Meet The Team

Primary Investigator, Assistant Professor

Sunil Kumar

B.Sc. in Chemistry from University of Delhi

M.Sc. in Chemistry from Indian Institute of Technology

PhD in Chemical Biology from Clemson University

Post doc in Biophysics/biochemistry at Yale

Stanley Fahn Juniour Faculty Award

sunil.kumar97@du.edu

Post doctoral fellow

Emily Oldani

B.A. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Colorado- Boulder

PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biophysics from the University of Denver

MDF Young Investigator Pilot Grant

"My background is in structural biology of proteins and nucleic acids. I like fiber arts, vintage pulp novels, and bad YA movies."

emily.oldani@du.edu

Post doctoral fellow

Rathnam Mallesh

B.Pharmacy from Satavahana University, India (2015)

M.S. Pharm in Medicinal Chemistry from National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), SAS Nagar, Mohali, India (2017)

PhD in Medicinal Chemistry from Indian Institute of Technology - Jodhpur, India (2023) collaboration with CSIR-IICB, Kolkata, and NIPER, Kolkata, India.

Postdoc in Medicine at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. (2023-2024)

"As a medicinal chemist, my area of interest is the design and synthesis of small molecules and peptide-based therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases like AD, PD, and other tauopathies. Currently, I am focusing on applying the interface of chemical, biophysical, molecular dynamics, molecular/cellular biology, and animal model approaches to understand how protein misfolding and aggregation contribute to the pathogenesis of diseases on a molecular level and their treatment."

rathnam.mallesh@du.edu

Post doctoral fellow

Kundlik Gadhave

B. Pharm from Pune University, Pune, India (2014)

M.S. (Pharm) in Pharmacology and Toxicology from National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Guwahati, India (2016)

Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India (2020)

Postdoc in Molecular Biophysics and Neurology at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA (2021-2025)

Parkinson’s Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Award (2023-2025)

“I am an interdisciplinary researcher specializing in protein heterogeneity and molecular biophysics, focusing on neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. My research explores biomarker discovery and development of therapeutics by inhibiting pathological protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases. Outside the lab, I enjoy hiking, music, and exploring new cuisines”.

kundlik.gadhave@du.edu

Graduate Student

Nick Stillman

B.Sc. in Sociology from the University of Central Arkansas

nicholas.stillman@du.edu

Graduate Student

Charles Zuwu Baysah

B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Liberia

M.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from Tianjin University

charles.baysah@du.edu

Graduate Student

Tyler Ball

B.Sc. in Applied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout

tyler.ball@du.edu

Graduate Student

Peter Cocoran

B.S. in Biochemistry from Bates College

"I like working out, painting rocks, and taking confocal images."

peter.cocoran@du.edu

Graduate Student

Kushani Rajapaksha Mudiyanselage

B.S. with First Class honors in Chemistry from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura

"I was honored with the Professor W. S. Fernando Gold Medal for achieving the highest performance in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry. I love traveling, gardening, skiing, hiking, and hanging out with my friends in my free time."

kushani@du.edu

Graduate Student

Ryan Dohoney

B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in biochemistry from Metro State University

"My current research focus and passion remains in the development of new synthetic strategies to produce therapeutics towards the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases."

ryan.dohoney@du.edu