Professor Corey Stephenson
Principal Investigator
Corey was born in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo in 1998. He completed graduate studies under the direction of Professor Peter Wipf at the University of Pittsburgh before joining the lab of Professor Erick M. Carreira at ETH Zürich. In September 2007, he joined the Department of Chemistry at Boston University as an Assistant Professor where he served until June 2013. In July 2013, he joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Michigan as Associate Professor of Chemistry, and in September 2015, was promoted to full Professor. In June, 2024, Corey was appointed a the University of British Columbia as the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Innovative Synthetic Methods for Translational Chemistry with appointments in Chemistry and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He also co-leads a new synthesis laboratory at the BC Cancer Research Center with Professor Corinna Schindler.
Email: stephenson "at" chem.ubc.ca
Postdoctoral Researchers
Luke Farmer
Luke A. Farmer after earning his B.Sc. in chemistry at Carleton University in 2015 began his graduate studies at the University of Ottawa under the supervision of Prof. Derek Pratt earning his M.Sc. and his Ph.D. (2023) in organic chemistry. His research focus in the Pratt Group was in the area radical-trapping antioxidants and lipid peroxidation, where he used his training in fundamental physical organic chemistry to advance the areas of antioxidant and ferroptosis inhibitor research. During his Ph.D., Luke also picked up theoretical computational chemistry to compliment his experimental mechanistic training. In 2025, he joined Prof. Corey R. J. Stephenson at The University of British Columbia as a Postdoctoral Fellow where he continues to study radical chemistry problems in the context of photoredox synthetic method development.
Email: lukefarmer "at" chem.ubc.ca
Cameron Zheng
Cameron (he/him/his) was born in Victoria, BC, and earned his BSc (Honours) from the University of Victoria. In 2019, he joined Professor Laurel Schafer's group at the University of British Columbia to explore N-heterocyclic framework syntheses by leveraging early transition-metal-catalyzed C-H activation of amines as a key synthetic step. After graduating in 2024, Cameron joined the Stephenson lab, where his current research focuses on the catalytic upgrading of alcohols using transition-metal catalysts. Outside of the lab, Cameron enjoys watching sports, hitting golf balls, and reading.
Email: czheng "at" chem.ubc.ca
Ben Boswell
NSERC postdoctoral fellow
Ben was born and raised in Vancouver. He received a B.Sc. (Hon.) in chemistry from the University of British Columbia where he worked with Prof. Glenn Sammis on radical fluorination. He then received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Stanford University, working with Prof. Noah Burns and Prof. Yan Xia on the synthesis of strained fluorocarbons and force-responsive polymers. He then worked at Exelixis Inc. in Alameda, California, as a senior scientist in drug discovery on novel small-molecule cancer treatments. He joins the Stephenson group in 2025 as an NSERC postdoctoral fellow.
Email: bbos "at" chem.ubc.ca
Graduate Students
Mark Glossbrenner
3rd year
Mark was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. He later moved to San Diego to work on photoredox catalysis with Professor Erik Romero at UCSD where he developed various methods of C-H activation. He later earned his B.S. in chemistry from UCSD and pursued the much milder midwestern weather at the University of Michigan. He enjoyed putting color into chemistry so much he decided to further pursue photochemistry in his graduate research and joined the Stephenson lab in Spring 2023. Mark is currently working on exploring the reactivity of various substrates under photocatalytic conditions. In his free time Mark enjoys cooking, swimming, fishing, golfing, playing with his dogs, and most any other outdoor activity.
Email: mglossbr "at" chem.ubc.ca
Jasmine Etman
2nd year
Jasmine was born in Calgary, Alberta. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. In 2023, she conducted research in the Reid lab, focusing on developing new chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed enantioselective Mannich and Friedel-Crafts reactions. Her interest in the field of photochemistry led her to join the Stephenson group and continue her studies at UBC. Jasmine is committed to long-distance running and enjoys hiking and spending quality time with her family.
