Team Members

Prof. Shivani Ahuja

Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Chemistry Department

I am a physical biochemist with a deep curiosity for proteins, our molecular machines; what they look like, and how their structure informs their function. This fascination along with a passion for learning new and challenging biophysical and biochemical techniques forms the foundation of my career as a scientist, educator, and mentor. In my time away from the classroom and labs, I enjoy doing puzzles, legos, crafting, cooking, camping, and going for hikes and long bike rides with my husband and our 10-year-old daughter.

Ali Pardini ’24

Ali is a recent graduate working between the Ahuja and Applewhite labs. Her research uses cell biology and biochemistry methods to elucidate the structure and determine the function of the Drosophila protein, Split Discs (Spdi). Spdi is orthologous with the human protein SPECC1L, crucial for neural crest cell adhesion and migration, and linked to various congenital and oncogenic conditions. By studying Spdi's cellular role, we aim to contribute to understanding SPECC1L's function as a cytoskeletal regulator, aiding in developing preventive and diagnostic strategies for related mutations. Outside of the lab, Ali is a distance runner, aspiring triathlete, an enjoyer of outdoor exploration, and a voracious reader of fantasy literature.

Keiki Miller ‘24

Keiki is a post-baccalaureate researcher in the Ahuja Lab. Keiki is currently continuing her thesis work, focusing on the purification and structural characterization of the Mn(II) exporters MneP and MneS. In her free time, Keiki enjoys reading, weightlifting, and going to Mt. Tabor.

Kyle Rowan ‘24

Kyle is a post-baccalaureate researcher in the Ahuja Lab. Kyle is continuing his thesis work on ZnuABC using X-ray crystallography techniques. In Kyle’s free time, he enjoys exploring Portland on his bike, watching movies, and cooking new recipes.

Luisa Morgan ‘25

Luisa is a junior biochemistry and molecular biology major who works as a research assistant in the lab. Currently, she is investigating the optimization of MneP’s expression and purification in the hopes of better resolving the structure of the Mn(II) transporter. Outside of the lab, you can find her painting or baking pão de queijo & coxinha :)

Cass Biles ‘25

Cass is an undergraduate research fellow in the Ahuja lab whose research focuses on bacteria capable of plastic biodegradation. These bacteria possess enzymes capable of breaking down plastic compounds such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Her project is specifically aimed at developing the crystal structure of key PETase EstB. In the Ahuja lab, Cass is working to isolate this protein, achieve crystallization, and produce an atomic resolution 3D structure that helps further identify the PET degradation mechanism.

Paul Boutet ‘25

Paul is a Reed College Science Research Fellow. His work aims to develop functional assays measuring kinetic parameters of bacterial manganese exporter, MneP. In his free time, Paul enjoys baking, bouldering, and hiking in the Columbia River Gorge.

Thesis Hall of Fame

2024

Amelie Andreas – MntR: The Mastermind of Manganese Ion Homeostasis
Vilmante Kodyte – Managing Manganese: The Corporate Duties of MntR in Regulating Metal Ion Homeostasis
Keiki Miller – Not So Crystal Clear: Towards a Structural Characterization of the Mn(II) Exporter MneP
Ali Pardini – A SPECC1L Protein: Biochemical Investigation of the Drosophila Homolog Split Discs (Co-advised with Dr. Derek Applewhite)
Kyle Rowan – Towards the Characterization of a Bacterial Zinc Importer from Bacillus Subtilis

2023

Eulalie De Souza – Expression and Purification of coli CusS Sensor Domain: Solubility and Possibilities (Advisor of record only)
Oliver Nicholson – Beginnings of a Structural Analysis of Manganese Exporters MneP and MneS
Elle Oberweis-Manion – Split discs and the challenges of purifying a protein from Drosophila cells (Co-advised with Dr. Derek Applewhite)
Sky Peterson – Pursuing the Bacillus subtilis ZnuABC Complex
Nicole Xu – Characterization of transmembrane protein TerC (Co-advised with Dr. Kelly N Chacón)

2022

Ismayn Ditter – Towards structural characterization of manganese importer MntABC from staphylococcus aureus
Gavin Dury – TerC, a protein problematicum : structural characterization of a transmembrane protein implicated in diverse stress responses (Co-advised with Dr. Kelly N Chacón)
Annika Haraikawa – Towards Structural Characterization of Zinc Importing Protein ZnuBC
Haoyuan (Tommy) Shi – Switching it on : MntR and transcriptional activation (Co-advised with Dr. Arthur Glasfeld)
Andrew (Andy) Zhao – Investigating the cytoskeletal binding partners of the Drosophila protein split discs : a cell biologist's maladroit attempts at biochemistry (Co-advised with Dr. Derek Applewhite)

2021

Aidan Berryman – Isolation of ZnuBC, a Zn(II) transport complex from Bacillus subtilis
Sarah Buta – Structural and functional exploration of the Mn(II) transporter, "MntABC", from Staphylococcus Aureus
Yu (Alex) Fu – An investigation into the mechanism of transcription activation of the metalloregulator MntR (Co-advised with Dr. Arthur Glasfeld)
Luna Jennings – Lunar volatiles: A review and synthesis (Advisor of record only)

2020

Saxton Fisher – Inhibition of S. aureus' Mn(II) import pathway MntABC : a study using saturation transfer difference nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Ipsita Krishnamurthy – Biophysical characterization of the metal binding behavior of Mn(II) and Zn(II) to the Staphylococcus aureus MntABC transporter

Group Alumni

2023

Emma Potter (postbac), Class of 2023
Aakash Mishra (Summer researcher), Class of 2025
Tommy Yoon (Summer researcher), Class of 2024

2022

Lei Zhao (Summer researcher), Class of 2025
Henry Jacuques (Summer researcher), Class of 2024
Matt Bennett (Summer researcher), Class of 2024
Dhwani Ruparel (Summer researcher - high school student)

2021

Yehyun (Abby) Kim, (Summer researcher), class of 2022

2020

Dorothy Cheng , postbac, Class of 2020