Group Members
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Group Alumni
Graduate Students
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Dola Mazunder |
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| Graduate Researcher (2022-2026) (Former Sues Lab) | ||
| B.S. & M.S. The University of Dhaka | ||
| Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh | ||
| Lab: CBC 141 | Email Dola | |
| Current Employer: Virigina Tech University, Lab Coordinator | ||
| Hobbies: I enjoy exploring new places, hiking, camping and reading. | ||
| Favorite Quote: “Believe you can, and you're halfway there.” -Theordore Roosevelt | ||
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Dr. Arnaldo Torres-Hernandez |
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| Graduate Researcher (2019-2025) | ||
| B.S. Pontifical Catholic University of PC (2019) | ||
| Hometown: Barranquitas, Puerto Rico | ||
| Lab: CBC 338R | Email Arnaldo | |
| Current Employer: Post-doctoral researcher at Institute of Organic & Biochemistry at IOCB Praque (PI: Paulo Paioti) | ||
| Hobbies: Theater, hanging out with friends, listening to music, and Netflix. | ||
| Favorite Quote: “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean will be less because of that missing drop.” -Mother Terera of Calcutta | ||
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Dr. Shashika Perera |
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| Graduate Researcher (2018-2024) | ||
| B.S. Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon (2016) | ||
| Hometown: Panadura, Sri Lanka | ||
| Lab: CBC 338L | Email Shashika | |
| Current Employer: Saint Jude Postdoctoral Researcher (Prof. Neumann) | ||
| Hobbies: Listening to music and cooking. | ||
| Favorite Quote: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16 | ||
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Dr. Asantha Fernando |
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| Graduate Researcher (2018-2024) | ||
| B.S. (2011) & MS (2017) University of Colombo | ||
| Hometown: Katunayake, Sri Lanka | ||
| Lab: CBC 333L | Email Asantha | |
| Current Employer: Emory University Postdoctoral Researcher (Prof. Wuest) | ||
| Hobbies: Watching movies and playing the guitar. | ||
| Favorite Quote: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” -Ephesian 2:8 | ||
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Dr. Anthony Fatino |
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| Graduate Researcher (2016-2021) | ||
| B.S. University of Missouri (2016) | ||
| Hometown: Independence, MO | ||
| Lab: CBC 333L | Email Anthony | |
| Current Employer: Research Scientist at Bayer | ||
| Hobbies: Spending time with my wife, kid(s), and animal family. | ||
| Favorite Quote: “Over every mountain there is a path, although it may not been seen from the valley” -Theodore Roethki | ||
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Dr. Prathibha Desman |
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| Graduate Researcher (2015-2020) | ||
| B.S. University of Colombo (2015) | ||
| Hometown: Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka | ||
| Lab: CBC 338R | Email Prathibha | |
| Current Employer: Assistant Professor or Oral Roberts University | ||
| Hobbies: | ||
| Favorite Quote: “Chemistry is awesome” -Ryan J. Rafferty | ||
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Dr. Wasundara Hulangamuwa |
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| Graduate Researcher (2015-2020) | ||
| B.S. University of Colombo (2014) | ||
| Hometown: Sri Lanka | ||
| Lab: CBC 333R | Email Wasu | |
| Current Employer: Research Scientist at Bayer | ||
| Hobbies: Spending time with my husband, kid(s), and dogs. | ||
| Favorite Quote: | ||
Postdocs
Undergraduate Researchers
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President* Ibrahim Ciftci |
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| Undergraduate Researcher (2025-Present) | ||
| Biochemistry Major | ||
| Hometown: Manhattan, KS | ||
| Lab: CBC 338L | Email Ibrahim | |
| Current Employer: Applying to medical school programs | ||
| Hobbies: Ceramics, playing the Turkish Flute (Ney), and playing soccer | ||
| Favorite Quote: "Don't forget who you are, where you come from, or you'll forget where you're going" | ||
*President Ciftci of Student Government Committee 2025-2026
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Ashlee Wilkinson |
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| Undergraduate Researcher (2024-Present) | ||
| Biochemistry & Chemistry Dual Major | ||
| Hometown: Riley, KS | ||
| Lab: CBC 333R | Email Ashlee | |
| Current Employer: Recent graduate and exploring options | ||
| Hobbies: Playing video games, arts (various media), taking care of plants, and reading | ||
| Favorite Quote: "You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it." - Robin Williams | ||
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Ryan Pierce |
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| Undergraduate Researcher (2024-2025) | ||
| B.S. Kansas State University (2025, Chemistry Major) | ||
| Hometown: Riley, KS | ||
| Lab: CBC 333L | Email Ryan | |
| Current Employer: Graduate Student at University of Kansas | ||
| Hobbies: Playing video games, golfing, and drawing | ||
| Favorite Quote: "If you tell the true, you don't have to remember anything" - Mark Twain | ||
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Kameron Wildeman |
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| Undergraduate Researcher (2021-2024) | ||
| B.S. Kansas State University (2024, Chemistry Major) | ||
| Hometown: Garden City, KS | ||
| Lab: CBC 338L | Email Kameron | |
| Current Employer: Graduate Student University of Illinois Urbana (PI Prof. Hergenrother) | ||
| Hobbies: Running, reading, and playing video games. | ||
| Favorite Quote: “Master your mind and defy the odds” | ||
Hongjib Jang |
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| Undergraduate Researcher (2022-2023) | ||
| B.S. Kansas State University (2023, Chemistry Major) | ||
| Hometown: South Korea | ||
| Lab: CBC 333R | Email Hongjib | |
| Current Employer: Employed in the chemistry industry in South Korea | ||
| Hobbies: Spending time with friends. | ||
| Favorite Quote: | ||
Jesus Gonzlaez-Morales |
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| Undergraduate Researcher (2020-2021) | ||
| B.S. Kansas State University (2021, Biomed. Eng. Major) | ||
| Hometown: Kansas City, KS | ||
| Lab: CBC 333L | Email Jesus | |
| Current Employer: | ||
| Hobbies: Art, soccer, and of course Tetris! | ||
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Favorite Quote: “echale ganas migo” -my father |
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Visiting Scientists
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Regan Kearney |
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| NSF-REU Researcher 2025 | ||
| Benedictine College | ||
| Hometown: Aurora, CO | ||
| Lab: CBC 333L | Email Regan | |
| Current Project: Development of a new drug delivery vehicle - Reniochalistatin E and beyond | ||
| Future Aspirations: I hope to go to grad school and to pursue a career in medical research | ||
| Hobbies: Running, hiking, driving, music, hanging out with friends | ||
| Favorite Quote: "Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese" - G. K. Chesterton | ||
