I am grateful for the many postdoctoral fellows, PhD students, PharmD students, undergraduate researchers and others who have been a part of the Doerksen Research Group. They are listed here. Thanks and best wishes to all!
Alumni:
PhD students:
Dr. Priyanka Samanta, PhD student (7/2020-4/2024). Lead Researcher in Computational Chemistry,
Dr. Ayooluwa Aderibigbe (8/2016-8/2021). ORISE Postdoctoral Research Fellow, FDA National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR.
Dr. Pankaj Pandey (PhD: 8/2010-12/2015; postdoctoral fellow to 4/2019). Research Scientist, National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi.
Dr. Manal A. Nael (1/2012-5/2016). Researcher, Institute for Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, and Lectrurer, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
Dr. Shuneize E. Slater (12/2011-8/2015). Dean of the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences and Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Monticello, AR.
Dr. Khaled M. Elokely (1/2009-11/2013). Associate Professor of Chemistry (Research) and Director of the Forensic Chemistry PSM Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
Dr. Gang Fu (7/2007-5/2012). Senior Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services, Seattle, CA.
Dr. Pankaj Daga (8/2005–5/2010). Principal Scientist, Neuron23, South San Francisco, CA.
Dr. Prasanna Sivaprakasam (12/2004-4/2009). Director, Protein and Molecular Modeling, SpringWorks Therapeutics.
Postdoctoral fellows:
Dr. Mohamed Jahan (1/2023-3/2024).
Dr. Pankaj Pandey (PhD: 8/2010-12/2015); postdoctoral fellow to 4/2019. Currently a research scientist in the National Center for Natural Products Research.
Prof. Zaheer-Ul-Haq Qasmi, Professor, University of Karachi (visited my research group as a postdoctoral fellow from 4/2018-8/2018)
Dr. Kuldeep K. Roy (6/2013-4/2016); Associate Professor & Cluster Head (Officiating), Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, UPES, Dehradun, India
Prof. Mukesh Yadav (7-10/2016); Co-Founder, Adishri Agritech, Indore, India
Dr. Haining Liu (3/2009-8/2012). Research Investigator, International Flavors & Fragrances, Union Beach, NJ.
Dr. Ronak Patel (7/2008–6/2010). GetBestTest.com, Houston, TX.
Dr. Aihua Xie (1/2005–1/2009).
Dr. Srinivas Odde (3/2006–6/2007).
Dr. Jinsong Duan (11/2005–4/2007).
Visiting graduate students:
![Chiu-Wen Li [MS student, National Pingtung University of Science & Technology] Visiting Scholar at U. Mississippi (8/2019-1/2020)](http://www.robertjdoerksen.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/chiu-wen_picture2-199x300.jpg)
Chiu-Wen Li [MS student, National Pingtung University of Science & Technology] Visiting Scholar at U. Mississippi (8/2019-1/2020). Chen Hsin Food Company, Ltd., Pingtung, Taiwan.
![Photo of Wei-Chen Zhang [MS student, National Pingtung University of Science & Technology] Visiting Scholar at U. Mississippi (8-12/2018)](http://www.robertjdoerksen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/weichen_zhang-169x300.jpg)
Wei-Chen Zhang [MS student, National Pingtung University of Science & Technology] Visiting Scholar at U. Mississippi (8-12/2018)
![Ming-Yi Cheng [MS student, National Pingtung University of Science & Technology] Visiting Scholar at U. Mississippi (1/2016-Present)](http://www.robertjdoerksen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ming-yi-cheng-225x300.jpg)
Ming-Yi Cheng [MS student, National Pingtung University of Science & Technology] Visiting Scholar at U. Mississippi (1/2016-5/2016)
Professional pharmacy students:
Emily Lewis, Pharm.D. Student (6-8/2016). Obtained her PharmD at U. Mississippi.
Nick Walker, Pharm.D. Student (6-8/2016). Obtained his PharmD at U. Mississippi.
