Liang Lab Current Members

Dongdong Cao, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow

Dongdong is originally from China. He received his B.A. in Biotechnology and Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Science and Technology of China, USTC. His graduate research focused on exploring the structure and function of enzymes and immune-related proteins by x-ray crystallography. Dr. Cao joined the Liang Lab as a postdoctoral fellow to work on the structure and regulation of RNA synthesis machinery of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using x-ray crystallography and cryo-EM.

Member since June 2017

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Yunrong Gao, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow

Yunrong is originally from China. He received his B.S. degree from the Huazhong Agricultural University and his Ph.D. degree from the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academic of Sciences. His graduate research focused on the mechanism of PAS (Para-Aminosalicylic Acid) resistance and structural analysis of the MarR family proteins in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Dr. Gao joined the Liang Lab to work on the mechanism and structures of the RSV-specific nucleocapsids and the regulatory role of the RSV M2-1 using integrated x-ray crystallography and cryo-EM. 

(understanding the structure and mechanism of the RNA synthesis machinery of RSV) 

Member since June 2017

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Zhenhang Chen, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow

Zhenhang is originally from China. He received his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from China Agriculture University. His doctoral thesis project is focused on human Fragile Mental Retardation Protein FMRP, he solved the X-ray crystal structure of the N terminal of FMRP and measured binding affinity between this protein and different post-translationally modified histone peptides. Before joining the Liang Lab, he used Baculovirus Expression System and cryo-EM method to study membrane proteins including human V-ATPase. He also studied enzyme activity and structure biology of structure-specific endonucleases that are essential for a DNA repair pathway named nucleotide excision repair in human and archaea.

Member since September 2021

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John Blankenhorn
Research Specialist

John is an Atlanta native, he received his BS in Biology from Georgia State University and his MS in Biology from University of Minnesota.  His prior research work included studying post-translationally modifying enzymes (kinases, deacetylases, proteases) and learning their preferred substrate motifs so that biosensors to monitor their activity could be created.  To do this he performed HPLC-MS experiments to generate post-translationally modified substrates, then used big data analysis in R, Python and Java to analyze the substrates for patterns of which amino acids tended to be located near the modification site.  He also incorporated structural information from molecular dynamics simulations and binding assays to better assess how the enzyme interacts with its substrates.  From there he was able to determine the preferred substrate motif of these enzymes and use that to create peptide biosensors to report their activity. 

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Adora Bryant

Administrative Assistant

Adora is originally from Akron, Ohio. Adora earned her Master’s in Nonprofit Administration from Louisiana State University, and she holds her B.A. in psychology. She is an administrative professional with over 14 years of experience. She specializes in grant research and management. In 2016 Adora received a resolution from the State capitol for her service to nonprofits.

Member since September 2022


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Sara Espinosa
Research Specialist

Sara Espinosa is originally from Mexico but has grown up in Milton, Ga. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and has a minor in Cellular Biology from the University of Georgia. Prior to joining the Liang Lab, Sara has done undergraduate research using stem cells to differentiate into the intermediate mesoderm tissue of the adrenal gland and research experience in extracting and purifying pectins from Arabidopsis plants. Briefly Sara also worked in a small biotechnology company producing antibodies. 

Member since March 2023

Natalie Horgan
Research Specialist

Natalie Horgan is originally from Saratoga Springs, New York and received her BA in Chemistry and Biochemistry from Lawrence University in Appleton Wisconsin. In 2019 she presented her research regarding transforming time series data into a form that could be recognized when using topological data analysis (TDA) to investigate a new and innovative way to find patterns in large data sets, with specific applicability to atmospheric chemistry. Her senior capstone research was a computational astrochemistry project where she looked at four different reactions that could form glycine in the interstellar medium. She determined which of the four reactions were thermodynamically favorable and simulated the reactants’ spectra.

Member since September 2021

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Nicole Wedad Khouryawad
Research Specialist

Nicole Khouryawad is an Arab American originally from New York and moved to Atlanta in September 2022. She received her MSc from the University of Florida in Pharmaceutical Sciences graduating Cum Laude and her B.S in Biochemistry graduating Magna Cum Laude from Hofstra University. Previously, Nicole completed undergraduate research in Synthetic Organic Chemistry which was published by the American Chemical Society in 2021 (DOI: 10.1021/bk-2021- 1376.ch005) then worked for one year as a Quality Control Chemist for an international pharmaceutical company. Nicole has also recently achieved a professional certificate in Data Analytics. In the Liang Lab, she currently works on Flu proteins and forming complexes which monoclonal antibodies to study their different structures.

Member since October 2022

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Vu Ngo
Research Specialist

Vu is originally from Vietnam. He will be receiving his B.S in Biology and B.A in Chemistry from Emory University in 2023. Besides his interest in research and medicine, he is also interested in badminton and helping others through volunteering at the Atlanta Hospitality House. Vu joins the Liang lab to work on the purification of Ebola viral protein.

Maurice Terrell Royal
Laboratory Assistant

Maurice is originally from Cleveland, OH. He obtained his B.S. from Youngstown State University. He has previously worked as a blood bank med technician, research technician, and microbiologist. He also has research experience from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, focusing on Neisseria gonorrheae’s interactions with cervical cells. Maurice joined the Liang lab to focus on the insect and mammalian cell culture to support various projects.

