Research Staff

Dr. Ling (Jewel) Jiang
Ph.D. Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China
email: jiangl@muohio.edu

Research Area:  Jewel is currently working on the Arabidopsis cohesin protein AtSYN3 and the Arabidopsis homolog of the yeast CTF7. To character the function of these two proteins, reverse genetics has been applied analyze the phenotypes of effects of their Knock-out, Knock-down, and OE through various microscopic techniques.

Dr. Xiaohui (Joey) Yang, Researcher Scholar
Ph.D., National University of Singapore
email: yangx1@muohio.edu

Research Area:  Joey is a senior post doc with nearly 10-year extensive research experiences in the area of biotechnology/gene transformation, molecular and cell biology.  His main research focus is on molecular characterization of a novel PHD-finger containing protein, MMD1, which is involved in protein-protein or protein-DNA interaction during meiotic process of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Dr. Cheng Bai, Senior Postdoctoral Fellow
email:  baic@muohio.edu

Research Area:  Cheng has an extensive research experience in biochemistry, protein chemistry, analytical chemistry, microbiology, cell biology, immunochemistry, molecular biology and insect pathology; and a great record in research publications. Cheng has been worked in many laboratories. He earned his PhD degree in Biochemistry and Pest Control. He is now working in Makaroff’s laboratory studying proteins that participate in chromosome condensation/cohesion and chromatin remodeling during meiosis and mitosis.

Meghan Holdorf, Ph.D. Candidate
BS, Chemistry (2002) Simpson College, Indianola IA
email:  holdorm@muo0hio.edu

Research Area:  Meghan is currently working on the Arabidopsis homolog of the human ETHE1, mutations of which have been linked to the autosomal recessive disorder Ethylmalonic Encephalopathy (EE).  The symptoms of EE are well characterized, however, the mechanism and substrate on which ETHE1 acts is currently unknown.  To probe the possible function(s) of ETHE1, we have employed several methods of protein characterization techniques including crystallography, chromatography, EPR, NMR, and substrate screening.  In addition, we have used reverse genetics to study the function ETHE1 plays in Arabidopsis analyzing the phenotypes of effects of ETHE1 Knock-out, Knock-down, and OE through various microscopic techniques.

Pattraranee Limphong, Ph.D. Candidate
Masters, Chemistry (2004) Murray State University, Murray KY
email:  limphop@muohio.edu

Research Area: Structure and function of GLX2-1 from Arabidopsis Thaliana. Studying metal binding to GLX2-1 and GLX2-5 by site-directed mutagenesis and spectroscopic (NMR, EPR, UV, X-ray crystallography).

Sriram Devanathan, Ph.D. Candidate

Masters, University of Madras
email:  devanas@muohio.edu

Research Area:   Starting in Fall 2004, Sriram is a part of the Glyoxalase team. Currently, he works on cloning and over expression of Glyoxalase 2-1 and 2-5 in plants.