Biography

Ellie graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.S. in Chemistry and German in the spring of 2011. At UConn, she worked in Dr. Nicholas Leadbeater’s lab synthesizing transition metal complexes using microwave-assisted synthesis and flow chemistry.  In the fall of 2011, she began her graduate career at UCSB working with Dr. Trevor Hayton. She is currently in her fifth year of study, and recently got married to Dr. Shawn Owens, a former UCSB graduate student!

Research Area

Ellie is currently studying the functionalization and reduction of the trans-uranyl moiety, (UO₂)²⁺, which is the major form of the uranium found in spent nuclear fuel. She is also attempting to synthesize a cis-uranyl complex, in an effort to better understand the nature of the U-O bonds in this moiety.

Selected Publications