Research Interests

My research integrates experimental, computational, and data-driven approaches to investigate reactivity and selectivity in medicinal chemistry and transition metal catalysis. I utilize density functional theory (DFT) to elucidate reaction mechanisms and compute ground-state descriptors for the development of insight-driven predictive models in addition to performing air-sensitive organic synthesis and ¹H NMR kinetic studies. My current research directions include designing tunable covalent modifiers and understanding C(sp³)–C(sp³) cross-coupling via Fe- and Ni-catalysis.

Awards

• U.S. Department of Education GAANN Fellowship (University of Pittsburgh, 2025 & 2026)

• Lakshmi Raman Memorial Travel Award (University of Pittsburgh, 2025)

• David Pratt Award (University of Pittsburgh, 2025)

• Strem Family Travel Award (University of Pittsburgh, 2025)

• Arts & Sciences Graduate Fellowship (University of Pittsburgh, Spring 2023 & Summer 2024)

• Chair’s Scholar Summer Research Fellowship (University of Pittsburgh, 2022)

Current Activities

• University Liaison for ACS Pittsburgh Women Chemists Committee (WCC) (2026)

• Graduate mentor for R1:PUI mentoring initiative (Catalysis Innovation Consortium, 2026)

Conference Presentations

1. Scofield, G. E.; Meehan, M. C.; Stahl, C. E.; Madhusudhanan, M. C.; Zhao, R.; Wang, S.; Wolfe, J. A.; Horne, W. S.; Cernak, T.; Brummond, K. M.; Liu, P. A Data-Driven Approach to the Reactivity Prediction of Biomimetic Reactions: Harnessing Heteroarenes and Transition Metal Catalysts. Poster presentation at the Catalysis Innovation Consortium Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, October 2–4, 2025.

2. Scofield, G. E.; Meehan, M. C.; Alturaifi, T. M.; Stahl, C. E.; Wolfe, J. A.; Wang, S.; Horne, W. S.; Liu, P.; Brummond, K. M. Harnessing heteroarenes: Thiol reactivity prediction of N-heteroaryl α-methylene–γ-lactam covalent reactive groups inspires a database of heteroaryl descriptors. Oral presentation at ACS Fall 2025, Washington, D.C., August 17–21, 2025.

3. Scofield, G. E.; Meehan, M. C.; Stahl, C. E.; Liu, P.; Brummond, K. M. A Predictive Model for the Thiol Reactivity of α-Methylene–γ-Lactams Using Heteroarenes as Tuning Elements. Poster presentation at EWOC, Rahway, NJ (Merck), June 20–22, 2024.