Current Lab members

Subhrangsu S. Mandal, Ph.D. Professor and Associate Department Chair, Principal Investigator. We are always open to outstanding students with research interests in human health, diseases, and developing effective diagnosis and solutions. Contact: smandal@uta.edu

Pavan Kumar Gondrala, Ph.D. Assistant Professor (Research) (Fall 2024- Present). Research interest: Drug discovery and medicinal chemistry, development of novel drugs towards cancer immunotherapy, and other chronic inflammatory diseases; Development of PROTAC drugs.

Prarthana Guha, M.S. (PhD student- 2021- present). Research interests: Long non-coding RNAs, Cell signaling, Macrophage-T cell interaction, Immunotherapy

Ashcharya Rishi, M.S. Ph.D. student (2022 – present) Research Interests: I have a MS in genetics. I am passionate about human health and diseases. Currently, I am investigating the roles of noncoding RNAs and other genetic/epigenetic factors in neuroinflammation and metabolism, Alzheimer’s diseases, inflammatory diseases, and cancer.

Nagashree Bhat, M.S. Ph.D. student (2023 – present) Research Interests: I have a MS in Zoology. I am passionate about human health and diseases. Currently, I am investigating the signaling mechanisms associated with immune response and inflammatory diseases; glucocorticoid signaling, metabolism, drug addiction and cancer.

Angel Covarrubias, B.S. M.S student (2023 – present) Research Interests: Ultimately, I want to be in medical school. Currently, I am exploring potential implications of histone acetylation and deacetylations and HDAC inhibitors in inflammation and macrophage activation.

Martinez, Valeria Beatriz, B.S. M.S student (2023 – present) Research Interests: Currently, I am exploring potential implications of natural antioxidants in regulation of inflammation and inflammatory diseases.

Bao Nhi Nguyen (2024-present, Undergraduate Research Student): Research interest – Medicinal chemistry

Giang Tran (2024-present, Undergraduate Research Student): Research interest – Medicinal chemistry

Macayla Timbush  (2024-present, Undergraduate Research Student): Research interest – Biochemistry

4th year PhD Candidate (2021 – present)

Research Interests: Long non-coding RNAs, Cell signaling, Macrophage-T cell interaction, Immunotherapy

Past lab members/Alumni

Postdoctoral scholars and visiting scientists:

1. Dr. Avisankar Chini, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow 2023-2024)
2. Dr. Monira Obaid, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2019)
3. Dr. Imran Hussain, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2012)
4. Dr. Shaba Kairi, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2012)
5. Dr. Khairul I. Ansari, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2006-2012)

Doctoral Students

1. Dr. Avisankar Chini (2018- 2023, Graduated with PhD). Thesis: Noncoding RNA in inflammation, macrophage activation and human diseases
2. Dr. Monira Obaid, (2015 – 2019, Graduated with PhD), Thesis title: Roles of long noncoding RNAs in immune response and inflammation.
3. Dr. Paromita Deb (2012 – 2017, Graduated with PhD), Thesis title: Epigenetic Mechanism of Regulation of HOX genes and neurotransmitters via hormones and lncRNA.
4. Dr. Arunoday Bhan (2010 – 2015, Graduated with PhD), Thesis: Epigenetic mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOTAIR.
5. Dr. Sahba Kasiri (2008 – 2012, graduated with PhD); Thesis: Epigenetics of HOXC13 endocrine regulation and its roles in gene expression and tumorigenesis.
6. Dr. Imran Hussain (2007 – 2012, Graduated with PhD), Thesis: Mixed lineage leukemia histone methylases in hormonal regulation of HOX genes and their disruption by endocrine disrupting chemicals.
7. Dr. Bishakha Shrestha (2006 – 2011, Graduated with PhD), Thesis: Mixed lineage leukemia histone methyltransferases in hormonal regulation of HOXB9 and its target gene expression
8. Dr. Bibhu P. Mishra (2005 – 2009, Graduated with PhD), Thesis: Mixed lineage leukemia histone methylases in gene expression and cell cycle.
9. Dr. Getachew Woldemariam (2005 – 2008, Graduated with PhD), Thesis: Metallo-salens Cytotoxicity and Application in Gene Delivery.

Masters Student

1. Fritzlaine Roche (Nursing, graduated: Summer 2017), Thesis: “The role of HOTAIR in the modulation of skeletal muscle myogenesis.”; Co-supervised with Dr. Brotto (College of Nursing)
2. Koushik Raghavan, Chemistry, (Graduation: Fall 2015), Thesis: “Antioxidative and antineoplastic effects of Mn(III) Salphens, S-Allyl cysteine and its synthetic derivatives.”
3. Aarti Bashyal, Chemistry (Graduation: 2011), Thesis: “Synthesis and Biochemical Characterization of Novel Metal-salphen Derivatives.”

