{"id":59,"date":"2017-03-02T14:23:30","date_gmt":"2017-03-02T19:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chem.sites.mtu.edu\/fang\/?page_id=59"},"modified":"2026-09-02T22:57:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T02:57:42","slug":"group-members","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chem.sites.mtu.edu\/fang\/group-members\/","title":{"rendered":"People"},"content":{"rendered":"

Current Group Members<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

Dr. Shiyue Fang, Professor<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mr. Manoj Perera, Ph.D. Student<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ms. Fakhira Razzaq, Ph.D. Student<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mr. Rohith Awasthy, Ph.D. Student<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ms. Samyuktha Thirukkovaluri, Ph.D. Student, Mentor: Ph.D. student <\/a><\/span>Mr. Rohith Awasthy<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mr. Micah Idowu, Ph.D. Student<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ms. Jaspreet Kaur, M.S. Student, Mentor: Ph.D. student <\/a><\/span>Mr. Rohith Awasthy<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ms. Erica Kazin, Undergraduate Researcher, 08\/2026, Mentor: Ph.D. student Mr. Rohith Awasthy<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ms. Emerald Lendi, Undergraduate Researcher, 09\/2026, Mentor: Ph.D. students Mr. Rohith Awasthy and Mr. Manoj Perera\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Group Alumni<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

Dr. Alexander Apostle, Ph.D. November 2024 (Insubria University, Italy)<\/p>\n

Dr. Yipeng (Criss) Yin, Ph.D. August 2024 (GenScript, US)<\/p>\n

Dr. Komal Chillar,<\/span> Ph.D. March 2024 (Wave Life Sciences, US)<\/p>\n

Dr. Adikari Mudiyanselage Dhananjani Nisansala Eriyagama, Ph.D. April 2022 (MSD Pharma\/Merck & Co, US)<\/p>\n

Dr. Bhaskar Halami, Ph.D. July 2019 (Alloy Therapeutics, MA)<\/p>\n

Dr. Shahien (Shawn) Shahsavari, Ph.D. June 2019 (Regulus Therapeutics Inc.\/Novartis AG, CA)<\/p>\n

Dr. Ashok Khanal, Ph.D. May 2018 (University of the Incarnate Word, TX)<\/p>\n

Dr. Durga Pokharel, Ph.D. 2014 (PerkinElmer, US)<\/p>\n

Dr. Suntara (Boat) Fueangfung, Ph.D. 2014 (Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi, Thailand)<\/p>\n

Dr. Xi Lin (Sissi), Ph.D. 2013 (Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Initiative -NATi, Singapore)<\/p>\n

Dr. Xiang Zhang, Ph.D. 2011 (National Institutes of Health, US)<\/p>\n

Dr. Muralidhara Thimmaiah, Ph.D. 2008 (Washington State University, US)<\/p>\n

\n

Mr. Joden Robinson, accelerated M.S., 04\/2026, Mentor: Ph.D. student <\/a><\/span>Mr. Rohith Awasthy<\/p>\n

Mr. Kwame Amponsah, course-based M.S., 12\/2026, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Manoj Perera<\/p>\n

Mr. Parker Harstad, Course-based MS, 05\/2024, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Manoj Perera<\/p>\n

Mr. Henry Lanquaye, Course-based MS Student, 01\/2023-01\/2024, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Alexander Apostle<\/span><\/p>\n

Ms. Oluwanifesimi (Nifesimi) Afolabi, Course-based MS Student, 01\/2023-08\/2023, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Alexander Apostle<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Logan Mikesell, M.S. 2021<\/p>\n

\n

Dr. Jinsen Chen, Postdoc Researcher, 2015-2016 (Hitgen Inc.)<\/p>\n

Dr. Durga Pokharel, Postdoc Researcher, 2015-2015 (PerkinElmer)<\/p>\n

Dr. Mingcui Zhang, Post Doctoral Researcher, 2011-2013 (Anhui Normal University)<\/p>\n

Dr. Bin Cao, Post Doctoral Researcher, 2012-2014<\/p>\n

Dr. Wenpeng Mai, Postdoctoral Researcher,\u00a02008-2009<\/p>\n

\n

Mr. Ben Johnson, Undergraduate Researcher, 09\/2025-05\/2026, Mentor: M.S. Studen Mr. Kwame Amponsah (primary) and Ph.D. students Ms. Fakhira Razzaq and Mr. Manoj Perera (secondary)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Joden Robinson, Undergraduate Researcher, 09\/2023-08\/2025, Mentor: Ph.D. student <\/a><\/span>Mr. Rohith Awasthy<\/p>\n

