People
Principal Investigator
Postdoctoral researchers and project scientists
Dr. Susanna Seppala
Project Scientist
Ph.D. Biochemistry, Stockholm University, Sweden (2012)
M.Sc. Molecular Biology, Stockholm University, Sweden (2005)
Membrane Protein Biogenesis
CV
Dr. Tejas Navaratna
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering , University of Michigan (2020)
Directed evolution and development of genetic tools for anaerobic gut microbes
Email
CV
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering , University of Michigan (2020)
Directed evolution and development of genetic tools for anaerobic gut microbes
CV
Dr. Amy R. Eisenberg
Ph.D. Molecular and Cell Biology, UC Berkeley (2020)
Engineering rapid evolution in non-model microbes
Email
CV
Ph.D. Molecular and Cell Biology, UC Berkeley (2020)
Engineering rapid evolution in non-model microbes
CV
Dr. Hugh M. Purdy
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2021)
Characterizing genetic mechanisms of diatom cell-wall silicification
Email
CV
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2021)
Characterizing genetic mechanisms of diatom cell-wall silicification
CV
Graduate students
Lazarina Butkovich
B.S. Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology (2019) Natural product discovery in anaerobic gut microbes 
Colleen Ahern
B.S. Chemical Engineering University of Massachusetts Lowell (2020) Microbial degradation of plastics
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Tom Lankiewicz
B.A. Grinnell College (2012) M.S. University of Delaware (2014) Characterizing lignin-active enzymes in anaerobic fungi CV
Elizabeth Schauer
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University (2020) Engineering novel fungal sugar transporters 
Shiyan (Shirley) Jin
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware (2021) Characterizing lignin-active enzymes in anaerobic fungi |
Post baccalaureate reseachers
Kerri Luttrell
B.S. Aquatic Biology, Minor: Professional Writing focused on Science Communication
University of California Santa Barbara (2021)
Investigating the bioengineering potential of diversity generating retroelements
Email
B.S. Aquatic Biology, Minor: Professional Writing focused on Science Communication
University of California Santa Barbara (2021)
Investigating the bioengineering potential of diversity generating retroelements
International Visitor
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Dr. Mike Theodorou Professor Emeritus of Anaerobic Digestion & Fermentation Technology Harper Adams University, UK Ph.D. Biochemical Plant Pathology, Imperial College London |
Current Undergraduate Students
Scott Tam
UCSB Chemical Engineering, 2022
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Miguel Castaneda-Renteria
UCSB Chemical Engineering, 2023
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Lab Alumni
Former Postdoctoral Scholars
Professor Chris Lawson (2020), currently Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
Professor Xuefeng (Nick) Peng (2015-2020), currently Assistant Professor, University of South Carolina
Dr. Doriv Knop (2016-2018)
Dr. Monica Reith (2014-2016), currently Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University (Edwardsville)
Dr. Jessica Sexton (2014-2016), currently Apeel Sciences
Dr. Charles Haitjema (2012-2016), currently ProteinSimple
Professor Kevin Solomon (2012-2015), currently Assistant Professor, University of Delaware
Professor Xuefeng (Nick) Peng (2015-2020), currently Assistant Professor, University of South Carolina
Dr. Doriv Knop (2016-2018)
Dr. Monica Reith (2014-2016), currently Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University (Edwardsville)
Dr. Jessica Sexton (2014-2016), currently Apeel Sciences
Dr. Charles Haitjema (2012-2016), currently ProteinSimple
Professor Kevin Solomon (2012-2015), currently Assistant Professor, University of Delaware
Former PhD Students
Dr. Kendrick D. Nguyen, currently Quantum-Si
Dr. Candice Swift, currently Post-doc University of South Carolina
Dr. St. Elmo Wilken, currently TBD
Dr. Justin Yoo, currently Bluebird Bio
Dr. Sean Gimore, currently Ascus Biosciences
Dr. John Henske, currently Finch Therapeutics
Dr. Nicole Schonenbach, currently Pfizer
