The McDonald lab aims to create an interdisciplinary team of aspiring and junior scientists from all backgrounds and disciplines.
Benjamin R. McDonald
Principal Investigator, He/Him/His
Ben was born in Bangor, Maine, but grew up in central Ohio. Eager to study chemistry at a small liberal arts college, he received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from University of North Carolina Asheville in 2012, conducting research with Prof. Herman Holt. He then pursued his PhD at Northwestern University under the guidance of Prof. Karl Scheidt. As a NIH NRSA predoctoral fellow, he developed new catalytic methods for the construction of small molecules. Subsequently, he was a Martin Luther King postdoctoral scholar in the lab of Prof. Tim Swager at MIT. Here he developed a passion for organic macromolecules and their use as dynamic and reactive materials. Ben began his appointment in the Department of Chemistry at Brown as an assistant professor in 2021.
Ben enjoys climbing plastic simulations of rocks and lavishing love upon his cats.
Email: mcdonabe@brown.edu
Tharindu Ranathunge
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Tharindu was born in Kandy, Sri Lanka, and went to college at the University of Peradeniya. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 2016. After that, he continued his studies for a master’s in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology from the post graduate institute of science(PGIS) at the University of Peradeniya in 2018. While completing his degree, he worked as an instructor at the Department of Engineering at the University of Peradeniya. After completion, he joined the department of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Mississippi in the fall of 2018 to pursue his Ph.D. under Dr. Davita Watkins. His thesis was on developing semiconducting materials for optoelectronic devices with expertise in electropolymerization. Afterward, he joined the Department of Chemistry at Brown University in the fall of 2022 as a Postdoctoral Research Associate.
Tharindu likes Badminton, Tennis, Soccer, Cricket, Football, and Rugby. Also, he likes painting, music, and traveling.
Timea Kolozsvary
Second Year Graduate Student
Timea grew up in southern Florida until she moved to New Jersey during high school. She received her undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Northeastern University in 2017.
Afterwards, she joined Wave Life Sciences, a biotech company in Lexington, MA. There, she worked on developing the synthesis and downstream processing of oligonucleotides as genetic medicines, until she became a part of the Department of Chemistry at Brown in the fall of 2021 as a graduate student. Timea hopes to shift her experience with natural polymers towards the fascinating world of synthetic, responsive and programmable polymeric materials for biomedical and environmental applications in the McDonald Lab.
Timea is also passionate about climbing and yoga, crafting and baking, and her family- which includes her bird Polly.
Aiden Saul
First Year Graduate Student
Hi Everyone! My name is Aiden and I am originally from Cape May, NJ. I completed my undergraduate studies in Chemistry at Saint Joseph’s University in 2022. Under the advising of Dr. Usha Rao and Dr. Mark Reynolds I researched areas in Green Chemistry with focused research in utilizing heme proteins for the degradation of various classes of textile dye. I began my graduate studies at Brown in the fall of 2022. I am looking forward to shifting my perspective of chemistry to a synthetic organic mindset with interests in programmable polymeric materials catalyzed by the great minds of the Mcdonald Lab!
Aside from lab time I enjoy music, spending time outside (preferably near a beach), and sharing memories with friends!
Kennalee Orme
First Year Graduate Student
Kennalee was born and raised in Rexburg, Idaho. She received her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at Idaho State University in December of 2020. While at Idaho State, she conducted research in polysulfide materials under the guidance of Dr. Courtney L. Jenkins. Upon graduation, she was accepted into the SULI program and worked as an intern at the Idaho National Laboratory, until she was hired as a full time researcher in May of 2021. At INL, she specialized in electrochemical characterization of rare earth metal-ligand complexes in ionic liquids. Kennalee decided to pursue her graduate degree in chemistry and joined the McDonald lab at the beginning of her PhD program at Brown University in September of 2022. She hopes to combine her diverse training in polymer science and electrochemistry to study and develop polyelectrolytes for energy storage devices.
Kennalee’s hobbies include sketching, ballroom dancing, and playing the piano. She also spends every moment of free time with her wife and cats.
Dennis Kinyua
Undergraduate Student, ‘23
My name is Dennis Kinyua and I am a fourth year undergraduate studying Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I was born and raised in Kiambu, Kenya and I am super passionate about the intersection of biological structures with synthetic organic chemistry. I am really excited to learn so much from the lab and to explore polymers with self programmable abilities for hierarchical soft materials. At Brown, I work with the Valdez Research group that makes a huge difference in ALS and Alzheimer’s diseases by modelling and researching novel molecules that function to protect and to preserve the Neuro-Muscular Junction (NMJ).
Outside of the lab, I am a passionate long distance runner and a former Brown Men’s Rugby player. I also love cycling and hiking outdoors.
Angelo Giannopoulos
Undergraduate Student, ‘23
My name is Angelo Giannopoulos, and I am a senior concentrating in Neurobiology. I am proudly from Worcester, Massachusetts. I became interested in the work at the McDonald Lab through the insights being made in programmable biomaterials and their potential use in patient populations. Outside of the lab, I am a facilitator for the Brown Meditation Community and conduct research on the effects of a mindfulness regiment on anxiety symptoms. I enjoy going for bike rides, weight lifting, and cooking.
Filip Aubrecht
Undergraduate Student, ‘24
Filip was born and raised in Mystic, Connecticut and is currently studying biochemistry and material engineering at Brown University. In the McDonald lab, he works on the synthesis of polyionic hydrogels and researches cation-pi interactions. His academic interests lay in the synthesis of novel materials and the study of their properties and applications.
Filip also enjoys woodworking, machining, welding, long distance backpacking, cycling, and playing trumpet.
Wonjin Ko
Undergraduate Student, ‘25
Wonjin was born in Seoul, South Korea and grew up in Thousand Oaks, California. He is currently studying Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Brown University. At the McDonald Lab, he is exploring the synthesis of programmable polymeric materials.
Outside of lab, Wonjin enjoys music, swimming running, and playing basketball.
Malcom & Jayne
Therapy Cat & Lab Demouser (respectively)
These are my cats! They can be wonderfully annoying alarm clocks when they want their 6am tuna!
Hierarchical assembly of meow.
The McDonald Lab 