Dr. Iafe graduated cum laude with Honors from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he carried out research with Dr. James Roe and Dr. James Landry. He completed his masters work in Computational Chemistry with Dr. Kendall N. Houk and earned a PhD in Chemistry with Dr. Craig Merlic at UCLA. Following his graduate work, he completed a three-year appointment as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the W.M. Keck Science Department at the Claremont Colleges and postdoctoral work with Prof. Anna Wenzel. In 2014, Dr. Iafe joined the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at CSUSM, and received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2020. Dr. Iafe’s research interest include method development and small molecule synthesis in organic chemistry, and at CSUSM he teaches classes in organic chemistry (CHEM 200, CHEM 201, Chem 201L, Chem 202, Chem 202L, Chem 502).

• CB-TLC Program Director – NSF Award No. 2029167
• Graduate Program Coordinator – Chemistry MS
• CSUBIOTECH Faculty Consensus Group
• Faculty Champion for Teacher Recruitment (FaCTR) Fellow
• ACS Student Chapter @ CSUSM [instagram] – Advisor
• Committees: FDC, CUGR, Reinstatement
• Campus Representative: Goldwater

• Teaching/Postdoctoral Scholar, 2011–2014, W.M. Keck Science Department, Claremont Colleges, Claremont, CA
• Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, 2011, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
• M.S., Computational Chemistry, 2008, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
• B.S., Chemistry, 2004, Cum Laude, Honors, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA

Publications (* denotes undergraduate student)

1. *King, B. H.; *Wang, M. L.; *Jesse, K. A.; *Kaur, G.; *Tran, B.; *Walser-Kuntz, R.; Iafe, R. G.; Wenzel, A. G. "Silver-Catalyzed, N-Formylation of Amines Using Glycol Ethers." J. Org. Chem. 2020, 85, 13256–13263.
2. *Oakley, J. V.; *Stanley, T. J.; *Jesse, K. A.; *Melanese, A. K; *Alvarez, A. A.; Prince, A. L.; Cain, S. E.; Wenzel, A. G.; Iafe, R. G. "Gold-Catalyzed Friedel–Crafts-like Reaction of Benzylic Alcohols to Afford 1,1-Diarylalkanes." Euro. J. Org. Chem. 2019, 42, 7063–7066.
3. Karabiyikoglu, S.; Iafe, R. G.; Merlic, C. A. "Ring-Closing Metathesis with Vicinal Dibromoalkenes as Protected Alkynes: A Synthetic Approach to Macrocyclic Enynes." Org. Lett. 2015, 17, 5248–5251.
4. *Vinson, A. R. S.; *Davis, V. K.; *Arunasalam, A.; *Jesse, K. A.; *Hamilton, R. E.; *Shattuck, M. A.; *Hu, A. C.; Iafe, R. G.; Wenzel, A. G. "Gold-Catalyzed, SN1-Type Reaction of Alcohols to Ethers and Cbz-Protected Amines." Synlett 2015, 26, 765–770.
5. Iafe, R. G.; *Kuo, J. L.; Hochstatter, D. G.; *Saga, T.; *Turner, J. W.; Merlic, C. A. "Increasing the Efficiency of the Transannular Diels-Alder Strategy via Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Macrocyclizations." Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 582–585.
6. Iafe, R. G.; Chan, D. G.; *Kuo, J. L.; Boon, B. A.; *Faizi, D. J.; Saga, T.; *Turner, J. W.; Merlic, C. A. "Cyclization Strategies to Polyenes Using Pd(II)-Catalyzed Couplings of Pinacol Vinylboronates." Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 4282–4285.
7. Gutierrez, O.; Iafe, R. G.; Houk, K. N. "Origin of Stereoselectivity in the Imidazolidinone-Catalyzed Reductions of Cyclic α,β-Unsaturated Ketones." Org. Lett. 2009, 11, 4298–4301.
8. Ess, D. H.; Wheeler, S. E.; Iafe, R. G.; Xu, L.; Celebi-Olcum, N.; Houk, K. N. "Bifurcations on Potential Energy Surfaces of Organic Reactions." Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 7592–7601.
9. Iafe, R. G.; Houk, K. N. "Intramolecular Hetero-Diels-Alder Reactions of Imine and Iminium Dienophiles: Quantum Mechanical Exploration of Mechanisms and Stereoselectivities." J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 2679–2686.
10. Iafe, R. G.; Houk, K. N. "Stereoselectivity Control by Torsional Steering in an Intramolecular Diels-Alder Reaction of Vinyl Oxocarbenium Ions." Org. Lett. 2006, 8, 3469–3472.

