Yang (Vanessa) Song
Princeton,NJ
Summary
Personable and organized research chemistry with depth of experience in organic and inorganic chemistry specializing in heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis synthesis and characterization with strong ability to manage and coordinate research activities efficiently. Equipped with extensive knowledge in various spectroscopy and electron microscopy techniques as well as gas, liquid, and size exclusion chromatography. Along with six years of teaching and leading liberal arts college undergraduate students in catalysis research for biomass upgrade, I am committed to driving impactful research outcomes and fostering collaborative scientific environment.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Research Lab Manager
Princeton University Andlinger Center for Energy and Environment
06.2025 - Current
- Conduct research with Iain McCulloch on perovskite solar cell projects with focus on electrochemistry study of iodine recycling using organic polymer and small molecule in collaboration with electrical engineering at Princeton University and First Solar, Inc.
- Perform transmission electron microscopy analysis of organic polymer materials for collaborators at Oxford University and Imperial College.
- Procured ~ $1 million laboratory instruments and equipment for the McCulloch polymer synthetic group.
- Supported the McCulloch group and external groups research staff and students by providing training on equipment use and best practices.
- Contribute to inventory management, tracking supplies and ordering materials as needed.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Hamilton College
07.2023 - 06.2025
- Taught introductory courses in general chemistry (CHEM 120), general chemistry lab (CHEM 120 L) organic chemistry (CHEM 241), organic chemistry lab (CHEM 241L), biochemistry lab (CHEM 270L), advanced research methods (CHEM 371W).
- Designed my own course The Science of Scent (CHEM 363), which was an upper level chemistry elective course focused on the analysis, industrial production, and environmental impact of the chemical industry of perfume.
- Led 6 student research in two areas: 1) synthesis and characterization of gold/palladium nanoparticles on lithium aluminum layered double hydroxide for 5-ydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) oxidation towards 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) 2) iron chloride catalyst for textile derived cellulose conversion to glucose. One student was selected by the college as a Goldwater scholar finalist.
Visiting Assistant Professor
Centre College
08.2019 - 06.2023
- Taught general chemistry (CHE 131) general chemistry lab (CHE 131L), organic chemistry (CHE 241), organic chemistry lab (241L).
- Restructuring courses and lab materials during COVID for in-person and remote learning while maintaining liberal arts community learning experience.
- Leading 4 undergraduate students research in synthesis computation study of small molecule organic semiconductor in collaboration with Dr. John Anthony at the University of Kentucky. One student earned the John C. Young Fellowship - the highest research fellowship given by the college to conduct independent research during their senior year.
Education
Ph.D. - Chemistry
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY08.2019
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Centre College
Danville, KY05.2014
Skills
- Inorganic and organic synthesis and purification
- High pressure batch and semi-batch reactors
- Chromatography (Agilent, Shimadzu, Thermo) usage and maintenance skills (GC-MS, HPLC, LC-MS, GPC)
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ( 1D and 2D experiments)
- Transmission electron microsopy (ambient and cryo methods) coupled with EDS
- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with EDX
- X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)
- Electrochemistry
- Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP)
- Raman Microscopy
- X-ray powder diffraction (XRD),
- Infrared Spectroscopy (IR)
- Ultraviolet-visible Spectrophotometry (UV-Vis)
- Photoluminescence and Fluorescence spectroscopy
- Bunauer-Emett-Teller (BET)
Patent
M. Crocker, Y. Song, and J.K. Mobley Oxidation catalyst, U.S. Patent 20190201873, July 4, 2019.
Publication
- JW. Lee, C. Sun, Y. Song, G. Dong, K. Ai, S. A. C. F. Eisner, B. J. Kim, I. McCulloch, YH Kim, and J. R. Durrant. Linker-Engineered Dimeric Acceptors Afford Efficient Organic Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution via Tailored Blend Morphology for Long-Lived Charges. Manuscript in preparation.
- K. J. Thorley, H. Le*, Y. Song, and J. E. Anthony. “Unravelling the Major Factors in Photo-oxidative Stability of Anthradithiophene Derivatives.” Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2022, 10, 15861-15871.
- H. E. A. Ali, F. Vorisek, S. E. Dowd, S. Kesner, Y. Song, D. Qian, and M. Crocker. “Formation of Lutein, β-Carotene and Astaxanthin in a Coelastrella sp. Isolate.” Molecules 2022, 27, 6950
- K. J. Thorley, M. Benford, Y. Song, S. R. Parkin, C. Risko, and J. E. Anthony. “What is Special about Silicon in Functionalized Organic Semiconductors?” Materials Advances, 2021, 2, 5415-5421.
- Y. Song, S. K. Beaumont, X. Zhang, K. Wilson, and A. Lee. “Catalytic applications of layered double hydroxides in biomass valorization”. Current Opinions in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 2020, 22, 29.
- K. J. Thorley, Y. Song, S. R. Parkin, J. E. Anthony. “In Situ Reduction and Functionalization of Polycyclic Quinones”, Organic Letters, 2020, 22, 18, 7193-7196.
- J. Roberts, Y. Song, M. Crocker, C. Risko. "A Genetic Algorithmic Approach to Determine the Structure of Li-Al Layered Double Hydroxides" JCIM, 2020, 60, 10, 4845-4855.
- Y. Ji, S. Bai, D. Xu, Z. Wu, Y. Song, R. Pace, K. Wilson, A. F. Lee, D. Harris, D. Scapens, M. Crocker. “Pd-promoted WO3-ZrO2 for low temperature NOx storage”. Appl. Catal. B., 2020, 264, 118499.
- Y. Song, J. K. Mobley, A. H. Motagamwala, S. D. Karlen, J. A. Dumesic, J. Ralph, Mark Crocker. “A Comparative Study of Secondary Depolymerization Methods on Oxidized Lignins”. Green Chem., 2019, 21, 3940.
- R. Loe, K. Huff, M. Walli, T. Morgan, D. Qian, R. Pace, Y. Song, M. Isaacs, E. Santillan-Jimenez, M. Crocker. “Effect of Pt Promotion on the Ni-Catalyzed Deoxygenation of Tristearin to Fuel-Like Hydrocarbons” Catalysts, 2019, 9(2), 200.
- Y. Song and M. Crocker, Lignin Valorization via Reductive Catalytic Depolymerization, in Chemical Catalysts for Biomass Upgrading, ed. M. Crocker, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. 2019, 395 - 437.
- Song, Y. (2019). Oxidative Depolymerization of Lignin to Low Molecular Weight Aromatics [Doctoral dissertation, University of Kentucky]. University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences Theses& Dissertaion Repository. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/chemistry_etds/114/
- Y. Song, J.K. Mobley, A.H. Motamgwala, M. Isaacs, J.A. Dumesic, J. Ralph, A.F. Lee, K. Wilson, M. Crocker. “Gold-catalyzed conversion of lignin to low molecular weight aromatics”, Chemical Science, 2018, 9, 8127.
- S. Jones, Y. Ji, A. Bueno-Lopez, Y. Song, M. Crocker. “CeO2-M2O3Passive NOx Adsorbers for Cold Start Applications”, Emission Control Sci. Technol. 2017, 3, 59.
Press
Chemistry World. (September 19, 2018). Gold Rush for Lignin Conversion. Retrieved from: https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/gold-rush-for-lignin-conversion/3009516.article
Timeline
Research Lab Manager
Princeton University Andlinger Center for Energy and Environment
06.2025 - Current
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Hamilton College
07.2023 - 06.2025
Visiting Assistant Professor
Centre College
08.2019 - 06.2023
Ph.D. - Chemistry
University of Kentucky
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Centre College