CHAPPELL LAB TEAM MEMBERS
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JAMES CHAPPELL
Assistant Professor | Biosciences | Rice University James received his PhD from Imperial College London and performed post-doctoral research at Cornell and Northwestern University.
Office: 332 Keck Hall Email: jc125@rice.edu |
LAB MANAGER |
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS |
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DAISHA LEBEAU
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MARIA C. VILLEGAS K.
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In the lab: My research is focused on finding the best ways to help the lab run efficiently & effectively!
Outside of lab: I’m either painting, DIYing something in my apartment, or watching shows about space! My favorite science fact: If we replaced our sun with a black hole of the same mass, all of the planets would continue to revolve around it at the same speed and distance as they do now. Email: dl106@rice.edu |
In the lab: My research is focused in bacterial CRISPR activation systems to turn on transcription.
Outside of lab: I enjoy trying new foods and visiting new places. I also love to watch and read fiction, specially while having black coffee on a rainy day. My favorite science fact: Email: mv20@rice.edu Twitter: @MaClaVK LinkedIn: /mcvillegask |
GRADUATE STUDENTS
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MALYN SELINIDIS
Biochemistry and Cell Biology 
In the lab: I work in both the Chappell and Silberg lab on developing true off states for bacterial signaling in soils.
Outside the lab: I'm often found hanging out with my dog, drawing, cooking, biking, or playing dungeons and dragons with friends My favorite science fact: The state shell of Texas, the lightning whelk, is one of the few sinestral (left-handed) shells which means it spirals in a different direction than most other gastropods. What funky genes they have! Email: mas38@rice.edu Twitter: @MalynSelinidis |
HANNAH LIM
Bioengineering 
In the lab: I work in both the Chappell and Segatori Lab. I’m working on a project to implement and optimize various RNA sensors in mammalian cells to respond to inflammation signals and produce proteins of interest.
Outside of lab: I like to explore the city and hang out outdoors (picnic, camping,etc)! I also enjoy playing tennis and watching movies. My favorite science fact: The human body has more bacterial cells than human cells Email: hl122@rice.edu Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-lim-0616/ |
DARREN SEET
Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Bio. 
In the lab: I'm working on developing broad-range catalytic RNA tools for reprogramming target microbes within their natural communities.
Outside of lab: You can often find me trying food or cooking/baking something new. I'm also really into music and play the drums and bass. Favorite science fact: Chocolate is a crystal! There are (at least) 6 different crystal forms, but we normally only like eating 1 of them. Email: d.seet@rice.edu |
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BAIYANG LIU
Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Bio. 
In the lab: My current work focuses on RNA-only circuits. The aim is to create protein-free, species-wide, and computationally designable circuits in biological systems.
Outside of lab: I like musicals and movie BGMs, playing clarinet and guitar, badminton, writing Sci-fi, game modding. My favorite science fact: Euler's identity. Email: baiyang.liu@rice.edu |
ANDREA M. GARZA E.Biochemistry and Cell Biology
In the lab: My research focuses on how we can use CRISPR gene-editing systems to understand regulation within Streptomyces.
Outside of lab: If you see someone in a yellow helmet roller-skating around campus, that's me! I'm also very passionate about data visualization, and exploring how scientists can learn from graphic design principles to create better figures. My favorite science fact: You can levitate a frog with magnetic fields! Email: amg18@rice.edu Twitter: @Andrea_Garza_E |
AUGUST O. STAUBUSBiochemistry and Cell Biology
In the lab: I am working on developing novel gene regulators based on catalytic RNA using high-throughput screening approaches.
Outside of lab: Catch me biking down the bayous, playing volleyball, or cooking (one giant meal per week) My favorite science fact: Ice is a rock → water is lava → humans are lava monster. Email: aos2@rice.edu LinkedIn: /august-staubus-4ab30398 |
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ROBIN MO
Biochemistry and Cell Biology 
In the lab: Science 💪
Outside of lab: No Science ⛳️ My favorite science fact: 1,2,3,4,5,6 ....... 56,57,58,59, and 60. A blood cell just a made a complete tour of your body. Email: km66@rice.edu |
ELISE ZIMMERMAN
Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Bio. 
In the lab: I work on a new class of programmable, synthetic RNA-based therapeutics to address global health infectious disease challenges
Outside of lab: I love to try new restaurants and spend time with friends. We love to go dancing! My favorite science fact: Humans can acquire genes from bacteria Email: ehz1@rice.edu Linkedin: /elise-zimmerman-74503a217 |
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UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
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RISHI V. SHRIDHARAN
Neuroscience 
In the lab: I'm currently learning from August and Lauren about how to design and assemble ribozymes (catalytic RNA) with some really cool sensing applications. At the moment, I'm especially interested in the design rules underlying ribozyme function.
Outside of lab: I take particular delight in a good conversation about science but am happy to discuss (and share my opinions about) almost anything. Exercise is my go-to stress relief activity, so you may catch me biking or running around campus, and maybe someday scaling mountains. My favorite science fact: xkcd's error types Email: rvs1@rice.edu ANDY CORLISS
Bioengineering 
In the lab:I am currently working with Malyn to gain experience in a research environment, as well ascontribute to research on horizontal gene transfer in soil bacteria.
Outside the lab:I play trumpet in the MOB (Marching Owl Band) and the jazz band. I also represent HanszenCollege in various intramural sports. Favorite Science Fact:The fact that legless lizards exist. How is that a real thing?! |
RODOLFO GUTIERREZ-GARCIA
Cell Biology And Genetics; History 
In the lab: I work with Drew in developing an antibiotic discovery pipeline by isolating novel Streptomyces from gall-forming wasp larvae.
Outside of lab: Whenever I'm not trying to catch up on sleep, work, or reading I like to waste my time doing crossword puzzles or playing board or card games. My favorite science fact: Bees can perceive time independent of environment (after extensive experiments including an underground salt mine and induced jet lag). Email: rg65@rice.edu |
NAFISA AZIZI
Cell Biology & Genetics; Sociology 
In the lab: I work with Rodolfo to find the antibiotic potential of Streptomyces isolates in the microbiome of gall-forming wasps.
Outside of the lab: I often explore different local attractions and museums wherever I am! I love going on long walks on cool days and making simple desserts in my free time :) My favorite science fact: Working with bases often over a long period of time can lead one to lose their fingerprints Email: na38@rice.edu LinkedIn: nafisa-azizi-282417212/ |
ALUMNI
PhD students:
Lauren Gambill (2018-2022), Strand therapeutics, /lauren-gambill-synthetic-biologist
Andrea Ameruoso (2017-2022), NuProbe, /Andrea-Ameruoso
UG researchers:
Annette J. Tsong, UG research, Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Katherine P. Cohen, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 2021
Pavithr Goli, Summer research high-school student for BIOC 110, 2019
Stephanie Ponce, Undergraduate of the NSF funded Bionetworks Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at Rice and BIOC 310 (Independent research) student, 2018-2019
Anshul Bhatnagar, Rice Undergraduate and Century scholars program, 2017
Lauren Gambill (2018-2022), Strand therapeutics, /lauren-gambill-synthetic-biologist
Andrea Ameruoso (2017-2022), NuProbe, /Andrea-Ameruoso
UG researchers:
Annette J. Tsong, UG research, Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Katherine P. Cohen, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 2021
Pavithr Goli, Summer research high-school student for BIOC 110, 2019
Stephanie Ponce, Undergraduate of the NSF funded Bionetworks Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at Rice and BIOC 310 (Independent research) student, 2018-2019
Anshul Bhatnagar, Rice Undergraduate and Century scholars program, 2017