Dr. Veena Gadepalli, undergraduate researcher and Pharm.D. student (6/2011-8/2011; 9/2012-6/2016). Obtained her PharmD at U. Mississippi.
Dion Kevin [undergraduate researcher and professional pharmacy student, U. Mississippi] (7/2009-5/2014)
Ronald Kim [professional pharmacy student, U. Mississippi] (1/2008-5/2008). Obtained his PharmD at U. Mississippi.
Undergraduate students:
Abigail Haskew (5-7/2023). Abigail joined as a rising sophomore biochemistry major from Oklahoma Christian University, as part of our National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates on physical chemistry.
Kailey Bell (1/2022-5/2023). Kailey joined as a freshman honors premed chemistry major with a neuroscience minor.
Zynub Al-Sherri (3/2021–9/2022). Zynub joined as a freshman B.A. Biological Science and Arabic student.
Ashton Custer (11/2020–5/2022). Ashton joined as a junior B.S. Chemistry (Biochemistry Track) student, and after graduating with an Honors degree proceeded to a research position at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Max Tucker (5-7/2022). Max joined as a rising senior chemistry and mathematics major from Washington College. He was part of the university’s NSF REU program on physical chemistry.
Anthony Sumlin, Arkansas State University Rising Senior, NSF REU Student (5-8/2019). Commenced PhD in Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Fall 2021.
E. Ross Hodges, University of Mississippi, Freshman, BSPS Student (3-8/2018). Currently a PharmD student at University of Mississippi.
Rachel Boone completed an MS at Mississippi College, 2020.
Rachel N. Boone, University of Mississippi, BS student, Rising Senior (5-8/2018), STEMS REU program
Colin Welsh is currently a PhD student in the School of Pharmacy, Medical University of South Carolina (after completing his BS in Chemistry at Rhodes College in Spring 2019).
Colin L. Welsh, Rhodes College, BS student, Rising Senior (5-8/2018), NSF REU Physical Chemistry program
Genevieve Halingten-Verville, undergraduate student (5-8/2017)
Kamesha Adams, rising junior at LeMoyne-Owen College, undergraduate student (5-8/2017)
Mukesh Ghimire, undergraduate student (5-8/2017)
Rachel Kroeger, undergraduate student (5-8/2017)
Jennifer Gross, undergraduate student (6-8/2017). Web developer, U Alaska Southeast.
Zachary Cuny is currently a PhD student in the Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama Birmingham (after completing his BS in Chemistry at Mississippi State University in Spring 2017).
Zachary Cuny, NSF REU Student
Ngoc Nguyen obtained her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (Biochemistry Track) in Spring 2016 and is a PhD student in the Burrows group in the Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, in Fall 2016.
![Ngoc Nguyen [Senior, U. Mississippi] (6/2015-Present), NIH Predoctoral Fellow](http://www.robertjdoerksen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ngoc_nguyen.jpg)
Ngoc Nguyen [Senior, U. Mississippi] (6/2015-5/2016) NIH Predoctoral Fellow (6-7/2015)
![Caleb Ezell, Senior, U. Mississippi] (5/2014-Present), NIH Predoctoral Fellow](http://www.robertjdoerksen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/caleb_ezell.jpg)
Caleb Ezell, Senior, U. Mississippi] (5/2014-8/2015) NIH Predoctoral Fellow (5-7, 2014)
Ennia Ferreira joined the Doerksen research group as a rising senior student in Chemical Engineering at Western Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESO) in Guadalajara, Mexico (http://www.iteso.mx/), and summer research scholar in the Comexus (www.comexus.org.mx) Summer Research Internship program, part of the 100K Strong Americas (www.100kstrongamericas.org) program which seeks to help 100K students from the Americas have a research and educational experience in USA.