Email: jetman "at" chem.ubc.ca
Eric Butler
2nd year
Eric grew up in Sherwood Park, Alberta. He obtained his B.Sc. from the University of Alberta where he worked with Professor Michael Meanwell, Fred West, Rik Tykwinski, and Eric Rivard. His most extensive project was on the synthesis of polyyne based molecular wires with Professor Rik Tykwinski. With an interest in the field of photochemistry, Eric moved to Vancouver in 2024 to join the Stephenson group at the University of British Columbia. Outside of the lab Eric enjoys hiking, climbing, skiing, playing soccer, and reading a good book.
Email: ebutler"at" chem.ubc.ca
Ryan Qiu
2nd year
4YF
Ryan (he/him) was raised in Edmonton Alberta and completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of Alberta. There, he worked on numerous different projects spanning from chemical biology to organic methodology. Ryan previously worked on the late-stage functionalization of bioactive macrocyclic peptides with Prof. Ratmir Derda, and photocatalytic C–H sulfinamidation with Prof. Michael Meanwell. Enjoying the adventures of photochemistry, Ryan joined the Stephenson lab in Fall of 2024 to fulfill his love of light and escape the cold darkness of Edmonton winters. When he’s not in the lab, you can find him playing CS2, learning how to golf, playing badminton, fishing in the summers, and skiing in the mountains in the winters!
Email: ryanqiu "at" chem.ubc.ca
Izabella Krug
2nd year
Izabella grew up in Budapest, Hungary, before moving to the United Kingdom to complete her undergraduate and Master’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Bath. She worked with Professor Toby Jenkins on targeted antifungal delivery from composite hydrogels activated by cold atmospheric plasma. Izabella also had the opportunity to complete a year of study abroad at Dalhousie University in Canada, where she worked with Professor Alex Speed on asymmetric diazaphospholene catalysts. Developing a strong interest in radical reaction mechanisms and photochemistry, Izabella joined the Stephenson group at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver in the fall of 2024. In her free time, she enjoys cycling, playing golf, and delving into the depths of literature.
Email: iokrug "at" chem.ubc.ca
Owen Yoshida
2nd year
NSERC CGRSM & 4YF
Owen grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and completed his B.Sc. at Dalhousie University. There, he worked with Prof. Alex Speed, focusing on the asymmetric synthesis of primary amines using a chiral auxiliary. During his time in the Speed lab, Owen became interested in radical chemistry, particularly the field of C-H activation. He joined the Stephenson lab in 2025 where he continues to work on using C-H activation to form C-C bonds. Outside of the lab, he enjoys birdwatching, wildlife photography, cycling, and needlecraft.
Email: oyoshida"at" chem.ubc.ca
Achint Lail
2nd year
NSERC CGRSM & 4YF
Achint was born in Vancouver, BC. He obtained his B.Sc. in Chemistry and Biochemistry from UBC where worked on the metal-free synthesis of N-substituted anilines under Professor David Perrin. Achint also had the opportunity to complete an internship at Alectos Therapeutics where he worked on the synthesis of small molecule candidates for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. With an interest in photoredox catalysis, he joined the Stephenson group to pursue graduate school. Outside of the lab, Achint enjoys camping, skiing, playing tennis, and reading a good book.
Email: tlail "at" chem.ubc.ca
Sarah Maffett
2nd year
Sarah grew up near the base of Mount St. Helen’s in Castle Rock, Washington. She studied the biological sciences before focusing on chemistry, making her way north to earn her B.S. in Chemistry at Western Washington University in Bellingham. As an undergraduate, she worked on multiple research projects in the O’Neil lab, including oxasilolane synthesis and the NMR quantification of marine alkenone waxes. Her interest in radicals and photochemical methods led her to join the Stephenson lab in the fall of 2025, where she is currently researching their use in total synthesis. Outside the lab, Sarah loves to get crafty, read, watch movies, and smell the flowers.
Email: smaffett"at" chem.ubc.ca
Daria Rudykh
2nd year
4YF
Daria's bio coming soon.
Email: drudykh "at" chem.ubc.ca
Undergraduate Students
Kyle Schoenmakers
Sid McDermid
Koey Lau
