The Protein Benders!
Join us!
Members
We welcome new collaborative and enthusiastic members!
Check our awesome team below. If you're interested in seeing a timeline of who worked in our lab, check our lab's timeline!
Please contact ParisaH if you are interested.
Parisa Hosseinzadeh (She/Her/Hers)
Assistant Professor
parisah 'at' uoregon.edu
Research interests:
Protein and peptide design, Computational methods in biochemistry, Biosensors and enzymes, Machine learning
Background:
B.Sc University of Tehran, Iran
PhD University of Illinois at Uraban-Champaign
Advisor Yi Lu
Postdoc Univeristy of Washington, Seattle
Advisor David Baker
Other interests:
science outreach, justice in STEM, reading, sports, crafting
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Arash Asgari (He/Him/His)
Lab Manager
asgari 'at' uoregon.edu
Research interests:
Hydroxyapatite enamel repair, regenerative medicine, GC and HPLC and its applications
Background:
Education University of California, Davis
Other interests:
House Renovations , Baking, mycologist , backpacking, Cooking
Kevin Harnden (He/Him/His)
Postdoctoral Scholar
kharnden 'at' uoregon.edu
Research interests:
Protein design, bionorganic chemistry, machine learning, alternative energy, bioremediation, green catalysis
Background:
B.Sc Sonoma State University
PhD University of Illinois at Uraban-Champaign
Advisor Yi Lu
Other interests:
Volunteering, outreach, traveling, film, music, video games, books, Brazilian jiu jitsu, yoga, art
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Andrew Powers
BioE Graduate student
apowers4 'at' uoregon.edu
Research interests:
Computational protein engineering, machine learning, protein design, cyclic peptide design, and developing computational tools
Background:
B.S. Psychology, University of Minnesota
M.Sc. Bioinformatics and Genomics (KCGIP),
University of Oregon
Other interests:
Wrestling, Olympic Weightlifting, learning languages, traveling, hiking, scuba diving, and coding
SpacePope
Noora Azadvari (She/Her/Hers)
BioE Graduate Student
eazadvar 'at' uoregon.edu
Research interests:
Solving biological problems by any tools in design and computation, structural biology
Background:
B.S. University of Tehran, Iran
Other interests:
Photography and film making, Reading, Running, Birding, Sustainability and zero waste, Minimalism, Science communication, Poetry, Cooking
NooraAz
Ben Burress-Irving (He/Him/His)
BioE Graduate Student
bburress 'at' uoregon.edu
Research interests:
Biochemistry, Protein design for biomedical applications
Background:
B.S. Biochemistry Class of 2024
Other interests:
Playing electric and upright bass in various ensembles, traveling, playing video games
Russell McLoughlin (He/Him/His)
BioE Graduate Student
rmcl 'at' uoregon.edu
Research interests:
Computational Protein Engineering
Background:
B.S. Computer Science, UC Santa Barbara 2009
M.S Computer Science, UC Santa Barbara 2010
Other interests:
Fly Fishing and Sailing
rmcl
Pat Janthana (He/Him/His)
Knight Campus Undergraduate Research Assistant
Research interests:
Biochemistry, Computational protein engineering, Enzymes
Background:
B.Sc University of Oregon Class of 2024
Other interests:
Reading, Video games, Boxing
Ari Periche (She/Her/Hers)
Knight Campus Undergraduate Research Assistant
Research interests:
Bioinorganic chemistry, computational protein engineering, synthetic biology, spectroscopy
Background:
B.Sc University of Oregon Class of 2024
Other interests:
Diversity and inclusion initiatives, cooking, surfing, video games
Waverly Wilson(She/Her/Hers)
Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholar
Research interests:
Protein Engineering, Computational Design, Protein Purification, Environmental Applications
Background:
B.Sc Chemistry, BioE minor
University of Oregon Class of 2025
Other interests:
Scientific Communication, Running, Baking, Unicycling, Reading, Traveling, Skateboarding, Jewelry Making, Skiing, Environment
Hanna Stokes (She/Her/Hers)
Knight Campus Undergraduate Research Assistant
Research interests:
Cyclic Peptides, Biomedical Applications, Structural Biology
Background:
B.Sc University of Oregon Class of 2025
Other interests:
Backpacking, Hiking, Climbing, Skiing, Running, Social and Environmental Justice
Hannah Siegler (She/Her/Hers)
Knight Campus Undergraduate Research Assistant
Research interests:
Proteins, Biomedical Applications
Background:
B.Sc Biology, BioE
Minors Chemistry minor
University of Oregon Class of 2025
Other interests:
Running, cooking, social justice, healthcare accessibility
Brooklyn Cessna (She/Her/Hers)
Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholar
Research interests:
Protein engineering, computational design, musculoskeletal regeneration
Background:
B.Sc Human Physiology
Minor Chemistry, as well as Science Communication minor.
