Team

Boyu Huang, PhD

BS: Wuhan University (Biology)

PhD: Chinese Academy of Sciences (Genetics | Prof. Jian-Kang Zhu | class 1 CRISPR systems)

Boyu is currently working on Developing novel precise DNA and RNA editing technologies and developing novel CRISPR screening systems. In his doctoral stage, he worked on Type I CRISPR-Cas systems inducing large fragments deletions in plants.

Noah Rakestraw

BS (Summa Cum Laude): Occidental College (Biochemistry)

Prior research: Inscripta: Digital Genome Engineering Company

Noah is an NIH CBI T32 Predoctoral Fellow and a Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. student working on protein discovery and engineering for gene editing applications. He hopes that the lab’s work on fundamental genetic engineering technologies will eventually translate to use in clinical settings.

Carlos Orosco

BS: Georgia Institute of Technology (Chemical Engineering)

Carlos Orosco is a Ph.D. student in the Chemical Engineering Department who joined the Jain Lab in Spring 2023. His main research interests are in biotechnology and bio-molecular engineering. He was born and raised in Bolivia and moved to the United States to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music and playing video games.

Briana Pizzano

BS: University of Florida (Biological Engineering)

Briana Pizzano is from Boston, MA, US, and grew up partly there and partly in Georgia, US. She did her undergraduate work and 12 credits of graduate work in Biological Engineering (with a minor in biomolecular engineering) before applying to the Chemical Engineering ME to continue doing research in Dr. Jain’s lab. She enjoys cooking vegan Italian food for friends, taking care of her plants and animal companion, reading, aerial/acroyoga (when pandemic & health factors permit), and observing wildlife/spending time outdoors. She is enthusiastic about transitioning to the PhD program.

Daisy Aguilar Aguilar

BS: North Carolina State University (Chemical Engineering)

Daisy is currently working on the creation of an integrative device for the early detection of HIV-1 using the CRISPR/Cas system

Dhruv Champaneri

BS: Rutgers University (Biotechnology)

Dhruv is a 2nd year Ph.D student in the Biomedical Sciences program under the Genetics concentration. His research explores the molecular mechanisms underlying in vitro DNA fragment assembly and developing adeno-associated virus (AAV) – based delivery system for gene editing applications.

Dheeraj Pedada

BE: University of Delaware (Chemical Engineering)

Dheeraj is a 2nd year Ph.D. Student and is currently working on developing a point-of-care testing device for HIV-1 and also on engineering a new Cas3 platform for genome editing.

Ethan Rivers

BS: University of Massachusetts Amherst (Chemical Engineering)

Ethan is a 2nd-year PhD student in Chemical Engineering and joined the Jain and He Labs in 2026. His current research focuses on extracellular vesicle-mediated delivery of CRISPR systems, gene editing for hearing loss modeling, and cell signaling in solid-state crystals. His broader research interests include genome editor delivery, organoid formation, and cellular engineering. Outside of the lab, he enjoys gardening, visiting theme parks with friends, and reading. He hopes his research will help advance genetic engineering technologies toward clinical applications.

Dipan Das

BS: Presidency University, India (Chemistry)

MS: University of Florida (Chemistry)

Dipan is a Research Assistant who joined the Jain Lab in Spring 2025 after completing graduate studies. His work focuses on synthesizing organic molecules, including DNA/RNA and peptides, and developing CRISPR-based electrochemical devices. Originally from India, he enjoys music, video games, and soccer outside the lab.

Kate Beerensson

Major: Biomedical Engineering

Kate is driven on the development of novel genome editors.

Sydney Antal

Major: Chemical Engineering

Sydney is currently working on optimizing CRISPR/Cas systems for disease detection and genome editing. Her research, which she has presented at multiple symposiums, focusing on using CRISPR to address global health challenges.

Elijah Stewart

Major: Microbiology and Cellular Sciences

Elijah works under Boyu Huang, creating Cas-tools and discovering novel genetic engineering systems, while specializing in molecular genetics, computational biology, software engineering, and evolutionary biology.

Suraj Raghunathan

Major: Biochemistry

Suraj is an undergraduate researcher.

Nayan Shah

Major: Microbiology and Cell Science

Nayan works on exploring CRISPR-Cas12 systems using novel ψ-DNA guides to study RNA targeting mechanisms.

Lina Mourad

Major: Chemical Engineering

Lina works on multiple projects including the development of various RNA detection methods.

Divya Adabala

Major: Chemical Engineering

Divya explores the potential of relaxases and topoisomerases as novel genome editing tools.

