Dr. Melissa L. Zastrow
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
2017–present

NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, 2013-2017 (Stephen J. Lippard)
Ph.D. University of Michigan, Inorganic Chemistry, 2013 (Vincent L. Pecoraro)
B.S. University of Connecticut, Chemistry, 2008 (Christian Brückner)

Office: Fleming 137C, Phone: 713.743.6471, Email: mzastrow@uh.edu
Biosketch

Dr. Uyen Huynh
Postdoctoral Fellow
2018–present

Uyen received her B.S. degree in Chemistry in 2009 from Texas Christian University. She carried out undergraduate research with Prof. Jeffery Coffer. In 2011, she received her M.A. in Inorganic Chemistry from The University of Texas at Austin, where she worked with Prof. Bradley Holliday. Then Uyen pursued her doctoral studies at the University of Houston under the supervision of Prof. Don Coltart. After completing her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in 2017, she joined the Zastrow lab as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Now, she is studying bioinorganic chemistry in gut bacteria using in vitro culturing, essential metal quantification, and metalloproteomics. Outside of the lab, Uyen enjoys listening to music, doing crafts, cooking and eating.

Office: Fleming 36, Email: uhuynh2@uh.edu

Muxin Qiao
Graduate Student
2018–present

Muxin received his B.S. degree in Chemical Biology in 2018 from Sun Yat-sen University, where he worked with Dr. Zongwan Mao. In Fall 2018, he enrolled in the chemistry graduate program at UH and joined the Zastrow lab. His research is focused on studying bioinorganic chemistry in gut bacteria. Outside of the lab, Muxin enjoys playing basketball, watching sports games (super fan of Houston Rockets!), riding bicycles, and eating delicious food.

Office: Fleming 36, Email: mqiao@uh.edu

Makena Janis
Graduate Student
2019–present

Makena received her B.S. degree in Chemistry in 2019 from the University of Houston. She then enrolled in the chemistry graduate program at UH and joined the Zastrow lab. Her research is currently focused on applying fluorescent protein metal ion sensors to gut bacteria. Makena's hobbies include playing and recording music and weightlifting.

Office: Fleming 36, Email: mkjanis@uh.edu

Hazel Nguyen
Graduate Student
2020–present

Hazel received her B.S. degree in Chemistry in 2019 from the University of California, Irvine, where she worked with Professor Jenny Yang. She then enrolled in the chemistry graduate program at UH and joined the Zastrow lab. Her research is centered on applying fluorescent protein metal ion sensors to gut bacteria. Hazel likes making paper crafts, kayaking, and riding bikes.

Office: Fleming 36, Email: hnnguyen38@uh.edu

Ogonna David
Graduate Student
2021–present

Ogonna received his B.S. degree in Biochemistry in 2017 from the Obafemi Awolowo University, where he gained undergraduate research experience with Prof. Adenike Kuku. Ogonna has experience working in clinical chemical pathology laboratories. Prior to enrolling in the Ph.D. program at University of Houston, he served as Clinical Laboratory Analyst at NOHIL Hospital. In Fall 2021, he enrolled in the chemistry graduate program at UH and joined the Zastrow lab. His research is focused on designing fluorescent sensors for gut bacteria using cyanobacteriochrome-derived proteins. In his free time, he enjoys biking, mountaineering, bowling, and Netflix.

Office: Fleming 36, Email: owdavid@cougarnet.uh.edu

Qingqing Dong
Graduate Student
2022–present

Qingqing received her B.S. degree in Biochemistry (2017) and her M.S. degree in Chemistry (2019) from Central Michigan University. As an undergraduate, she worked with Dr. Choon Lee on medicinal organic compound synthesis. As a master's student she worked with Dr. Benjamin Swarts on Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Trehalose-6-Phosphate Analogues. Prior to enrolling at UH, she worked at Henlius Biotech in Shanghai. In spring 2022, she enrolled in the chemistry graduate program and joined the Zastrow lab. Her research is focused on developing protein-based metal ion sensors that fluoresce in the near infrared. Outside of lab, she enjoys traveling and biking.

Office: Fleming 36, Email: qdong4@cougarnet.uh.edu

Oshani Wijesinghe
Graduate Student
2022–present

Oshani received her B.S. degree in Chemistry in 2022 from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. She then enrolled in the chemistry graduate program at University of Houston and joined the Zastrow lab. Her research is focused on investigating the roles of metal ions in the gut microbiota. Oshani's hobbies include listening to songs, watching movies, and traveling.

Office: Fleming 36, Email: lwijesin@cougarnet.uh.edu

Molly Rhodes
Undergraduate Student
Fall 2021–present

Molly is a junior majoring in chemistry and minoring in biology and math. She joined the Zastrow lab in fall 2021 and is developing protein-based metal ion sensors for bacteria. In her free time she likes to paint and play the piano.

Email:mlrhodes@uh.edu