University of Oregon Class of 2027
Other interests: Competitive Dance, sports, baking, music, Pilates, spending time with friends and family
Sid Lefranc (She/Her/Hers)
Knight Campus Undergraduate Research Assistant
Research interests:
Protein design for medical application, regenerative medicine, and neurodegenerative diseases
Background:
B.Sc Neuroscience
Minor Bioengineering, as well as Spanish language minor.
University of Oregon Class of 2027
Other interests: Jiujitsu, backpacking, weightlifting, cooking, beading, and livestock training.
Alex Fagan (He/Him/His)
Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholar
Research interests:
Computational modeling, machine learning, and applications of biomedicine in oncology
Background:
B.Sc Human Physiology
Minor Computer Science and Biochemistry,
University of Oregon class of 2027
Other interests: Skiing, river surfing, running, sewing, and going on adventures
Oaklyn Hill (They/Them/Theirs)
Knight Campus Undergraduate Research Assistant
Research interests:
Bioengineering, protein design, intersections of diverse fields and methodologies, and sustainable applications
Background:
B.Sc Multidisciplinary Science
Minor Bioengineering, as well as WSCR.
University of Oregon Class of 2027
Other interests: Baking, snowboarding, video games, and social justice
Wesley Gomersall (He/Him/His)
KCGIP Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Student
Research interests:
Computational biology
Background:
B.Sc Applied Mathematics, BS Molecular Biology
Western Washington University (2020)
M.Sc. Biology, Bioinformatics and Genomics
University of Oregon Class of 2025
Other interests:
Aquariums, Board games, Reading, Skiing, Surfing
Your Name Here!
Karly Fear (She/Her/Hers)
BioE Graduate student
kfear 'at' uoregon.edu
Research interests:
Protein design for precision medicine application, computational biology and bioinformatics
Background:
B.S. Biology, Chemistry minor Class of 2022
Other interests:
Supporting women and minorities in STEM, Fostering science engagement in younger generations, Traveling, Yoga
karlyfear
LJ Jones (She/Her/Hers)
KCGIP Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Student
Research interests:
Computational biology and bioinformatics, machine learning, and ecology.
Background:
B.Sc Utah State University
Other interests:
Yoga, pottery, and snowboarding.
Benjamin Gonzalez (He/Him/His)
Lab Manager
bengonza 'at' uoregon.edu
Research interests:
Protein design, regenerative medicine, advanced light microscopy and its applications
Background:
B.Sc Arizona State University
PhD Arizona State University
Advisor Page Baluch
Other interests:
Fermentation, brewing, baking, growing mushrooms, gardening, hiking
Edin Muratspahíc (He/Him/His)
Postdoctoral Scholar
edinm 'at' uoregon.edu
Research interests:
Computational peptide and protein design with applications in medicine; structure, function and pharmacology of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs)
Background:
B.Sc University of Vienna, Austria
M.Sc University of Vienna, Austria
PhD University of Vienna, Austria
Advisor Christian W. Gruber
Other interests:
Playing and watching sports, going to the gym, hiking and singing
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Lab Alumni
Name Position Current Position
Christian Topete Research Assistant Scientist, BMS Seattle
Anh Nguyen Rosetta Summer Intern Undergraduate, Saint Luis University
Burke Wilebski Undergraduate Researcher Moss Adams Wealth Advisor, LLC
Saud Zaidan Undergraduate Researcher
Beatrice Pavesi Graduate courtesy research assistant Master student, University of Pavesi
Zack Mawaldi Rosetta Summer Intern Undergraduate, VCU
Suchetana Gupta. Postdoc Bioinformatics Engineer, Clovertex
Alonso Cruz Undergraduate Researcher Research at OHSU
Jenny Nguyễn Undergraduate Researcher Undergraduate Researcher
High School Interns
Name School Year
Melodie Chiu Camas high school Summer 2021
Maxwell Soh Tesla STEM high school Winter 2021
Rotation Students
Name Program Year
Christian Li Chemistry and Biochemistry Spring 2022
Matt Nardoci Biology Winter 2022
Justin Svendsen Chemistry and Biochemistry Fall 2021
Preeti Bhattacharghi Chemistry and Biochemistry Spring 2023
Alex Guerrero Chemistry and Biochemistry Spring 2023