Taylor Opolka

Graduate Student (Biochemistry)

First year

I graduated in 2023 with my BS in Biological Sciences from Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a lover of all things science, I find the diversity of study presented by the field of biochemistry incredibly exciting and rewarding. When not in class or lab, I am an avid reader and love to be active, especially rock climbing and playing basketball! I hope to become a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at a small university after graduating.

Matthew Politte

Undergraduate Student (Chemistry)

Class of 2026

I’m majoring in Chemistry and plan to attend Medical School

Drew Baranko

Undergraduate Student (Biochemistry)

Class of 2026

I enjoy organic chemistry and learning about the biological systems that make the world work. While not studying biochemistry, I love learning about wartime history and am a golf enthusiast. I plan to go to medical school after graduating.

The DasGupta Laboratory opened its doors in March 2024. 

We aspire to be a vibrant group driven by curiosity and camaraderie. Together we will take on some of science's hardest but foundational questions such as:

How did life emerge 4 billion years ago?   How can we make chemical systems evolve?  What are the structural principles underlying catalytic function in the earliest enzymes made of RNA? How do RNA enzymes acquire new functions through evolutionary adaptation?

We won't just look at the past, we will also look into the future. 

Using evolutionary approaches, we will develop new technologies to investigate poorly understood areas of RNA Biology. Initially, we will focus on RNAs with terminal modifications.

We are excited about all things RNA (and nucleic acids) - so bring your own ideas, and let's explore!