News
Parul Sharma Receives Prestigious Fellowships for Fall 2026!
Parul Sharma has been recognized for her academic excellence and research potential with two prestigious fellowship awards for Fall 2026: the Distinguished Graduate Fellowship (DGF) and the SC Sun Grant Fellowship.
The Distinguished Graduate Fellowship (DGF) recognizes outstanding graduate students for their academic achievements, scholarly potential, and contributions to their field. In addition, Parul has been selected for the SC Sun Grant Fellowship for Fall 2026, further recognizing her commitment to research and innovation in areas aligned with the Sun Grant mission.
These fellowships provide valuable support for Parul’s graduate education and research while highlighting her accomplishments and potential as an emerging researcher. The recognition marks an important milestone in her academic journey and reflects her continued dedication to advancing knowledge through research.
Congratulations to Parul Sharma on this outstanding achievement!
New Publication from the Weaver Group!
Congratulations to Parul Sharma on their new publication in ARKIVOC!
From Prediction to Reality: Harnessing Strain Energy to Achieve a Photodriven Retro-Diels–Alder Reaction
This invited article highlights how mechanistic understanding and strain-energy considerations can guide the development of a visible-light-driven retro-Diels–Alder reaction, providing an efficient strategy for accessing dienes through photochemical activation.
Sharma, P.; Weaver, J. D. ARKIVOC 2026, 7, 202612647. https://doi.org/10.24820/ark.5550190.p012.647
Dr. Jimmie Weaver Named Hamm Institute for American Energy Faculty Fellow
The Weaver Research Group is excited to congratulate Dr. Jimmie D. Weaver on being named a Hamm Institute for American Energy Faculty Fellow.
This prestigious recognition is accompanied by funding to support the research project focused on using visible light to develop innovative chemical technologies for more efficient energy utilization. The award will help advance the lab's efforts in sustainable photocatalysis while providing new opportunities for cutting-edge research and student training.
We are sincerely grateful to the Hamm Institute for American Energy for their support and investment in this research. We look forward to the exciting discoveries and collaborations this fellowship will make possible.
Congratulations to Julia Stewart on a Successful Summer REU!
The Weaver Research Group congratulates Julia Stewart on successfully completing the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at Oklahoma State University.
This summer, Julia conducted research on visible-light energy-transfer catalysis and photocatalytic esterification reactions, gaining valuable experience in synthetic organic chemistry, NMR spectroscopy, and scientific communication. She presented her work at the Chemistry REU Summer Research Expo, where she earned Runner-Up for Best Poster Presentation.
We are proud of Julia's hard work and accomplishments and wish her continued success in her future career in chemistry. Congratulations, Julia!
Weaver Lab Receives Funding for the OAIRE Project
The Weaver Research Group is excited to announce the launch of our newly funded OAIRE project!
This collaborative effort will explore how light-driven chemistry can be used to extract more energy from fuels by developing new photocatalytic strategies for energy-efficient chemical transformations. The project combines fundamental mechanistic studies with innovative reaction design to advance sustainable approaches to energy conversion.
We are excited to get started and look forward to sharing updates as the project progresses. Stay tuned!
