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: [email protected] |
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: [email protected] |
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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] |
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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: [email protected] |
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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] |
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: [email protected] Linkedin: /elise-zimmerman-74503a217 |
AARON STIBELMAN
Biochemistry and Cell Biology 
In the lab: I work in both the Chappell and Shamoo lab to discover emergent phenotypes that arise from engineered microbial communities.
Outside the lab: There’s an outside the lab? My favorite science fact: The amount of bacterial cells that create our microbiome is about the same as the amount of our human cells, making us only about 50% human. Email: [email protected] |
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
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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: [email protected] |
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: [email protected] 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:
Rishi Shridharan, UG research, Biochemistry and Cell Biology
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:
Rishi Shridharan, UG research, Biochemistry and Cell Biology
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