Dr. Xin Yan Group

Alumni

Postdoctoral Associates

Dr. Heyong Cheng

Postdoctoral Fellow
3/2019-6/2021

Dr. Ashok Polu

Postdoctoral Fellow
2/2022-7/2022

Dr. Peiyu Cai

Postdoctoral Fellow
8/2022-4/2023

Dr. Luan Felipe Campos Oliveira

Postdoctoral Associate
4/2023-12/2023

Dr. Henadeera Appuhamilage Done Disni Gunasekera

Postdoctoral Associate
8/2023 - 9/2025

Dr. Gunasekera received her PhD from Wayne State University with Dr. Long Luo. During her PhD studies, she performed electroorganic synthesis using alternating-current electrolysis. Her current research focuses on developing new electrochemical approaches for synthesizing boron-containing compounds and transition metal catalytic reactions. During her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and friends, and trying out new food recipes.

Ph.D. Students

Shuli Tang, Yan#: 2

PhD Student (8/2018-5/2023)

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Tingyuan Yang (Tiya), Yan#: 5

PhD Student (8/2019-8/2024)

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Xi Chen (Cici), Yan#:

PhD Student (8/2019-8/2024)

Amgen Inc.

Xi received her B.S. in Chemistry from Fudan University. Delving into the intricate world of mass spectrometric analysis, she is interested in lipids. Her focus lies in unraveling their structural difference, quantifying their abundance, and unveiling their spatial distribution through mass spectrometry imaging. Also, she aims to illuminate the role these molecules play in biological systems, shedding light on crucial pathways and potential therapeutic targets. In her spare time, she likes to sleep, or simply stay in a quiet place and let her mind wander. She tends to do something repetitive but also creative, such as knitting, to help her relax and refresh.

Dallas Freitas, Yan#:

PhD Student (8/2019-8/2024)

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Dallas obtained a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Hawaii at Hilo where he studied aberrant calcium signaling in neuroblastoma. Currently, Dallas’s research focuses on the analysis of lipids using surface sampling mass spectrometry techniques such as DESI and LESA, and developing methods to better utilize these existing technologies. Dallas’s research interests include method development for lipidomic studies and novel ionization techniques. In his free time, Dallas likes to play with his dog Winston, sightseeing around Texas, tubing, and playing Overwatch.

Madison Edwards, Yan#:

PhD Student (8/2020-5/2025)

Dow Inc.

Madison holds a B.S. in biochemistry and a B.A. in classical studies from Purdue University. Currently, her research centers on enhancing reactivities at interfaces. She developed an interfacial microreactor to facilitate thin-film electromigration and accelerate surface reactions to enable small-volume biofluid mass spectrometric analyses. Furthermore, as part of the NSF Center for Single-Entity Nanochemistry and Nanocrystal Design, she leverages microdroplet reaction acceleration and develops a high-throughput mass spectrometry platform to examine the impact of nanoparticle heterogeneity on catalytic reactions. Madison's hobbies include baking sourdough, playing games with friends, and hiking.

Syuan-Ting Guo (Alex), Yan#:

PhD Student (8/2020-12/2025)

Genentech, Inc.

Alex received his B.S. in Chemistry from National Taiwan University. During his PhD study, Alex's research interests include native mass spectrometry for biophysical studies, including thermodynamic and kinetic study of enzymatic protein in COVID-19 and oligomerization process of lipidation therapeutic peptides. He is also interested in hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry to resolve the regional level dynamic of analyte-of-interest. His hobbies are jogging and weight training.