Ahmed Ọlọ́rùǹtọ́bà Bello

Morais Lab

• ahbello@iu.edu

I'm from Lagos, Nigeria — one of the vibrant cities in Africa. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Lagos State University. Right now, I'm a graduate student in the Marc Morais lab, where I study how double-stranded DNA viruses (bacteriophages) package their genomes. My research focuses on understanding how ASCE ATPase motors harness energy from ATP hydrolysis to move DNA into the viral protein shell. Outside the lab, I enjoy playing soccer, tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, as well as biking and cooking.

Caitlin Bondoy

Niu Lab

• acbondoy@iu.edu

Zach Celentano

van Kessel Lab

• zcelenta@iu.edu

Rajkumar Dhanaraju

Bell Lab

• rajdhana@iu.edu

Dimagi Dias

Choi Lab

• sodias@iu.edu

Hello! My name is Dimagi Dias, and I am a graduate student in the Choi Lab. I’m originally from Sri Lanka, a beautiful island nation rich in culture and natural beauty. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Colombo. In the Choi Lab, my research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of viral replication, with a particular emphasis on enteroviruses. Specifically, I study how viral RNA structures interact with viral and host proteins during the early stages of infection, aiming to uncover key regulatory processes that facilitate efficient replication. Outside the lab, I enjoy cooking, reading, and relaxing with a good movie.

Jianqiu Du

Pallesen Lab

• dujian@iu.edu

Isaac DuBois

Niu Lab

• idubois@iu.edu

Zhitong Feng

Niu Lab

• fengzhit@iu.edu

Lexie Fifer

Dann Lab

• anfifer@iu.edu

Nora Gibes

Zlotnick Lab

• ngibes@iu.edu

I am a graduate student in the Zlotnick lab, where I study the structure of the Hepatitis B Virus and Duck Hepatitis B Virus capsid and genome. In my free time, I enjoy nature photography and playing the flute in the Bloomington Community Band.

Taylor Hausman

Dann Lab

• thausman@iu.edu

Tariq “Tea” Hussain

Zlotnick Lab

• thussai@iu.edu

Hey there! My name is Tariq, but Tea is fine. I am a 5th year graduate student in Adam Zlotnick’s laboratory located in Simon Hall. I am really interested in virus biology and their potential to be repurposed as tools for targeted delivery of therapeutics. In the Zlotnick lab, I use the Hepatitis B Virus capsid as my model system and work towards developing it as a system to package and deliver macromolecules. If you don’t catch me in the lab, I am either watching anime, at the gym, or eating food or simultaneously doing all three.

Minyong Kim

Niu Lab

• mk15@iu.edu

Michael Kumcu

Bochman Lab

• mekumcu@iu.edu

Patrick Laughlin

Zlotnick Lab

• pmlaughl@iu.edu

I work in the Zlotnick Laboratory, where I research the biophysics of SARS-CoV-2 assembly. Outside the lab, my hobbies include gardening, birdwatching, and skiing.

Chaowei Liu

Niu Lab

• cl157@iu.edu

Jensen Mast

Shen Lab

• jensmast@iu.edu

A.J. Morton

Morais Lab

• ajmort@iu.edu

Karen Noguera

Pikaard Lab

• knoguera@iu.edu

Hi! My name is Karen Noguera and I’m currently a graduate candidate in Craig Pikaard’s Lab! While I was born and raised in Miami, FL, I did my Bachelor’s degree at Boston University and lived in the city for 6 years before moving to Bloomington. In the Pikaard Lab, I’m looking at RNA Polymerase V and  trying to footprint its transcription bubble during RNA-Dependent DNA Methylation (RdDM). In my spare time I love hiking, rock climbing, running, reading, and playing video games. 

Morgan Nyman

Dann Lab

• monyman@iu.edu

Hello! My name is Morgan Nyman and I am a graduate student in the Dann Lab! I am from the rural town of Howard, Pennsylvania. I received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biochemistry and Biology with a Chemistry minor from Gannon University. I originally chose to major in biochemistry because I couldn’t decide if I wanted to do biology or chemistry and thought biochemistry had to be the best of both worlds (and it is). Besides doing science things, I like to be outdoors hiking, kayaking, or playing just about any sport.

Ayaka Obata

Tennessen Lab

• aobata@iu.edu

Hello! I'm in the Tennessen Lab, where I study the role of proline in arsenic toxicity using Drosophila melanogaster. I'm from Fukuoka, Japan, and I came to Indiana after earning my bachelor's degree in Japan. Outside of the lab, I enjoy traveling, and watching movies and anime.

Octavio Origel

Morais Lab

• oorigel@iu.edu

I am from Chicago Heights, Illinois but became interested in biochemistry when I was a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Now I am fortunate to continue that interest in the Morais lab by conducting research on the genome packaging strategy of bacteriophage 329. I like spending time outside by going on long runs or commuting to lab on my bike. 

Gayani Ranasinghe

Tuli Lab

• garanas@iu.edu

Disnie Ranathunga

Morais Lab

• atranath@iu.edu

Edward Sarrain

Niu Lab

• esarrain@iu.edu

I am a biochemistry PhD candidate in the Hengyao Niu lab, where I research how PARP1 regulates the genomic ribonucleotide excision activity of topoisomerase 1 (TOP1). I did my bachelor's in biochemistry at Florida International University. I am excited to have received an F31 fellowship from the National Cancer Institute for my research at the Niu lab. Being one of the very few Dominican scientists I know, I am very passionate about reaching out to communities that would have not been aware otherwise of the various career opportunities in science available to them. I also like watching baseball and trying new foods.

Liam Scott

Zlotnick Lab

• lwscott@iu.edu

Benjamin Shepard

Thielges Lab

• benrshep@iu.edu

Hi, My name is Benjamin Shepard, I am located in the Thielges lab! I’ve come to Indiana all the way from Atlanta. My B.Sc. in Biology is from a small school called Georgia Gwinnett College. (If you have any questions about making the transition from a small campus to one like IU, don’t hesitate to reach out!) I study the catalytic cycle of CYP4502C9 and how we can track the substrate using infrared spectroscopy. Outside of the lab I enjoy cooking and baking, and playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Kennadi Shumaker

Bochman Lab

• kenshuma@iu.edu

Robert Simmons

Bochman Lab

• robhsimm@iu.edu

Kait Taylor

Bochman Lab

• kta1@iu.edu

Zheng Tian

Pikaard Lab

• zt9@iu.edu

Caleb Valkner

Zlotnick Lab

• cvalkner@iu.edu

Hello. I grew up in Michigan where I received a BS in Biochemistry from The University of Michigan-Flint. I like math and protein. I work in the Zlotnick Lab as a graduate student where I can combine my interests by measuring the binding kinetics of drug to protein. I also enjoy the outdoors, like when I mow the lawn or go for a jog before high noon.

Boyoon Yang

Hundley Lab

• by6@iu.edu

I’m a graduate student in the Hundley lab and my research is focused on understanding substrate recognition by RNA editing enzymes. I’m from Seoul, South Korea and I love watching k-dramas in my free time. I also enjoy baking & playing tennis!