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Welcome to our research lab team page!
Our group comprises dedicated undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs who are committed to advancing scientific knowledge through cutting-edge research
Zhi-Yan (Rock) Du
Principle Investigator
Ph.D., Associate Professor
Department of Molecular Biosciences & Bioengineering
Education:
Ph.D., The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
M.S., Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
B.S., Beijing Forest University, Beijing
Employment:
Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Biosciences & Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Hawaii
Assistant Professor (tenure track), Department of Molecular Biosciences & Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Hawaii
Assistant Professor (fixed-term), Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, Michigan
Research Associate, US Department of Energy-MSU Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, Michigan
Research Assistant, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Research:
CRISPR engineering of algae and plants
Sustainable production of food and feed products
Biomanufacturing of bioenergy and biomaterials
Pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals from tropical species
Algae–fungi symbiosis and carbon sequestration
Microbiomes and biodiversity
Bioremediation through biotechnology and engineering
Developing AI tools for life science
Student training and workforce development in biotechnology
Courses Taught:
MBBE/BIOL 401 Molecular Biotechnology (3 Cr), every Spring semester
MBBE/BIOL 401L Molecular Biotechnology Lab-Gene Editing by CRISPR/Cas9 (2 Cr), every Spring semester
MBBE 610 Molecular Biosciences Seminar (1 Cr), every Fall semester
MBBE/MICR 601 Molecular Cell Biology (3 Cr), Fall semester
Graduate Students
Yu Wang
Ph.D.
M.S., UH Manoa
B.S., Hunan Agricultural University
Food products; marine agriculture; algae-fungi symbiosis
Taren Bouwman
Ph.D.
B.S., Pitzer College
BioCube; fungal isolates; algae-fungi symbiosis; sustainability; synthetic biology
Mu-Chien Lai
Ph.D.
M.S. & B.S., National Chung Hsing University
Marine agriculture; algae-fungi symbiosis; tropical plants; food products; bioremediation
Sally Do
Ph.D.
B.S., UH Manoa (UROP)
Photobioreactor design and applications; synthetic biology in microalgae
Pansa Alizar
Ph.D.
B.S., Hawaii Pacific University
Algae breeding & biochemistry; seaweed biodiversity; coral bleaching
Rai Malayaj
M.S.
B.S., Silliman University
Algae-fungi symbiosis; stress tolerance & resilience
Tessa Thomson
M.S.
B.S., Texas A&M University
Bioremediation; algae & plant cultivation
Abbygail Jared
M.S.
B.S., UH Manoa (BIOL499)
Algae-fungi symbiosis; algae engineering
Adam Phelps
M.S.
B.S., UH Manoa (USDA-REEU)
Algae & plant cultivation; bioenergy & biomaterials
Zhiqing Fang
M.S.
B.S., UH Manoa (MBBE499)
Algae-fungi symbiosis; algae engineering; marine agriculture
Rylie Leffingwell
M.S.
B.S., Creighton University
Fungal isolates; bioremediation; fungal biodiversity
Jung Kwon
Ph.D. (co-PIed with Dr. Samir Khanal)
M.S. & B.S., Ajou University
Bioremediation; Bioengineering
Undergraduate Students
Corina Liang (UROP)
Joybel Parinas (UROP)
Sophie Lo (UROP)
Brandelyn Oshiro (UROP)
Collin Whitley (Honors)
Pan Goldsen (MBBE 499)
Ryker Shimabukuro (UROP)
Kayla Yencik (UROP)
High School Students
Former Lab Members
Graduate Students
Ty Shitanaka (Ph.D.)
Michaela Durďáková (Ph.D.)
Lauren Higa (M.S.)
Julia Yuson (M.S.)
Max Blank (Ph.D.)
Kanak Pal (M.S.)
Rumesh Senthilnathan (M.S.)
Juliette Protti (Ph.D.)
Antonia Barela (M.S.)
Undergraduate Students
Alea M Eugenio (BIOL400)
Noah Birn (UROP)
Manaka Sai (MBBE499)
Angelyn Plan (MBBE499)
Jenny Andrada
Kimberly Gabriel (MBBE499)
Nanami Mehring (MBBE499)
Kylie Hashiro (MBBE499)
Daniel Chun (UROP)
Lindsey Jaeger
Raon Traynor
Delara Ditterich
Jimmy Wayne (UROP)
Fabiola Suciu Zamora
Alyssa Poynter
Caitlyn Lee (UROP)
Arel Jane Ragasa (UROP)
Olivia Smith (BIOL499)
Tea Stephens (MBBE499)
Annie Stevens
Alicia Ainsley Velasco
Ian Martin
Barbara Grigsby
Aliiza Haun
Catherine Mattson
Jenna Matsuyama (UROP)
Lana Mitchell (UROP)
Jason Shimoko (Honors)
Alexander Walker (MBBE499)
Keilah Wilkes (UROP&USDA)
Joanne Wong (UROP)
Enzo Yamagata (UROP)
Elijah Stotijn
Ryan Amato
Gabriel Bradshaw
Laura Lindle
Henry Huynh
Adrianna Dupriest (MBBE499)
Skye Inn
Taylor Kennedy (MBBE499)
Mark Pusung (MBBE499)
Anna Jee
Brenna Burk
Robianne Tucker (MBBE499)
Logan North (BIOL499)
Dorothy Montgomery
David Paul Advincula
Cienna Malindi
Mana Chun
Lyndee Mersch
Thomas Nitta (UROP)
Shaina Young (UROP)
Edoardo Sena (UROP)
Ethan Butay (MBBE499)
Ju-Ling Chen (UROP)
Yejean Chung (UROP)
Cade Kane (NHSEMP)
Ashlyn Uehara (NHSEMP)
Emma Warhank
Ashlyn Godbehere (UROP)
Abigail Rohy (NSF-REU)
Kyla Tuazon (NSF-REU)
Kelly Chang
Amy Denis
Grace Myers
Laura Green
Haylee Fujioka (Honors)
Sean Standiford (MBBE499)
Lisa Lowe
Elijah Moniz (UROP&NHSEMP)
Emerald Chea (MBBE499)
Alyssa Poynter
Jenna Calvero
Grace Gehrich
High School Students
Deborah (Debbie) Park (Iolani School; ISEF & HSEF awards)
Dava Watson (University Laboratory School; HSEF award)
Leyna Ko (Kalani High School)
Hayeon Kim (Wells International School)
Avalon Tosaki (Iolani School)
Punyisa Sawakewongpra (Wells International School)
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