Research Staff
Postdoctoral Scholars

Roopa Parate, Ph.D. (2023)

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

Current Institution: DTU (Postdoc)

Hongyuan Lu, Ph.D. (2023)

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

Current Institution: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)

Kelly Miller, Ph.D. (2021)

B.A.: Chemistry, Kalamazoo College

M.S.: Chemistry, Michigan State University

Ph.D.: Chemistry, Michigan State University

Current Institution: Zero Acre Farms

Aaron Lin, Ph.D. (2017)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science

M.S: Genetics, National Yang Ming University

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of California, Riverside

Current Instituion: Castalysis Bioscience

Jie Sun, Ph.D. (2015)

B.S, Ph.D: Biochemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology

Current Institution: North Carolina State University

Graduate Students

Angela Gordillo Sierra (2024)

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

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Streamlining metabolic engineering bottlenecks via strain diversification, waste valorization and high throughput screening

Current Institution: ZymoChem

Sarah "Coolman" Coleman (2024)

B.S.: Chemical-Biological Engineering, MIT

Email: sarahcol AT utexas.edu

M.S.: Statistics, University of Texas at Austin

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: A Yeast Grease Feast: Expanding waste valorization by Yarrowia clade yeasts to nontraditional and hydrophobic substrates

Current Institution: UT Austin (Postdoc)

Sierra Brooks (2023)

B.S.: Chemical-Biological Engineering, MIT

Email: sierramb AT utexas.edu

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Development of Engineered Living Material Platforms for Diverse Applications in Human and Planetary Health

Current Institution: IndieBio

Emily Bowman (2023)

B.S.: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Trinity University

Email: emkbowman AT utexas.edu

Ph.D: Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Microdroplet Assay Development for Metabolic Engineering and Synthetic Biology Applications

Current Institution: Birch Biosciences

Hannah Cole (2023)

B.A.: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of California, Berkeley

Email: hcole510 AT utexas.edu

Ph.D: Microbiology, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Engineering the workhorse of biology: The future of protein engineering in three polypeptides

Current Institution: Inscripta

Kristin Presnell (2023)

B.S. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Email: kpres48 AT gmail.com

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Promoter element engineering towards modulated and consistent gene expression

Current Institution: Living her best life

Xiunan Yi (2023)

B.S.: Microbiology, Shandong University

Email: xiunan.yi AT utexas.edu

Ph.D: Microbiology, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Unlocking Metabolic Potential through Strain Diversification

Current Institution: Yali Biosciences

Kevin Reed (2022)

B.S.: Chemical Engineering, New Mexico Tech

Email: kevin.reed AT utexas.edu

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Protein and Pathway Engineering of Microbial Aromatic Amino Acid Metabolism for Diverse Applications

Current Institution: Bain & Company

Shuo-Fu (Joseph) Yuan (2021)

B.S.: Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University

M.S.: Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University

Email: shuofuyuan AT utexas.edu

Ph.D: Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Enhancing Biomolecule Production through Microbial Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing

Current Institution: Recombia Biosciences

Claire Palmer (2021)

B.A.: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Wesleyan University

M.A.: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Wesleyan University

Email: cmpalmer15 AT utexas.edu

Ph.D: Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Developing Yarrowia lipolytica as a Platform for Polyketide Production

Current Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison (Postdoc)

Simon Doelsnitz (2021)

B.S.: Pharmacology, Stony Brook University

Email: doelsnitz AT utexas.edu

Ph.D: Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Measuring chemicals with biology: Engineering genetic biosensors for chemical analysis

Current Institution: Harvard Medical School

Lauren "Lolo" Cordova (2020)

B.S.: Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware

Email: lcordova AT utexas.edu

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Teaching Yarrowia lipolytica new tricks: overproducing new oleochemicals and valorizing Hydrothermal Liquefaction Aqueous Phase

Current Institution: Merck

Matt "Lean Dean" Deaner (2019)

B.S: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

Email: mhdeaner AT gmail.com

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: The Development of Generalizable Methods for Rapid Optimization of Metabolic Pathways in Yeast using CRISPR/Cas9

Current Institution: Elegen Bio

Haibo "Smoke" Li (2019)

B.S: Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Email: haiboli AT utexas.edu

