Laboratory for Cellular and Metabolic Engineering

Department of Chemical Engineering

Research Staff

Principal Investigator

Johnny Blazeck

B.S. Chem. Eng., University of Florida

E-mail: jblazeck AT gmail.com

Amanda Lanza

B.S. Chem. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Eric Young

B.S. Chem. Eng., B.S. Biological Eng., University of Maine

 

E-mail: lanza AT che.utexas.edu

E-mail: young AT che.utexas.edu

Laboratory for Cellular and Metabolic Engineering

Hal Alper, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

 

B.S., Chem. Eng., University of Maryland at College Park

 

Ph.D., Chem. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

 

Post-doc., Whitehead Institute

 

Post-doc., Shire Human Genetic Therapies

Graduate Students

Ashley Poucher

E-mail: apoucher AT mail.utexas.edu

Undergraduate Students

Research:  I am interested in metabolically engineering a yeast model system, Yarrowia lipolytica, to produce biofuels.

Interests: My 5 favorite things in the world (subject to change, and to be more than 5 things):  My dog, The Beatles, Pancakes, Googling things, Buried Treasure, and Easier to find treasure.

Research:  I am interested in new tools for the stable transfection of mammalian cells as well as the ability to target locations in the genome with high transcriptional activity.  This work will be funded in part by an NSF graduate fellowship.

Interests: I am an avid long distance runner and have completed 4 marathons with a personal best of 3:35:09.  I also enjoy skiing, hiking, cooking and traveling.

Research:  I am interested in engineering proteins involved in pentose metabolism for the improved production of ethanol from biomass in a yeast host system.

Interests: I am a guitarist, a bibliophile, and a barbecue enthusiast.  My other hobbies include writing music, hiking, and sailing.

Ben Reed

E-mail: reedbc AT mail.utexas.edu

Wenly Ruan

E-mail: wenly.ruan AT mail.utexas.edu

Nathan Crook

B.S. Chem. Eng., California Institute of Technology

E-mail: crook AT che.utexas.edu

Research:  I am interested in developing new tools which will allow for the efficient incorporation of novel synthetic pathways into yeast and E. coli.

Interests: I enjoy photography, gardening, hiking, traveling, live music, and rubik's cubes of all sizes.

Sun-mi Lee

B.S. Biotechnology and Environmental Science, Korea University

M.S. Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University

Research Scientist, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)

E-mail: sunmilee AT che.utexas.edu

Research:  I am interested in engineering of bacteria for advanced biofuel production.

Interests: I am a travel lover. I’d like to have a collection of city cups from around the world. I enjoy having nice food with my friends and doing yoga .

Kate Moran

B.S. Chem. Eng., University of Notre Dame

E-mail: morank AT che.utexas.edu

Research:  I am interested in developing new tools which will allow for the efficient incorporation of novel synthetic pathways into yeast and E. coli

Interests: My favorite hobbies include making pottery on the pottery wheel, playing viola, skiing, hiking, cooking and enjoying good food with friends and family.