Mr. Charles Chirombe, HRI SURF undergraduate student from Wingate University (NC), 06\/2025 – 08\/2025, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Rohith Awasthy<\/p>\n

Mr. Daniel Middleton, Undergraduate Researcher, 09\/2023-2025, Mentor: Ph.D. student <\/a><\/span>Mr. Alexander Apostle<\/p>\n

Mr. <\/span>Nick Peterson, Undergraduate Researcher, 04\/2024-2025, Mentor: Ph.D. students Mr. Reed Arneson (Dr. Yinan Yuan lab) and Mr. Alexander Apostle<\/span><\/p>\n

Ms. Claire Noble, Undergraduate Researcher, 10\/2023-2024, Mentor: PhD student Mr. Reed Arneson<\/p>\n

Mr. William Green, Undergraduate Researcher, 09\/2023-2023, Mentor: Ph.D. student <\/a><\/span>Mr. Manoj Perera<\/p>\n

Mr. Allen Cureton, Undergraduate Researcher, 01\/2022-2023, Mentor: Ph.D. student Mr. Alexander Apostle<\/span><\/p>\n

Ms. Martina Jahfetson, Undergraduate Researcher, Finlandia University, 2022 summer, Mentor: Ph.D. student <\/a><\/span>Mr. Yipeng Yin<\/p>\n

Mr. Lucas Prehoda, Undergraduate Student, 05\/2021-05\/2022 , Mentor: Ph.D. student Ms. Dhananjani N. A. M. Eriyagama<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Bryan Horning, Undergraduate Researcher, 11\/2021-2022, Mentor: Ph.D. student <\/span>Ms. Komal Chillar<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Ms. Madeline Johnson, Undergraduate Student, 02\/2021-2022, Mentor: Ph.D. student Ms. Komal Chiller<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Ms. Abby Schwartz, Undergraduate Student, 10\/2019-05\/2022, Mentor: Ph.D. student Ms. Dhananjani N. A. M. Eriyagama<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. David Hutchings, Undergraduate Researcher, 09\/2021-02\/2022, Mentor: Ph.D. student Ms. Komal Chillar<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Ms. Olivera Powder, Undergraduate Researcher, 05\/2021-01\/2022, Mentor: Ph.D. students Mr. <\/a><\/span> Alexander Apostle and Mr. Yipeng Yin<\/p>\n

Ms. Cassandra Troy, Undergraduate Researcher, Finlandia University, 2021 summer, Mentor: Ph.D. student <\/a><\/span>Mr. Yipeng Yin<\/p>\n

Mr. Liam Haggerty, Undergraduate Student, 09\/2018-2021, Mentor: Ph.D. student Mr. Bhaskar Halami<\/p>\n

Mr. Brett Otto, Undergraduate Student, 05\/2019-12\/2020, B.S. December 2020, Mentor: Ph.D. students Mr. Bhaskar Halami and Ms. Dhananjani N. A. M. Eriyagama<\/p>\n

Mr. Owen Deming, Undergraduate Student, 01\/2019-2020, Mentor: Ph.D. students Mr. Bhaskar Halami and Ms. Dhananjani N. A. M. Eriyagama<\/p>\n

Mr. Mark Franchi, Undergraduate Student, 05\/2019-2020, Mentor: Ph.D. students Mr. Bhaskar Halami and Ms. Dhananjani N. A. M. Eriyagama<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Satyen Dhamankar, Undergraduate Student, 10\/2017-2019, B.S. May 2020, Mentor: Ph.D. Students Ms. Adikari Mudiyanselage Dhananjani Nisansala Eriyagama, Mr. Bhaskar Halami and Mr. Ashok Khanal<\/p>\n

Mr. Colton Monroe, Undergraduate Student, 09\/2018-2019, Mentor: Ph.D. student Mr. Shahien Shahsavari<\/p>\n

Mr. Justin Mitchell, Undergraduate Student, 03\/2018-2019, Mentor: Ph.D. student Mr. Shahien Shahsavari<\/p>\n

Mr. Lucas Prehoda, Undergraduate Student, 01\/2017-2019, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Bhaskar Halami<\/p>\n

