Kacey Garrett Ortiz

KC is a first-generation Latino student from Troy, Texas. He obtained a B.S. in chemistry from Texas A&M while working with Prof. Daniel Romo and Prof. David Powers. He worked in material and additive manufacturing research under Dr. David Battaglia and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Auburn. Advised by Prof. Rashad Karimov, he has explored the development of transition metal catalyzed methodologies for heteroarene dearomatization and natural product synthesis. He has received awards such as the 2023 MBCF Fellowship, and the 2022 Corteva DELTA Grant. Outside the lab he enjoys gardening, gundams, games, and STEAM outreach.