Lab members

Roland Kersten is an Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He pursued graduate studies in Dr. Pieter Dorrestein's and Dr. Bradley Moore's labs at University of California, San Diego on microbial genome mining for natural product discovery. He then was trained as a postdoc in Dr. Joseph Noel's and Dr. Jing-Ke Weng's labs at Salk Institute and Whitehead Institute in plant and algal natural product biosynthesis. Roland's lab develops omics-guided discovery approaches for plant natural products. Outside of science, Roland spends time with his daughters, playing soccer, running and hiking. Roland's favorite plant is Kerria japonica.

Email: rkersten@umich.edu

Phone: 734-647-1840 

Lab address:

Roland Kersten

Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Room 4009

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

428 Church Street

Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Dr. Xiaofeng Wang (Postdoctoral Researcher)

Xiaofeng is a postdoctoral researcher from Anhui, China, and he received his Ph.D. from the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His doctoral research focused on the chemical constituents and bioactivities of medicinal plants. Currently, he is working on transcriptome-guided discovery of plant RiPPs and investigating their in vivo modification mechanisms. In his free time, he enjoys taking walks, and his favorite plant is Perilla frutescens (perilla).

Email: xiaofwan@umich.edu

Dr. Wenjie Li (Senior Technician)

I earned my bachelor’s degree in China and later completed a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at Texas Tech University. Currently, I provide both research and administrative support in the Kersten lab. Outside of work, I enjoy skating, and my favorite plant is Actinidia arguta (kiwiberry), appreciated for its delicious fruit.

Email: wenjieli@umich.edu

Derrick Ousley (Graduate Student, Medicinal Chemistry)

I am from Calumet City, IL, and obtained my Bacholor of Science from DePauw University. In my graduate studies in the Kersten lab, I develop an effective strategy to predict new bioactive plant natural product structures. I hope to identify bioactive compounds through structural prediction of biosynthetically feasible natural products mined from genomic data. My work will expand plant natural product chemistry and its application in rational drug design. My hobby is basketball and my favorite plant is the almond tree (Prunus dulcis).

Email: dousley@umich.edu

Gabrielle May (Graduate Student, Program for Chemical Biology)

Gabi is a graduate student in the Kersten lab, working on the discovery of new peptide and alkaloid chemistry from underexplored plant species using large-scale omics approaches. She is from West Michigan and obtained her bachelors' degree from the University of Michigan in mechanical engineering. She enjoys being active and out in nature - backpacking, camping, hiking, and teaching others how to forage and identify plants. Gabi also enjoys music and dancing, and is an amateur Dj. Her favorite plant is Sassafras albidum, the sassafras tree, which is the first plant she was taught to forage and use as a child. 

Email: gabrieli@umich.edu

Bassma Al-Allaf (PharmD Investigations student)

I grew in Farmington,Michigan and graduated with a B.S in biochemistry from Oakland University. I am currently at the University of Michigan pursuing a Doctorate of Pharmacy. My work in the Kersten lab focuses on biosynthesis of moroidin peptides to optimize their bioactivity in cancer cell cultures. My hobby is beaded jewelry and baking. My favorite plants are Leadworts.

Email: balallaf@umich.edu  

Hiya Shah (Undergraduate Student, Pharmaceutical Sciences)

Hiya is an undergraduate student in the Kersten Lab. She's from Rochester Hills, MI and is currently obtaining a B.S. in pharmaceutical sciences. Her hobbies include pottery, traveling, and spending time in nature. Her favorite plant is Hydrangea macrophylla.

Email: hiyashah@umich.edu