Members
Ruibao Li
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.
Lalitha Sastry
Lalitha is from Secunderabad, a South Indian city. She completed her M.S in Animal Biotechnology from National Dairy Research Institute in Karnal,India. She has extensive research experience in both academia and industry, working in Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore, Wockhardt Pharmaceuticals, Aurangabad, Drug Discovery Unit, University of Dundee, IU biology and School of Medicine before joing the Gerdt lab in November 2025. Outside work, Lalitha enjoys taking care of her plants, watching movies and travelling with her family.
Marian Addo
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.
Chengqian Zhang
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.
Yanyao Cai
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.
Ranojoy Baisya
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 Belani
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.
William Porter
Will is originally from Maysville, Kentucky. He completed his B.S in Biology at West Virginia State University and M.S in Chemistry through Ohio University. Will spent four years in industry, working in R&D and analytical labs before arriving in Blooomington. Will is extremely interested in the effects that exogenous molecules have on living organisms. He will be elucidating cell signaling pathways related to aggregation and motility in protists like Capsaspora owczarzaki. Will is an avid sports fan, loves music and enjoys time with friends and family.
Lucy Cripe
Lucy grew up in Michigan and graduated with her B.A in Chemistry from Kalamazoo College before joining the Gerdt lab as a Ph.d student in January of 2026. Her Research focuses on finding and synthesizing new inhibitors of bacterial defense systems and discovering how these inhibitors work. Outside of lab Lucy enjoys spending time outside, being with friends and reading.
Vikram Damodaran
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.
Joy Seo
Joy Seo is pursuing a Biology B.S. with a minor in Chemistry. Originally from South Korea, she has been a Bloomingtonian for the past 10 years. She joined the Gerdt lab in 2025 in the spring of her junior year. Her research focuses on studying bacterial cell wall modification as an anti-bacteriophage defense mechanism. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, going to the gym, and watching Modern Family.
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