Current Trainees

Chemistry-Biology Interface Program

qcb logo
Quantitative and Chemical Biology

Earn a PhD in the best of both worlds.

Graduate training in chemical and physical biology.

Lauren Augusta

My research focuses on how coordinated metabolic signals regulate surface attachment and biofilm formation in Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Fun Fact: I played the harp for 10 years.

Degree Program: Microbiology

Lab: Fuqua

Undergrad Institution: University of Puget Sound

Andrew Bach

My research focuses on studying methodology for the synthesis of fluorinated unnatural amino acids and other fluorinated biological moieties.

Fun Fact: My hobbies include playing disc golf and watching the Detroit Red Wings

Degree Program: Organic Chemistry

Lab: Snaddon

Undergrad Institution: Alma College

Zach Celentano

I am interested in studying the mechanisms of function of quorum sensing inhibitors and developing new inhibitors against Vibrios using a combination of structure based drug design and structure activity relationship assays.

Fun Fact: I have been weightlifting since I was 14 years old (almost 12 years now).

Degree Program: Genome Biochemistry

Lab: van Kessel

Undergrad Institution: Indiana University Bloomington

Cayla Rose Collins

My research focuses on developing mass spectrometry detection methods for the post-translational modification tyrosine sulfation and expanding the understanding of the enzyme responsible, tyrosylrprotein sulfotransferase.

Fun Fact: I am a lover of dogs with two of my own, and I can solve a Rubik's cube.

Degree Program: Chemical Biology

Lab: Dann

Undergrad Institution: Columbus State University

Emily Erdmann

My research focuses on the role of ADARs (Adenosine Deaminases that Act on RNA) and Adenosine-to-Inosine RNA editing in the germline of C. elegans.

Fun Fact: I love cooking and baking.

Degree Program: Genome, Cell and Developmental Biology

Lab: Hundley

Undergrad Institution: Illinois Wesleyan University

Allan Gramillo

My research focuses on investigating the phosphate starvation response and its role on biofilm formation in the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumafaciens.

Fun Fact: I started the wave at Dodger stadium.

Degree Program: Microbiology

Lab: Fuqua

Undergrad Institution: California State University, Los Angeles; North Dakota State University

Jane Joncha

My research focuses on assessing different properties of Bacillus subtilis through microfluidics coupled with time-lapse fluorescence microscopy.

Fun Fact: I enjoy hiking, snowboarding and annoying my sister.

Degree Program: Analytical Chemistry

Lab: Jacobson

Undergrad Institution: Sarah Lawrence College

Renee Kinne

My research focuses on the role of phase separation and disordered domains in oncogenic transcriptional co-activators.

Fun Fact: My favorite movie is Shrek

Degree Program: Cell, Molecular, and Cancer Biology

Lab: Hollenhorst

Undergrad Institution: Michigan State University

Emma Lamb

I am primarily interested in researching how biomolecular interactions affect gene expression in animals.

Fun Fact: I grew up on an island in Washington State.

Degree Program: Genome Biochemistry

Lab: Hundley

Undergrad Institution: University of Louisville

Patrick Laughlin

My research focuses on the structure and assembly of SARS-Cov-2 Nucleocapsid protein.

Fun Fact: I love skiing, gardening, and birdwatching.

Degree Program: Supramolecular Complexes Biochemistry

Lab: Zlotnick

Undergrad Institution: Indiana University Bloomington

Victoria Lopez

My research uses fruit fly larvae to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of nociception, the sensory process that encodes painful/noxious stimuli.

Fun Fact: I like to collect mugs

Degree Program: Genome, Cell, and Developmental Biology and Program in Neuroscience

Lab: Tracey

Undergrad Institution: Roosevelt University

Averi McFarland

My research focuses on protein interactions, structure-function, and dynamics necessary for cell wall synthesis in the pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Fun Fact: I had a dislocated clavicle for 5 months that was repositioned using a cadaver ligament. I have yet to break a bone though.

Degree Program: Microbiology

Lab: Winkler

Undergrad Institution: Idaho State University

Emma McRae

My research focuses on using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to study metal-dependent biological systems found in pathogenic bacteria.

Fun Fact: I have free-dived and scuba-dived with sharks multiple times!

Degree Program: Chemical Biology

Lab: Giedroc

Undergrad Institution: University of California, Berkeley

Sandip Mishra

My research focuses on developing artificial metalloenzymes for enantioselective catalysis. I am also utilizing de novo design to create Ru and Ir-based artificial metalloenzymes for enantioselective photocatalysis.

Fun Fact: I enjoy playing the flute and chess.

Degree Program: Chemical Biology

Lab: Lewis

Undergrad Institution: University of Delhi; Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

AJ Morton

My research focuses on the dsDNA genome packaging of bacteriophage lambda, specifically translocation and capsid maturation.

Fun Fact: I love Science Fiction and Fantasy books, and I play Pokémon competitively.

Degree Program: Biochemistry

Lab: Morais

Undergrad Institution: Miami University in Ohio

Morgan Nyman

My research focuses on developing and understanding cancer therapeutics that specifically target diseased tissue inhibiting one-carbon metabolism, and more specifically purine synthesis pathway, within the cell.

Fun Fact: I am a big fan of Jurassic Park.

Degree Program: Biochemistry

Lab: Dann

Undergrad Institution: Gannon University

Juan Jacob Nysschen

My research focuses on a piece of the HIV-1 RNA genome that has a complex secondary structure, known as the Rev Response Element (RRE), that is required for the export of intron containing RNA transcripts. I am currently looking at the interaction between the RRE and Rev, and how this interaction could be targeted to prevent the formation of the nuclear export complex. 

Fun Fact: I am a Dad, and I have a motorcycle license.

Degree Program: Chemical Biology

Lab: Choi

Undergrad Institution: Indiana State University 

Max Osterberg

My research focuses on exploring metal-dependent responses in bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii and discover their role regarding survival within vertebrate hosts.

Fun Fact: I like playing guitar and drawing.

Degree Program: Chemical Biology

Lab: Giedroc

Undergrad Institution: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Hunter Richman

My research focuses on macrophage phagosome maturation.

Fun Fact: I play Magic the Gathering

Degree Program: Materials Chemistry

Lab: Yu

Undergrad Institution: Indiana University South Bend

Nick Rommel

I use charge detection mass spectrometry to monitor the stability and functionality of proteasome populations in the presence and absence of inhibitors.

Fun Fact:I am a big fan of maps and geography.

Degree Program: Analytical Chemistry

Lab: Clemmer

Undergrad Institution:Indiana University, Bloomington

Liam Scott

My research focuses on protein superstructure design and analysis, with focuses in physical virology and biophotonics.

Fun Fact: I have a pet gecko.

Degree Program: Supramolecular Complexes Biochemistry

Lab: Zlotnick

Undergrad Institution: Montana State University

Chi-Tam Vo

My research focus on the design and application of Conjugated Oligoelectrolytes (COEs), a class of membrane-intercalating dyes for live-cell imaging and liposomal drug delivery system.

Fun Fact: I have a large orchid garden back in my hometown, and used to spend hours taking care of the orchids every day.

Degree Program: Organic Chemistry

Lab: Vázquez

Undergrad Institution: Vietnam National University HCMC - University of Science