Members of the Lab
Research Assistant Professor
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Michael Kio Ph.D. Cranfield University, United Kingdom (2015) Research Topics Dr Kio’s current research focuses on developing enhanced fouling release coating formulation. His research interests also include surface wettability and nanoparticle interaction with lipid bilayers for studies of drug delivery implementing molecular dynamics. |
Postdoctoral
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Min-Kang Hsieh Ph.D. Columbia University (2018) Research Topics Min-Kang's research focuses on two areas of interest. He is doing research on some COVID-19 associated proteins that form oligomers that are important for the virus infection and he is probing the mechanism and structure in collaboration with Dr. Berger's lab at UVA. Min-Kang is also doing work on lipid membrane asymmetry with a focus on the inner membrane of Gram Negative bacteria. |
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Sharmistha Karmakar Ph.D. Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata, Inida (2019) Research Topics Sharmistha's research focuses on studies of Osh4 binding to anionic membrane models to probe the formation of membrane contact sites and how lipid composition influences protein binding. |
Graduate Students
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Tejaswi Tammareddy Ph.D. Student at University of Maryland-College Park (2019-) Research Topics
Tejaswi is interested in using simulations to probe biotech applications. Her current research is on CDK5 with its importance to neurological diseases. She is working with Dr. Cardone (NIST) on investigating inhibotors of the toxic p25 cleaved product of CDK5. |
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Robert Allsopp Ph.D. Student at University of Maryland-College Park (2019-) Research Topics
Rob is currently studying membrane active peptides from the Osh4 protein that are involved in how this protein binds to yeast cell organelles. He is aiming to discover new binding motifs of this protein to further our understanding of intracellular lipid transport via membrane contact sites. He is also working on continuing Tyler Cline's work on an antimicrobial peptide in collaboration with Dr. S-T. Nagle at CMU. |
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Jiyeon Min Ph.D. Student at University of Maryland-College Park (Biophysics; 2019-) Research Topics
Jiyeon is working as a co-advised student in Dr. Brooks' Lab at NIH. She is currently a biophysics student in my lab focused on measuring the free energy of binding of inositol molecules to model Arg peptides. Our goal is to compare with ITC experiments and adjust the force field if necessary. |
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Jessica Bodosa Ph.D. student at University of Maryland, College Park (Biophysics, 2020-) Research Topics
Jessica has been a Biophysics rotation student in the lab focusing on the dimerization of the EmrE protein. She will also be starting research on metal ion binding to cell membranes. |
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Joshua Lucker M.S./Ph.D. student at University of Maryland, College Park (Biophysics, 2020-) Research Topics
Joshua is working on extending the CHARMM36UAr model to sphingolipids and testing this force field with bilayer mixtures containing cholesterol. |
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Anthony Pane Ph.D. student at University of Maryland, College Park (Biophysics, 2021-) Research Topics
Anthony is co-Advised by Dr. Richard Pastor (NIH/NHLBI) and is working on optimizatation of the phosphoserine lipid force field as his first project. |
Undergraduate Students
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Leonard Unger Mathematics and Music Performance (UMD) Research Topics
Leonard is studying the plasma membrane of the Lyme Bacteria. His initial focus is modeling the unique glycolipids in this bacteria and then will focus on accurate membrane models. |
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Yiding Yuan Bioengineering Research Topics
Yiding is studying cellular membranes with a focus on neurological membrane modeling. |
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Edward (Yueqi) Niu B.S. Biology Research Topics
Yiding is studying cellular membranes with a focus on macrophage membrane models. |
Erin Jackson Bioengineering Research Topics
Erin is studying how antibiotics bind to cellular membrane . | |
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Pavan Bhat Bioengineering Research Topics
Pavan is starting his research in the lab looking at polyunsaturated lipids and cholesterol placement and organization in these membranes. |
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Dai-Bao Van Chemistry Research Topics
Dai-Bao is working on modeling archeal membranes with ether-branched lipids. |
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Sasha Coates-Park Biochemistry Research Topics
Sasha is researching a plant hormone interacting with model plant membranes. |
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Sriya Pothapragada Bioengineering Research Topics
Sriya is working on modeling stereocilia membranes that is of the cilia of the inner ear. |
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Dylan Mendes Chemistry Research Topics
Dylan is working on how antimicrobial peptides bind to model membranes of the stratum corneum (outer layer of the skin). |
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Jai Dadarwala Bioengineering Research Topics
Jai is investigating the influence of lipid composition asymmetry on transmembrane proteins. |
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Joseph Kutza Materials Science and Engineering Research Topics
Joseph is investigating TLR receptors and sugar binding. |
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Shyam Patel Neuroscience and Computer Science Research Topics
Shyam is investigating TLR receptors and sugar binding.. |
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Taran Mahta Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Research Topics
Taran is simulating the sugar enzyme Smlt1473 with it recently determined crystal structure at varied pH. |
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Akhil Jayan Biology Research Topics
Taran is starting his training and then will work on modeling neurological membranes. |
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Shane Saunders Chemistry Research Topics
Shane is finishing up his training and then will work on modeling primordial membrane models. |
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Zach Teselko Bioengineering Research Topics
Zach is researching models for membranes that are targetted by accessory proteins of SARS-CoV-2. |
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Vincent Zhao Computer Science Research Topics
Vincent is finishing up his training and will be starting a research project soon. |
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Laena Nho Bioengineering Research Topics
Laena is finishing up her training and will be starting a research project soon. |
High School Students
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Mehul Goyal Montomergy Blair High School (Math/Science/CS Magnet Program) Research Topics
Mehul is learning how to run to run simulations of simple membrane models. He will then be working on studying the action of antimicrobial peptides produced by frogs. |