Current Lab Members
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Iulia M. Lazar, Associate Professor/Principal Investigator

Iuliana’s research is focused on advancing the technologies of mass  spectrometry, proteomics and microfluidics for enabling a detailed exploration of the biological mechanisms that control cancer cell cycle progression and biological signaling. Beyond research, she likes music, sunsets, tall mountains, SciFi movies and discovering new places.
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 Jingren Deng, Ph.D. candidate
 
Jingren earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from Nanjing University, China. He is committed to developing a microfluidic platform that can be used for sampling transient biological signaling events. Out of the lab, Jingren enjoys traveling and hiking.
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Shreya Ahuja, Ph.D. candidate
 
Shreya earned her M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Fergusson College/Pune University in India. At Virginia Tech, her research is centered on identifying cancer markers indicative of metastasis. In her spare time, Shreya really enjoys hiking and going on road trips. She also loves cooking and decorating the house.
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Arba Karcini, Ph.D. candidate

Arba earned her B.Sc. degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.  Her research is focused on studying biological signaling transactivation processes that lead to aberrant cancer cell proliferation. Outside the lab, Arba likes to paint and read classical literature. Her favorite painter is impressionist Claude Monet and her favorite writer is Victor Hugo.
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 Morgan Johnson, B.Sc. candidate
 
Morgan is interested in identifying single-point mutations in breast cancer cell surface receptors. In addition to research and studying for her classes, Morgan is preparing for medical school. She enjoys reading, cooking Sunday dinner for her friends, and doing crafts.
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Alexis Richardson, B.Sc. candidate

Alexis is a student in Biological Sciences who aims to characterize membrane-bound cell surface receptors in breast cancer cells.  Her hobbies include working out, taking pictures, cooking and spending time with family.
Alumni
Postdoctoral Research Fellows
  • Diego F. Cortes Bermudez. Project: “Peptide Retention and Separation on SCX Microfluidic Chips; Glycoproteomics” (2010-2011).
  • Jarod L. Kabulski. Project: “Testing of Integrated Microfluidic Platforms with MALDI-MS Detection” (2010).
  • Xiuli Mao. Project: “Implementation of MALDI-MS Detection on Glass Microchips” (2009-2010).
  • Jenny M. Armenta. Project: “Differential Protein Expression Analysis Using Stable Isotope Labeled Reagents on Bench-top and Microfluidic Platforms” (2006-2008).
  • Abdulilah Dawoud Yaseen. Project: “Analysis of Phosphoproteins on Microfluidic LC Platforms” (2006-2007).
  • Jung Hae Yoon. Project: “Cancer Cell Culture and Proteomic Profiling” (2004-2005).
 
Graduate Students
  • Nicole Smith, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Project: “Analysis of Altered Signaling Pathways in SKBR3 Cells Treated with Kinase Inhibitors” (2016-2017).
  • Call Scott, MD, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine,Virginia Tech. Project: "Impact of Treatment of Cancer Cells with Drugs on Cross-Signaling Pathways" (2013-2016).
  • Wooram Lee, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Project: “Protein Set for Normalization of Spectral Count Data in Proteomics” (2010-2013).
  • Milagros J. Tenga, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Project: “Proteomic Map of ER+ Breast Cancer Cell Cycle” (2007-2012).
  • Debby Reed, Virginia Tech. Project: “Fabrication of Microfluidic Devices” (2007-2011).
  • Yang Xu, GBCB/Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Thesis: “Quantitative Approaches for Protein Differential Expression Analysis” (2006-2009).
  • Nileshwari Vaghela, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Thesis: “Proteomic Analysis of the Flavonoid Biosynthetic Machinery in Arabidopsis Thaliana” (2004-2007).
  • Hetal A. Sarvaiya, Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Tech. Thesis: “Mass Spectrometric Characterization of the MCF7 Cancer Cell Line: Proteome Profile and Cancer Biomarkers” (2004-2006).
 
Graduate and Undergraduate Student Trainees (Short-term, interdisciplinary training projects)
  • Carly Estrada-Palma, Biochemistry, Virginia Tech. Project: “Membrane Protein Complexes Involved in Proliferative Cancer Cell Signaling” (Fall 2015-Spring 2017).
  • Joshua Feazell, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Project: Literature Survey on Cancer and Proteomics (Fall 2016).
  • Morgan Julian, HNFE/Psychology, Virginia Tech. Project: “Development of Fast Protein Proteolytic Digestion Protocols” (Summer 2015-Fall 2016).
  • Nicole Smith, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Project: “Study of Protein Phosphorylation in Breast Cancer Signaling Pathways” (Spring 2014-Summer 2015).
  • Faranak Zamani, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Project: “Development of MRM-MS detection methods for phosphopeptides.” (Fall 2015).
  • Khaled Adjerid, Ph.D. candidate, Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech. NSF/IGEP trainee. Project: “Proteome Study of a Darkling Beetle” (Spring 2015).
  • John Brabender, B.S. candidate, Engineering, Virginia Tech. (Spring 2014)
  • Carrie Hansen, B.S. candidate, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Project: “Searching for Protein Phosphorylation in Breast Cancer Cell Extracts” (Summer 2013-Spring 2014).
  • Xin He, Ph.D. candidate, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Project: “MAPK Signaling Pathways in Cancer Cells” (Fall 2013).
  • Max Tomlin, Auburn High School, Auburn, VA, senior. NSF trainee. Project: “Proteomics and Microfluidic Techniques in Biological Research” (Summer 2013).
  • Emily Siegel, B.S. candidate, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Project: “Mass Spectrometry Data Analysis for Facilitating the Quantitation of PTMs” (Summer 2013-Fall 2013).
  • Aschvin Chawan, Ph.D. candidate, Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech. NSF IGERT trainee.  Project: “Transport Proteins in SKBR3 cells” (Spring 2013).
  • Lisa Anders, M.S. candidate, Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Tech. NSF IGERT trainee.  Project: “Microfluidic Sample Preconcentration and Transport” (Fall 2012).
  • Yoonji Ha, B.S. Candidate, Biochemistry, Virginia Tech. Project: “Study of Protein Glycosylation” (Fall 2011-Fall 2012).
  • Melinda House, B.S. candidate, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Project: “Study of Protein Phosphorylation” (Fall 2011-Spring 2012).
  • Elizabeth Savage, M.S. candidate, Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Tech, NSF IGERT trainee. Project: “Improvement of MS Detection Limits on Microfluidic Devices” (Spring 2012).
  • Ravi Kappiyoor, Ph.D. candidate, Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, NSF IGERT trainee.  Project: “Measurement of EOF Induced Microfluidic Flows in Microchip LC Devices” (Spring 2011).
  • Josh Nicholson, Ph.D. candidate, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Project: “Impact of DNA Copy Numbers on Protein Expression Levels in Cancer” (Fall 2009).
  • Reza Sohrabi, Ph.D. candidate, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Project: “Breast Cancer Biomarkers: a Compilation of Data” (Summer 2007).
  • Kavita Poddar, Ph.D. candidate, Human Nutrition, Foods & Exercise, Virginia Tech. Project: “Cancer Cell Culture for MS Proteomics and Biomarker Identification” (summer 2006).
  • Lin Liu, M.S. candidate, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech. Project: “Proteomic Profiling of Bacillus subtilis Extracts” (2005-2006).
  • Phichet Trisiripisal, Ph.D. candidate, Electrical Engineering, Virginia Tech. Project: “Development of LC Microfluidic Structures for Proteomic Applications” (2003-2006).
  • Danielle Shapiro, B.S. candidate. University of Maryland, Bioengineering/Bioinformatics Summer Institute-Research Experience for Undergraduates at VBI/Virginia Tech. Project: “Phosphoprotein Analysis: Experimental & Computational Approaches” (Summer 2008).
  • Amanda Kim, B.S. candidate. Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech. Project: “Fabrication of Glass Microfluidic Devices” (Spring 2006).