Kailey Komnick, MS

Kailey received a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has received an M.S. in Chemistry from UW Madison, and she is currently working towards a PhD in Chemistry. Her research journey began in a neuropharmacology lab where she studied the difference in methamphetamine withdrawal between adolescent and adult rats. She then transitioned into a medicinal chemistry lab, where she derivatized a gram-positive antibiotic in attempts to improve its resistance profile. Kailey’s work at UW Madison began with studying DNA-scaffolded catalysis, until she transitioned into the Bolling lab in 2024. She is currently studying the effects of roasting on coffee composition. Broadly, Kailey is very interested in the intersection of chemistry with biology, food science, and everyday life.

Outside of the lab, Kailey enjoys spending time with her friends and family, baking, and crafting. She’s almost always listening to an audiobook or a podcast, and she loves to explore new places and learn new skills.