Former Group Members

Former Research Scientists

Vincent Cannistraro - 1970 BS Biology St. John's University, Queens NY; 1976 PhD Zoology, Rutgers University (Leonard Borack); 1976-99 Postdoctoral Washington University, Department of Microbiology and Immunology (David Kennell) 1970 BS Biology St. John's University, Queens NY; 1976 PhD Zoology, Rutgers University (Leonard Borack); 1976-99 Postdoctoral Washington University, Department of Microbiology and Immunology (David Kennell); Department of Chemistry Washington University 2000-2017. Retired.

Former Postdoctoral Associates:

Mitch Gandelman (Summer 1989-Summer 1990) PhD, 1983, Analytical Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder. Advisor: John Birks. Faculty, School of Medicine, University of Conneticutt, CT. Current: unknown.

Ashok Reddy (Fall 1988-1991) PhD, 1988, Organic Chemistry, Pune University, India. Advisor: Rama Rao. Thesis title: "Synthesis of Biologically Active Compounds." Pursued MD. Current: unknown.

Steven Graham (Summer 1991-Summer 1994, NIH Postdoctoral Fellow) PhD, 1990, State University of New York, Stony Brook. Advisor: Prestwich. Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Oklahoma State University. Current: Professor of Chemistry, St. Johns University, Queens, NY.

Sourena Nadji (Spring 1989-1997) PhD, 1978, Physical Organic Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England. Advisor: Katritsky. Thesis title: Studies in Prototropic Tautomerism. Research, design and synthesis of DNA photoproduct building blocks. Current: Reliable Biopharmaceutical. www.linkedin.com/in/sourena-nadji-515b2098/

Marapaka Praveen (1997 - 1999). Current: unknown.

Xiaoxu Li (2002-2004). Postdoctoral Fellow. Current: Associate Research Scientist Genome Center Columbia University

Zhihui Qin (2002 -2004 ) Postdoctoral Fellow. Current: Research Assistant Professor University of Chicago, Chicago Circle. www.linkedin.com/in/zhihui-qin-b2b9b6187/

Hussam Bdour (2001-2007). Postdoctoral Fellow. Current: Scientist at Ricerca Biosciences, Ohio

Effram Mehbratu (2007-2009) Postdoctoral Research Assosciate. Current: postdoctoral research associate for Suzzane Lapi, Washington University Medical School.

Huafeng Fang (2004-2010) Postdoctoral Research Associate and Research Scientist. Current: Research Scientist. Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute.

Gang Shen (2009-2010) Postdoctoral Research Associate. Current: Research Scientist at Pfizer. www.linkedin.com/in/gang-shen-349b9911/

Archana Parameswar (2012-2014) Lead Toxicology Specialist Valence Laboratory (2017- date) https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparameswar/

Santhi Pondugula (2013-2015)- Washington University Medical School Research Assistant Professor University of Florida 2018- date. https://www.linkedin.com/in/spondugula/

Former PhD Graduate Students

1. Ian R. Brockie (Spring 1984‑Summer 1988) BS, Chemistry, 1983, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Ph.D. 1989, Thesis title: "Design and synthesis of cis-syn and trans-syn Thymine Dimer Building Blocks. Synthesis and Characterization of d(TT[c,s]TT), d(CGTAT[t,s]TATGC) and d(CGTAT[t,s]TATGC)-c(GCATAATACG)." Current position: Technical support, Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Company, St. Louis, MO.

2. Rushdi Alul, (Spring 1987‑Spring 1989) BA, Chemistry, University of Missouri, St. Louis, 1981; Ph.D. 1989. Thesis title: "Design, Synthesis and DNA Binding Properties of a Series of Mono- and Bis(Platinum(II)) Complexes." Postdoctoral Research with Robert Letsinger at Northwestern in DNA synthesis. Research scientist at Synthecell. Senior Scientist at GeneTrak.Vysis, IL. Current: unknown.

