Our Research Team

Anton Avramov, Ph.D. Candidate

Research Interests: My main scientific interests are focused on Photosystem II of cyanobacteria regarding the mechanism of light-driven assembly of Mn4CaO5 cluster. Currently I’m studying the role of Mn2+ and Ca2+ binding ligands provided by D1 and CP43 proteins in the assembly process.

Allen Coburn, Undergraduate Researcher

Research Interests: Development and application of gene modification systems using CRISPR.

John Dorlon, Undergraduate Researcher

Research Interests: Application of CRISPR technology to study CO2-uptake mechanisms.

Avery Dutcher, Undergraduate Researcher

Research Interests: Using cyanobacterial for sustainable technology development.

Dylan Fifeld, C/Lt. Col, AFROTC, Undergraduate Researcher

Research Interests: Development and application of gene modification systems using CRISPR.

Clark Jett, M.S. Student

Research Interests: Utilizing CRISPR gnetic modification methods for understanding photosynthetic mechanisms

Sydney Markham, Undergraduate Researcher

Research Interests: Heterologous expression and analysis of cyanobacterial carbonic anhydrases.

Neil Miller, Ph.D. Candidate

Research Interests: I am interested in the cyanobacterial CO2-concentrating mechanism; particularly the Complex I-like CO2 hydrating NDH-1 complexes and whether their ability to hydrate CO2 is coupled to both electron transport and proton pumping across the thylakoid membrane.

Ross Walker, Ph.D. Student

Research Interests: cyanobacterial CO2-concentrating mechanism

Minquan Zhang, Research Scientist

Research Interests: I am a chemist by training and perform much of the protein purification in the laboratory. My interests are in protein structural determination and the development of new techniques to analyze protein function.