Lab Members
Postdoctoral Scholars
Dr. Masaaki Uematsu
JSPS Overseas and HFSP Postdoctoral Fellow
M.D., Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo
Ph.D., Department of Lipidomics, University of Tokyo
, @MasaakiU5
I am developing engineered phospholipase D enzymes to manipulate and study intracellular lipid trafficking pathways. My hobbies include playing tennis, and I detest spiders.
Graduate Students
Shiying Huang
Graduate Field: Chemistry & Chemical Biology
B.S., Chemical Biology, UC Berkeley
My research involves applications of IMPACT and CRISPR screening to discover and characterize new regulators of phospholipase D signaling. Outside of lab, I like to eat and shop.
Yuan-Ting Cho
Graduate Field: Chemistry & Chemical Biology
B.S., Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan)
M.S., Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan)
My research involves applying IMPACT and CRISPR screening to discover and characterize new regulators of phospholipase D signaling. Outside of lab, I enjoy cooking and playing badminton.
Nathan Frederick
Graduate Field: Chemistry & Chemical Biology
B.S., Biochemistry, Bates College
My research involves developing small-molecule agents to antagonize oncogenic signaling pathways involving phosphoinositide signaling. Outside of lab, I am passionate about classical music, and I play viola in the Cornell Symphony Orchestra.
Julia Li
NSERC Postgraduate Scholar
Graduate Field: Chemistry & Chemical Biology
B.S., Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Toronto
, @JuliaXL_Li
My research involves using protein engineering and directed evolution to generate unnatural phospholipase D enzymes to manipulate cell signaling and membrane properties. Outside of the lab, I like baking cupcakes and cookies and also carving my own candles.
Lin Luan
Graduate Field: Biochemistry, Molecular, & Cell Biology
B.S., Biological Sciences, Nankai University
My research involves understanding mechanisms underlying the interplay between phosphoinositide-binding proteins and the cellular ubiquitination machinery. Outside of lab, I like painting, reading, watching movies, and sometimes playing badminton with friends.
Po-Hsun Brian Chen
Graduate Field: Chemistry & Chemical Biology
B.S. and M.S., Chemistry, National Taiwan University
My research involves developing chemoproteomics tools for elucidating lipid–protein interactions and evolution of novel optogenetic membrane editors. Outside of the lab, I like singing — I have been a member of a choir for five years. And I also enjoy playing with fountain pens and different types of ink.
Beth Ryan
NSF Graduate Fellow
Graduate Field: Chemistry & Chemical Biology
B.S., Ithaca College
, @bethylacetate
My research involves applying chemoproteomics approaches to characterize covalent interactions of lipids with the proteome. Outside of the lab, I enjoy running, watching Jeopardy!, and cooking in my tiny kitchen.
Richard Yuding Huang
Graduate Field: Chemistry & Chemical Biology
M.S., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University (Advisor: Matthew DeLisa)
, @RichardYHEudean
My research focuses on using chemical biology tools to investigate alterations to lipid metabolism and interactions during pathogenic bacterial infections and to decipher new lipid immune signaling pathways. Other than research, I enjoy playing violin, reading, and hiking. I am also a self-declared ramen expert.
Aditya Bhattacharyya
Graduate Field: Chemistry & Chemical Biology
B.S. and M.S., Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune
My research combines IMPACT and CRISPR screening to identify novel regulators of neuronal phospholipase D signaling. Outside of the lab, I like watching cricket and listening to Indian and Western classical music.
Cassandra Ohnmeiss
Graduate Field: Chemistry & Chemical Biology
B.A., Chemistry, University at Buffalo
My research focuses on development of new optogenetic membrane editors for manipulating phospholipid signaling and metabolism. Outside of lab, I like to hike, read, and write short stories.
Jade Xia
Graduate Field: Chemistry & Chemical Biology
B.S., Chemistry, Wake Forest University
My research focuses on using proximity labeling and membrane editing to discover new lipid signaling pathways. Outside the lab, I enjoy swimming, doing pilates, and cooking.
Undergraduate Students
Omolara Atoyebi
Major: Human Biology, Health & Society
My research is focused on new mechanisms by which proteins recognize the lipid phosphatidic acid. Outside of lab, I enjoy reading, painting, and spending time with friends.
Michael Kong
Major: Chemistry (intended)
My research focuses on using organic chemistry to synthesize photoaffinity lipid probes to elucidate the interactions between phospholipids and intracellular proteins. Outside of the lab, I enjoy swimming and going to the gym.
Raleigh Claire White
Major: Biological Sciences
My research interests include protein engineering and novel lipid applications. In my free time, I enjoy drawing and playing tennis.
Cliff Zhang
Major: Chemistry (intended)
My research involves in the development of new optogenetic membrane editors. Outside the lab, I enjoy playing basketball and listening to R&B.
Alumni
Postdoctoral Scholars
Hongyan Sun (Research Associate, Collier lab, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University)
Brittany White-Mathieu (Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of New Hampshire)
Graduate Students
Din-Chi (Dylan) Chiu PhD ’24 (Principal Engineer, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company)
Xiaofu Cao PhD ’23 (Scientist, Voyager Therapeutics)
Reika Tei PhD ’22 (LSRF Postdoctoral Fellow, Alice Ting Lab, Stanford University)
Weizhi Yu PhD ’22 (Senior Scientist, Purification Process Tech Transfer, AstraZeneca)
Dongjun Liang PhD ’21 (Scientist, Downstream Process Development, Bristol Myers Squibb)
Alex Batrouni PhD ’21 (Scientist, Oncology, BPGbio)
Adnan Shami Shah PhD ’21 (Vertex Fellow, Vertex Pharmaceuticals)
Timothy Bumpus PhD ’20 (Research Staff Member, Institute for Defense Analyses)
Jessica Daughtry PhD ’19 (Staff Biochemist, Siemens Healthineers)
Undergraduate Students
Morrow Zhang ’26
Frances Lum ’26
Babatunde Patrick Ajayi ’25
Ved Trivedi ’25
Vashtí Claybrook ’24
Julia Morse ’22
Neal Vasireddi ’22
Paris Ghazi ’21
Amanda Conwell ’20
Chris Diaz ’20
Jonathan Lee ’20
Jade Pace ’20
Kane Wu ’20
Felice Liang ’19
Amith Punyala ’19
Wendy Cao ’18
Johnny Ye ’16
