Group Alumni
Thomas Zengeya (PhD, 2013)
Altered metabolism is a key feature of cancer pathogenesis. So new approaches to monitor and disrupt cancer cell metabolism will have significant therapeutic implications. One emerging technique is MRI of hyperpolarized metabolites. This technique has been applied in clinical trials to allow for the visualization of the conversion of pyruvate to lactate, which is an early detection method as well as an early reporting of patient response to therapy. My current efforts are directed at development of modular synthesis and investigation of 2-KG and succinate ester analogues in cellular assays to elucidate structure-activity relationships of 2-KG and succinate uptake. These studies provide a chemical foundation for the development of new 13C-metabolic tracers with expanded sensitivity and scope. Such agents may impact patient care by improving our ability to diagnose, stage, and monitor tumor therapeutic response. Other projects I am working on include solid phase synthesis of isotopically labeled azobenzene-based cleavable linkers for quantitative proteomics applications.
Pankaj Gupta (Postdoc, 2009-2011)
I work as a Process development Scientist at Nitto Denko Avecia Inc. at Cincinnati, OH. I am responsible for the process development in Oligonucleotide synthesis from Proof of concept experimentation to developing manufacturing protocols towards technology transfer and large-scale manufacturing.
Selvam Chelliah (Postdoc, 2008-2011)
My medicinal chemistry group at Texas Southern University is actively working in design and synthesis of new chemical entities for anti-cancer activity.
Paul Tanui (PhD, 2013)
I am a General and Organic Chemistry Lecturer here at Chemistry Department at State University of New York, Binghamton. I teach Introductory Chemistry (CHEM 100), General Chemistry (CHEM 107, 108 and 111) and Organic Chemistry (CHEM 231 and 332). Starting this summer of 2015, I will be teaching Preparatory Organic Chemistry (CHEM 150), a new course that I developed to help students have a smooth transition from General Chemistry to Organic Chemistry.
Vincent Sica (MS, 2011)
Vincent is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Medicinal Biochemistry program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He works in a natural products laboratory, performing the isolation and characterization of fungal secondary metabolites in search for potential new drug candidates. Vincent's primary focus is on the development of new methodologies to apply ambient ionization mass spectrometry techniques towards identifying, mapping, and monitoring the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites directly on the surface of fungal cultures.
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© Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
Updated 11/23/2018
By Monika Roznere
Photos: Jonathan Cohen and group members