Summer Lab Assistants 2025
Mary Adwer
Mary Adwer, a Spring 2025 Biotechnology graduate, is working with Dr. Lin on the biosynthesis of psilocybin analogs. Thoughtful and imaginative, she explores the intersection of synthetic biology and natural products with care and precision.
Rajankumar Bhakta
Rajankumar Bhakta, a Biotechnology undergraduate working with Dr. Balan, is exploring algae-based biofuel production. With a steady and practical approach, he investigates how microscopic organisms can power a more sustainable future.
Andrew Carrillo
Andrew Carrillo, a Biotechnology undergraduate working with Dr. Yuheng Lin, is working on optimizing Arg5 using short peptide tags. Detail-driven and innovative, he explores protein engineering with a focus on precision and efficiency.
Rodrigo Costabella
I am designing a vector plasmid construct that will allow for the CRISPR/Cas9 protein system to be introduced into B. subtilis and cut the abrB gene and neutralize its effects.
Arianna Garza
Arianna, a Biotechnology undergraduate working with Dr. Balan, focused her project on cultivating Cordyceps militaris for production. With a steady mix of curiosity and care, she explored the fascinating world of medicinal fungi.
Presley Greer
My research has been conducted into cotton yield estimation methodologies. From the literature, a few methodologies of potential testability have been identified. This study is focused towards using Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) on an Uncrewed Areal Vehicle (UAV) to extract a bare earth digital surface model (DSM) and crop height model. The DSM will be used to identify any recessed areas within the field which could cause water to pool leading to water stress decreasing yields.
Danielle Hernandez
Danielle Hernandez, a Biotechnology undergraduate working with Dr. Lin and Dr. Guo, is studying the biosynthesis of picolinic acid. With curiosity and persistence, she navigates the complexities of microbial metabolism to better understand this valuable compound.
Hira Jafri
Hira, a Biotechnology undergraduate working with Dr. Balan, is characterizing unknown mycelium through PCR amplification and DNA sequence analysis. Careful and curious, she brings precision to uncovering fungal identities at the molecular level.
Caleb Kimmel
Caleb, a Biotechnology undergraduate working with Dr. Balan, is focused on identifying biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) responsible for novel metabolites in C. indica. Thoughtful and inquisitive, he digs deep into genomic data to uncover hidden biochemical pathways.
Katie King
Katie, currently pursuing under graduation in biotechnology, is working with Dr. Khan on exploring how fungi can break down microplastics. With a strong sense of purpose, she brought both care and curiosity to tackling one of today’s pressing environmental challenges.
Tristan Laygan
Tristan, a Spring 2025 Biotechnology graduate, worked with Dr. Khan on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in soybean. Hands-on and methodical, he approached each experiment with patience and a genuine interest in advancing plant genetic tools.
Elysse Nioupin
Elysse, a Spring 2025 Biotechnology graduate, is working with Dr. Khan on fungal SynComs and biosilicification. Curious and creative, she approached her research with a steady drive to understand how fungi and silicon shape plant interactions.
Edwin Saravia
Edwin, a Spring 2025 Biotechnology graduate, is working with Dr. Khan on uncovering how reactive nutrients influence silicate mobility in plant roots. With a calm focus and analytical mind, he brought clarity to a complex and overlooked process.
Cindy Vu
Cindy, a Biotechnology student who graduated in Spring 2025, worked with Dr. Khan on genetic transformation in soybean. Thoughtful and detail-oriented, she brought quiet determination to every step of her research.