Principal Investigator
Sharon R. Neufeldt grew up in Tucson, AZ and graduated from University High School in 2003. She earned a B.S. in Chemistry at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff in 2006, and then began her Ph.D. studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2007. At Michigan, she worked with Professor Melanie Sanford on the development of Pd-catalyzed C—H functionalization reactions. In 2013, she became the Cram Teacher-Scholar at UCLA. There, she undertook postdoctoral research with Professor K. N. Houk using DFT to study the mechanism and selectivity of transition metal-catalyzed C—H activation, while also teaching sophomore organic chemistry. In summer 2016 she moved to Bozeman, MT to begin her independent career. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 2023. She is the recipient of an NSF CAREER award (2019), a Thieme Chemistry Journals Award (2020), a Cottrell Scholars Award (2020), a Fox Faculty Award (MSU, 2025), and a PECASE Award (Biden administration, 2025). Outside of chemistry, Sharon enjoys spending time with her husband, Roland, and 5-year old son, Teddy.
Graduate Students
Grace Ibsen (6th Year Graduate Student)
Grace was raised in Helena, MT and graduated from Capital High School. She then attended The University of Providence in Great Falls, MT where she earned her B.A. in chemistry and psychology. In the Neufeldt lab, her research is primarily focused on chemoselective Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling. During her free time, Grace enjoys hiking, floating, and snowboarding.
Albert Reyes (5th Year Graduate Student)
Albert grew up in Chicago, IL and earned his B.S. in Chemistry at Marquette University in the fall of 2020. As an undergraduate, his research focused on the copper catalyzed Hydrofunctionalization of Alkynes and Alkenes under Dr. Joseph R. Clark. In the Neufeldt lab, Albert’s research is focused on site-selective Pd-catalyzed cross-couplings. In his free time, Albert enjoys reading and hanging with his friends.
Collin Stein (M.S. track)
Collin grew up in Appleton, WI and earned a B.S. in Chemistry from St. Norbert College in the spring of 2021. As an undergraduate, Collin’s research focused on synthesis of novel indole based compounds with possible medicinal benefit with Dr. Jon Russel. At MSU, he is studying nickel and palladium catalysis. In his spare time, he enjoys camping, snowboarding and hanging out with friends.
Bobby Lerch (3rd Year Graduate Student)
Bobby Lerch completed his undergraduate degree at Beloit College in Beloit, WI, where he double majored in biochemistry and French and minored in physics. As such, one of his hobbies is making his life as hard as possible, in addition to playing video games (Nintendo in particular), cooking, filling his brain with chemistry and physics info, being a comedic genius, and general dawdling.
Leah Hubbard (1st Year Graduate Student)
Leah grew up in Nashville, TN and earned a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2026. As an undergraduate, her research focused on non-covalent catalysis in polymer applications under the direction of Prof. Johnathan Brantley. In her free time, Leah enjoys hiking and reading.
Undergrads
Zachary Dieke (junior)
Zach is originally from Broomfield, CO, where he graduated from high school at Prospect Ridge Academy in 2024. He is a biochemistry major, and in his free time he likes to ski with friends and watch Bobcat football games.
Alumni (Graduate Students)
Oliver Jackson (PhD Spring 2026)
Matt Kania (PhD Spring 2025)
Nate Larson (PhD Spring 2025)
Jacob Norman (PhD Fall 2023)
John Russell (PhD Summer 2022)
Steven Rehbein (PhD Spring 2022)
Emily Elias (née Reeves) (PhD Spring 2021)
Michael Giroux (MS Summer 2019)
Postdogs
Meeple (9 years old)
Meeple is an Australian Labradoodle who was born near Seattle, WA but grew up in Bozeman. Some of her lifetime accomplishments include training her little human brother to drop food on the floor and scaring away the UPS drivers, every time. She has also demonstrated success at stealing eggs, waffles, pancakes, and bagels from the dining table when no one is looking, although her previously confidential technique was recently discovered through carefully planned espionage (see photo). In her free time, she enjoys watching deer through the window and throwing her KONG toy at people until someone loads it up with a treat.