Kayli Zimmerman

BS: University of Florida (Chemical Engineering)

Kayli is currently working on a project that involves using CRISPR reactions to create a device for early HIV detection.

Shruti Sreekanth

Major: Health Science

Shruti is currently exploring the potential of relaxases and topoisomerases as novel genome editing tools.

Mahika Balaraju

Major: Microbiology and Cell Sciences

Mahika is currently Working on novel CRISPR technologies and optimizing its performance and delivery at in-vitro stage, specifically focused on the knockdown aspect and expanding capabilities of the CRISPR protein complex.

Ivy Browning

Major: Chemical Engineering

Ivy is an undergraduate researcher.

Sahil Ande

Major: Biochemistry

Sahil Ande is a second-year Biochemistry major working under Dr. Boyu Huang on precise DNA/RNA editing and CRISPR screening technologies.

Veronica Igwe

Major: Computer Science

Veronica is working on a project that uses CRISPR reactions to develop a point-of-care device for early HIV-1 detection. Her research interests include biomedical hardware and embedded systems design.

Lu Ighodalo

Major: Computer Science

Lu is currently working on an accessible device for early HIV detection.

Jayashri Madan

Major: Biomedical Engineering

My research interests focus on the engineering and development of CRISPR-Cas systems for genome editing. In the Jain Lab, I work on exploring Type V CRISPR-Cas systems for targeted DNA and RNA editing and developing single-effector systems from multi-effector Type 1 CRISPR-Cas complexes.

Axel Vega-Garcia

Major: Computer Engineering

Axel's research interests span embedded systems, artificial intelligence, and wireless network systems. He is currently developing embedded software and microcontroller firmware for point-of-care diagnostic devices.

Diego Tkachenko

Major: Chemical Engineering

Diego is interested in the development of an early detection system for HIV-1 with the use of the CRISPR/Cas system.

Sabina Chamoy

Honors and Research Scholar

Major: Biotechnology | Minor: Russian

Sabina is a second‑year Honors and Research Scholar pursuing a career in genetics and gene editing. Inspired early on by Colossal Biosciences, she is driven by interests in CRISPR technologies, gene therapy, stem cell biology, and neurodegenerative disease research. In the Jain Lab, Sabina works on AAV virology, CRISPR‑Cas12a packaging strategies, TIGR‑Tas enzyme characterization, and DNA fragment assembly projects under the mentorship of Dhruv Champaneri.

Elijah Walthall

Major: Chemical Engineering

Elijah's research focuses on using CRISPR-Cas systems for prime editing and using extracellular vesicles as a targeted delivery mechanism for the CRISPR-Cas system.

Reza Ahamadimashhadi

BS: Imam Reza International University (Biomedical Engineering)

MS: Ca ‘Foscari University of Venice (Nanomaterials)

MS: Kyoto Institute of Technology (Material Science)

Reza is a PhD student interested in developing novel amplification-free detection methods.

Katerina Anamisis

University Research Scholar

Major: Biochemistry

Katerina worked on treating Usher’s syndrome with genome editors.

Michael Baugh

Major: Chemical Engineering

Michael worked on developing methods to target RNA.

August Bodin

BS: University of Florida (Chemical Engineering)

MS: University of Florida (Chemical Engineering)

August graduated from UF with a Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. While in the lab, August worked on developing various nucleic acid detection methods.

Dylan Carman | BS

BS: University of Florida (Chemical Engineering)

NSF Graduate Research Fellow

Current: PhD student at Johns Hopkins University (Chemical Engineering)

Dylan worked on the development of cCRISPR project.

Minji Chang

BS: University of Illinois- Urbana Champaign (Chemical Engineering)

MS: Carnegie Mellon University (Chemical Engineering)

Minji’s research interests include nanobiotechnology, drug delivery, and gene editing. When not in the lab, Minji enjoys golf, other outdoor activities, traveling, and playing musical instruments. She hails from Seoul, South Korea.

Yasmin Elhabashy

Major: Chemical Engineering

Yasmin worked on developing bioinformatics pipelines and assisted with the development of novel precise RNA editing technologies.

Anne Fang

Major: Biochemistry

Anne worked on developing novel multiplexed CRISPR-based detection platforms and Psi-DNA.

Zoe Fang | BS

BS: University of Florida (Microbiology)

Zoe worked on multiple projects on CRISPR-based tools.

Sarah Flannery

Major: Chemical Engineering

Sarah contributed toward developing novel nucleic acid detection platforms.

