Dr. Rashanique Quarels

Dr. Rashanique Quarels

Rashanique Quarels, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Rashanique Quarels, Ph.D.
Chemistry & Biochemistry

Contact Info
856-256-5577
Science Hall 330

Biography

Website: https://sites.google.com/rowan.edu/quarelschemistry/home

Education:
Southern University, BS in Chemistry, 2012

Louisiana State University, PhD in Chemistry, 2017

Vanderbilt University, PostDoc, 2020


Research Expertise:
Organic Chemistry | Natural Products | Carbohydrates | Method Development

My research program focuses on the development of new synthetic methodologies and the synthesis of biologically relevant natural products and derivatives as potential therapeutics. An area of interest is the development of unnatural glycopeptides with antimicrobial activity. We are studying the composition of natural and unnatural amino acids in linear peptide precursors to antibiotics. Another area of intense focus is on studying the effects of fluorination on morphine derivatives. Our aim is to improve drug efficacy while potentially reducing dependence.


Honors and Awards:

Chancellor’s Academic Pathways Postdoctoral Fellowship, Vanderbilt University, 2017-2020

Penn Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship for Academic Diversity, University of Pennsylvania, 2017 (declined)

NSF LS-AMP Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship, Louisiana State University, 2012-2014

Outstanding Senior Student, Baton Rouge Section of the ACS, Southern University, May 2012

ACS Scholars Program, American Chemical Society, Southern University and A&M College, 2011-2012

UNCF/Merck Undergraduate Fellowship, Southern University and A&M College, 2011-2012

 

Member of:

American Chemical Society (www.acs.org)

National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (www.nobcche.org)

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated (www.deltasigmatheta.org)

 

Recent Publications:

Quarels, R. D.; Bing, J. A.; Johnston, J.N. “Total Synthesis of (–)-Feglymycin Utilizing UmAS.” (in preparation)

De Silva, T. P. D.;  Youm, S. G.;  Tamas, G. G.;  Yang, B.; Wang, C.-H.; Fronczek, F. R.;  Sahasrabudhe, G.; Sterling, S.; Quarels, R. D.; Chhotaray, P. K.;  Nesterov, E. E.; Warner, I. M. "Pyrenylpyridines: Sky-Blue Emitters for Organic Light-Emitting Diodes." ACS Omega, 2019, 4, 16867-16877.

Deveaux, K. D.; Quarels, R. D.; Du, S.; Fulton, A.; Reid, N. J.; Firesheets, A.; Ragains, J. R. "Protic Acid-Catalyzed Activation of Thioglycosides." Org. Lett., 2018, 20, 5181–5185.

Quarels, R. D.; Zhai, X.; KuruppuArachchige, N.; Garno, J. C.; Ragains, J. R. "Application of visible-light photosensitization to form alkyl-radical-derived thin films on gold." Beilstein J. Nanotechnol., 2017, 8, 1863-1877.

Verberne-Sutton, S. D.; Quarels, R. D.; Zhai, X.; Garno, J. C.; Ragains, J. R. “Application of visible light photocatalysis with particle lithography to generate polyphenylene nanostructures.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, 136, 14438-14444.