3. Christine L. O'Day (Spring 1985‑Summer 1989) BS, Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, 1984. Thesis Title: "Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationships of Site-Specific Cis-Syn and Trans-Syn Thymine Dimers." Postdoctoral with John Abelson at Caltech in RNA splicing. Research Director, Oridigm, Seattle WA , Senior Manager/Cell Biology Group Leader at Ricerca Biosciences, Sr. Director Numira Biosciences, Current (2016-): Associate Director of Bioanalytical Testing, Seattle Genetics. https://www.linkedin.com/in/christineoday/

4. Michael P. Cohrs (Spring 1985-Summer 1989) BS, Chemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1984. Thesis Title: "Isolation and Characterization of the Dewar Pyrimidinone Photoproduct of TpT. The First Member of a New Class of DNA Photoproducts." MBA The University of Chicago School of Business. Current (2017-): Director of Quality Assurance at Ascendis Pharam, Inc. Palo Alto. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcohrs/

5. Daniel Garrett (Spring 1986‑1990) BS, Biochemistry, Manchester College, 1985. Thesis Title: "Combined NMR and Molecular Modeling Studies on Dewar and (6-4) Photoproducts of TpT and d(CGTATTATGC)·d(GCATAATACG) Containing a Cis-Syn Thymine Dimer". Postdoctoral Research Associate with Angela Gronenborn at NIH, Bethesda Maryland. Current: Staff Scientist at NIH, Bethesda MD

6. Daniel Svoboda (Fall 1986‑1991) BA, Chemistry, 1984, Washington University. Ph.D. Thesis Title: "The role of flanking sequence on the replication and repair of DNA containing single and multiple site specific cis,syn-thymine dimers in vitro". Current position: Postdoctoral Research Associate with Aziz Sancar at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Postdoctoral with Jean-Marie Vos at UNC. Former: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Canada. Current: (2015-) Computational Scientist SciOme, LLC. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-svoboda-043a9ba2/

7. Michelle Paskiewiecz Schmidt (Spring 1987‑1991) BA, Chemistry, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, 1987. Thesis Title: "Design and Synthesis of a Potential Bioreductive Alkylator of DNA Based on Anthramycin". Postdoctoral Research Associate, Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Missouri. Current position (2010-): Research Scientist, Mallinckrodt, St. Louis, MO. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-schmidt-5755388/

8. Jill Zitzewitz (Spring 1987‑1991) BA, Chemistry, Carthage College 1987. Ph.D. Thesis title: Multiplicative site-directed mmutagenesis: A new approach to the study of protein folding. Current position: Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts.

9. Nan Jiang (Spring 1988‑1991) BS, Chemistry, 1985, Fudan University; MS, Organic Chemistry, 1987, Fudan University, P.R.C.; Ph.D. Thesis Title: "In vitro and in vivo replication studies of the cyclobutane photodimers of TpdU and TpT". Current position: Postdoctoral research associate, Washington University Medical School, Carl Frieden. Research Scientist, PharMingen, San Diego, CA. Current: Vice President of Operations Biolegend. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nan-jiang-706a15a/

10. Cheng-I Wang (Spring 1989-1992) BS, Chemistry, 1984, National Tsing Hua, Taiwan. Ph.D. thesis title: "Structure-activity relationships of site-specific cis-syn cyclobutane thymine dimer containing T6 tracts". University of California, San Francisco, Charles Craik. Current position (2009-): Principal Investigator Technologist. Singapore Immunology Network. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheng-i-wang-1015622/

11. Colin Smith (Spring 1989-1993) BS, Chemistry, 1987, Reed College. Ph.D. Thesis title: “In vitro and in vivo mutation spectra of the cis-syn, trans-syn, (6-4) and Dewar photoproducts of TpT at a unique site”, American Cancer Society Fellow (1994-1997) with Alan Frankel, Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Professor of Biology, American University, Beruit, Lebanon.

