Group Alumni

Former Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Students

  • Qiang Lin, M.S. in Chemistry awarded May 2001
    • Thesis title: chromatographic and computational studies of a mixed bimodal polymer solution with confined geometry
    • Currently working as an IT manager
  • Yingchuan Gong, M.S. in Chemistry awarded May 2002
    • Thesis title: experimental and computational studies of polymer partitioning
    • Later went on for Ph.D study at Vanderbilt University
  • Shu Lu, M.S. student from Sept 2002-May 2003
    • Transferred to Prof. Basti at NCA&T
  • Wenhua Jiang, Ph.D. in Chemistry awarded Dec 2006
    • Thesis title: thermodynamics and transport of polymers in a confined geometry
    • Currently a research scientist working in industry
  • Dr. Xiaohua Hu, Postdoctoral Research Associate from Jan 2004-Aug 2006
    • worked on molecular dynamic simulations of Ntrc and HIV-protease
  • Dr. Jianhua Huang, Visiting Professor from Mar 2005-Mar 2006
    • Worked on simulation of transport through smart nanofluidic channel
    • Now is a Professor at ZheJiang University of Science and Technology
  • Sarah Miller, Ph.D. student from Nov 2006-July 2007
    • Worked on simulation of hydrodynamic chromatography
    • Transferred to University of New Orleans
  • Jesse Ziebarth, Ph.D. in Chemistry awarded Dec 2009
    • Worked on separation of macromolecules and on non-viral gene delivery
  • Ziqi Li, Visiting Graduate Student from Jan 2008-Dec 2008
    • Visiting from Chang Chun Institute of Applied Chemistry (advisor: Prof. Lijia An)
    • Worked on transport of star polymers in nanoscale channels
  • Kaixu Song, Postdoctoral Research Associate from Sept 2008-Nov 2009
    • Worked on simulation of transport of polymer solutions
  • Yajie Li, Visiting Graduate Student from May 2008-May 2009
    • Worked on simulation of DNA separations
  • Aaron Masur, M.S. in Chemistry awarded May 2010
    • Worked on partitioning of star branched polymers into pores
  • Yutian Zhu, Postdoctoral Research Associate from Nov 2009-Nov 2010
    • Worked on polymer separation,
    • Currently at Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Brittany Burton, Ph.D. in Chemistry awarded May 2014
    • Thesis title: Probing the assembly of the ribosome: insights from computational studies on ribosomal proteins
  • Timothy Robbins, Ph. D. in Chemistry awarded Dec 2014
    • Thesis title: Ion interactions with nucleic acids
    • Now lecturer at University of New England
  • Jeffery Haugen, M.S. in Chemistry awarded Dec 2014

  • Elise Chaffin, Ph.D in Chemistry awarded Aug 2016
    • Thesis title: the optical-plasmonic properties of core-shell structured metallic nanoparticles
    • Currentlya Professor at her Alma Mater, Freed Harderman University
  • Dennis Kennetz Jr, M.S. in Chemistry awarded May 2017

  • Jim Barr, Ph.D in Chemistry awarded Dec 2020
    • Thesis title: Computational Investigation of Plasmonic Properties of Metal Nanoparticle Assemblies
    • Currently a Professor at his Alma Mater, Freed Harderman University
  • Caleb Gallops, Ph.D in Chemistry awarded Aug 2021
    • Thesis title: Molecular Modeling of polyelectrolyte structure, complexation and aggregation in gene delivery
    • Currently working at St Jude

