ROSS THYER
Assistant Professor
Ross earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in Biochemistry from The University of Western Australia. He obtained his PhD at the Western Australian Institute of Medical Research (renamed the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research) in the laboratory of Dr. Oliver Rackham and Dr. Aleksandra Filipovska. Ross carried out postdoctoral research in the Ellington research group in the Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology at the University of Texas at Austin working primarily on protein engineering with non-canonical amino acids. In the Summer of 2020, he joined the faculty at Rice University in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Ross enjoys growing pitcher plants in his office.
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Email: ross.thyer[at]rice.edu
Devon Kulhanek
Graduate Student - CHBE
Devon is a 2020 graduate of Texas A&M University (Gig'em!) with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Materials Science. He is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. His research focus is on the development of biocatalysts and production of biomaterials like melanins. In his free time, Devon enjoys DIY projects and cooking experiments!
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Email: dk48[at]rice.edu
Andrew Gilmour
Graduate Student - SSPB
Andrew is a 2020 graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a B.Sc. in Biochemistry. He is a Ph.D. student in the Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology program. His research focus is on protein engineering using the non-canonical amino acid selenocysteine and developing of novel protein affinity assays. When not revolutionizing the field of protein engineering, he enjoys cooking and guitar.
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Email: arg11[at]rice.edu
Zach Jansen
Graduate Student - SSPB
Zach graduated from Michigan State University in 2018 with a B.Sc. in Microbiology and went on to work as a research assistant at Michigan State for another two years. He is now pursuing a Ph.D. in the Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology (SSPB) program at Rice. In the Thyer lab Zach is working to develop novel pathways for bioremediation and upcycling industrial waste into high-value natural products. In his free time Zach likes to spend time outside, read, play board and video games, and explore the Houston area.
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Email: zj11[at]rice.edu
Qiyao Wei
Graduate Student - BioE
Qiyao is a 2020 graduate of the East China Normal University (ECNU) with a B.Sc. in Biotechnology. She is a Ph.D. student in the Bioengineering and Biomedical engineering program. Her research focus is on developing and designing novel tools for engineering proteins and metabolic pathway based on high throughput screening and sequencing technology. When not being a protein engineer, she enjoys watching anime, doing weightlifting and working out at the gym, and hiking and fishing.
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Email: qw18[at]rice.edu
Abdulaziz Alameri
Masters Student - CHBE
Abdulaziz earned his B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) in 2019. He joined Rice in 2022 enrolling in the MS program in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. His research focus is on developing novel genetic tools and refining the cultivation protocols for autotrophic and diazotrophic bacteria. He is dedicated to advancing sustainable practices, particularly in pharmaceutical manufacturing, where he aims to leverage biocatalysis to transform 1-carbon compounds into valuable products. Outside of the lab, Abdulaziz likes to unwind by whipping up some baked goodies. It's his way of letting loose and getting creative!
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Email: ama31[at]rice.edu
Katie Leonard
Graduate Student - CHBE
Katie graduated from Auburn University in 2023 with B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and two minors: Kinesiology (Sports Coaching) and Dance (Theater). Currently, Katie is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice University. Her research focuses on evaluating selenocysteine biosynthesis pathways and diselenide bonds for production of selenoprotein therapeutics. Outside of the lab, Katie enjoys performing all forms of dance and spending time outdoors with her dog, Kova.
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Email: kl125[at]rice.edu
Xuan Le
Graduate Student - CHBE
Xuan 🦢 graduated from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln with dual B.Sc. degrees in Chemical Engineering and Mathematics. Xuan is currently a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice University. Her research is focused on establishing novel bacterial systems that enable the conversion of industrial waste into value-added products. In her free time, Xuan likes to relax, exploring new food, and spending time with family.
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Email: xl152[at]rice.edu
Lab Alumni
Name - Program
Sophie Reilly - CHBE - Honeywell
Matan Lieber-Kotz - CHBE - Merck
Andrew Li - STAT - UPenn Medicine
Zainab Niaz - CHBE - AbbVie
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