12. Jeanette Robins Hill (1989-1994) B.S., 1984, Chemistry, Northeast Missouri State. Ph.D. May 1994, Thesis Title: "Study of coiled-coil protein structure-stability relationships using multiplicative site-directed mutagenesis"; Postdoctoral Fellow, Michael McDaniel, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Department of NutritionCase Western Reserve University. Current (2010-): Founder and CEO Spot On Sciences

13. Lisa Kroutil (1989-1994) BS, Chemistry, University of Missouri, Rolla; Ph.D. May 1994, Thesis title: "Mechanistic studies of misalignment-mediated DNA photoproduct-induced frameshift and substitutuion mutagenesis at T-tracts"; Postdoctoral Fellow with Thomas Kunkel, NIEHS, NC. Professor: Department of Chemistry University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

14. Shang Yin (1989-1994). B.S.Chemistry 1983, M.S. Chemistry, Shangdong University, P.R.C.. Ph.D. August 1994, Thesis title: "In vitro and in vivo mutation spectra of T-tracts containing site-specific cis-syn and trans-syn cyclobutane thymine dimers" Postdoctoral Fellow with Thomas Kunkel, NIEHS, NC. Current: Quintiles Transnational.

15. Xiaodong Zhao (1992-1995) B.S. Chemistry 1987, M.S. Organic Chemistry 1990, Nankai University, Nakai, PRC; Ph.D. thesis title “Structure-Activity Relationships of Photoproduct-Specific Antibodies and the TA* Photoproduct” Postdoctoral Fellow with Aziz Sancar, University of North Carolina, NC. Postdoctoral Fellow with Michael Pirrung. Employment: Amersham-Pharmacia. Senior Scientist Illumina. Current: (2012-) 1^st Scientist, Diagnostics, Beckman Coulter, https://www.linkedin.com/in/xiaodong-zhao-42018a7/

16. Philip Ordoukhanian, (Fall 1992- Fall 1997) S.B. Chemistry, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO. Ph.D. Thesis "Caged DNA". Postdoctoral: Gerald Joyce, Scripps Institute, La Jolla, CA. Director, Center for Protein and Nucleic Acid Research, Scripps, La Jolla, CA. https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-ordoukhanian-b7568b7/

17. Jianquan (David) Liu (Fall 1993-Summer 1998). B.S. Peking University 1987, M.S. Chemistry Institute of Academica Sinica 1990, Ph.D. thesis title: "Photochemistry and photobiology of DNA containing 4-thiothymidine." Postdoctoral: Peter Schultz, Scripps Institute, La Jolla, CA. Quantum Dot., Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA. Chief Scientist Officer at Heliosense Biotechnologies, Inc. Current: (2018-) Senior Scientist 1, Gilead Sciences. https://www.linkedin.com/in/djqliu/

18. Mu Wang (Fall 1994-Summer 1998). B.S. Sichuan University, 1986, M.S. Oregon State 1994, Ph.D. thesis title: "In vitro and in vivo mutagenesis studies of cis-syn, trans-syn-I, trans-syn-II, (6-4) and Dewar photoproducts of thymidylyl-(3'-5')-thymidine". Postdoctoral: Suk-Hee Lee, Cancer Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana. Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Director Proteomics Core, , Indiana School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN. Current: (2018-) Head and Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Suzhou City, Jiangsu, China. https://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/departments/academic-departments/biological-sciences/staff/mu-wang

19. Yeuqing Jing (Fall 1992-Fall 1998). BS Chemistry, Fudan University, 1988, Ph.D. thesis title: "NMR and thermodynamic studies on photoproduct-containing DNA dodecamers", Employment: Research scientist, Monsanto company.

20. Ingrid Ensch-Simon (Fall 1993-Summer 1997). Diplom in Biology 1989, University of Bonn, Ph.D. thesis title: "Replication of an SV40 vector containing a cis-syn cyclobutane thymine dimer by human HeLa and Xeroderma pigmentosum variant cell-free extracts" (Ph.D. awarded by the University of Bonn, Germany 1999). Current Position: Invitrogen. Now at Life Sciences NY.