Undergraduate and high school students worked in the lab

  • Shawn Austin, Spring 1998, B.S. in chemical engineering, worked on computer simulation of polymer partitioning into pore.
  • Felecia Martin, Spring 1998, B.S.in chemical engineering, worked on computer simulations of polymer partitioning during spring and fall of 1998.
  • Nikki McCray, Fall 1998, B.S. in chemical engineering, worked on computer simulations of polymer partitioning during fall 1998.
  • Rhoda McCoy, Spring 2003, B.S. in chemistry, worked on modeling of HIV protease
  • Derek Howard,Spring 2001-Spring 2003. B.S. in electrical engineering, performed undergraduate research. He was a co-author on a referred paper published in Polymer 2004, also presented his research in Sigma Xi National Meeting. now a graduate student in electrical engineering at North Carolina State University.
  • Scott Orelli, Summer 2004, REU student from Thiel College, Project worked on: Computational investigation of the critical condiiton used in the liquid chromatography separation of polymers. Graduated with B.S. in chemistry from Thiel College in May 2005. He was co-authors on two peered reviewed journal articles and he presented research at regional APS meeting.
  • Shazia Khan, Summer 2004-Spring 2005,undergraduate student in chemistry, Project worked on: Influence of chain architecture on the polymer characterization by liquid chromatography at critical condition.Graduated from University of Memphis with B.S. in chemistry in May 2005. She was co-author on a peer reviewed journal article in Macromolecules.
  • Alexander Vaughn, Summer 2006, REU studeent from University of Alabama at Birmingham. Project worked on: Modeling DNA separation in microfluidic Device. He presented his research at the regional ACS meeting in Nov 2006.
  • Jennifer Williams, Summer 2006, NSF-REU student from Northwest Missouri State University, Project worked on: Selective adsorption of heteropolymers on heterogeneous surfaces, graduatedwith B.S. in chemistry in May 2007. She presented her research at the regional ACS meeting in Nov 2006.
  • Bhumin Patel, Spring 2008-Summer 2009, undergraduate from University of Memphis, NSF-REU scholar; Worked on simulation of selective adsorption on heteropolymer on heterogeneous surface; co-author on a peer-reviewed article in Macromolecules. Presented research at National Council of Undergraduate Research; Honor students; currently in medical school.
  • Keith Hardin, Fall 2007 to Summer 2008, undergraduate from University of Memphis, NSF-REU scholar. worked on simulation for gelation mechanism of PLA-PEO-PLA.
  • Tawanda Charumuka, undergraduate student, Spring 2009- Summer 2010. NSF-REU scholar, worked on molecular dynamics simulations of self-assembly of 30S ribosome
  • Melanie Sparks, undergraduate student, Fall 2009-Spring 2013, worked on modeling ribosomal proteins conformational changes. Melanie presented her research at many national and regional meetings and got several awards. Most notably, she is the recipient of Goldwater Scholarship Award for 2012
  • Stephanie Sandor, undergraduate student, Summer 2010-Spring 2012, worked on in-silico DNA melting. Presented her research at National ACS meeting in Spring 2011 and at Undergraduate Research Conference sponsored by the University of Memphis. Won the best undergraduate presentation at Undergraduate Research Conference. Also won the ACS leadership travel award
  • Nicole Whittaker, undergraduate student, Fall 2012 - Spring 2013, worked on molecular dynamics simulations to Assessing Stability of HIV-1 RNA Monomer and Kissing Dimers. Nicole was awarded STEM scholarship from MemphiSTEM. She presented her research at Posters at the Capitol and Student Research Forum at the University of Memphis. She won the second place in Student Research Forum under physical science division.
  • David Levine, undergraduate student, summer 2013-Spring 2015, worked on photosystem I and gene delivery project. He presented his research at undergraduate research forum and won the third place under physical science division in Spring 2015.
  • Abigail Gardiner, undergraduate student, Spring 2015-Fall 2015, worked on polymer separation project. Abigail was awarded a honor undergraduate research fellow in summer 2015 and she was a co-author on a journal publication.
  • Chang Yu, a high school student from MUS, class of 2018. Chang Yu began his research project in our group since 2015 summer. He worked on simulations related to gene delivery project. Specifically he studied pH-responsive behavior of polyethyleneiminie (PEI) chains. He was a semifinalist in Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology in 2017. He was one of 491 students natoinwide being recognized out of more than 1860 projects submitted.
  • Lydon Shi, a high school student from White Station, class of 2020. Lydon worked in the group in the summer of 2017 and worked on simulations related to gene delivery.
  • Christopher Litle, research with Dr. Wang was mainly focused on using the chromatography simulations to investigate the differences in the behaviors of ring and linear polymers within the chromatography pore. Christopher published during his time in the group and can be found on the news page.