Dr. Jennifer Guerrero, currently Amgen
Dr. Candice Swift, currently Post-doc University of South Carolina
Dr. St. Elmo Wilken, currently TBD
Dr. Justin Yoo, currently Bluebird Bio
Dr. Sean Gimore, currently Ascus Biosciences
Dr. John Henske, currently Finch Therapeutics
Dr. Nicole Schonenbach, currently Pfizer
Dr. Jennifer Guerrero, currently Amgen
Former Undergraduates
Nikola Malinov (2019-2021)
Corey Kerdman-Andrade (2019-2020)
Derek Tang (2019-2020)
Freda Lababidi (2019), currently UCSB Chemical Engineering
Jenna Hoover (2018-2019), currently Amgen
Mason Gatz (2019), undergraduate UCSD Chemical Engineering
Alex Smith (2018-2019), undergraduate UCSB Microbiology
Patrick Kolence (2017-2019)
Mohan Saxena (2017-2019), currently Clorox
Teagan Pado (2018-2019)
Samantha Lee (2015-2018)
Julia Bryne (2016-2018)
Zach Cogan (2015-2017), currently UCSF
Winston Hsu (2016-2017), currently OSIsoft
Randall DeGroot (2015-2017), currently Zymergen
Jessica Hauk (2015-2017), currently Chemetry
Francis Cunningham (2016-2017), currently PhD Student Chemical & Bimolecular Engineering, UC-Berkeley
R. Andres Parra Sperberg (2014-2016), currently PhD Student Bioengineering, Stanford University
Herman Ching (2015-2016), currently PhD Student Chemical Engineering, UC-Irvine
Daniel Yur (2014-2016), currently PhD Student Chemical & Biomolecular Eng, University of Delaware
Wen-Kang Chou, ICB URAP (2014-2015), currently PhD student ChE, Princeton
Sarah Maxel (2013-2015), currently PhD Student Chemical Engineering, UC-Irvine
Natalie Banakis (2012-2015), currently Patagonia
Charlotte Abrahamson (2013-2015), currently PhD Student Chemical & Biomolecular Eng, Northwestern
Erich Brodbeck, Amgen Fellow, ICB URAP (2013-2014), currently Amryis
Chris Euchus (UC-Irvine), INSET (2014)
Marla Nyamdori (2013-2014)
David Chau (2013-2014), currently Eurofins Advantar Labs
Kane Nania (UCLA) (2013), currently PhD student UCLA
Jiehao (CJ) Chen (UC-Berkeley), INSET (2013), currently Genentech
Jessica O'Day (2012-2013), currently Kite Pharma
Brian Owens (2012-2013), currently Energy Transfer
Briane Kiliman, McNair Scholar (2012-2013), currently Intel
Meredith Green (2012-2013), currently Merck
Elisa Ovadia (2012-2013), currently PhD Student Chemical & Biomolecular Eng, University of Delaware
Josie Tressl (2012-2013), currently Boehrigner Ingelheim
Corey Kerdman-Andrade (2019-2020)
Derek Tang (2019-2020)
Freda Lababidi (2019), currently UCSB Chemical Engineering
Jenna Hoover (2018-2019), currently Amgen
Mason Gatz (2019), undergraduate UCSD Chemical Engineering
Alex Smith (2018-2019), undergraduate UCSB Microbiology
Patrick Kolence (2017-2019)
Mohan Saxena (2017-2019), currently Clorox
Teagan Pado (2018-2019)
Samantha Lee (2015-2018)
Julia Bryne (2016-2018)
Zach Cogan (2015-2017), currently UCSF
Winston Hsu (2016-2017), currently OSIsoft
Randall DeGroot (2015-2017), currently Zymergen
Jessica Hauk (2015-2017), currently Chemetry
Francis Cunningham (2016-2017), currently PhD Student Chemical & Bimolecular Engineering, UC-Berkeley
R. Andres Parra Sperberg (2014-2016), currently PhD Student Bioengineering, Stanford University
Herman Ching (2015-2016), currently PhD Student Chemical Engineering, UC-Irvine
Daniel Yur (2014-2016), currently PhD Student Chemical & Biomolecular Eng, University of Delaware
Wen-Kang Chou, ICB URAP (2014-2015), currently PhD student ChE, Princeton
Sarah Maxel (2013-2015), currently PhD Student Chemical Engineering, UC-Irvine
Natalie Banakis (2012-2015), currently Patagonia
Charlotte Abrahamson (2013-2015), currently PhD Student Chemical & Biomolecular Eng, Northwestern
Erich Brodbeck, Amgen Fellow, ICB URAP (2013-2014), currently Amryis
Chris Euchus (UC-Irvine), INSET (2014)
Marla Nyamdori (2013-2014)
David Chau (2013-2014), currently Eurofins Advantar Labs
Kane Nania (UCLA) (2013), currently PhD student UCLA
Jiehao (CJ) Chen (UC-Berkeley), INSET (2013), currently Genentech
Jessica O'Day (2012-2013), currently Kite Pharma
Brian Owens (2012-2013), currently Energy Transfer
Briane Kiliman, McNair Scholar (2012-2013), currently Intel
Meredith Green (2012-2013), currently Merck
Elisa Ovadia (2012-2013), currently PhD Student Chemical & Biomolecular Eng, University of Delaware
Josie Tressl (2012-2013), currently Boehrigner Ingelheim