Alessa Blanka Rolka

Alessa Blanka Rolka is a Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at the University of West Florida, part of the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering. She also serves as a Faculty Mentor in the UWF STEM Scholars Program, contributing to student development and academic engagement.

Education:

• Postdoctoral Scholar, Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), Spain (2023–2024)
• Dr. rer. nat., University of Regensburg, Germany (2019–2023)
• Visiting Student Researcher, University of California, Berkeley (2021–2022)
• M.S., University of Regensburg, Germany (2016–2018)
• Visiting Student Researcher, Stanford University (2017)
• Erasmus+ Scholar, University of Aberdeen, Scotland (2016)
• B.S., University of Regensburg, Germany (2013–2016)

Her research is centered on advanced organic synthesis, with a focus on photocatalysis, enantioselective transformations, and C–H functionalization. She has developed innovative methods using organic photocatalysts as alternatives to precious metal-based systems. Her work bridges fundamental reaction design with practical applications in synthetic methodology. She has published in top-tier journals including J. Am. Chem. Soc., Nature Synthesis, and Organic Letters, with themes revolving around visible-light-driven reactions, radical chemistry, and asymmetric catalysis.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in sustainable and metal-free catalytic systems, particularly in photoredox and dual catalysis strategies. Her contributions include the development of bifunctional organic photocatalysts and novel C–H functionalization techniques, demonstrating a consistent focus on innovation in synthetic organic chemistry.

Scientific Recognition:

• Erasmus+ Scholar
• Work highlighted in Synfacts (2020)
• Work highlighted in ChemistryViews (2020)

Dr. Rolka mentors students through the UWF STEM Scholars Program and teaches Organic Chemistry I and its laboratory course. While no formal advising list is provided, her mentorship role indicates active involvement in undergraduate research and academic guidance. She has not received specific grant mentions in the text, but her international research trajectory suggests strong collaborative and funding potential.

She has been affiliated with leading research groups globally, including those of Burkhard König (Regensburg), Barry Trost (Stanford), Dean Toste (UC Berkeley), and Marcos Suero (ICIQ), reflecting a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary research profile.