Chemistry-Biology Interface Program
Quantitative and Chemical Biology
Earn a PhD in the best of both worlds.
Graduate training in chemical and physical biology.
Current Trainees
Our QCB training program now features 23 current students in 13 different QCB trainer laboratories, working toward Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, or Cell, Molecular, and Cancer 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
Madeline Bell
My research focuses on computationally designing de novo metalloproteins to analyze metal binding in these proteins via various spectroscopic techniques.
Fun Fact: I love college football and have been able to experience two nattys at IU and Michigan.
Degree Program: Chemistry
Lab: Van Stappen
Undergrad Institution: University of Michigan
Emily Bonura
My research focuses on developing an understanding of extracellular electron transfer in A. ferrooxidans through single molecule tracking.
Fun Fact: I enjoy building Legos and doing crafts in my free time!
Degree Program: Chemistry
Lab: Park
Undergrad Institution: Millsaps 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
Sampurna Dutta
Exploring role of Adars in aging
Fun Fact: Loves to experiment with recipes and is always excited to learn something new
Degree Program: Chemical Biology
Lab:Hundley
Undergrad Institution: Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, India
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
Marielle Jackson
I am interested in a TetR family transcription factor in vibrio bacteria that binds an unknown ligand.
Fun Fact: I really love Disney and even interned at Disney World during my undergrad.
Degree Program: Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Lab:van Kessel
Undergrad Institution: Purdue 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
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
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
Will Porter
Investigating the signaling pathways that drive cellular responses to exogenous compounds.
Fun Fact:I've recently started learning how to play bass guitar.
Degree Program: Chemistry
Lab:Gerdt
Undergrad Institution:West Virginia State University
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
Jeffrey Ulman
I research biomolecular condensates in Caulobacter crescentus, specifically the role they play in adaptive mRNA storage under stress conditions.
Fun Fact: I paint miniatures and dioramas in my spare time!
Degree Program:Biochemistry
Lab: Schrader
Undergrad Institution:Indiana University Bloomington
Chi-Tam Vo
My research focuses on the design and application of Conjugated Oligoelectrolytes (COEs), a class of membrane-intercalating dyes for live-cell imaging and liposomal drug delivery systems.
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
Tahreem Zaheer
My research focuses on understanding the spatiotemporal regulation of proteins involved in cell wall synthesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Fun Fact: I love winters, snow, coffee and cats- ideally all at once.
Degree Program: Microbiology
Lab: Winkler
Undergrad Institution: National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan