I grew up in New Castle, Pennsylvania, a small town about 45 minutes north of Pittsburgh.  New Castle is home to the firework capital of the World since both Zambelli and Vitale fireworks call New Castle their home.  Growing up I spent most of my summers at my parents camp on Lake Erie about an hour north of New Castle.  August through May of each year I attended classes at Neshannock Jr./Sr. High School.   Below are a few pictures of my friends, both from camp and from high school (and yes, that is a high school graduation picture on the right!).











      Friends from Camp Eriez (1994)           Neshannock Jr./Sr. High School                              Graduation (1996)

In 1996, I matriculated at  Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.  New Wilmington is one of several Amish communities in Pennsylvania.  At Westminster, I couldn't really make up my mind about whether I wanted to study chemistry or biology so I decided to study both, and in 2000 I graduated cum laude with B.S. degrees in chemistry and biology. While at Westminster College, I studied chemistry under the direction of Timothy Sherwood developing spectroscopic methods for the detection of ergosterol in environmental systems.  I studied marine biology and field zoology under the direction of Clarence Harms and recently traveled to the Galapagos with him in 2003.  Tim, Clarence, and Kenneth Long (not pictured) had a tremendous impact on my life and inspired me to study chemistry and biology in graduate school!  











    Tim Sherwood and Nicole (2000)                            Westminster College     Clarence Harms and Nicole (2000)

In 2005, I earned my Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry at the University of Connecticut where I studied under the guidance of Mark W. Peczuh. My thesis work focused on the synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation of a number of ring-expanded carbohydrate analogs.  Mark taught me everything I know about carbohydrates and I have been and will always be grateful for his mentorship.  He inspired me to be the Assistant Professor of Chemistry that I am today.










   Chemistry Building on the UConn Campus




        Mark and Nicole (2005)       Nicole Graduating (2006)

After graduate school, I spent two years as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.  While at Wellesley, I had the privilege of working with several young women in the classroom and laboratory.  I am especially grateful to Adelaide de Guillebon (currently at Abbot Laboratories), Amanda Hewitt (currently in medical school at the University of Virginia), and Joyce Ngai and Anna Lee (currently graduating seniors at Wellesley) for helping me get my research group off the ground and running before beginning my independent career at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York in 2007.













  My first class at Wellesley (Fall 2005)          Wellesley College Science Center                  Summer 2006 Research Students
                                                                                                                                             (from L. J. Ngai, Nicole, A. Hewitt,
       and A. de Guillebon)

I am currently happily married to Christopher Lee and have been since October of 2004.  Chris graduated with his bachelors of arts degree in History from the University of Connecticut in 2006 and just recently completed a Masters at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 2007.  On January 19, 2009 he will have completed twenty years of service with the Naval Special Warfare.  Chris is my best friend and has supported my dreams from the first day we met in 2003.  We currently live in Clinton, New York with our two cats Emma and Izzy, and enjoy spending time with friends and family, traveling (especially to places where we can snorkel and scuba dive) and reading books.












                  Galapagos (2003)           Christmas (2006)      Virgin Gorda, B.V.I  (2008)

Last, but certainly not least, I owe a great debt to my immediate family, my mother Cheryl, father Gary, and sister Brandy who have supported me every day of my life in every way possible.  I am eternally grateful for all of their love and support.











  Brandy, Gary, Cheryl and Nicole
                                                                                        Christmas 2007