Grants/Fellowships

1. 2023: Green Chemistry Education Challenge Award $10,000
2. 2023: CALM $4,000
3. 2023: CSUPERB CD $15,000  
4. 2023: Pfizer AIR Diversity (Llamas) $20,000
5. 2020: NSF S-STEM $999,875
6. 2020: CSUPERB PCS (Stockton) $8,000
7. 2019: Hamilton $1,000
8. 2019: CSUPERB PCS (Shoemaker) $8,000
9. 2019: ACS DOC SURF (Melanese) $5,000
10. 2018: FC PD Grant $800
11. 2018: OGSR GPSM $1,732
12. 2018: NCHEA *NSPIRE Graduate Student Lecture Series $3,000
13. 2018: Jean Dreyfus Lectureship for Undergraduate Institutions $18,500
14. 2018: OGSR GPSM $3,000
15. 2017: CALM $1,000
16. 2017: CSUPERB PCS (Apolinar) $8,000
17. 2015. OGSR GPSM $3,000
18. 2015. CSUPERB NI $15,000

• CHEM 200: Bridge to Organic Chemistry
• CHEM 201: Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM 201L: Organic Chemistry I Lab
• CHEM 202: Organic Chemsitry II
• CHEM 202L: Organic Chemistry II Lab
• Chem 399: Special Problems in Chemistry - Laboratory
• CHEM 499: Senior Laboratory Thesis and Seminar
• CHEM 502: Advanced Organic Synthesis
• CHEM 691: Graduate Student Colloquium in Chemistry and Biochemistry
• CHEM 697: Directed Studies
• CHEM 698: Thesis Research

*To enroll in CHEM 399/CHEM 499, you must go through the Department's application process. CHEM 697/CHEM 698 is restricted to Chemistry MS students. Prospective undergraduate and M.S. researchers are encouraged to contact Prof. Iafe at riafe(at)csusm.edu. Prospective M.S. students should apply to the graduate program at CSUSM. Individuals seeking to join the Iafe lab should expect to undergo a rigorous selection process that includes submission of relevant application materials and an in-person interview.

Professional History:

• Associate Professor, 2020–Present, Chemistry & Biochemistry Department, California State University San Marcos
• Assistant Professor, 2014–2020, Chemistry & Biochemistry Department, California State University San Marcos
• Visiting Assistant Professor, 2011–2014, W.M. Keck Science Department at the Claremont Colleges
• Lecturer, 2011, UCLA Extension

University Service:

• Faculty Development Committee (CSTEM), 2023–present
• Chemistry MS Graduate Coordinator, 2019–present
• Undergraduate Research Faculty Fellow (CUGR Chair) 2019–2021
• STEM Tutoring and SI Faculty Liaison. 2018–2019
• Faculty Champion for Teacher Recruitment (FaCTR) Fellow, 2017–present
• California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB) Faculty Consensus Group (FCG) Member, 2016–present
• Academic Reinstatement Committee (CSTEM), 2015–present
• Committee for Undergraduate Research (CUGR), 2015–present

Professional Societies:

• American Chemical Society, member
• Royal Society of Chemistry, member
• Sigma Xi, full member
• Council on Undergraduate Research, member
• Alpha Sigma Nu, member

Awards:

• 2024, CSTEM Faculty Outreach Award, College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, CSUSM
• 2024, Cougars Affordable Learning Materials (CALM) Program, Spring 2014 Award (w/ EG, JJ, & RC), CSUSM, CA
• 2023, CSTEM Award for Outstanding Faculty Student Collaboration (w/ Gabrielle Martinez, UCI), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, CSUSM
• 2021, CSTEM Award for Outstanding Faculty Student Collaboration (w/ Amanda Melanese, Colorado State University), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, CSUSM
• 2019, Safety, Health & Sustainability Safety Champion, Safety, Health, & Sustainability Office, CSUSM
• 2019, CSM Award for Outstanding Faculty Student Collaboration (w/ Omar Apolinar, Scripps Research Institute/University of Oxford), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, CSUSM
• 2019, Advisor of the Year Tukwut Leadership Award, ASI, CSUSM
• 2019, President's Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching Innovation & Excellence, CSUSM, CA.
• 2018, Kerri Mowen Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award, OGSR, CSUSM, CA
• 2017, Cougars Affordable Learning Materials (CALM) Program, Spring 2017 Award (w/ JT & EG), CSUSM, CA
• 2016, CSM Award for Outstanding Faculty Student Collaboration (w/ Gloria Diaz, Ph.D.), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, CSUSM, CA
• 2011, Hanson-Dow Award for Excellence in Teaching, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, CA