Ph.D: Microbiology, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Biochemical production by Yarrowia lipolytica from Xylose

Current Institution: BBQ

James "Wags" Wagner (2019)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University

Email: james.wagner AT utexas.edu

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Enhancing Secreted Production from Yeast Species with High Throughput Microdroplet Screening Methods

Current Institution: Merck

Kelly "OG" Markham (2018)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, Iowa State University

Email: kmarkham AT utexas.edu

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Expanding the Product Portfolio of Yarrowia lipolytica through Metabolic Engineering and Synthetic Biology Tool Development

Current Institution: Demetrix

Nick "Code" Morse (2018)

B.S: B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Connecticut

B.S: B.S: Chemistry, University of Connecticut

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Generalizable Approaches for Gene Expression Regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Current Institution: Alexion Pharmaceuticals

Joe Abatemarco (2016)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Novel Approaches for the Evolutionary Engineering of Pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Current Institution: Johnson & Johnson

Joseph Cheng (2016)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan

M.Eng: Pharmaceutical Engineering, University of Michigan

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Beyond protein factories: Expanding the synthetic biology toolkit for engineering mammalian hosts

Current Institution: Kyverna Therapeutics

John Leavitt (2016)

B.S: Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin

Ph.D: Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Engineering and evolution of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for muconic acid production

Current Institution: Texas Department of State Health Services

Leqian Liu (2014)

B.S: Biochemistry, East Tennessee State University

Ph.D: Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Engineering Yarrowia lipolytica for high lipid production

Current Institution: Bruker Cellular Analysis

Nathan Crook (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Novel approaches for metabolic engineering of yeast at multiple scales

Current Institution: Assistant Professor, NC State University

Kate Curran (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Optimizing Gene Expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for Metabolic Engineering Applications

Current Institution: Bluestem Biosciences

Sun-mi Lee (2014)

B.S: Biotechnology and Environmental Science, Korea University

M.S: Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Combinatorial engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for efficient pentose catabolism

Current Institution: Principal Scientist, Korea Institute of Science and Technology

Johnny Blazeck (2013)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Florida

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Harnessing Yarrowia lipolytica’s Potential as a Lipid and Alkane Production Platform

Current Institution: Assistant Professor, Georgia Tech

Amanda Lanza (2013)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Novel Tools for Engineering Eukaryotic Cells Using a Systems Level Approach

Current Institution: Moderna

Eric Young (2013)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Maine

B.S: Biological Engineering, University of Maine

Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Thesis: Transporter Engineering as a Tool for Metabolic Engineering

Current Institution: Assistant Professor, Worchester Polytechnic Institute

Visiting Scholars

Marcel Lopez Reed (2024)

B.S.: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California Santa Cruz

Email: marcellopezreed AT gmail.com

Current Institution: UT Austin

Phuong Tran (2022)

B.S.: Microbiology, Vietnam National University of Science

M.S.: Energy Engineering and Environmental Technology, Korea Institute of Science and Technology

Email: phuong.tran AT utexas.edu

Current Institution: Korea Institute of Science and Technology

Lichao Sun (2021)

B.S.: Biotechnology, Beijing University of Chemical and Technology

Ph.D: Biology, Tsinghua University

Email: sunlichao AT utexas.edu

Current Institution: Associate Professor, Beijing Institute of Technology

Ruiqi Tang (2020)

B.S.: Biotechnology, China Agricultural University

Email: rq_tang AT austin. utexas.edu

Current Institution: Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University

Carla Maneira da Silva (2020)

B.S:Biological Sciences, State University of Campinas

Email: carlasilva AT utexas.edu

Current Institution: State University of Campinas

Shenghu Zhou (2018)

Email: shenghu@utexas.edu

Current Institution: School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University

Undergraduate Students
Larissa Aspiras (2024)

B.S:

Current Institution: University of Texas at San Antonio

Sanchali Karthikeyan (2024)

B.S: Microbiology, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Ryan Dittoe (2024)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Jordan Wells (2023)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: D. E. Shaw Research

Ayse Erdemir (2023)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: ExxonMobil

Alyssa Detterman (2023)

B.S: Enviromental Sciences, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: The University of Queensland

Stephen Achilles (2023)

B.S: Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Microchem Laboratory

Ashley Pham (2023)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Dustin Nguyen (2023)

B.S: Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: McGovern Medical School

Chloe MacKenzie (2023)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Samsung Semiconductor

Omar Melhem (2023)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Solid State Automation and Controls

Ashley Lin (2023)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Shruti Gadiyar (2022)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: AbbVie

Michael Meng (2022)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: UC Santa Barbara

Michael Montez (2022)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Lilac Solutions, Inc.

