inhibit the growth of bacteria. The techniques for characterization are GC-MS, FTIR, NMR, UV and TLC | |||||||
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Qualifications | PhD (University of Johannesburg), MSc (University of Cape Town), BSc (Hons) (University of Cape Town), BSc (University of South Africa) |
Email address | Mpelegeng.bvumbi@univen.ac.za |
Telephone number |
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Office number | SF 061, Life Sciences and Chemistry Building |
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Research interests: My main area of research is in the medicinal chemistry, with specific interest in the design and synthesis of compounds with the potential to display both the antimalarial and tuberculosis activities. Recent research is focusing on the synthesis of 1,2,4-triazine derivatives. Spectroscopy analysis (NMR and IR) | |
| Qualifications | MSc (University of Venda), BSc (Hons) (University of Limpopo Medunsa Campus, Now SMU) BSc (University of Limpopo Medunsa Campus, Now SMU) |
| Email address | Golden.ramonetha@univen.ac.za |
| Telephone number | |
| Office number | SF056, Life Sciences and Chemistry Building |
Research interests: Synthesis and biological evaluation of benzopyran derivatives (Chromones, Flavones, Chromanones, etc.). Characterization of benzopyran derivatives using various spectroscopic techniques such as CHN analysis, Mass Spectroscopy(MS), Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy(FTIR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Run bioactivity tests such as anti-cancer, anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, etc. on the compounds synthesized. | |
Qualifications | BSc (Hons) (University of Venda), National Diploma (Tshwane University of Technology) |
Email address | fhumulani.mutshaeni@univen.ac.za |
Telephone number | +27 15 962 8449 |
Office number | SF002, Life Sciences and Chemistry Building |
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Research interests: | |
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Synthetic Organic Chemistry and Applied chemistry focusing on Cosmetic sciences with use of Chromatographic techniques. | |
Qualifications | BSc (Hons) (University of Limpopo), BSc (University of Limpopo) |
Email address | Patrick.pandelani@univen.ac.za |
Telephone number | +27 15 962 8919 |
Office number | GF008, Life Sciences and Chemistry Building |
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Research interests: Voltametric analysis of catalytic activity of metallophthalocyanine complex towards the reduction and oxidation of organophosphate pesticides and NMR characterization of compounds found in medicinal plants. | |
Qualifications | BSc (Hons) (University of Venda), BSc (University of the Witwatersrand) |
Email address | Nontlantla.maseko@univen.ac.za |
Telephone number | +27 15 962 8756 |
Office number | SF001, New Life Sciences Building |
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Research interests: Synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers for catalysis in organic synthetic reactions. Development of cathode materials for sodium and lithium ion batteries | |