Principal Investigator

Dr. Joseph Badillo

Joe received his B.S. in Chemistry from California State University, Long Beach in 2008, where he worked with Professor Paul Buonora. He then earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis in 2014, working in the area of asymmetric catalysis with Professor Annaliese Franz. After this, he undertook a postdoctoral research position with 2021 Nobel Laureate Professor David MacMillan at Princeton University. Joe joined the faculty at Seton Hall University in the fall of 2017.

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Contact information:

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Joseph J. Badillo

Associate Professor

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Seton Hall University

400 South Orange Ave

South Orange, NJ 07079

(973) 761-9041

email: joseph.badillo@shu.edu 

Graduate Student

Isabella Hidalgo

Isabella is a Ph.D. student in Chemistry at Seton Hall University. She earned her B.S. in Chemistry from the same institution in 2025. Her current research in the Badillo Lab focuses on the development and mechanistic study of visible-light-activated photoacid generators as pre-catalysts for organic transformations. Following completion of her doctoral studies, she plans to contribute to pharmaceutical development, with a particular interest in improving women’s health and synthesizing compounds that enhance quality of life as we age.

Undergraduate Researcher

Zahra Latif

Hi! My name is Zahra Latif, and I am a first year undergraduate student at Seton Hall University. I am  in the Joint BA/MD program and a double major in English and Biology, and am also minoring in Chemistry. My current research is about halogen exchange in 2-naphthols. In the future I plan on pursuing medicine. 

Undergraduate Researcher

Eliu Arana

Hi, my name is Eliu, and I’m entering my third year at Seton Hall University as a chemistry major with an ACS certification. I enjoy doing chemistry and am excited to continue developing my skills through hands-on lab work. Looking ahead, I plan to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical field, where I hope to contribute to developing new drugs and treatments. 

Undergraduate Researcher

Ishika Binu

Hello! My name is Ishika Binu, and I am originally from Washington State. I am a second-year Biology major at Seton Hall University in the Joint BS/MD Program. From a young age, I've been passionate about pursuing a career in medicine and becoming a physician. Currently, my research focuses on photoacid catalysis.

Undergraduate Researcher

Noah Riley

Hello, my name is Noah Riley, I am a sophomore undergraduate student enrolled in the 3+2 BS/MS Chemistry/Chemical Engineering program at Seton Hall University. During my time here at Seton Hall, I have developed a particular interest in the principles of Green Chemistry and hope to pursue a career in the field after finishing my education. My current research focuses on improving product selectivity of photoredox-catalyzed arylation reactions with benzofurans.

Undergraduate Researcher

Natalie Turba

Hi, my name is Natalie Turba. I’m a sophomore at Seton Hall University studying biochemistry with a minor in psychology. I’m also part of the joint bachelor’s/m.d. program. I’ve always been very passionate about medicine and helping others, so my goal is to attend medical school and become a doctor of emergency medicine. I enjoy organic chemistry, and my current research focuses on photoacid catalysis.

Undergraduate Researcher

Kaitlyn Santana

Hi, my name is Kaitlyn Santana, and I am currently a sophomore undergraduate student majoring in Chemistry. I’ve always had a passion for the sciences/ furthering our understanding of the human body and the natural processes that happen in the world around us. My goal is to pursue a career in medicine, which is a field that centers around growth and community, which are two significant themes in my life. 

Undergraduate Researcher

Stephanie Isabel

Hey everyone, welcome. I am a seton hall sophomore undergraduate student. I am majoring in chemistry and enrolled in the 3 + 2 Chemical engineering program. My research focuses on the functionalization of aldehydes using organocatalysis. My goal is to make new chip flavors. I want to make flavors catered to my tastes and expand people’s palettes. I am a fan of long walks on the beach and bowling. I hope to create a world of new tastes that gather and foster community.

Undergraduate Researcher

Mikyah Moore

Hi, my name is Mikyah Moore and I am from Windsor, Colorado. In spring of 2025, I will obtain my B.S. in Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies from Seton Hall University. My current research focuses on photoredox catalysis. Once I obtain my B.S., my goal is to go to medical school and become a doctor so I can serve my community through medicine.

Undergraduate Researcher

Izabelle Cheung

Hello, I’m Izabelle Cheung, a chemistry major who will be graduating early in Spring 2026. My goal is to go to a medical school, particularly for gastroenterology, or pursue graduate studies in chemistry. Currently, my research is focused on photoredox catalysis, where I explored light-driven redox reactions to enable sustainable synthetic transformations.