John Melbardis obtained an M.A. in Experimental Psychology in 2005 from San Francisco State University, where he worked with Dr. Ted Steiner on conditioning of the autonomic nervous system employing biofeedback. During this time his interest in drugs with central nervous system activity led him to study organic chemistry as well. On completion of his degree, John enrolled at Oregon State University with the goal to pursue graduate work in organic synthesis. In 2006, John joined the Blakemore Research Group and he recently concluded MS thesis work that culminated in total syntheses of all diastereomeric forms of the sparteine group quinolizidine bases.

Norcross, N. R.; Melbardis, J. P.; Ferris Solera, M.; Sephton, M. A.; Kilner, C.; Zakharov, L. N.; Astles, P. C.; Warriner, S. L.; Blakemore,* P. R. "Total Synthesis of (±)-alpha-Isosparteine, (±)-beta-Isosparteine, and (±)-Sparteine From a Common Tetraoxobispidine Intermediate," J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 7939-7951. [LINK][abstract]