Graduate Students
Varun Venkatakrishnan
6th year graduate student
Chemistry Department
Educational background: Bachelor of Technology in biotechnology from NIIT University, India
Research Interests: cell signaling, structural virology, integrative structural biology
Hobbies: soccer, sketching, biking
Email: vxv5106[at]psu[dot]edu
Victoria Brady
4th year graduate student
Chemistry Department
Educational background: Bachelors in chemistry from The College of the Holy Cross (2022)
Research Interests: biophysical chemistry and mass spectrometry
Hobbies: dance and swimming
Email: vdb5069[at]psu[dot]edu
Amanda Gramm
4th year graduate student
Chemistry Department
Educational background: Bachelor of Science in chemistry with a minor in mathematics from Grove City College (2022)
Research Interests: structural virology and mass spectrometry
Hobbies: baking, volleyball, and biking
Email: ajs9488[at]psu[dot]edu
David Olori
4th year graduate student
Chemistry Department
Educational background: Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from Bowen University, Osun State Nigeria
Research Interests: cell signaling, mass spectrometry, electron microscopy
Hobbies: Baking, playing video games, badminton, and reading
Email: doo5154[at]psu[dot]edu
Ian Buttermore
1st year graduate student
Chemistry Department
Educational background: Bachelors of Science in chemistry with a minor in secondary education from Saint Vincent College (2025)
Research Interests: Biophysical chemistry, structural virology, cell signaling
Hobbies: Cooking, guitar, playing videogames, reading, and watching the Steelers.
Email: dib55344[at]psu[dot]edu
Andrew Jakobowski
1st year graduate student
Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology Department
Educational background: Bachelors and Masters in Chemistry from East Carolina University (2023 and 2025)
Research Interests: Biophysical chemistry, structural virology, enzymology, cell signaling, mass spectrometry
Hobbies: Snowboarding, hiking, soccer, and working out
Email: acj5492[at]psu[dot]edu
Post Doctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Sean Braet
Postdoctoral Fellow
Chemistry Department
Educational background: Bachelor of Science in chemistry with a minor in mathematics from Shippensburg University (2020)
Doctorate in Chemistry from Pennsylvania State University (2025)
Research Interests: structural virology, biophysical chemistry, and computational biology
Hobbies: cooking, biking, and adventure sports
Email: smb6745[at]psu[dot]edu
Lab Pets
Lady
Educational background: School for Tiny Little House Panthers
Research Interests: World Conquest, how to steal chicken nuggets
Hobbies: eating chicken nuggets, watching the little birdies, snuggles with her momma
Jack/Jacket/Jackman
Educational background: Smooth Brain Academy for Felines
Research Interests: How to get the treats out of the box???
Hobbies: watching the birdies, stealing food from his sister, watching gymnastics, and nappies in his beanbag chair
Harper
Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Pawlitical Science.
Research Interests: Calculates optimal velocities for jumping onto her parents’ heads while they sleep. Opens doors with her paws to test her resolve in the face of unspeakable challenge.
Hobbies: Playing fetch with her favorite spring toys, judging her brother Bruce, and napping.
Bruce
Educational Background: Unclear, but boy does he try his best.
Research Interests: Gravity: knocks items off counters to observe and confirm the phenomenon. Also: testing the limits of his sister Harper.
Hobbies: Eating, staring, and watching computer renderings of protein structures in amazement.
Rue/Ruebydoobydoo/Rueby Tuesdays
Educational background: Scaredy Cat University class of 2024
Research Interests: Counter surfing
Hobbies: Destroying "indestructible" toys and mom's books
Mason
Educational Background: Valedictorian of Good Boy University
Research Interests: how many kisses he can give in one sitting, the hedgehog that lives under the shed, taste testing whoopie pie frosting every Christmas
Hobbies: cuddles, barking at leaves blowing in the wind
Rusty
Educational background: Good Boy Academy for Puppies
Research Interests: Maximum grass consumption before throwing up
Hobbies: Eating grass, barking at tennis balls, and sitting in your lap at inconvenient times