Ennia Ferreira
Estefanía Aburto joined the Doerksen research group as a senior student in Pharmacobiological Chemistry at Universidad La Salle in Mexico City, Mexico (http://www.lasalle.mx/), and summer research scholar in the Comexus (www.comexus.org.mx) Summer Research Internship program, part of the 100K Strong Americas (www.100kstrongamericas.org) program which seeks to help 100K students from the Americas have a research and educational experience in USA.
Estefanía Aburto
Valerie Huang joined the Doerksen research group as a rising sophomore at University of Southern California (5/2015-8/2015). She was an NSF REU Student. Commenced as M.D. student at USC, 2018.
Valerie Huang
Cameron Lee joined the Doerksen research group as a rising sophomore at Samford University (5/2015-8/2015). She was an NSF REU Student. She completed her Pharm.D. at Sanford U., 2020
![[Freshman, Samford U.] (5/2015-Present), NSF REU Student](http://www.robertjdoerksen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/cameron.jpg)
Cameron Lee
Ashlee J. Colbert joined the Doerksen research group as a rising junior at Florida A&M University (5/2014-8/2014). She was an NSF REU student. She obtained her PhD in 2021 from Purdue U, Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Michael C. Santana [Sophomore, Universidad Metropolitana Recinto de Cupey, Sistema Universitario Ana G. Méndez, San Juan, Puerto Rico] (5/2014-8/2014), NSF REU student
Trent M. Todd [Junior, U. Mississippi] (5/2014-8/2014), NIH Predoctoral Fellow. Completed MS, Georgetown U, 2017.
Haneen M. Matalgah [Freshman, U. Mississippi] (6/2013-1/2014)
Austin W. Boler [Freshman, U. Mississippi] (6/2013-5/2014)
Madeline C. Ott [Freshman, U. Mississippi] (6/2013-8/2013). Completed Pharm.D. at UM, 2020.
Roya Gordji [Freshman, U. Mississippi] (6/2013-8/2013). Completed MD at UMMC, 2020.
Lance Ezell [Junior, U. Mississippi] (6/2013-8/2013)
Laura Beth Jobe [Junior, Erskine College] (5/2013-7/2013), NSF REU student. MD, U South Carolina, Greenville SC, 2018.
Caleb Swain [Junior, Georgia Southern U.] (5/2013-7/2013), NSF REU student. MD at Mercer U, Atlanta GA, 2019.
LaVar Craine [Junior, Rust College] (6/2010-8/2010). Works for Monsanto in Memphis TN.
Atreyi Dasmahapatra [Senior, St. Xavier’s College, Calcutta, India] (6/2010-7/2010). PhD, U Texas, Arlington, in Chemistry & Biochemistry, 2017; materials simulation scientist at U Idaho.
Justin Deloach [Junior, Rust College] (6/2009-7/2009)
Kitae Myoung [Junior, U. Mississippi] (5/2007-7/2009). MS, Georgia Tech, in computer science, 2012; senior software developer/manager, UNICON International, Taipei, Taiwan.
Sidney Govan [Sophomore, Rust College] (6/2008-8/2008)
David Borzik [Freshman, U. Mississippi] (5/2008-7/2008). Graduated from UMMC MD program; pathologist in Baltimore, MD.
Karthik Maddhi [Junior, Vellore Inst. Tech.] (5/2008-8/2008). PhD, Goethe U in Life Sciences; scientist in cancer biology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London UK.
Robin Finnamore [Senior, U. Mississippi] (1/2007-5/2007)
Steven Bie [Freshman, U. of Toronto] (5/2006-8/2006)
Perrer Tosso [Junior, Norfolk State U.] (6/2006-7/2006). PhD, Georgetown U, 2014; Senior Manager, Advanced Manufacturing Technologies at United States Pharmacopeia.
Shawna Clark [Junior, Tougaloo College] (6/2006-7/2006). DDS, U Tennessee Health Science Center, 2012; assistant professor at U. Tennessee Health Science Center and dentist at Christ Community Health Services, Memphis, TN.
Instructors:
Charles T. Rich, Rust College (6/2008-8/2008; 6/2009-8/2009)