Selina Eshraghi (2021)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Pandamonium Design

Minye Zhao (2021)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: ETH Zurich

Kira Placido (2021)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: TSMC

Arvind Swaminathan (2019)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: SciBite

Eden Williams (2019)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Boston Consulting Group

William Xu (2019)

B.S: Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Baylor College of Medicine

Sayuri Monarrez Yesaki (2019)

B.S: Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Macromoltek Inc.

Allison Holzman (2019)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Lars Lauffer (2019)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: LyondellBasell

Maya Venkataraman (2019)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Josh Wiggers (2019)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Applied Materials

Jon Butler (2019)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: DoorDash

Holly Ekas (2019)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Northwestern

Alex Hao (2019)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Samsung Austin Semiconductor

Ishani Chakravarty (2018)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Procter & Gamble

Julia Chotoo (2018)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Energy Systems Decarbonization

Aditya Desai (2018)

B.S: Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Resident Physician

Jana Dsouza (2018)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Madan Gopal (2018)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: University of Delaware

Clare Murray (2018)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: UT Health San Antonio

Olivia Schmitz (2018)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Emory Siedel (2018)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: HMI Capital

Sofia Vazquez (2018)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Heath Koch (2017)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Julio Mejia (2017)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Cornell University

Hannah Baker (2016)

B.S: Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Rosemary Burke (2016)

B.S: Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Su-Min Cho (2016)

B.S: Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Department of Geriatric Medicine

Josh Damkroger (2016)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Ecolab

Adhitya Ganesh (2016)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Cedric Ginestra (2016)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Rice University

Samantha Refvik (2016)

B.S: Biology, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Inem Utin (2016)

B.S: Biology, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Valerie Vines (2016)

B.S: Sustainability Studies, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: San Francisco Environment Department

Allison Wagman (2016)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Annabel Wang (2016)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Accenture

Rachel Woodard (2016)

B.S: Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Alexander Schmitz (2015)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Washington University

Caitlin Spofford (2015)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: H-E-B

Mariam Jamoussi (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: ExxonMobil

Jarrett Miller (2015)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: University of California, Los Angeles

Annie Pan (2015)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Monica Duque (2015)

B.S: Biology, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Akash Gupta (2015)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Annie Liu (2015)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

David Rives (2015)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: University of Toronto

Alice Tong (2015)

B.S: Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Renaissance Womens Group

Joyce Tong (2015)

B.S: Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Joyce Tong Photography

Nijia Zhou (2015)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Whole Foods Market

Cuong Tu (2014)

B.S: Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Chevron

Richard Paul (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Aakash Jani (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Movellus

Clinton Holden (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Elizabeth Freeman (2014)

B.S: Biology, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Vaibhav Agarwala (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Harvard MBA

Rishi Garg (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: ExxonMobil

Taylor Jellison (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: ExxonMobil

Sarah Ma (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Hang Bui (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Clean Power Research

Alexandra Bailey (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Ramez Barsoom (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Mayo Clinic

Rachelle Gerstner (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Concept Services Inc.

Lindsey Rey (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Andrea Zuzack (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution:

Heming Bai (2014)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Superior Environmental Solutions, LLC

Timothy Dyess (2013)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: BP

Daniel Huang (2013)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Capital One

Ashty Karim (2013)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

B.S: Biology, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Northwestern University

Do Soon Kim (2013)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Inceptive

Peter Otoupal (2013)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Spotlight Therapeutics

Austin Comer (2012)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: The Boston Consulting Group

Ashley Poucher (2011)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Redwood Materials

Ben Reed (2011)

B.S: Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Sartorius Data Analytics

Wenly Ruan (2010)

B.S: Biology, University of Texas at Austin

Current Institution: Texas Childrens Hospital