PhD Students

	Michael Coste Research: My research focuses on the design and synthesis of nucleoside analogues and nucleoside analogue ProTides that targets the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of ZIKV and SARS-CoV-2 in order to gain a greater understanding of SAR and develop a lead compound to treat these diseases. Background: BS in Chemistry from UC Merced, 2010. Undergrad research Professor Tao Ye. From Danville, CA Interests: Motorcycles, fire poi, surfing, camping, music, dancing
	M. Benjamin Turner Research: I study the biophysical and photophysical properties of fluorescent nucleoside analogues. This includes measuring the insertion kinetics and fidelity that DNA polymerases exhibit when incorporating the analogues into DNA, labeling the DNA or RNA or living cells, and studying how structural features of duplex nucleic acids influence the fluorescent properties of the different analogues. Background: BS in Molecular Biology from SDSU, 2015. Originally from San Diego Interests: weight lifting, swimming, cosmology, cooking
	George Samaan Research: My research focuses on the design and synthesis of nucleoside analogues used against highly resistant bacteria. I am also developing fluorescent nucleosides to study biological systems and molecules. In addition, I am working on the development of a novel synthetic reaction to construct C-nucleosides. Background: from Cairo, Egypt, 10 min from the Pyramids Interests: soccer, reading, music, cooking

MS Students

	Ani Shalamberidze Research: My research is focused on the design and synthesis of fluorescent nucleoside analogues with enhanced properties and photophysical studies of these molecules. Background: from Tbilisi, Georgia Interests: traveling, TV shows
	Jesús Ceja Research: Currently specializing in organic synthesis of new fluorescent nucleosides & photophysical properties of fluorescent nucleosides in duplex form (DNA-DNA & DNA-RNA). Background: B.S. in Chemistry from UC Santa Cruz / US Navy Veteran / originally from Los Angeles, CA Interests: gym, classic rock & hanging out with my dogs
	Dana Rosansky Research: I am interested in exploring structure-photophysics relationships of fluorescent nucleoside analogues in addition to utilizing fluorescent probes to investigate viral nucleic acids. Background: BA in biochemistry from the University of San Diego, originally from Pasadena, CA

Undergraduate Researchers

	Mckenzie Wyllie solvatochromic nucleoside analogues
	Grace Kim Research: My work in the Purse Lab entails organic synthesis and biochemistry to study spectroscopic properties of nucleoside analogue 8-DEA-tC, unique for its high turn-on effect when paired in double-stranded DNA. Background: from Torrance, CA Interests: backpacking, running, and Korean dramas!
	Julian Cizmic Research: My research is focused on the synthesis and photophysics of a new fluorescent nucleoside analogue. Background: from Hillcrest, San Diego Interests: making kombucha, zines, typography
	Casey Heaney Research: I am contributing to the development of a fluorogenic cytidine analogue; this oxygen-containing analogue is projected to increase understanding of the structural-photophysical relationship of fluorescence turn-on for this class of compounds. Background: from Mountain View, CA Interests: reading, yoga, travel

Purse Lab Graduate Alumni

Dillon Burns	MS 2018	Lab Manager at Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs, CA
Raymond Lee	MS 2016	Associate Scientist I at Illumina, CA
Sadie Martin	MS 2016	Production Technical Writer at PolyPeptide Laboratories, CA
Jason Lundy	MS 2016	Medical Student at Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, AL
Jennifer Chapin	PhD 2014	Adjunct Instructor in Chemistry at Lincoln University, PA
Brittney Rodgers	PhD 2014	Adjunct Instructor in Chemistry at Red Rocks Community College, CO
Nada Elsharif	MS 2013	Assistant Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, University of Benghazi, Libya

Purse Lab Undergraduate Alumni

Katrina Ngo

BS 2018

Medical Student at Western University of Health Sciences, CA