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 |
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 |
MARIA C. VILLEGAS K.
Biochemistry and Cell Biology 
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 |
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/ |
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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 |
ASHLEY ROBINSON
Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Bio. 
In the lab: I am working on developing a sense-and-response RNA platform in mammalian cells which incorporates a split-ribozyme RNA detection system and synthetic gene amplification circuits.
Outside of lab: I enjoy the outdoors, walking/hiking, bouldering, lifting the heavy things, music, and horseback riding. My favorite science fact: The archaea Methanocaldococcus villosus can swim at speeds of up to 500 body lengths per second, which is 25x the speed of E. coli or a cheetah who both can travel about 20 body lengths per second! Email: aar9@rice.edu LinkedIn: /ash-robinson- |
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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 |
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 |
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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