- The So Lab is always looking for curious, motivated, and persistent students to join. Undergraduates need strong quantitative skills and proficiency in general, organic, physical, and inorganic chemistry courses. Unfortunately, the So Lab is not accepting graduate or post-doctoral researchers at this time.
Principal Investigator

Monica C. So, Ph.D.
mso@csuchico.edu
Monica grew up in southern California in a city that once had more lemon trees than people. Yearning for a change in scenery, she moved all the way to UCLA, where she earned her B.S. in Organic Materials Chemistry while researching under Prof. Benjamin Schwartz as a Gates Millennium Scholar. She then earned her Ph.D. in inorganic materials chemistry at Northwestern University working under Prof. Joseph Hupp as a National Defense Science & Engineering (NDSEG) Fellow, developing a novel automated liquid phase technique for depositing thin films of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Working simultaneously at Argonne National Lab, she investigated the light absorption and energy transfer behavior of MOF thin films using steady state and transient fluorescence spectroscopy. Since July 2015, she has taught and mentored over 1000 students as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at California State University, Chico. Her lab focuses on investigating charge and energy transfer behavior of and developing novel metal-organic frameworks. When Monica is not busy saving the world with sustainable solutions, she is a marathoner, triathlete, and amateur Chinese chef!
mso@csuchico.edu
Monica grew up in southern California in a city that once had more lemon trees than people. Yearning for a change in scenery, she moved all the way to UCLA, where she earned her B.S. in Organic Materials Chemistry while researching under Prof. Benjamin Schwartz as a Gates Millennium Scholar. She then earned her Ph.D. in inorganic materials chemistry at Northwestern University working under Prof. Joseph Hupp as a National Defense Science & Engineering (NDSEG) Fellow, developing a novel automated liquid phase technique for depositing thin films of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Working simultaneously at Argonne National Lab, she investigated the light absorption and energy transfer behavior of MOF thin films using steady state and transient fluorescence spectroscopy. Since July 2015, she has taught and mentored over 1000 students as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at California State University, Chico. Her lab focuses on investigating charge and energy transfer behavior of and developing novel metal-organic frameworks. When Monica is not busy saving the world with sustainable solutions, she is a marathoner, triathlete, and amateur Chinese chef!
Undergraduates
Nicholas (Nikita) Barnett
nbarnett1@mail.csuchico.edu Hailing from Contra Costa County, Nikita double majors in chemistry and physics and minors in mathematics. Outside of school, he's an avid practitioner of jiu jitsu and enjoys the color red. Did you know he likes to paint with closed eyes? |
Carlos Melchor
cmmelchorceballos@mail.csuchico.edu Originally from Ukiah, Carlos majors in biochemistry. He aspires to be a physician. On his free time, he's playing soccer, watching his favorite team Liverpool, cooking both Mexican and Japanese dishes, and hanging out with his family and friends. |

Celia Todd
ctodd10@mail.csuchico.edu
A native of Oroville, Celia double majors in chemistry and biochemistry. When not studying, she writes to keep her passion for literature burning bright and enjoys playing MMORPGs. While still introverted at heart, she loves talking about chemistry with anyone she can get to listen to her for more than a couple minutes.
ctodd10@mail.csuchico.edu
A native of Oroville, Celia double majors in chemistry and biochemistry. When not studying, she writes to keep her passion for literature burning bright and enjoys playing MMORPGs. While still introverted at heart, she loves talking about chemistry with anyone she can get to listen to her for more than a couple minutes.

Susana (Susie) Uribe
suribe7@mail.csuchico.edu
As the eldest of 3 siblings and a native of Long Beach, Susie double majors in chemistry and biochemistry. Ever since 5th grade when she was tasked to draw the anatomy of an esophagus, she has aspired to become a physician. When she’s not studying or in the lab, you can find Susie tutoring math, cooking a new meal, or enjoying and curating music.
suribe7@mail.csuchico.edu
As the eldest of 3 siblings and a native of Long Beach, Susie double majors in chemistry and biochemistry. Ever since 5th grade when she was tasked to draw the anatomy of an esophagus, she has aspired to become a physician. When she’s not studying or in the lab, you can find Susie tutoring math, cooking a new meal, or enjoying and curating music.
Alumni

