JEFF SWAN

Postdoctoral Researcher

I grew up in Michigan where I got my bachelor's in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Michigan State University. After a masters at CU Boulder, a stint in industry, and a research assistantship at Stanford, I finally got my PhD in Chemistry from UC Santa Cruz in Carrie Partch's lab where I studied the biochemistry of circadian rhythms in cyanobacteria. Now I am using my expertise in protein/nucleic acid chemistry, biophysics and enzymology to dig into the mechanistic underpinnings of type V-K CRISPR associated transposons. When I’m not using a P1000 to slash away at the mysteries of the universe, I enjoy playing guitar, tooling around in my Jeep and petting my kitty cat Luna who is extremely cute and floofy.

ALEXANDREA RIZO

Postdoctoral Researcher

Research Interests: I want to combine the power of cryo-EM and a biochemical approach to understand how macromolecular complexes function as molecular machines. I am originally from Michigan and enjoy everything that comes with Fall and Winter, including football, skiing, and taking in the scenery changes that the new seasons bring. When I am not in the lab, I love to cook and binge-watch TV shows.

JAMES BOROVILAS

Graduate student, Biophysics

B.S. Applied Physics, Columbia University, 2020.

Research Interests: I am to study the molecular machinery responsible for gene transcription. In doing so through the lens of biophysics, I hope to shed light on the mechanisms that drive not only cellular behavior and differentiation, but also evolution.

My hobbies include swimming, hiking, archery, makerspace, fossil collecting, and carnivorous plant horticulture.

JUNG-UN PARK

Graduate student, Chemistry and Chemical Biology

B.S. Chemistry, Seoul National University 2019

Research Interests: I’m interested in developing structural methods to describe protein dynamics.

RICHARD SCHARGEL

Graduate Student

B.S. Biology and Microbiology, Minor in Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington.

Research Interests: I am interested in using cryo-EM to understand DNA remodeling and editing. Additionally, I am interested in using machine learning and biochemistry to engineer minimized genome editing proteins.

VINH TRUONG

Graduate student, Biochemistry, Molecular, and Cell Biology (Co-advised by Cedric Feschotte)

B.S. Biochemistry, University of the Pacific 2018

Research Interests: I'm interested in understanding transposon evolution and diversity through cryo-EM and complementing techniques. I also am interested in developing cryo-EM tools to better capture the dynamic landscape of proteins.

AMY TSAI

Graduate student, Chemistry and Chemical Biology

B.A. Chemistry/minor in Physics, Boston University 2020

Research Interests: I am interested in understanding how macromolecular machinery works and developing new methods for improving cryo-EM structure determination.

SAMANTHA CHEN

Undergraduate

Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Class of 2024

Interests: I am interested in genome-editing and protein structure! Outside of the lab, I like to explore Ithaca’s many great restaurants.

TRISTAN WELLNER

Undergraduate

Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology; Biological Sciences, Class of 2023

Research Interests: I am in love with molecular machines and am interested in exploring transposons further from a mechanistic point of view. Since coming to the lab I have come to appreciate the power of Cryo-EM.