Mike Hanna, PhD

BS: University of Florida (Biochemistry)

PhD: University of Florida (Chemical Biology | Prof. Michael Harris | Biochemistry of ribonucleotide reductase)

Research Interest: Dr. Hanna developed new CRISPR-based tools and devices for cancer detection.

Raymond Cole Hautamaki | MS

BS | MS: University of Florida (Microbiology and Cell Science)

Current: MRes student at Imperial College London (Systems and Synthetic Biology)

Cole worked on the development of cCRISPR and other genome engineering projects.

Ayushma Joshi

BTech: Vellore Institute of Technology, India (Biological Engineering)

Ayushma was a student assistant while pursuing Masters in Computer science at the University of Florida. Her research interests involve comparative genomics and machine learning.

Vedant Karalkar

Major: Computer Science & Engineering

Vedant worked on the development of rapid CRISPR-based assays.

Sucheta Karmakar

Sucheta was a visiting fellow at the lab from India

Ian Lange

Major: Chemical Engineering

Ian worked on the development of various nucleic acid detection methods.

Jordan Lewis

Honors and University Research Scholar

Major: Chemical Engineering

Jordan worked on multiple projects including the development of various RNA detection methods.

Kendall Long

BS: University of Florida (Virology)

Kendall Long was a Biomedical Science Ph.D. student and rotated in Jain lab. Her interests include genome engineering, CRISPR-Cas systems, and viral vectors. She loves to run and hike.

Nicolas Macaluso | MS Thesis

BS | MS: University of Florida (Chemical Engineering)

Teaching & Outstanding Gator Awards

Current: PhD student at Johns Hopkins University (Chemical Engineering)

Nico worked on several projects including the development of cCRISPR, SPADE, and SPLENDID.

Katelyn Meister

Major: Chemical Engineering

Katelyn worked on multiple projects including the development of various RNA detection methods. Katelyn joined MIT to pursue PhD in Chemical Engineering.

Long Nguyen | PhD

BS | MS: Georgia Institute of Technology (Chemical Engineering)

PhD: University of Florida (Chemical Engineering | Jain Lab)

Current: PBI2 Distinguished Postdoc Scholar at Princeton University (Cameron Myrhvold and Jared Toettcher labs)

Long is the first PhD student who graduated from Jain Lab. During his time in the lab, Long led the development of CRISPR-based ENHANCE, SPADE, SPLENDID, cCRISPR, and many other gene editing and diagnostic projects and published 6 first/co-first author papers.

Aaryan Pasupuleti

MS: University of Florida (Computer Science)

Aaryan was a Software Engineer at Verizon before beginning masters at the University of Florida. His interests included web development and machine learning.

Coleen Peggs

University Research Scholar

Major: Senior in the College of Public Health and Health Professions, majoring in Public Health, minoring in Pathogenesis and Chemistry.

Coleen worked on utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 to edit antibiotic resistance genes in E. coli.

Santosh Rananaware

BS | MSc (Honors): Birla Institute of Technology- Goa, India (Chemical Engineering | Physics)

Prior research: CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory

Santosh Rananaware recently successfully defended his PhD. Before transitioning into the PhD program, Santosh researched in Jain Lab as an MS student. During his time in the lab, he worked on numerous projects including the development of various RNA detection methods such as SAHARA and SPLENDID.

Grace Shoemaker | BS

BS: University of Florida (Chemical Engineering)

NSF Graduate Research Fellow

Current: PhD student at Johns Hopkins University (Chemical Engineering)

Grace worked on the development of SAHARA and SPLENDID and many other CRISPR engineering projects

Victor Vargas

BS: University of Florida (Chemical Engineering)

MS: University of Florida (Chemical Engineering)

Victor worked on the semi-comprehensive development of inexpensive prototypes for in-field use, designed to complement biomolecular assays and protocols developed by the lab.

Emma Vesco | BS

BS: University of Florida (Chemical Engineering)

Departmental Awards

Current: PhD student at Baylor College of Medicine (Chemical Engineering)

Emma worked on several projects including the development of SAHARA.

Lilia Yang

BS: Prairie View A&M University (Chemical Engineering)

Lilia Yang was born and raised in Southern California for 18 years before attending Prairie View A&M University in Texas. She decided to continue her journey eastward, ultimately choosing the University of Florida for her Ph.D. in chemical engineering to work on CRISPR-Cas systems for diagnostics and gene editing purposes. Her hobbies involve making inedible foods, learning about perennial edible plants, and getting lost when exploring parts of Gainesville. Currently, Lilia is working in industry.