Awards

• 2021-2022 ACS Outstanding Student Club Award
• 2020-2021 ACS Commendable and Green Chemistry Student Club Award
• 2019-2020 ACS Outstanding Student Club Award
• 2019 Student Organization of the Year Tukwut Leadership Award
• 2018-2019 ACS Commendable Student Club Award
• 2017-2018 ACS Honorable Mention Student Club Award

Links: Instagram, Twitter, Tukwut Trax

• January 13, 2024. Karissa Grier, Diana Llamas, and Adam Lovato presented posters at the 36th Annual CSU Biotechnology Symposium in Santa Clara, CA.
• November 18, 2023. Adam Lovato gave an oral presentation at the Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research (SCCUR) at CSUF, CA.
• November 18, 2023. Diana Llamas gave an oral presentation at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoriteized Scientists (ABRCMS) at Phoenix, AZ.
• October 21, 2023. Diana Llamas gave an oral presentation at the Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium (GCURS) at Rice University, Texas.
• August 11, 2023. Karissa Grier, Diana Llamas, and Adam Lovato presented posters at the 2023 Summer Scholars Poster Showcase at CSUSM.
• August 9, 2023. Diana Llamas visited Pfizer La Jolla campus to meet with Pfizer AIR Diversity Research Fellowship reps, tour the facilities, and present her research.
• August 4, 2023. Sebastian Aguero presented his summer research project at a Lightning Talk at the 2023 *NSPIRE Symposium at the Innovation Hub, CSUSM.
• June 11–13, 2023. Karissa Grier, Diana Llamas, and Adam Lovato attended the 27th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference in Long Beach, CA.
• March 29, 2023. Congratulations to Kaylee Shoemaker for receiving NSF GRFP Doctoral Fellowship Honorable Mention.
• February 28, 2023. Congratulations to Diana Llamas for receiving the 2023 Pfizer La Jolla Academic Industrial Relations (AIR) Diversity Research Fellowship in Chemistry. News article.
• January 20, 2023. Congratulations Dr. Gloria Diaz (CSUSM '16) for defending and submitting your PhD thesis! We are so proud of you!
• August 4, 2022. Madison Wagner presented her research poster at the Beckman Regional Symposium at CalTech, CA.
• August 2022. Gabby Martinez presented her poster at the Summer Research Poster Symposium at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA.

Follow the Team — LinkedIn — Twitter 

Graduate Students

Kasumi Faile

Chemistry MS Option

 

Undergraduate Students

 Sebastian Aguero

Goldwater Scholar, CBTLC Scholar

Major: Chemistry
Plans after graduation: complete a Ph.D. program in chemistry. 

Karissa Grier
Fenstermaker Summer Scholar
Major: Chemistry, Minor: Biology
In my free time I enjoy competitive powerlifting and spending time with my family.

Diana Llamas
Pfizer AIR Diversity Research Fellow
Major: Biochemistry
After graduation I plan on getting a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, once I earn my Ph.D. I will then pursue a career as a researcher in the pharmaceutical industry. Some of my hobbies include drawing and hanging out with my bird named Pablo.

Arianna Serrano
Bridges Scholar
Major: Chemistry 
I am a Palomar and MiraCosta college student. After undergraduate school, I plan to go to graduate school to get a Ph.D. In chemistry to work in the field of pharmaceutical research. My hobbies include hiking, photography, and traveling.

Group Photos:

Thank you to the following for providing financial assistance to our lab: CSUSM, NSF, Beckman Foundation, Dreyfus Foundation, Goldwater, Pfizer, Hologic, ACS Division of Organic Chemistry, Genentech, McNair, CTREE, U-Rise, NCHEA, CSUSM OGSR, Hamilton, San Diego Foundation, and CSUPERB.

