Our Team

Principle Investigator

Romila Mascarenhas (she/her)

Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Member, Institute of Molecular Biology

Dr. Mascarenhas began her training as a structural biologist under Dr. Dali Liu at Loyola University Chicago, and later pursued postdoctoral training with Dr. Ruma Banerjee at the University of Michigan. Her postdoctoral research focused on the structural enzymology of the human vitamin B12 trafficking pathway, specifically unraveling the mechanisms by which B12 is loaded onto its target enzymes. In her lab, Dr. Mascarenhas continues to investigate the molecular mechanisms of vitamin B12 selectivity and trafficking, with a particular emphasis on microbial communities such as those in the human gut.

Bhavna Maurya

Postdoctoral Fellow
Alex Drake (he/him)

Graduate Student
Alex attended the University of St. Thomas – Minnesota, where he received a BS in Biochemistry with a minor in Materials Science and Engineering. During which, he did research with Dr. Donato and Dr. Nelson-Cheeseman. Alex’s research interests include exploring structure-function relationships in proteins, learning about genetic editing in eukaryotes, and thinking about host interactions with resident microbes. Outside of the lab, Alex enjoys basketball as well as volleyball. Additionally, he plays video games and reads all sorts of books.
Karissa Coleman (she/her)

Graduate Student
Karissa received her BS in Biochemistry with a minor in Chemistry from Colorado State University. At CSU she started her research career in the Osborne Nishimura lab. Karissa’s research interests include enzyme mechanisms, metabolic pathways, and host-microbe interactions. Outside of lab Karissa is a competitive Irish dancer, she has two tabby cats, and she enjoys exploring the Oregon coast.
Jacob (he/him)

Graduate Student
Jacob attended Kutztown University of Pennsylvania where he got a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. At Kutztown, Jacob did research on polysaccharide degrading enzymes in fungi and computationally designed an iron binding protein in the lab of Dr. Matthew Junker. Jacob’s research interests are protein structure and dynamics, engineering biological systems, and bio-inorganic chemistry. When not doing research, you can likely find Jacob lifting weights, hiking, or fly fishing.
Arthur Tan (he/him)

Undergraduate Researcher
Arthur is pursuing the pre-medical track with a degree in Biochemistry. Arthur is interested in researching cobalamin biosynthesis and biochemistry, protein expression and purification, molecular cloning. When not in school Arthur works as a CNA. His hobbies are weightlifting and music.