Current Lab Members
Ben Garcia
PI
Ph.D., University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Research Interest: Everything Fun Fact: I am an award winner rapper.
Francisca Vitorino
Lab Manager
Ph.D., Biotechnology, Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Research Interest: Proteomics based Mass Spectrometry
E: [email protected]
X: @francisca_nath
Emily Zahn
Mass Spectrometry Lab Manager
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Research Interest: Protein Mass Spectrometry, Proteomics, PTMs
Fun Fact: I have strong opinions about heirloom varieties of green beans.
E: [email protected]
X: @emilyzahn10
Tom Lin
Instructor
Ph.D., Medicinal Chemistry, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN
Research Interest: Posttranslational Arginylation and Its Biological Functions Using Chemical, Proteomic, and Biochemical Approaches.
Fun Fact: Tom is a strong believer of three principles to academic success: work well with others, work hard, and be scientifically smart.
E: [email protected]
Bibhuti Bhusana Palai
Postdoctoral Researcher
Ph.D., Chemistry, National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneshwar, India.
Research Interest: Chemical approaches for understanding RNA and protein post-translational modification (PTMs).
E: [email protected]
X: @BibhutiBPalai
Carolina Bras Costa
Postdoctoral Researcher
Ph.D., Biochemistry, Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Research Interest: PTMs, Mass spectrometry, Glycoproteomics
Fun Fact: I’m a lover of dance (forró), music and regional accents. I could spend the whole day birdwatching and being surprised by simple things in nature and people.
E:Â [email protected]
L: Carolinabras
Daniel Ramirez
Postdoctoral Researcher
Ph.D., Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Research Interest:Â PTMs, O-GlcNAc, arginylation, mass spec, protein engineering, gene regulationÂ
Fun Fact: EHS the beaker is dry ice, water, blue sharpie, and soap 
E: [email protected]
X: @danhramirez
Xingyu Liu
Postdoctoral Researcher
Ph.D., in Biology from the Graduate School of Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO Research Interest: Quantitative proteomics in chromatin biology and cancer biology. The role of glycosylation in protein-protein interaction.
X: @XingyuLiu_SCAP
Joanna Lempiainen
Postdoctoral Researcher
Ph.D., Molecular Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
Research Interest: Applying MS-based proteomics and genome-wide sequencing methods to understand transcription in diseases.
Fun Fact: I absolutely love to snorkel with tropical fish!
E: [email protected]
X: @JK_Lempiainen
Renee Dean
Research Technician
B.Sc., Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, MO             Research Interest: Epigenetics, Histone PTMs, Proteomics       Fun Fact: I taught myself how to play piano and drum set (not at the same time…yet)                          E: [email protected]
Rashmi Karki
Graduate Student
M.Sc., Chemistry, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL
Research Interest: Epigenetics, Structural biology, Mass spectrometry, drug discovery and mechanism
Fun Fact: I could eat momos (Nepali dumplings) for the rest of my life if I had to pick.
E: [email protected]
Shri Gouri Pinjarla
Laboratory Assistant
M.Sc. Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO   Research Interest: Bioinformatics Tools Development, Functional and Single-Cell Genomics, Structural Bioinformatics and Proteomics       Fun Fact: I can solve a Rubik’s Cube in 2 minutes    E:[email protected]
Rick Searfoss
Graduate Student
MS, Biological and Environmental Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Research Interest: Mass spectrometry method development for histone post-translation modifications
Fun Fact: In my free time, I enjoy cooking, homebrewing, and photography!
X: @RickSearfoss
Kirill Miachin
Graduate Student
BS., Chemistry, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY
Research Interest:Â Cancer Biology, Proteomics, Bench to bedside, epigenetics
Fun Fact:Â I have a cat!