Member since September 2020

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Eliseo Salas
Graduate Student

Eliseo is originally from Brownsville Texas. He received his M.S. in biochemistry from Texas State University. During his masters Eliseo worked on the RNA binding protein, LARP6, and characterized its binding to collagen coding mRNAs using different salt conditions. During his transition to graduate school, Eliseo worked for Accel Diagnostics, a startup company focusing on microfluidics devices. The goal of the company is to provide predictive tools which patients can use at home to monitor early signs of chronic heart failure (CHF). Eliseo joins the Liang Lab to work on RSV and to try to understand how NS1 and NS2 help circumvent the innate immune system using cryo-EM. 

Member since 2021

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Maggie Betkowski
Undergraduate Student

Maggie is originally from Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, a small town in rural Pennsylvania. She graduated from Mercersburg Academy in 2021. She is currently a junior studying chemistry and French in the Emory College of Arts and Sciences and is on the pre-dental track. In addition to her work in the Liang Lab, she also works in an ecology lab in the Emory Biology Department where she studies host-parasite interactions of the Guinea Worm, a parasite found in regions of Africa. Maggie became interested in working in the Liang Lab because of her interest in how chemical interactions of bio-macromolecules can affect biological machinery and the lab’s impact on human health. 

Anthony Diab                                                                                                  
Undergraduate Student

Anthony is currently an undergraduate student in the Liang Lab.

Member since August 2022

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Iman Kazani
Undergraduate Student

My name is Iman Kazani and I am from Karachi, Pakistan. I acquired my high school IB diploma from The Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa in 2022. Over high school, I participated in school-based research, and I am looking forward to gaining more professional experience at the Liang Lab.

Member since June 2022

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Deepak Katta                                                                                                 
Undergraduate Student

Deepak is originally from Austin, Texas. He is studying Anthropology & Human Biology at Emory University, on the pre-med track. During high school, Deepak tutored underprivileged students, held volunteer drives for at-need individuals, and was involved with his school’s Science National Honor Society and Model United Nations chapters. He currently serves as the Managing Editor for Emory ASBMB’s Writing Committee and is also involved with Emory’s Undergraduate Service Journal Club. Additionally, Deepak is a part of Residence Life at Emory, and serves as a Sophomore Advisor for first-year students. His previous research focused on analyzing uric acid levels in patients that suffered from ischemic stroke.

Member since January 2022

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Jannat Khan                                                                                                       
Undergraduate Student

Jannat Khan is originally from Karachi, Pakistan and moved to Chicago, IL 3 years ago. She is currently a sophomore pursuing a BS in Biology on the pre-med track. Her research interests include the study of positive-strand RNA viruses like Polio which was rampant in her home country. She is excited to undertake similar topics concerning RNA machinery at the Liang lab and discover other questions still waiting for the courage to be asked. She enjoys long walks and writing poetry in her free time.

Member since August 2022

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Aiden Lee
Undergraduate Student

Aiden is originally from Bellevue, Washington. He is currently studying to be a Biology Major at Emory University. The Liang lab would be his first research opportunity and he is looking forward to learning about the causes of neurobiological diseases and potential ways of identifying them. In his free time Aiden likes to read and mountain bike.

Christine Lee
Undergraduate Student

Christine is originally from Cumming, Georgia. She is currently a freshman studying biochemistry on the pre-health track at Georgia Tech. She was involved in a lab program throughout high school, piquing her interest in continuing to learn and contribute towards research. Christine joined the Liang Lab to learn more about RNA synthesis machinery.

Elijah Nudell-Cook                                                                                            
Undergraduate Student

Elijah Nudell-Cook is a sophomore at Emory University from New York City majoring in Chemistry. He graduated from Hunter College High School where he worked on various research projects like the quantitative analysis of outcomes of robot guided surgery versus manual surgery in total knee arthroplasty patients. He was a member of a research seminar in high school where he first got interested in performing and learning about research. Elijah joined the Liang Lab because he is interested in the biomechanics of RNA synthesis in viruses.

Member since January 2022

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Lisa Jin
Undergraduate Student

Lisa is originally from Shanghai, China. She is a junior at Emory University pursuing a BS in chemistry. She minors in linguistics and loves learning new languages in her free time. In high school, she participated in mini research projects on enzyme activity and was part of the Neuroscience Club. In summer, Lisa worked as a research assistant at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, where she investigated electrocatalytic chemical reactions. She is very excited about learning more about biochemical research in the Liang Lab.

Raina Nagpal
Undergraduate Student

Raina is originally from Mumbai, India. Having received the highest score in her grade 12 Science examinations, she is now hoping to major in Biology and Human Health. She has served as a biology and chemistry teacher for grades 10-12 at various non-profit organizations, as well as been an advocate for teenage girls suffering from polycystic Ovary Disorder. Her knowledge on metabolism and gut health led her to be the youngest individual to conduct paid workshops with online teaching platforms. In addition to this, Raina is also a Sophomore Advisor for first year students, Second Year legislator on the Emory College Council, and Cultural Chair for the Indian Cultural Association. Raina’s previous research focused on biomarkers for cancer cells for Emory’s Lab of Artificial Intelligence. She hopes to further her interest in research by exploring the complexities of reproductive health in women.

Richard Wilson                                                                                                   
Undergraduate Student 

Richard is originally from Panama City, FL. He is on the Pre-Med track, majors in Chemistry and enjoys playing ultimate frisbee in his free time. He has worked as a Chemistry TA and tutor, and is an active member is Phi Eta Sigma. His previous research involved the study of neuroplasticity where he studied the effects of nerve cord transection on expression of ion channels in the abdominal ganglia of crayfish. Richard joined the Liang lab to work on HA Influenza proteins. 

Member since January 2023

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