Sydney M. Angel
sangel5@mail.csuchico.edu
Born and raised in Santa Rosa, Sydney is a biochemistry major, SI leader, and sugar addict. When she's free, she loves to relax with her family and friends. She is currently a master's of pharmaceutical sciences student at California Northstate University.
sangel5@mail.csuchico.edu
Born and raised in Santa Rosa, Sydney is a biochemistry major, SI leader, and sugar addict. When she's free, she loves to relax with her family and friends. She is currently a master's of pharmaceutical sciences student at California Northstate University.

Jeremy (Jerah) L. Barnett
jelabarn@ucsc.edu
Native to Chico, Jerah double majored in chemistry and biochemistry at Chico State; he is a current PhD student in chemistry at UC Santa Cruz. His interests range from computers and electronics to living a healthy lifestyle. School, to him, is not career- but interest-driven, so he tries to enjoy himself. His life motto? "If it's not fun, it's not worth it."
jelabarn@ucsc.edu
Native to Chico, Jerah double majored in chemistry and biochemistry at Chico State; he is a current PhD student in chemistry at UC Santa Cruz. His interests range from computers and electronics to living a healthy lifestyle. School, to him, is not career- but interest-driven, so he tries to enjoy himself. His life motto? "If it's not fun, it's not worth it."

James J. Calvo
jcalvo@mail.csuchico.edu
A native of San Francisco, James majors in chemistry and minors in applied math. When he's not busy thinking about science or numbers, he is an ex-vegan who enjoys playing chess. He is now a PhD student in materials science at Boston University.
jcalvo@mail.csuchico.edu
A native of San Francisco, James majors in chemistry and minors in applied math. When he's not busy thinking about science or numbers, he is an ex-vegan who enjoys playing chess. He is now a PhD student in materials science at Boston University.

Vivien L. Cherrette
vcherret@ucsc.edu
Hailing from Hermosa Beach, Vivien majored in chemistry with a minor in mathematics; she is a PhD student in chemistry at UC Santa Cruz. She enjoys the sunny outdoors whether it be camping, hiking, or running. Vivien aspires for a career in industry.
vcherret@ucsc.edu
Hailing from Hermosa Beach, Vivien majored in chemistry with a minor in mathematics; she is a PhD student in chemistry at UC Santa Cruz. She enjoys the sunny outdoors whether it be camping, hiking, or running. Vivien aspires for a career in industry.

Connor J. Hutcherson
connor_hutcherson@pall.com
Born and raised in Redondo Beach, he majored in chemistry; he is currently a field application scientist at Pall Corporation. His hobbies include cooking and exploring the outdoors. In fact, he once spent three weeks backpacking the Appalachian trail!
connor_hutcherson@pall.com
Born and raised in Redondo Beach, he majored in chemistry; he is currently a field application scientist at Pall Corporation. His hobbies include cooking and exploring the outdoors. In fact, he once spent three weeks backpacking the Appalachian trail!
Nicole D. Mackie
|

Olivia S. McIntosh
omcintosh@mail.csuchico.edu
Originally from Livermore, Olivia is a chemistry major with a physics minor who also worked at Nanotech Energy. She is currently working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
omcintosh@mail.csuchico.edu
Originally from Livermore, Olivia is a chemistry major with a physics minor who also worked at Nanotech Energy. She is currently working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Sungwon Yoon
syoon8@uh.edu
All the way from Seoul, South Korea, Sungwon majored in chemistry with a mathematics minor. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures. Although she hasn’t been to many countries yet, she plans to explore more countries in the future. She worked at Nanotech Energy, a graphene battery startup company, before pursuing her PhD in chemistry at University of Houston.
syoon8@uh.edu
All the way from Seoul, South Korea, Sungwon majored in chemistry with a mathematics minor. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures. Although she hasn’t been to many countries yet, she plans to explore more countries in the future. She worked at Nanotech Energy, a graphene battery startup company, before pursuing her PhD in chemistry at University of Houston.