Meet the Team
About Us
Dr. Leah Spangler
Assistant Professor of Chemical and Life Science Engineering
Virginia Commonwealth University
Email: spanglerl@vcu.edu
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Princeton University
PhD in Chemical Engineering, Lehigh University
BS/MS in Chemical Engineering, Drexel University
Leah obtained her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University where she studied the single enzyme biomineralization of semiconductor quantum dots for biomedical and energy applications. Leah then continued her research career as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Prof. Gregory Scholes’ lab at Princeton University where she studied the relationship between protein structure and optical properties of photosynthetic proteins, amyloid fibers, and de novo proteins. Leah’s current research interests include engineering de novo proteins with enzymatic activity for application in scalable biomaterial synthesis, and using time resolved spectroscopy to elucidate the photophysical mechanisms of newly discovered optical properties in supramolecular protein systems.
Postdoctoral Research Associates
Michael Lemke
Postdoctoral Research Associate
PhD in Pharmacology, University of Virginia
Bachelor’s of Arts in Biology, McDaniel College
Research interests: Coming soon!
Fun fact: Coming soon!
Graduate Students
Rebecca Jarrell
4th year PhD student in Chemical and Life Science Engineering
Bachelor’s and Master’s in Chemical Engineering,
Virginia Commonwealth University
Research interests: Leveraging the optoelectronic properties of quantum dots for use in diagnostic biomaterials that can improve patient care and economically accessible to the greater population.
Fun fact: “Despite my best efforts, I will be late… there seems to be a wormhole that I will invariably fall into that spits me out 5 minutes late to any scheduled event. I apologize in advance.”
Coral O’Brien
4th year PhD student in Pharmaceutical Engineering
Bachelor’s in Chemistry, Virginia State University
Concentration in Biochemistry
Research interests: Spectroscopy, engineering de novo proteins, phycobiliproteins, and chromophores.
Fun fact: Crocheting, hiking, swimming, and caring for succulents!
Rafael Gonzalez Rosario
3rd year PhD student in Pharmaceutical Engineering
NSDEG Fellow
Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez
Research interests: Selective rare earth element-binding protein design, quantification of protein-nanoparticle affinity, sustainable quantum dot synthesis.
Fun fact: Rafael plays bass guitar, guitar, ukulele, and cuatro (Puerto Rico’s best-known stringed instrument) and has participated in 4 musical groups!
Hannah Johnson
1st year PhD student in Chemical Biology
Bachelor’s in Cellular, Molecular and Physiological Biology, Minor in Chemistry, Christopher Newport University
Research interests: Proteins in drug development, engineering de novo proteins, and medical/ biological applications of proteins
Fun fact: I am red/green color blind, I love to read, and I have a dog named Benny whose favorite toys are rubber door stoppers
Jean-Mark Francis
Masters student in Chemical and Life Science Engineering
Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University
Research interests: De novo protein design, metal oxide nanoparticle binding
Fun fact: JM is a 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and enjoys paintballing, golfing, gaming, and reading about Roman and Medieval history.
Undergraduate Students
Ayo Ogunlana
Undergraduate – Class of ‘27
Major: Chemical and Life Science Engineering
Virginia Commonwealth University
Research interests: Life Cycle Analysis, Renewable Energy and Environmental Sciences
Fun fact: Ayo enjoys astrology and loves asking to read people’s birth charts.
Ashley Kang
Undergraduate – Class of ’26
Major: Chemical and Life Science Engineering
Virginia Commonwealth University
Research interests: Immunotherapy, oncology, pharmaceuticals, and biotech
Fun fact: Ashley enjoys hiking and baking breads.
Maria Kirk
Undergraduate – Class of ’26
Major: Biology
Virginia Commonwealth University
Research interests: Biology, environmental sciences, and R&D
Fun fact: Maria likes reading and cooking, and (most importantly) spending time with her cat.
Christiane Neuschwander
Undergraduate – Class of ’26
Major: Chemical and Life Science Engineering
Virginia Commonwealth University
Research interests: R&D, process engineering, and environmental engineering
Fun fact: Christi enjoys baking and spending time outdoors.
Lab Alumni
Vanessa Appiah – BS in Chemical Engineering, VCU ’24 – Current Position: Dow Chemical
Angela Boateng – BS in Chemical Engineering, VCU ’24 – Current Position: Honeywell, Field Service Engineer
Ethan Chow – Undergraduate, VCU
Alec Laguardia – Undergraduate, VCU
Vivian Payne – Undergraduate, VCU
Saniya Rawat – Undergraduate, VCU
Teara Jones – BS in Chemical Engineering, VCU ’23 – Current position: Northrop Gromman, Engineer
Roger Matthews – Visiting REU Student 2024, BS in Biological Sciences, UVA ’24
Spangler Lab 