Lab Members

Principal Investigator

Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy (Rams), Ph.D.

Robert W Parry Collegiate Professor of Chemistry and Biophysics

Professor, Biophysics, Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

Krishnarjuna Bankala, Ph.D., Post-Doctoral Fellow

E.mail: kbankala@umich.edu

Krishna received his Ph.D. degree from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.  

His research focuses on the structural biophysical/biology of membrane proteins including cytochrome P450, GPCR, and APP (amyloid precursor protein). 

He has also been developing methodology to directly isolate membrane proteins from cell membrane without using detergents. 

Manjeet Kumar, Ph.D., Post-Doctoral Fellow

E.mail: manjeetk@umich.edu

Manjeet received a Ph.D. degree from Australia National University and was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Alberta.  

His research focuses on the investigation of the roles of gangliosides on protein aggregation under various conditions (including the effects of cofactors). 

Gaurav Sharma, Ph.D., Post-Doctoral Fellow

E.mail: sharmaga@umich.edu

Gaurav completed a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. 

His research focuses on the "detergent-free" isolation and functional reconstitution of membrane proteins for structural and functional studies.

Malitha C Dickwella Widanage, Ph.D., Post-Doctoral Fellow

E.mail: malithdw@umich.edu

Malitha completed his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from Louisiana State University, USA. 

His research focuses on high-resolution solid-state NMR studies on amyloid aggregates and fibrils, polymorphic amorphous materials, and other biological solids.

Samuel McCalpin, Physical Chemistry Graduate Student

E.mail: mcsamuel@umich.edu

Sam received his BS degree in Chemistry from Haverford College, Pennsylvania.

He is interested in studying the roles of zinc and insulin on the amyloid aggregation of amylin (or IAPP) and their implications in type-2 diabetes. 

He is also working on the use of nanodisc technology to measure RQCs (residual quadrupolar couplings) from small molecules using Oxygen-17 NMR spectroscopy. 

Volodymyr Hiiuk, Research Fellow (jointly with the Nagorny lab @UM)

E.mail: vhiiuk@umich.edu

Volodymyr is Ph.D. (Chemistry) graduate from National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Ukraine. 

Volodymyr is working on the synthesis and characterization of nanodisc-forming polymers in collaboration with Professor Paval Nagorny (Chemistry Department, UM).

Mary Muter, Biochemistry Undergraduate Student

E.mail: mtmuter@umich.edu

She is studying the effects of salt on human-IAPP (or amylin) amyloid aggregation and potential implications in type-2 diabetes

Zhizhuo Zhang, Biochemistry Undergraduate Student

E.mail: zhizhuoz@umich.edu

Jerry is analyzing the structures of a human antimicrobial peptide, LL-37, and elucidating it mechanisms of membrane disruption

Lina-Cerine Mechakra, Visiting Master's Student

CY Cergy Paris Universite, France

E.mail:  mechakra@umich.edumechakra78@gmail.com


Lina is participating in the biophysical investigation of aggregation and fibril formation of amyloid proteins implicated in type-2 diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease