Gerdt Laboratory

Marian is a nature loving person who hails from Ghana. She earned her master’s degree from Illinois State University where her research was on synthesizing a protease inhibitor for Human T-cell Leukemia virus. She joined the Gerdt lab in December 2020. Marian is very interested in medicinal chemistry and so she’s excited to research into microbial natural product discovery in the Gerdt lab. During her free time, she loves to cook, read poetry, watch movies or listen to music.

Ranojoy is originally from Kolkata, West Bengal, India. He completed his Integrated BS & MS in Chemistry at IISER Pune before joining the Gerdt Lab as a PhD student in 2024. His research focuses on studying chemical cues to better understand the regulatory signaling pathways involved in cellular aggregation in protists like Capsaspora owczarzaki. Outside the lab, Ranojoy likes to keep a lot going on. He enjoys everything from shopping and exploring new places and cultures, to being outdoors, socializing, and discovering new food joints. Apart from that he still cherishes his undergraduate days and seizes any opportunity to relive that time whenever possible.

Harshika is originally from Gujarat, India. She completed her undergraduate degree in Chemistry at Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gujarat, before joining the Gerdt Lab as a PhD student in 2024. Her research focuses on understanding bacterial defense systems, particularly retrons, which are critical in protecting bacterial populations from phage infections. Beyond her passion for medicinal chemistry, Harshika enjoys exploring new experiences, from hiking and traveling to cooking and learning new skills. She finds joy in being close to nature and discovering the world around her. 

Yanyao grew up in Ma‘anshan, a small city close to Nanjing. He graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry from Nanjing University and did organic chemistry research at the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (SIOC). In Fall 2022, Yanyao joined the Gerdt Lab, focusing on chemical signaling in Capsaspora owczarzaki. In his free time, he enjoys sleeping, playing video games, and watching Esport games.

Vikram was born in Indianapolis and is pursuing a degree in Biology. He joined the Gerdt Lab in January 2024 and is currently studying the chemical competition between bacteria found on cheeses, which may reveal new antibiotics. Outside of the lab, he enjoys spending time with his friends & family, going to the gym, and watching YouTube.

Eleanor Goldstone is working on getting a degree in chemistry with a minor in mathematics. She joined Gerdt’s lab the summer before starting college in June of 2021. Her research is centered on studying the three-way interaction between protists, snails, and parasites. During her free time, Eleanor likes to experiment in the kitchen and bring it into the lab.

Ruibao Li comes from south China and studied choanoflagellates for his Ph.D. in University of Cologne, Germany. He subsequently studied the toxins and evolution of cyanobacteria as a postdoc, combining bioinformatics and molecular experiments. He joined the Gerdt group in November 2021 to study host-microbe (choanoflagellate-bacteria) interactions. In his leisure time, he likes to play table tennis, jog, and watch movies and soccer matches.

Soniya is originally from Andhra Pradesh, India. She received her integrated master’s degree in chemistry at IIT Bombay. She joined the Gerdt Lab as a Ph.D. student in 2019 to study bioactive metabolites produced by bacteria in different environments. In her free time, she likes to dance or watch dance videos. She also likes free food!!

Isha Tandon is majoring in Molecular Life Sciences with a minor in Healthcare Policy and Hindi. She joined the Gerdt lab the summer before starting college in June of 2024. Her research is centered around testing new natural compounds that can inhibit the anti-bacteriophage defense mechanism, CBASS. Outside the lab, her hobbies include playing with her dog, watching movies, and playing piano.

Zhiyu was born in northwest China and obtained his bachelor degree in Chemistry at Peking University, Beijing. He joined the Gerdt group in Fall 2019, where his research focuses on the bacteriophage defense mechanisms and the influence of natural products on bacteriophage infectivity. He has a lot of hobbies, such as playing basketball, going to the gym, practicing piano and guitar, watching movies and travelling. 

Chengqian Zhang was born in the northeast of China and graduated from the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China. He joined the Gerdt group in Fall 2021. As an undergraduate, he was interested in synthesizing nature product molecules. Now he’s working on isolating and analyzing new natural products that influence anti-bacteriophage defense systems. His hobbies are jazz music, old movies, and detective novels.

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