21. Jody Lingbeck. (Spring 1995-Summer 2000) Investigation of site-specific (6-4) photoproducts and nonadjacent dimers in DNA" Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Washington University Medical School. Current position: Assistant Research Professor, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Center for Food Safety. Current: (2018-) Product Safety Specialist, Kimberly-Clark. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jody-lingbeck-phd/

22. Yingie Ren (Spring 1995-Fall 2000) Ph.D. thesis title: "Synthetic, spectroscopic, and thermodynamic studies of DNA duplexes containing site-specific cis-syn and trans-synm cyclobutane thymine dimers." Research scientist. Pharmacia Corporation. Current: Pharmacist.

23. Kaijiang Zhang, (Spring 1996-Spring 2001). Design, Synthesis and Applications of Caged DNA Strand Breaks. GE Healthcare. Now works for the US Patent and Trademark Office.

24. Yinsheng Wang (Spring 1996-Spring 2001) "Mass Spectrometry for the Study of DNA photodamage: Structure determination, quantification, and Applications. Professor of Chemistry, U.C. Riverside. Riverside CA.

25. Wei Li (Summer 2001) "NMR Studies of I. Phtoodamaged DNA duplexes, II. Sodium concentrations in septic mouse and III. Two iron chelates as potential brain MRI contrast agents" Current: Unknown.

25. Zhaochun Ma (Spring 1996-Spring 2002) Nucleic Acid Triggered Catalytic Drug Release: A New Concept for the Design of Disease-Specific Chemotherapeutic Agents Applied Biosystems, Forster City, CA.

26. Liping Sun (2003) "Study of dipyrimidine photoproduct translesion synthesis mechanism by DNA replicative and damage bypass polymerases using structural probes" Postdoctoral Washington University Medical School. Current: Research Oncology at Genentech.

27. Hanshin Hwang (2004)" Role of base stacking, H-bonding, and fingers residue on nucleotide selection opposite the undamaged and damaged DNA by yeast DNA polymerase eta" Stanford University Postdoc. LG Research Center, Korea.

28. Yimin Wang (2005) "Design, synthesis and characterization of N3-alkylated cis-syn thymine dimers" Works for a company in China. https://www.linkedin.com/in/%E7%9B%8A%E6%B0%91-%E7%8E%8B-160822166/

29. Xuan Yue (2006)- "Design and Synthesis of Gene-Specific Agents to Modulate Hyperthermia Induced Radiosensitization", August 30, 2006. Postdoc for David Corey, UT Southwestern. Director of the Institute for Bionanotechnology in Medicine (IBNAM) Peptide Synthesis Core, Current (2013-) : Senior Scientist Abbott, Chicago IL. https://www.linkedin.com/in/xuan-yue-13549b8/

30. Jianfeng Cai (2006) "Design and synthesis of nucleic acid templated and targeted drugs and probes." Postdoctoral with Andrew Hamilton, Yale. Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of South Florida 2009. Current: Professor of Chemistry at South Florida

31. Bich Vu - August 2007 Probing DNA photoproduct deamination kinetics and DNA binding protein interactions by mass spectrometry. Current: (2013-) Senior scientist at Covidien. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bich-vu-b2649015/

32. Berekete Oquare (2007)- December 2007. Design and synthesis of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) agents for imaging gene expression Postdoc at Washington University 2007-2009, Postdoc NIH 2010-2011. Current: (2016-) Assoc. Consultant, Biomolecule Analytical Tech Steward Eli Lilly and Company. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bereket-yemane-02244714/

33. Ajay Kshetry (2008). Design and synthesis of modified deoxynucleotides, DNA, and PNA for biological studies Current: Senior Scientist Tjaden Biosciences Iowa. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajay-kshetry-7108051b/

34. Alina Handorean -2008. Effects of active site amino acids and photoproduct deamination on nucleotide insertion by yeast DNA polymerase eta Research associate, University of Colorado, Boulder. Current (2015-) Teaching Associate Professor – Colorado School of Mines. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alina-m-handorean-7b41597/