Undergraduate Research

• Bao Nguyen (I-Engage scholar), 2024
• Lucine Devejian (I-Engage scholar) (Honors Thesis) 2023-2024
• Agnes Otieno (2022-2023)
• Angel Covarrubius (2022-2023)
• Valeria Martinez (2022-2023)
• Teresa Vu (2021)
• Kriti Pandey (2021- 2022, Went to Grad school)
• Raymond Sentabule (2021)
• Rachel Price (2020- 2022)
• Kyle Vu (2020-2021)
• Ouattara, Kouassi Adaman (2019-2020)
• Karbasi, Arvin Brandon (2019-2020, Med school)
• Ewoke, John Molokwa (2019)
• Tasie, Jason-Francis Chinonyerem (2019-2020) McNaire Scholar
• Jadallah, Shahad (2019)
• Adjo Kajo. Chemistry. 2018 – 2020 (Grad school, Univ of Illinois)
• Hobin Chen. Chemistry. 2018 – 2019 (Went to Med school)
• Nguyen Nguyen. Chemistry. 2018 – 2020
• Shunshun Yan. Chemistry. 2018 – 2019 (Went to Med school), UROP scholar
• Dino Camdzic. Chemistry. 2018
• Gustova Garcia. Chemistry. 2018
• Christopher Row. Chemistry. 2017
• Tanner Harty. Chemistry. 2017 (Went to Graduate school)
• Wesley Hinkle. Chemistry. 2017
• Nadine Shihabeddin. Chemistry. 2015 – 2017
• Jason Tasie (McNaire Scholar) (Honors Thesis) “Visualization of proliferation and differentiation of C2C12 muscle cells through the use of florescent microscopy” 2016.
• Nadine Shihabeddin. (Honors Thesis) “Neuroprotective effects of basil leaf extract on hippocampal cell lines exposed to ethanol,” Chemistry. 2016
• Mathew Prunier. Chemistry. 2015
• Trang Nguyen. Chemistry. 2014
• Yubika Bhattari. Chemistry. 2014
• Susana Aguirre Medel. Chemistry. 2013 (Went to Graduate school)
• B.C. Pankaj. Chemistry. 2012
• Hyun Jung Park. Chemistry. 2012
• Rebecca Denny, Chemistry, (UT Arlington, 2011),LSAMP Scholar
• Michael Comer (UT Tyler, 2011) LSAMP Scholar
• Aarti Bashyal.(Honors Thesis) “Antitumor and cytotoxicity of Metallo-salens,” Chemistry. 2011
• Gehna Mansinghani. Chemistry. 2011 – 2012
• Amanda Beckwith. Chemistry. 2010
• Belinda Cook. Chemistry. 2010
• Jennifer Rodriguez. Chemistry. 2010
• M Victoria. Chemistry. 2010
• Rana Elkassi. Chemistry. 2010
• Aarti Bashyal. Chemistry. 2009 – 2010
• Mahmuda Farha. Chemistry. 2009 – 2010 (Went to Med school)
• Rebecca Denney. Chemistry. 2009 – 2010
• Diego Lopez. Chemistry. 2009
• Hem Thapa. Chemistry. 2009
• Amna Sayed. Chemistry. 2008 – 2009
• Annie Acharya. Chemistry. 2008 – 2009
• Bhawna Uprety. Chemistry. 2008 – 2009
• Katrina Campbell. Chemistry. 2008 – 2009
• Nahn Tran. Chemistry. 2008 – 2009
• Thao Nguyen. Chemistry. 2008 – 2009
• Sahba kasiri. Chemistry. 2007 – 2008
• Issac Trevino. Chemistry. 2007
• Kreshnik Ahmeti. Chemistry. 2007
• Leslie Morgan. Chemistry. 2007
• Mai Nguyen. Chemistry. 2007
• James Grant. Chemistry. 2006 – 2007
• Anjenique Anderson. Chemistry. 2006
• Linda Rosema. Chemistry. 2006
• Miranda Newberry. Chemistry. 2006
• Anish Bhandari. Chemistry. 2005 – 2006
• Hua Zhou. Chemistry. 2005 – 2006
• Vinh Phan. Chemistry. 2005 – 2006

High School Students

Alyssa Wang(Welch Scholar summer 2024); Sayan Mandal (Martin Highschool, 2021- 2024); Ana Lewis (Lamar High school, 2018-2019); Subarna Mandal (Lamar High School, 2018-2019); Anish Borakar (Welch Scholar 2006); Richard Hong (Welch Scholar 2007); Annie Scavone (Welch Scholar 2009, publication)