Brian Knight

Brian Knight has diverse work experience in the field of chemistry. Their current role is as the Director of Medicinal Chemistry at Asha Therapeutics, a position they have held since December 2020.

Prior to this, Brian worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Florida State University from August 2018 to October 2020. During their time there, they focused on exploring the reactivity of pyridiniums for the synthesis of neuroactive alkaloids and their derivatives. Brian developed a 5-step diversity-oriented synthesis of lysergic acid and established a regioselectivity model for Grignard additions into pyridiniums.

From April 2016 to July 2018, Brian worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Florida. Their research involved the synthesis and characterization of multi-metallic complexes and their reactivity with dinitrogen and other small molecules. Brian aimed to model and understand the mechanistic reactivity of nitrogenase cofactors.

Before that, Brian worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Georgia from August 2014 to March 2016. Their research focused on developing directing groups for traceless and transient C–H functionalization. Brian also studied unusual stereochemical outcomes in the alkylations of imidazolidinones.

From January 2011 to July 2014, Brian worked as a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant at Colorado State University. Their work involved developing directing groups for traceless and transient C–H functionalization and studying stereochemical outcomes in the alkylations of imidazolidinones.

Brian's earlier work experience includes being a Chemistry Instructor at Mt. Hood Community College from September 2009 to June 2010, a Research Assistant at Oregon State University from June 2009 to February 2010, and an R&D Chemist at Synthetech from September 2008 to June 2009.

In addition, Brian gained research experience as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at Oregon State University from April 2006 to December 2007.

Overall, Brian Knight has a strong background in synthetic chemistry and has contributed to various research projects throughout their career.

Brian Knight obtained a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Oregon State University in 2007. Following that, they pursued a Master's degree (M.S.) in Industrial Organic Chemistry from the University of Oregon between 2008 and 2009. Brian then completed their first Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at Colorado State University from 2010 to 2014. Later, they pursued a second Ph.D. in the same field at the University of Georgia - Franklin College of Arts and Sciences from 2014 to 2016.