Principal Investigator
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Clement T. Y. Chan
Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Clement Chan participated in academic research since he was an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After accomplished his B.S. degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry, he joined a Ph.D. program in Biological Chemistry at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and conducted his thesis research in the laboratory of Peter C. Dedon, M.D., Ph.D. at the Department of Biological Engineering. As a graduate student, Dr. Chan used a quantitative systems approach to study biological roles of tRNA modifications in cellular response to different types of stress. With Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism, he developed a mass spectrometric platform to quantify tRNA modifications, which led to the discovery of specific changes in the quantitative pattern of tRNA modification spectrum in response to different types of stress.
   During his postdoctoral training in the laboratory of James J. Collins, Ph.D. at Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Chan continued to conduct systems biology research while using transcriptomics and proteomics analyses to understand the bacterial response to antibiotics. Additionally, he also developed his research in synthetic biology, including using protein engineering methods to construct a series of biosensors for the detection of different small molecules and harnessing these biosensors to build a programmable “Passcode” genetic circuit to control cellular behaviors in response to multiple environmental signals.
  In 2017, Dr. Chan was selected for a Rising STARs award by the University of Texas System, which supports him to establish his research program at the University of Texas at Tyler. In 2020, Dr. Chan started his current position at University of North Texas, Department of Biomedical Engineering. So far, the Chan lab has received federal grants from National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, such as a MIRA R35 award and an AREA R15 award.



Postdoctoral Researcher 












Urooj Fatima
Ph.D. in Botany, Aligarh Muslim University 

  Dr. Urooj Fatima is working as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Biomedical Engineering on synthetic biology project. Dr. Fatima Accomplished her Ph.D. in Botany from Aligarh Muslim University, India in 2019. Her Ph.D. work focuses on the development of “Genetically Encoded Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) based nanosensor”. 
  During her postdoctoral training as a “Young Scientist” at Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India, she worked in the most exciting areas of medicinal chemistry with special focus to the structure-based drug design and discovery, targeting human kinase (MARK 4) for therapeutic management of neurodegenerative diseases.
  Field(s) of Specialization: Nano-Biotechnology, Molecular Biology & Metabolic Engineering.













Rahul Kumar
Ph.D. in Botany, Aligarh Muslim University

  I did PhD in Plant-microbes interaction from Tezpur University, Assam, India. During my Ph.D., I have characterized virulence functions of plant pathogenic bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum and standardized a method to study bacterial virulence in tomato seedlings. During My Postdoctoral work at National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi. I have worked on mycophagous activity of Burkholderia gladioli and purified a novel prophage tail-like protein from Burkholderia gladioli (strain NGJ1) bacteria and showed its antifungal activity to be highly significant against the deadly fungus R. solani, the causative agent of sheath blight disease in rice.
  Field of specialization: Microbiology, Molecular biology, plant-microbes interaction


Graduate Researcher

 










Vincenzo Kennedy
B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas

  I am a graduate student majoring in Biomedical Engineering. I graduated from the University of North Texas in the spring of 2019 with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with minors in chemistry, biology and mathematics. I am delighted to apply my knowledge of biology, chemistry and engineering to further my knowledge within the field of cellular and protein engineering and research under Dr. Chan. Aside from my academic goals. I enjoy reading books and comics, watching movies, playing video game, working out.













Ala Hessami
B.A. in Biological Sciences, University of North Texas

  Before joining my current program, I graduated with a B.A. in Biological Sciences with a minor in chemistry in December 2021. During my bachelor's degree I had the opportunity to work as an undergraduate research assistant in brain imaging and development of somatostatin neurons related to ciliary diseases. In this new learning experience, I am interested in using my knowledge and techniques in biological sciences to protein and cellular engineering in Dr. Chan's program. In my free time I enjoy swimming and reading books.













Nhu Nguyen
B.S. in Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

  I am a Graduate Student studying M.S Biomedical Engineering. I graduated with a B.S in Biomedical Science and a minor in Chemistry from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi in 2018. Prior to joining this program at UNT, I worked for three years as a Medical Lab Scientist in the Blood Bank department at Christus Spohn Shoreline Hospital - Corpus Christi. I am delighted to work at Dr. Chan’s laboratory where I can maintain and improve my research skills as well as learn more about protein and cellular engineering. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, playing tennis, and off-roading. 


Undergraduate Researcher












Anjita Budhathoki
Major: Biomedical Engineering

  I am a sophomore at the University of North Texas, majoring in Biomedical Engineering with minors in mathematics and biology. I am excited to join Dr. Chan’s Lab where I will allow me to improve my knowledge of math and biology as well as my understanding of protein and cellular engineering. In my free time, I prefer to spend my time in nature, cooking or watching Netflix.













Anika Chebrolu
Texas Academy of Mathematics & Sciences Program

I am a student at the Texas Academy of Mathematics & Sciences (TAMS) with a strong interest in biomedical engineering. I am very excited to be a part of the lab and gain valuable experience and knowledge about the lab techniques associated with protein & cellular engineering! In the future, I would like to pursue biomedical engineering on the premed track. Outside of research, I am a member of the National Girls Collaborative Youth Advisory Board, editor for the International Youth Neuroscience Journal, and serve as president of the TAMS Research Organization. I also love to hang out with friends and bake treats in my free time!













Insiyaah Tinwala
Texas Academy of Mathematics & Sciences Program

I am a student at the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS) where I am pursuing the General Science and Math Track. In the future, I hope to earn a degree in Biomedical Engineering and go on to have a career in medicine. I am eager to immerse myself into the field through Dr. Chan’s laboratory, where I will be able to apply my knowledge to learn about protein and cellular engineering, as well as gain research skills. Outside of academia, I compete on an international rock-climbing team known as Team Texas and lead as the President of TAMS Medical Society. My hobbies also include listening to music, creating pottery, and spending time with my friends!


Alumni

Ben Jordan (2017-2018)
Next Position: Lab technician at Dr. Joseph Glavy's lab at UT Tyler College of Pharmacy

Bianca Chu (2017-2018)
Next Position: Transfer to UT Austin to attend an undergraduate program in Mechanical Engineering

Rey Dimas (2017-2020)
Next Position: Medical trainee at UT Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine

Derrick Wong (2019-2020)
Next Position: Join a D.D.S. program at UT Health San Antonio, School of Dentistry

Catherine Martini (2018-2020)
Next Position: Adjunct Professor at University of Texas at Tyler, Department of Biology

Prabhat Kattel (2018-2020)
Next Position: Continue his undergraduate program at UT Tyler after we moved to UNT

Connor Crowe (2019-2020)
Next Position: Continue his undergraduate program at UT Tyler after we moved to UNT

Kyren Miller (2019-2020)
Next Position: Continue his undergraduate program at UT Tyler after we moved to UNT

Adam Davis (2019-2021)
Next Position: Graduate student at UT Dallas

Sunny Jung Yeon Lee (2020-2021)
Next Position: Research associate at a biotech company, Singular Genomics

Alison Draeger (2021-2022)
Next Position: Research associate at Flagship Pioneering

Adam Chiragh Lakhani (2021-2022)
Next Position: Testing Manager at MedSure Systems