Mr. Zachary Smith, Undergraduate Student, 03\/2017-2019, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Bhaskar Halami<\/p>\n

Ms. Savannah Joslin, Undergraduate Student, 10\/2017-05\/2019, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Shahien Shahsavari<\/p>\n

Mr. Chase McNamara, Undergraduate Student, 01\/2017-05\/2018, B.S. May 2018, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Shahien Shahsavari<\/p>\n

Mr. Zachary Nelson, Undergraduate Student, 08\/2016-05\/2018, B.S. May 2018, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Bhaskar Halami<\/p>\n

Mr. James Goodings, Undergraduate Student, 01\/2016-05\/2018, B.S. May 2018, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Shahien Shahsavari<\/p>\n

Mr. Travis Wigstrom, Undergraduate Student, 05\/2015-05\/2018, B.S. May 2018, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Shahien Shahsavari<\/p>\n

Ms. Emily Bromley, Undergraduate Student, 01\/2017-2017, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Shahien Shahsavari<\/p>\n

Mr. Mark Sylvester, Undergraduate Student, 01\/2017-2017, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Shahien Shahsavari<\/p>\n

Mr. Christopher Sedenquist, Undergraduate Student, 08\/2016-2017, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Shahien Shahsavari<\/p>\n

Mr. Alexander Gauronskas, Undergraduate Student, 10\/2015-2017, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Shahien Shahsavari<\/p>\n

Mr. Patrick Kidwell, Undergraduate Student, 12\/2015-05\/2017, B.S. May 2017, Mentor: Ph.D. Student Mr. Ashok Khanal<\/p>\n

Mr. Nicholas Carlson, Undergraduate Student, Mentor: Postdoc Dr. Jinsen Chen<\/p>\n

Ms. Lucia Li, Undergraduate Student<\/p>\n

Ms. Anna-Catharina Wilhelm, Undergraduate Student, B.S. December 2016<\/p>\n

Ms. Ashley Schuman, Undergraduate Student, B.S. 2016, Mentor: Ph.D. student Mr. Ashok Khanal<\/p>\n

Mr. Sean LeRolland-Wagner, B.S. 2015<\/p>\n

Mr. Nathanael Green, B.S. 2014<\/p>\n

Mr. John Hausman, B.S. 2013<\/p>\n

Mr. Chris Thomas. B.S. 2013<\/p>\n

Mr. Matt Strong, Undergraduate student, Finlandia University, 2013 summer<\/p>\n

Ms. Chinyelu Umeokolo, Undergraduate student, Wayne County Community College, 2013 summer<\/p>\n

Ms. Kaitlin Codere-Lanouette, Undergraduate student, Finlandia University, 2012 summer<\/p>\n

Mr. Travis Olds, B.S. 2012<\/p>\n

Mr. Matthew Schultz, B.S. 2011<\/p>\n

Mr. Brock Jackman, B.S. 2010<\/p>\n

Ms. Brigitte Koerner, B.S. 2010<\/p>\n

Ms. Kyrie Pappas, B.S. 2010<\/p>\n

Mr. Tyler Soenen, B.S. 2009<\/p>\n

Ms. Wei Tang, B.S. 2008<\/p>\n

Mr. Garrett Gibbons, B.S. 2008<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Current Group Members Dr. Shiyue Fang, Professor Mr. Manoj Perera, Ph.D. Student Ms. Fakhira Razzaq, Ph.D. Student Mr. Rohith Awasthy, Ph.D. Student Ms. Samyuktha Thirukkovaluri, Ph.D. Student, Mentor: Ph.D. student Mr. Rohith Awasthy Mr. Micah Idowu, Ph.D. Student Ms. Jaspreet Kaur, M.S. Student, Mentor: Ph.D. student Mr. Rohith Awasthy Ms. Erica Kazin, Undergraduate Researcher, 08\/2026,… Continue reading People<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-59","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chem.sites.mtu.edu\/fang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/59","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chem.sites.mtu.edu\/fang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chem.sites.mtu.edu\/fang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chem.sites.mtu.edu\/fang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chem.sites.mtu.edu\/fang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59"}],"version-history":[{"count":139,"href":"https:\/\/chem.sites.mtu.edu\/fang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/59\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1228,"href":"https:\/\/chem.sites.mtu.edu\/fang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/59\/revisions\/1228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chem.sites.mtu.edu\/fang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}