Alumni
PhD Alumni
Dr. Karolina Kalbarczyk:
Doctor of Philosophy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, August 2018.
Thesis title:
"Engineering Recombinant Microbial Communities for Cellulose Degradation and Utilization."
Dr. Wenqin He:
Doctor of Philosophy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, May 2017.
Thesis title:
"Metabolic Engineering and Applied Enzymology for the Preparation of Nutraceutical / Pharmaceutical Chondroitin Sulfate."
Dr. Jake Englaender:
Doctor of Philosophy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, August 2016.
Thesis title:
"Exploring Alternative Expression Systems for Expression of Heterologous Proteins and Metabolic Pathways."
Current position:
Postdoctoral associate, Purdue University, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Dr. J. Andrew Jones:
Doctor of Philosophy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, May 2016.
Thesis title:
"Pathway Optimization and Balancing for the Improved Production of High-Value Chemicals."
Current position:
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Hamilton College
Website: http://academics.hamilton.edu/chemistry/faculty-jones
Dr. Brady Cress:
Doctor of Philosophy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, May 2016.
Thesis title:
"Engineered CRISPR Systems and Other Novel Metabolic Engineering Tools for Production of Natural Compounds."
Current position:
Postdoctoral associate, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Dr. Namita Bhan:
Doctor of Philosophy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, August 2014.
Thesis title:
"Rational design for improving production, biological activity and identification of natural products."
Current position:
Postdoctoral associate, Northwestern University, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Dr. Peng Xu:
Doctor of Philosophy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, May 2013.
Thesis title:
"Enhancement of malonyl-CoA flux in Escherichia coli."
Current position:
Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Dr. Ryan Lim:
Doctor of Philosophy, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, May 2011.
Thesis title:
"Development of methodologies for the efficient functional expression of P450 monooxygenases in microorganisms."
Current position:
Senior Researcher at Manus Biosciences
Dr. Zachary Fowler:
Doctor of Philosophy, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, August 2010.
Thesis title:
"Design of optimal phenotypes for efficient plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis in microorganisms."
Current position:
Research Scientist at Praxair
Dr. Joseph Chemler:
Doctor of Philosophy, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, August 2009.
Thesis title:
"Engineering non-natural polyphenols derivatives with applications in type II diabetes and obesity treatments."
Current position:
Research Scientist at Pfizer
Dr. Yajun Yan:
Doctor of Philosophy, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, June 2008.
Thesis title:
"Metabolic engineering of plant pigment biosynthesis in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae."
Current position:
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Georgia
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/yajunyanugalab/
Dr. Effendi Leonard:
Doctor of Philosophy, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, June 2007.
Thesis title:
"Robust microbial fabrication of plant pharmaceuticals: complexities and solutions."
Current position:
Senior Research Scientist at Provivi
Website: http://provivi.com/team/
MS Alumni
Ömer Duhan Toparlak:
Masters of Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, August 2015.
Thesis title:
"Compartmentalization of Metabolic Pathways into Peroxisomes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae."
Current position:
PhD Student, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.
Lynn Wong:
Masters of Science, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, May 2011.
Thesis title:
"Engineering resveratrol biosynthesis in microorganisms."
Current position:
Manus Biochemicals, Cambridge, MA
Sankaranarayanan Venkiteswaran:
Masters of Science, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, May 2011.
Thesis title:
"Antimicrobial and antifungal properties of non-natural catechins."
Sriram Ramamoorthi:
Masters of Science, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, May 2011.
Thesis title:
"Antimicrobial and antifungal properties of non-natural flavanones."
Current position:
PhD Candidate, Department of Chemical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Karan Prakash Shah:
Masters of Science, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, December 2009.
Thesis title:
"Use of antisense RNA for controlling gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae."
Ramanan Sekar:
Masters of Science, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, August 2009.
Thesis title:
"Identification of optimal genotypes for improved malonyl-CoA availability in Escherichia coli."
Current position:
PhD student at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering
Amruta Bedekar:
Masters of Science, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, December 2008.
Thesis title:
"Use of riboswitches for regulating gene expression in Escherichia coli."
Current position:
Genomatica
Ashish Pravinbhai Chitalia:
Masters of Engineering, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, December 2008.
Thesis title:
"Development of Escherichia coli fermentation methodologies for isoflavonoids large production."
Current position:
Cunnigham Manufacturer’s Representative Inc., Houston, TX
Zhen Li:
Masters of Science, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, May 2008.
Thesis title:
"Identification of knock-out targets for optimal plant pigment biosynthesis in Escherichia coli."
Current position:
Ms. Li was offered a technician position in Jim Liao’s laboratory. She opted not to work.
Hsiying Gloria Chu:
Masters of Engineering, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, December 2007.
Thesis title:
"Development of constrained-based modeling of diazotroph Azospirillum brasilense."
Current position:
Procter and Gamble, NJ
Phan Nee Saw:
Masters of Science, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, September 2007.
Thesis title:
"Recycling acetate for improving flavanone production from Escherichia coli."
Current position:
Research Scientist, MEWAH Group, Singapore
William Gikandi:
Masters of Science, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, September 2006.
Thesis title:
"Optimization based frameworks and search methodologies for the analysis and redesign of the Escherichia coli metabolic network."
Adam Krol:
Masters of Engineering, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, August 2006.
Thesis title:
"Optimization of malonyl-CoA availability in Escherichia coli through heterologous gene expression."
Current position:
Law School Student, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Christopher Renzi:
Masters of Engineering, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York.
Thesis title:
"Optimization of flavanone production in Escherichia coli through inhibition of fatty acid biosynthesis."
Current position:
Research Scientist, Fermentation Process Development, AMRI (formerly Albany Molecular Research).
Links
For more information about the department and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute:
Collaborators
Dr. R Helen Zha, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Dr. Blanca Barquera, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Dr. James Swartz, Stanford
Dr. Richard Gross, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Dr. Gyoo Yeol Jung, POSTECH
Dr. Wilfred Chen, University of Delaware