Members of the Lab

Research Assistant Professor


Michael Kio

Ph.D. Cranfield University, United Kingdom (2015)
Aerospace Research (Computational Fluid Dynamics)

Research Topics

Dr Kio’s current research focuses on developing enhanced fouling release coating formulation. His research interests also include surface wettability and nanoparticle interaction with lipid bilayers for studies of drug delivery implementing molecular dynamics.

Postdoctoral


Min-Kang Hsieh

Ph.D. Columbia University (2018)
Chemical Engineering M.S. National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (Chemical Engineering, 2008)

Research Topics

Min-Kang's research focuses on two areas of interest. He is doing research on some COVID-19 associated proteins that form oligomers that are important for the virus infection and he is probing the mechanism and structure in collaboration with Dr. Berger's lab at UVA. Min-Kang is also doing work on lipid membrane asymmetry with a focus on the inner membrane of Gram Negative bacteria.


Sharmistha Karmakar

Ph.D. Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata, Inida (2019)
Computational Chemistry (Organic/Surface Reactions: Theoretical)
M.S. IIT Kanpur, India (Chemistry, 2012)

Research Topics

Sharmistha's research focuses on studies of Osh4 binding to anionic membrane models to probe the formation of membrane contact sites and how lipid composition influences protein binding.


Kyle Kihn

Ph.D. Univeristy of Maryland - Baltimore
Pharmaceutical Sciences (2023)
B.A. Goucher College (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2018)

Research Topics

Kyle is a postdoc in Dr. Tina Brelidze's lab at Georgetown University and is part of the lab in this joint experimental and computational postdoc focusing on ion channel research and machine learning of these channels.

Graduate Students


Tejaswi Tammareddy

Ph.D. Student at University of Maryland-College Park (2019-)
M.S. Student at University of Maryland-College Park (2016-2019)
B.S. Andhra University, India

Research Topics

Tejaswi is interested in using simulations to probe biotech applications. Her current research is on CDK5 with its importance to neurological diseases. She is working with Dr. Cardone (NIST) on investigating inhibotors of the toxic p25 cleaved product of CDK5.


Jiyeon Min

Ph.D. Student at University of Maryland-College Park (Biophysics; 2019-)
B.Eng. Kwangwoon University, Seoul, South Korea (Electronics & Communication Engineering, 2017)

Research Topics

Jiyeon is working as a co-advised student in Dr. Brooks' Lab at NIH. She is currently a biophysics student in my lab focused on measuring the free energy of binding of inositol molecules to model Arg peptides. Our goal is to compare with ITC experiments and adjust the force field if necessary.


Jessica Bodosa

Ph.D. student at University of Maryland, College Park (Biophysics, 2020-)
B.S./M.S. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (Biology, 2015-2020)

Research Topics

Jessica has been a Biophysics rotation student in the lab focusing on the dimerization of the EmrE protein. She will also be starting research on metal ion binding to cell membranes.


Joshua Lucker

M.S./Ph.D. student at University of Maryland, College Park (Biophysics, 2020-)
UM-Baltimore County (B.S. Chemistry, B.A. Math and minor in Music, 2014-2018)

Research Topics

Joshua is working on extending the CHARMM36UAr model to sphingolipids and testing this force field with bilayer mixtures containing cholesterol.


Anthony Pane

Ph.D. student at University of Maryland, College Park (Biophysics, 2021-)
B.S./B.A. University of Rochester (Computational Biology/History, 2015-2019)

Research Topics

Anthony is co-Advised by Dr. Richard Pastor (NIH/NHLBI) and is working on optimizatation of the phosphoserine lipid force field as his first project.


Kinjal Mondal

Ph.D. student at University of Maryland, College Park (Biophysics, 2022-)
B.S./M.S.. Indian Institute of Science Education and Resarch (IISER)-Prune, Chemistry, 2017-2022)

Research Topics

Kinjal started as a rotation student Fall 2022 and has joined the Klauda lab in Spring 2023. His work focuses on developing data on Lyase proteins to understand how these are involved in bacterial infections and how these can be used to reduce feed stock to produce chemicals. His work utilizes molecular simulation and machine learning for enzyme design.        

Undergraduate Students


Van

Dai-Bao Van

B.S. Chemistry (May 2021)
Postbac at UMD

Research Topics

Dai-Bao is working on modeling archeal membranes with ether-branched lipids as well as simulating AQP0 and its cataract forming mutants


Sasha

Sasha Coates-Park

B.S. Biochemistry (May 2022)
postbac work at UMD

Research Topics

Sasha is researching a plant hormone interacting with model plant membranes.


Joseph

Joseph Kutza

Materials Science and Engineering
Class of 2023

Research Topics

Joseph is investigating TLR receptors and sugar binding. He also is involved in work on FGF and tramatic brian injury.


Zhao

Vincent Zhao

Computer Science
Class of 2025

Research Topics

Vincent is focusing on developing membranes with Ladderane lipids for an interesting class of organisms that live in extreme conditions.


Mangla

Sukrit Mangla

Computer Science
Class of 2026

Research Topics

Sukrit is finishing up his training and will be starting on a project associated with CDK5 under the advisement of Tejaswi.


Dadzie

Nicholas Dadzie

Biochemistry
Class of 2024

Research Topics

Nicholas has been working on modeling cell membranes with a future research project TBD


Shah

Nida Shah

Bioengineering
Class of 2025

Research Topics

Nida is finishing up her training and will be starting on a project associated with CDK5 under the advisement of Tejaswi. This is part of the BIOE honor's program. 


Budhiraja

Tanya Budhiraja

Bioengineering
Class of 2025

Research Topics

Tanya has been finishing up her training and has started working on a research project involving an accessory protein of SARS-CoV-2 and studying how it localizes to certain parts of the host cell. This is part of the BIOE honor's program. 


Porwal

Yash Porwal

Physiology and Neurobiology
Class of 2026

Research Topics

Yash has been starting training on the computational tools used in the lab. 


Senthikumar

Abhi Senthikumar

Chemical Engineering
Class of 2026

Research Topics

Abhi initially worked on simulations of cancer cell membranes with Dr. Kio. He has sense focused on membrane-active peptides in collaboration with Prof. Karlsson 


Davies

Emily Davies

Computer Science
Class of 2025

Research Topics

Emily is currently learning how to simulate and analyze cell membrane models 


Anjola

Anjola Akintoba

Bioengineering
Class of 2024

Research Topics

Dan is currently learning how to simulate and analyze cell membrane models 


Dan

Daniel Erickson

Bioengineering
Class of 2025

Research Topics

Anjola is currently learning how to simulate and analyze cell membrane models 


Neelay

Neelay Sachdevan

Bioengineering
Class of 2026

Research Topics

Neelay is currently learning how to simulate and analyze cell membrane models 


Neelay

Sho Sniderman Takeshita

Computer Science and Biology
Class of 2024

Research Topics

Sho is focused on developing models membranes of microgilia towards interest in interactions with the Abeta-peptide and Alzheimer's Disease.     

High School Students


Goyal

Mehul Goyal

Montomergy Blair High School (Math/Science/CS Magnet Program)

Research Topics

Mehul is learning how to run to run simulations of simple membrane models. He will then be working on studying the action of antimicrobial peptides produced by frogs.