• Sam Acosta [Summer Scholar], 2018.  Development Chemist – PolyPeptide Group
• Natalie Adamson, 2018.  Quality Control Chemist – Versum Materials
• Lina Ahlberg, 2017.  Quality Engineer – Illumina
• Araceli Alvarez, 2020.   PhD Student – Boston University
• Omar Apolinar [Presidents' Commission Scholar], 2019.  PhD Student – Scripps Research Institute
  • NSF Predoctoral Fellow, 2019
• Emily Aguilar, 2019.  Research Associate – Gilead Sciences
• Brysa Alvarado [Jean Dreyfus Scholar], 2020.  PhD Student – George Washington University
• Marcella Belardes [Summer Scholar], 2023.
• Amanda Bookout, 2018.  PharmD 2022 – UCSD. PGY1 Ambulatory Care Resident – UCSD
• Donald Buckley, 2016.  HS Science Teacher – Irvine Unified
• Stephanie Cain, 2017.  Medical School – University of Missouri
• Monica Cisneros [Summer Scholar], 2023.
• Maribel Clerk, 2020. PhD Student – UCSD
  • NSF Doctoral Fellow, 2022
• Melisa Dean [Summer Scholar], 2016.  Technical Transfer Manager – LumiraDx
• Gloria Diaz [Summer Scholar], 2016.  PhD 2023 – University of Michigan. Scientist – PacBio
• Tamara El-Hayek Ewing [Chem MS], 2021. Scientific Associate (Lab Manager) – Scripps Research
• Mikhail Elerdashvili [Summer Scholar], 2022.  Scientist I – Becton Dickinson
• Karen Fernandez
• Victor Franco Bolanos, 2019. Equipment Technician – CSUSM
• Elie Ghasb, 2016.  Medical school – UCR
• Brittney Klasic [Summer Scholar], 2016.  Pharmacy Technician – Scripps Health
• Roberto Leon Baxin, 2021.  PhD student – University of Rochester
• Iliana Levesque [Summer Scholar], 2017.  PhD student – University of Michigan Ann Arbor
• Adam Lovato [Summer Scholar], 2023. Applying to graduate school.
• Emily Lyon [Summer Scholar], 2021. Scientist I – MicroVention-Terumo
• Gabrielle Martinez, 2023.  Research Assistant – Calibr at Scripps Research
• Jessica Maynard [Summer Scholar], 2016.  MS UCSD 2019. Supervisor, Bioanalytical Chemistry – MicroConstants 
• Dominic McGrosso, 2017. PhD 2022 – UCSD
• Amanda Melanese [ACS DOC SURF], 2021.  PhD student – Colorado State University
• Sharai Mendez, 2018.  MS Student – SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program
• Mercedes Nguyen [Summer Scholar], 2019. Associate Manufacturing Scientist – MilliporeSigma
• James Oakley [Summer Scholar], 2018.   PhD Student – Princeton University
  • NSF Predoctoral Fellow, 2018
• Diego Orea [McNair], 2021. PhD student – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • NSF Predoctoral Fellow, Honorable Mention, 2021
• Jaida Osman, 2022. PhD student – University of Irvine
• Jacqueline Perez, 2018. Research Associate I – Wildcat Discovery Technologies
• Jacqueline Robinos, 2016. Senior Lead Bioprocess Technician – Genentech
• Shiraz Rokach [Summer Scholar], 2023. 
• Daniel Ruiz, 2020. Bioanalytical Scientist I – MicroConstants
• Jessica Scott, 2019. Process Engineer II – Illumina
• Helen Sedrak, 2018. PharmD 2022. PGY1 Pharmacy Resident – Palomar Health
• Mariana Shabo [Summer Scholar], 2018.  Medical School – St. George's University
• Kaylee Shoemaker [Presidents' Commission Scholar], 2021.  PhD student – UCI
• Amanda Smolin [Chem MS], 2021.  Senior Research Associate – Oligonucleotide Chemistry
• Tyler Stanley, 2018.  Laboratory Technician – Wildcat Discovery Technologies
• Leeluleilani Stockton [Presidents' Commission Scholar], 2023. Research Associate – ONI (Oxford Nanoimaging)
• Jasimine Terrell, 2017.  Senior Research Associate – Gilead
• Andrew Thomas. 2016.  Sr Engineer - Process Development – Illumina
• Cris Thompson [Summer Scholar], 2017.  Scientist II Antibody Conjugation – Thermo Fisher Scientific
• Kory Ulle, 2016.  Substitute Teacher – EUHSD
• Sidney Vargas [Summer Scholar], 2022. 
• Jenny Veyna, 2018.  PT Aide - All Star Physical Therapy Sports Medicine
• Madison Wagner [Beckman Scholar], 2022.  PhD student – Scripps Research Institute
  • Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellow, Honorable Mention, 2022

• Visiting Scholars
  • Paul Cativiela, University of California Berkeley
  • Chantel Hennings, Palomar College
  • Giselle Lara, Palomar College – CAICE SURP
  • Fernando Ramirez. University of California Berkeley
  • Lily Recillas, MiraCosta College (ACS Scholars Program)

• Visiting Postbaccaluareate Scholars
  • Aloha Prince.  Medical School – University of Missouri
  • Julianne Rizzo. Medical School – UC Davis.

• High School Visiting Scholars
  • Tory Dennison, Del Lago Academy (2020)
  • Maxwell Lee, Del Lago Academy (2018)
  • Parker Loux, Del Lago Academy (2017)
  • Bryan Montoya, Del Lago Academy (2020)
  • Anthony Rivera, Del Lago Academy (2019)
  • Serina Truong, Del Lago Academy (2019)