Ye Lab@
Department of Molecular Biosciences
Conformation, Dynamics, and Signal Transduction of GPCR
German De Armas Guitart
Technician
I received Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology with a minor in Education from the University of Central Florida. As a PhD candidate, I am studying the underlying mechanisms of bioluminescence in red tide algae and the role of GPCRs in the bioluminescence pathway. My topics of interest include biodiversity, bioluminescence, and education. My career goal is to become a professor of instruction, developing novel curricula for undergraduate education and engaging the k12 community with university-level biology research.
Aidan McFarland
Ph.D. candidate (2020)
I am a Ph.D. student in Dr. Ye's lab with a passion for the structural biology of GPCRs. My research project focuses on advancing macromolecular 19F NMR to better understand protein conformation and dynamics and their applications for better drug development. I hold a Master's degree in Biological Engineering/ Chemical Engineering from the Beijing Institute of Technology, China, and a Bachelor's degree in Biopharmaceuticals/Biological Engineering from the South China University of Technology. In my spare time, I enjoy playing PC games and exploring the latest developments in PC hardware.
Xudong Wang
Ph.D. candidate (2022)
I am a Ph.D. student in Dr. Ye’s lab. With five years of experience in working on metabolic pathway analysis of medicinal plants, I studied the catalytic activity of enzymes. While I keep searching for research topics of interest, I have been fascinated by the role of transmembrane proteins in physiological activities. Dr. Ye’s research projects on GPCR attract me the most, and I plan to study the structure and function of GPCRs for my Ph.D. In my free time, I like to play badminton with my friends.
Wenkai Sun
Ph.D. student (2023)
Nathaniel Hays
PhD student (2024)
I earned Bachelor's degree of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of South Florida in May of 2024. My work in Dr. Ye's Lab is focused on the characterization of GPCR intracellular signaling cascade. My long-term research interests reside in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of diseases and the development of novel therapies for medical applications. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling with family, cooking, working out at the gym, and practicing Jiu-Jitsu.
Malissa Fenton
I am a premedical student on track for the seven-year BSMD accelerated program at the University of South Florida, and I aspire to become a physician to better serve my community. My research interest lies in learning more about the mechanism of GPCR in bioluminescence and primarily focusing on the mechanism of GPCR through Tru-Path Assays to quantify the data produced from the GPCR downstream signaling cascade.
Ria Kalaria
Undergraduate student
I am a sophomore majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology. My research interests focus on drug discovery and development. Recently, I have become particularly fascinated by GPCRs. In Dr. Ye’s lab, I am eager to sharpen my lab skills and deepen my knowledge about GPCRs’ mechanisms and their components of conformational transitions and dynamics in drug development. In the future, I want to pursue a PhD degree in Cell and Molecular Biology and aim to contribute to understanding and developing new therapeutic strategies for cancer and infectious diseases.
Trang Ma
Undergraduate student
I am an undergraduate student at USF. My current research involves developing a drug screening system using yeast surface display and studying the GPCR Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide type I receptor in Dr. Ye's lab. I am passionate about integrating my biomedical studies with hands-on research to drive advancements in drug discovery and therapeutic interventions.
Yunlong Cao
Undergraduate student
Zarina Zatildayeva
Postdoc fellow
Undergraduate student
I received my Ph. D. in Molecular Biosciences at the University of South Florida, where my research focused on Biophysics and Structural Biology. During my tenure as a Graduate Researcher, my research project aimed to identify and describe the multivalency of short-linear motifs (SLiMs) in protein autoinhibition by employing techniques including NMR, MD, and AlphaFold. Using this experience, I continue my research in Dr. Ye’s lab with a focus on studying conformation and dynamics of GPCRs using NMR, etc.