Our Team
LAB VALUES: We are people first! Our goal is to create a supportive and inclusive lab environment. We value diversity of all kinds and believe in helping one another succeed rather than competing with each other.
Current Lab Members
Kelly Kim
Principal Investigator
kimhyoj6@msu.edu
Postdoctoral Fellow, Rockefeller University Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School
Ph.D., Simon Fraser University
Interests: Structural biology, membrane proteins, protein folding and targeting, basic mechanistic research, running and swimming my stress away, watching movies, dogs, trying unfamiliar foods, laughing at stand-up comedy, and admiring art without overanalyzing it.
Melanie Orlando
Research Scientist 2 / Lab Manager
obaramel@msu.edu
M.Sc., SUNY Fredonia
Interests: I have worked in academia and industry in Michigan and New York over the last 30 years. I love troubleshooting and figuring out the answers to complex biological issues and passing on that information to others through teaching and mentoring. Even my high school graduation quote says that I’d be working in genetics! My interests are fishing, rock collecting and polishing, and vanilla ice cream with a glob of peanut butter after a hard day in the lab.
Md Shafiqur Rahman
Research Associate
rahman96@msu.edu
Postdoctoral Researcher, Pohang University of Science and Technology
Ph.D., Pohang University of Science and Technology
M.Sc., University of Dhaka
Interests: Structural biology, cryo-EM technique, membrane proteins, host-pathogen protein-protein interactions, protein-drug complexes, molecular virology, and microbiology. Outside of research, I enjoy traveling.
Diego Granados-Villanueva
Graduate Student
granad17@msu.edu
M.Sc., National Autonomous University of Mexico
Interests: Protein structure and dynamics, AI algorithms applied to structural biology, protein targeting, protein interaction techniques, cooking (and trying) new dishes, caffeine beverages, literature, cinema, competitive trivia, NYTimes Connections, swimming, biking, getting better at mosh pits, eating at the food court of Hmart and finding the best breakfast sandwich in America.
Marcelo Cevallos-Lira
Graduate Student
cevallo7@msu.edu
B.Sc., Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
Interests: In the lab → Structural biology, protein structure, protein–protein and protein–ligand interactions, and flagella biogenesis. Outside the lab → Video and card games enthusiast, collector of random facts, casual biker (weather permitting), and a (very) slow piano learner. Also a big fan of science channels, especially those on physics, and proud dog lover. Favorite time of day → Definitely bedtime.
Samantha Velasquez Revertte
Undergraduate Research Assistant
velasq74@msu.edu
Interests: Molecular pharmacology, neuropharmacology, structural biology, protein/enzyme structure, protein-protein interactions, learning new techniques, interdisciplinary research/collaboration, tennis/pickleball, bouldering, cafes, travelling, and learning languages.
Arnav Sharma
Undergraduate Research Assistant
sharm207@msu.edu
Interests: Physiology, cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, and pharmacology. In my free time, I like to work out, go to sporting events, eat good food, watch funny TV, and sleep.
Lab Alumni
Katharina Singendonk …………………… Visiting Student (HHU Program) …………………… 2024 - 2025
Robert Wolfe ………………………………... Postdoctoral Researcher ………………………….... 2021 - 2024
Erandi Jayawardana Arachchige ……... Lab Manager / Research Technologist ……….…. 2020 - 2024
Andrew Rossow ……………………….…… Undergraduate Research Assistant ……………… 2023 - 2024
Tuan Kiet (Kyle) Trinh. ……………….….... Undergraduate Research Assistant ……………….. 2022 - 2024
Amanda Makemson ……………………… Undergraduate Research Assistant ………………. 2023 - 2024
Min Ju Goo. ………………………………….. Undergraduate Research Assistant ………………. 2021 - 2023
Amberly Crawford ……………………….. BMS Rotation Student ………………………………... 2022
Thomas Qian ……………………………….. Undergraduate Research Assistant ………………. 2022