Makena Janis
Ph.D. 2024
Muxin Qiao
M.S. 2022
Wenping Zou
Ph.D. 2022
Current position: postdoctoral scholar at UTHealth Houston, Department of Bioinformatics (Zhongming Zhao group)
Haowen Zhao
M.S. 2022
Quynh Huong
(Susan) Ngoc Nguyen
Fall 2023, Biomedical Engineering
Molly Rhodes
Fall 2021–Fall 2023, B.S. Chemistry
Molly worked in the Zastrow lab from fall 2021-2023 developing protein-based metal ion sensors for bacteria.
Jazzmin Jara
Fall 2020–Spring
2022, B.S. Biology
Current position: Medical student
Nasir Abbasi
Fall 2020–Spring
2022, B.S. Human Nutrition and Foods
Current position: Medical student
Joanna Elhaj
Summer 2020–Spring
2021, B.S. Human Nutrition and Foods
Current position: Medical student at Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Khoa Le
Spring 2018–Spring
2020, B.S. Chemistry
Current position: Graduate student at Caltech
Juventino
Valdez
Fall 2017–Spring 2020, B.S. Biology
Current position: DDS student at UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston
John King
Spring 2019–Fall 2019
Current position: MChE student at University of Houston
Leon Le
Spring 2019–Fall 2019
Marium Haq
Summer 2018–Spring 2019, B.S. Chemistry
Current position: Graduate Student at University of Oregon
Jonathan
Pickett
Fall 2017-Spring 2018, B.S. Chemistry
Current position: Graduate Student at Baylor College of Medicine
Carlos
Iniguez
Fall 2017-Spring 2018, B.S. Biochemistry
Current position: Graduate Student at The Ohio State University
Aerial
Miller
2025 ACS Project SEED Student
Aerial worked in the Zastrow lab from June-July 2025 alongside Dr. Uyen Huynh studying the effects of dietary essential metals like zinc on probiotic Lactobacillus. In her free time, she enjoys dance, piano, and cleaning.
James Garcia
2025 ACS Project SEED Student
James worked in the Zastrow lab from June-July 2025 alongside Dr. Uyen Huynh studying the effects of zinc and calcium on probiotic Lactobacillus. His favorite color is green.
Elizabeth
Guo
2025 Welch Summer Scholar
Elizabeth is a rising junior in the IB program at Nikki Rowe High School. She worked in the Zastrow lab from June-July 2025 alongside Dr. Gary Jensen on a project focused on mutagenesis of a computationally designed high-solubility version of an orange fluorescent protein-based zinc sensor. In her free time, she enjoys swimming and traveling.
Bralon
Wilson
2024 ACS Project SEED student
Bralon worked in the Zastrow lab from June-August 2024 alongside Dr. Uyen Huynh studying the effects of essential dietary metals on probiotic Lactobacillus. His hobbies are graphic design and comedy.
Eileen Zhao
2024 Welch Summer Scholar
Eileen worked in the Zastrow lab from June-July 2024 alongside Dr. Gary Jensen enhancing the solubility of fluorescent proteins using a soluble protein tag. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano, cello, and golf.
Dimitri
Licona
2023 Summer Researcher
Dimitri worked in the Zastrow lab from June-July 2023 alongside Dr. Gary Jensen developing cofactor-binding fluorescent proteins for metal ion sensing.
Wendy Geng
2023 Welch Summer Scholar
Wendy is a rising senior at LASA High School in Austin. She worked in the Zastrow lab from June-July 2023 alongside Dr. Gary Jensen designing fluorescent proteins for metal ion sensing. In her free time, she enjoys going hiking and reading comics.
Jasmine Chou
2022 Summer Researcher
Jasmine worked in the Zastrow lab from June-August 2022 alongside Dr. Uyen Huynh studying the effects of calcium on lactobacilli.
Bryce Chun
2022 Welch Summer Scholar
Bryce worked in the Zastrow lab from June-July 2022 alongside Makena Janis developing anaerobic metal ion sensing fluorescent proteins. During his free time, Bryce enjoys archery and volleyball.
Timothy
Osazuwa
2019 ACS Project SEED II student
Timothy worked in the Zastrow lab from June-August 2019 alongside Dr. Uyen Huynh studying the effects of zinc on Lactobacillus species.
Jose
Alvarado
2019 ACS Project SEED I student
Jose worked in the Zastrow lab from June-August 2019 alongside Dr. Uyen Huynh studying the effects of zinc on Lactobacillus species.
Christopher
Shi
2019 Welch Summer Scholar
Chris is a senior at Westlake High School in Austin. He worked in the Zastrow lab from June-July 2019 alongside Wenping Zou using cofactor-based fluorescent proteins as metal ion sensors. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis and spending time outdoors.
Current position: Undergraduate student at Rice University
Amy Vo
2018 Welch Summer Scholar
Current position: Undergraduate student at Caltech
