Research Scientists
Anna Österholm
Anna was born in Missouri and raised mainly in southern Finland and for awhile southern California. She received her PhD in Analytical Chemistry with a focus on conjugated polymer electrochemistry in 2011 from Åbo Akademi University in Finland. Anna is currently a senior research scientist in the Reynolds group and leads the research efforts in the areas of charge storage, electrochromism, and polymer electrochemistry. She loves cooking and everything food related, and enjoys traveling the world (especially by train) in search of new foods and other weird experiences.
Eric Shen
Eric received his B.A. in English from Rice and then went on to pursue a Ph.D. in polymer chemistry at the University of Florida, graduating in 2011. After 1.5 years at Georgia Tech as a research engineer, he joined BASF in Germany as a postdoctoral researcher in organic electronics. Eric then returned to Georgia Tech and the Reynolds group where he is currently working as a research scientist focusing on electrochromic materials and devices.
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS
Spencer Gilman
Spencer grew up near Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from St. Cloud State University in 2018. After completing his undergraduate studies, he pursued his Ph.D. at North Dakota State University under the guidance of Dr. Seth Rasmussen. His dissertation focused on the synthesis and characterization of conjugated materials for near-infrared emitters and photodetectors. Following his doctoral studies, he joined the Reynolds group as a postdoctoral fellow in 2024. In his free time, he enjoys reading and rock climbing.
Yongliang is from Puyang, China. After graduating from Shandong University in 2013, he joined Prof. Liu-Zhu Gong’s lab in USTC to pursue his Ph.D. In Gong’s group, his research mainly focused on metal/ organo cooperatively catalyzed asymmetric reactions. Thereafter, he spent three years in Prof. Michael Doyle’s group as a postdoctoral associate and worked on radical chemistry. In September 2021, he joined Prof. Will R. Gutekunst’s group, shifting his research toward polymer synthesis, particularly in the design and synthesis of novel and functional chemically recyclable polymers. Since January 2025, he has been jointly advised by Prof. Gutekunst and Prof. John Reynolds, focusing on the design, synthesis, and application of conjugated conducting polymers. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, listening to music, watching movies, and being with family and friends.
VISITING SCIENTISTS
Ariane Charland-Martin
Ariane was born in Repentigny, Québec, Canada, where she grew up speaking French as her first language. She moved to the United States right before high school and, in 2023, she graduated with her B.S. in Chemistry from Kennesaw State University. She joined the Reynolds Research Group in Spring 2024 and plans to attend Ga Tech as a Ph.D. student in Fall 2024. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with friends and family and crocheting.
GRADUATE RESEARCHERS
Emily Ryan
Emily joined the Reynolds group in Fall 2021 as a graduate student in Materials Science and Engineering. Before joining GT, she completed her B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2015 working in Dr. Niels Holten-Andersen’s lab on bio-inspired materials systems. She then spent 5 years working for Ford Motor Company as a research engineer on a variety of materials engineering projects including topics in additive manufacturing, adhesives, and laser welding. She plans to work on developing and characterizing conductive thermoplastic composite materials utilizing carbon-based nanofillers for space-oriented applications.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS
Penelope Hicks
Penny (She/Her) is a third-year student pursuing a B.Sc. in Chemistry with a minor in Quantum Sciences and Technology. She joined the group in May 2024 and is passionate about molecular physics and physical electrochemistry. In her free time, Penny enjoys cooking, playing bass, and reading about the history of culture, societal injustice and reform.
Divya Iyer
Divya grew up in Apex, North Carolina. She is currently working towards a BS in Materials Science and Engineering and a Minor in Linguistics. She joined the Reynolds group in Summer 2022 and expects to graduate in Spring 2025. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and is involved with the MILL (Materials Innovation Learning Laboratory) on campus.
Lucas Orthous
Lucas is from Roswell, Georgia and is a former freshman Chemistry major at Georgia Tech – practically a child! He chose to major in Chemistry due to his life-long passion for the TV show Sid the Science Kid, which he still watches daily today. He joined the Reynolds group in Summer 2024 and is scheduled to graduate in 2027. Some of his current hobbies include being Callie Goins’ biggest fan, eating carrot cake, walking his pet tarantula, Oliver, and pointing a long pointy stick at people.
Jenny Ren
Jenny is from Woodstock, Georgia and is currently working towards a BS in Chemistry concentrating on pre-health. She joined the Reynolds in Spring 2025 and plans to graduate in 2027. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends, cooking/baking, and listening to music.