Field to formula: a handful of leaves becomes a molecular fingerprint, then a new moleculeWorking out a reaction mechanismFiltering a fresh leaf extractScaling up a synthesisScytonemin separation using prep-TLCCelebrating Garrett Larson’s scytonemin synthesis, July 16, 2024Working out scytonemin tautomers and photochemistryChecking column fractions by TLC under UV lightWorking through a ¹H NMR spectrum by handColumn chromatography of a plant extractExtract and fraction vialsA Piper reticulatum in the office, with its own warning label
In the field
Where the questions start
14 photos
Cloud forest canopy in Ecuador, with Prof. Jeffrey examining a large Piper kelleyi plantA montane forest field site at Yanayacu, EcuadorProf. Jeffrey working through dense understory at Yanayacu, EcuadorCelso Oliviera improvising rain cover in a Costa Rican rainforestProf. Lora Richards collecting plant and herbivore data in the Ecuadorian rainforest with Ecuadorian scientistsProfs. Lee Dyer and Lora Richards discussing a field experiment in a Brazilian forestA hairy caterpillar in the Cerrado outside Brasília, BrazilHerbivore damage by an Eois caterpillar on Piper in a Brazilian forestItatiaia National Park, Brazil, with Prof. Kevin McMahon (Carroll University)Prof. Jeffrey with Humberto “Beto” GarciaExamining Piper in the understory with Profs. Lora Richards and Lee DyerAt La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica, March 2025, being interviewed by Kat Fulwider of KUNRLa Selva Biological Station, Costa RicaLearning outdoors with students at the Lake Tahoe campus
Group life
People and milestones
8 photos
Lexi Canas with her Nevada Undergraduate Research Award poster on the chemical annotation of PiperAt a poster sessionCommencement with Garrett Larson, Ph.D.Celebrating a bachelor’s degreeCelebrating the completion of the total synthesis of scytonemin and scytonemin imineMegan Burroughs, Ph.D., celebrating her defense; now an Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri–St. LouisUndergraduate researcher McKenzie Shipman and Prof. Tara Massad in Prof. Massuo Kato’s laboratory at the University of São PauloBarbecue with collaborator Prof. Massuo Kato (University of São Paulo)