35. Dan Gu –Dalian University, China 1994-1997, University of Missouri, St. Louis 2000-2003, Washington University, 2003-2008. December 2008. DNA-protein conjugates for structural studies of polymerase eta and for nucleic acid triggered prodrug activation Postdoc with Dr. Turesky at the Wadsworth Center Center of the New York Department of health, 2009-2012, Research Assoc., University of Colorado Boulder 2012-2013, Current (2014-) Senior Manager Hangzhou-IPS. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-gu-78272321/

36. Dian Su - Washington University 2005-2010. March 2010. Discovery and identification of new DNA photoproducts and investigation of the redox mechanism of human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (hApe1) protein Postdoc at PNL, Washington 2010-2012. Current: (2014-) Scientist Genentech. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dian-su-6b1978b/

37. Rongsheng Wang – Nanjing University BS Chemistry 2001-2005. Washington University 2005-2010. December 2010. Development and study of inhibitors of heat

Shock protein 70 induction. Mediomics , Postdoc with Peter Schultz Scripps, Current: (2017-) Assistant Professor Temple University, Philadelphia. https://chem.cst.temple.edu/wang.html

38. Yinyin Song – August 2011. Design, synthesis and characterization of lipidated PNA-peptide Conjugates as potential therapeutic and diagnostic reagents Current: returned to China.

39. Zhenghui Wang – BS Chemistry Peking University China 2002-2006. Washington University 2006-2012. Thesis August 2011 Studies of fluorescent imaging for mRNA detection in living cells Degree in Patent Law at Cornell 2011-2014. Current (2018-) Associate, Covington & Burling LLP. https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhenghui-alan-wang-phd-81954b1b/

40. Ziyan Zhang – August 2012 Peking University BS Chemistry 2002-2006. Washington University PhD 2006-2012 PhD Thesis: DNA and Peptide Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles for Biological Imaging and Transfection Current: (2014-) Inteum Company Market Research Analyst 2014. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziyan-zhang/

41. Qian Song – Peking University, China BS Chemistry, 2003-2007. Washington University, 2007-2012. Thesis: Modulation of Cis-syn Cyclobutane Dimer Formation and Deamination at CpG Sites by Nucleosome Particles and Its Implications for Deamination Bypass Mechanism for the Origin of C to T Mutations September 2012 Postdoctoral at Northwestern Medical School, 20012-2015. Postdoctoral at Stanford University 2016-2018. Current (2018-) : Research Scientist at Immutics, San Franciso. https://www.linkedin.com/in/qian-quincy-song-34865331/

42. Yuefei Shen – Nanjing University, China 2003-2007, Washington University 2007-2013. PhD Development of Antisense Therapeutic and Imaging Agents to Detect and Suppress Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) Expression in Acute Lung Injury (ALI) U of Massachusetts Current: (2018- ) Investigator at Novartis Institutes of BioMedical Research, Boston. https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuefeishen/

43. Jillian Smith – Washington University 2007-2013. Anti Thymine Photodimer Formation in Human Telomeric DNA and Putative G-Quadruplex Forming Sequences in Promoter Regions Postdoc Emory University (2013-2015, David Lynn) Current: (2015-) Assistant Professor Fairfield University, Connecticut. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-smith-carpenter-1736953a/

44. Zifan Li – Tsinghua University, China, 2003-2007. Washington University, 2008-2014. The Design and Synthesis of Nucleic Acid Based Imaging Agents Current: (2018-) Senior Analytical Chemist at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizifan/

45. Kesai Wang – Nakai University 2008-2012, Washington University 2012-2017. Effects of Nucleosome Structure on DNA Photoproduct Formation and Deamination. Current: (2019-) Process Development Scientist, Amgen, Boston. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kesai-wang-ba3034105/

46. Chen Lu – Anhui University, China 2008-2012, Washington University PhD 2012-2018. Effect of DNA Sequence Context, DNA structure, and Excitation Method on Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimer Formation Current (2018-2019) CiBO Technologies. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chen-lu/