Hal Alper, Ph.D.
B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Maryland at College Park
Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Post-doc: Whitehead Institute
Post-doc: Shire Human Genetic Therapies
Hongyuan Lu, Ph.D.
Post-doc: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore
Ph.D.: Environmental Science, City University of Hong Kong
B.S.: Chemical & Biological Engineering, New York University
Email: hongylu AT utexas.edu
Research: I am passionate about metabolic engineering/synthetic biology research in general. Currently, I am interested in evolving enzymes using directed evolution.
Interests: I love playing badminton and travelling. Also, I enjoy cooking and eating with the exemption from doing the dishes.
Roopa Parate, Ph.D.
Ph.D.: Biocatalysis and Green Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory Pune
M.S.: Biotechnology, Dr. D. Y. Patil University Pune
B.S.: Biotechnology, Goa University
Email: roopa.parate AT utexas.edu
Research: I am interested in bioprocess development for sustainability and currently exploring metabolic engineering and synthetic biology.
Interests: Big time foodie who loves to cook and try out new cuisines! I enjoy playing Badminton, and also a plant nurturer.
Daniel Acosta (co-advised with Dr. Ellington)
PhD Student in Microbiology (ILSGP)
B.S.: Microbiology, University of Arizona
Email: d.acosta AT utexas.edu
Research: I am interested in utilizing metabolic engineering/synthetic biology in bioremediation and renewable feedstock applications, specifically microbial techniques for disposing of plastics.
Interests: I love backpacking and outdoor activities like hiking and rock climbing. I also enjoy skiing and winter sports when presented the rare opportunity to go somewhere cold.
Mayur Bansal
PhD Student in Biochemistry (ILS)
B.S.: Biochemistry and Genetics, Texas A&M University
Email: mayursst AT utexas.edu
Research: I am working on applying synthetic biology techniques to develop more efficient strategies to produce industrially important and/or specialty chemicals.
Interests: I enjoy reading science fiction, watching movies and practicing muay thai. If I'm not at the lab you can find at Barton springs where I can regret not spending all my money on bitcoin 15 years ago.
Amelia Bergeson
PhD Student in Chemical Engineering
B.S.: Chemical Engineering, Tulane University
Email: amelia.bergeson AT austin.utexas.edu
Research: I am interested in research related to sustainability, specifically plasticdegradation, through metabolic engineering and synthetic biology techniques.
Interests: I enjoy skiing, knitting, spending time with family and friends, and trying new things.
Emily Bowman
PhD Student in Biochemistry (ICMB)
B.S.: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Trinity University
Email: emkbowman AT utexas.edu
Research: I'm interested in developing tools for synthetic biology to study yeast metabolism and improve their production of specialty chemicals.
Interests: I enjoy reading science fiction and fantasy books, competing in events at my gym, and anything that gets me outside.
Sierra Brooks
PhD Student in Chemical Engineering
B.S.: Chemical-Biological Engineering, MIT
Email: sierramb AT utexas.edu
Research: I am interested in applying metabolic engineering and materials science tools to develop platforms for on-demand production of high-value compounds from microorganisms.
Interests: I enjoy running, throwing a frisbee, petting dogs, baking, and wandering Trader Joes.
Hannah Cole (co-advised with Dr. Ellington)
PhD Student in Microbiology (ICMB)
B.A.: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of California, Berkeley
Email: hcole510 AT utexas.edu
Research: I am interested in engineering proteins and microbes for bioremediation applications with a specific focus on plastic degradation.
Interests: I enjoy hanging out with my dog Dot, reading, soccer, basketball, learning more about science policy/communication, and sending my friends weird things I find on the internet.
Sarah Coleman
PhD Student in Chemical Engineering
B.S.: Chemical-Biological Engineering, MIT
Email: sarahcol AT utexas.edu
Research: I am interested in the synthesis of specialty chemicals in yeast using synthetic biology and metabolic engineering tools.
Interests: I enjoy being outdoors, concerts, gardening and when journal articles have puns in the title.
Angela Gordillo Sierra
PhD Student in Chemical Engineering
B.S.: Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes Bogotá, Colombia
M.Sc.: Chemical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes Bogotá, Colombia
Email: ar.gordillo AT utexas.edu
Research: I’m interested in developing synthetic biology tools for the production of industrially important and/or specialty chemicals.
Interests: I enjoy trying new recipes, being active outside, traveling and eating pizza.
Lizzie Klatt
PhD Student in Chemical Engineering
B.S.: Engineering, Smith College
Email: lklatt AT utexas.edu
Research: I am interested in encapsulating cells into hydrogels and re-using them for the on-demand production of molecules.
Interests: I enjoy drawing, cooking/baking, video games, fashion, hanging out with my cats, and wasting my time on the internet.
Celeste Marsan
PhD Student in Chemical Engineering
B.S.: Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Email: celeste.marsan AT utexas.edu
Research: I am interested in using synthetic biology and genetic engineering tools to produce novel bioactive metabolites.
Interests: I enjoy hiking, playing sports, exploring new places, and pretty much anything else I can do outdoors with my dog, Milo.
Morgan Martinez
PhD Student in Chemical Engineering
B.S.: Chemical Engineering, University of Dayton
Email: morgan.martinez AT utexas.edu
Research: I am interested in using synthetic biology and cell metabolisms to recover and repurpose industrial waste products into useful and environmentally benign products.
Interests: I love cooking, painting, drawing, woodworking, going to concerts, and playing sports (baseball, football, tennis, ultimate frisbee). I’d be remiss to forget memes and my dog, Woodford.
Kristin Presnell
PhD Student in Chemical Engineering
B.S. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Email: kpres48 AT gmail.com
Research: I am interested in using computational methods to develop more rational approaches to the design of a wide range of metabolic engineering tools.
Interests: I enjoy cooking, board games, painting, and Netflix... but primarily cats. I really enjoy cats.
Xiunan Yi
PhD Student in Microbiology (ICMB)
B.S.: Microbiology, Shandong University
Email: xiunan.yi AT utexas.edu
Research: I am interested in building a cell-free production system using metabolically engineered yeast strains.
Interests: I enjoy traveling, board/card games, video games and cats.
Karol Nogueira
B.S.: Biochemistry, Federal University of Sao Joao del-Rei
Email: kmvnogueira AT utexas.edu
Research: Currently, I am interested in engineering yeast strains for second-generation bioethanol production.
Interests: I enjoy cycling, spending time with my family and friends with good music and food, traveling, and visiting new places.
Stephen Achilles
Email: stephenaachilles AT gmail.com
Ryan Dittoe
Email: redittoe AT utexas.edu
Ayse Erdemir
Email: ayse.erdemir01 AT utexas.edu
Shruti Gadiyar
Email: gadiyar.sh AT utexas.edu
Ashley Lin
Email: ashleylin AT utexas.edu
Chloe MacKenzie
Email: chloemackenzie AT utexas.edu
Omar Melhem
Email: omelhem AT utexas.edu
Michael Meng
Email: mikemeng2 AT utexas.edu
Michael Montez
Email: michaelm314159 AT utexas.edu
Dustin Nguyen
Email: dustindnguyen17 AT utexas.com
Ashley Pham
Email: ashley-pham AT utexas.edu
Esha Ramanan
Email: esha.ramanan AT utexas.edu
Adit Trivedi
Email: adit.trivedi AT utexas.edu
Jordan Wells
Email: jordantwells AT utexas.edu