Principal Investigator
Dr. Elizabeth Skellam
Elizabeth Skellam obtained her MChem in Chemistry from the University of Wales Swansea, UK. She then moved to the University of Bristol, UK, and received a PhD in Chemistry after studying natural products biosynthesis in fungi, focused on how multifunctional enzymes synthesize complex metabolites using simple building blocks. Following her doctoral studies Dr. Skellam received a MARBIONC Business of Biotechnology fellowship and moved to the University of North Carolina Wilmington as a Visiting Research Assistant Professor in 2011. There she was involved in genome mining and metabolic engineering of marine actinobacteria and cyanobacteria. In parallel she earned a second Master's degree, in Business Administration (MBA), directly related to the commercialization of natural products' research. In 2014 she moved to Leibniz University Hannover, Germany, accepting a permanent appointment in 2015. Dr. Skellam joined the Department of Chemistry and the BioDiscovery at UNT in November 2020.
Affiliated / Visiting Scientists
Dr. Zafar Iqbal (Fulbright Scholar)
Dr. Zafar Iqbal is a recent Fulbright Fellow joining the Skellam's Research Group at the University of North Texas. He completed his PhD in Natural Products Biosynthesis from the University of Bristol, UK in 2012. Following his doctoral studies, Dr Iqbal joined the Department of Agricultural Chemistry & Biochemistry, at the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan as Assistant Professor in 2012. His research interests include natural products characterization for applications in agriculture and health.
Postdoctoral Research Associates
Dr. Sanjeevan Rajendran
"I am a postdoctoral research associate here in the Department of Chemistry. I got my Ph.D. degree in Natural Products Chemistry from University of Colombo, Sri Lanka In 2019. My Ph.D. research was on plant and fungi secondary metabolites including cyclic peptides and their biological activities. Also, the transcriptomic analysis for their biosynthetic information"
Graduate Students
Sydney Schoellhorn
"I am a PhD Candidate in my third year in UNT's chemistry department. I began working toward a PhD in Analytical Chemistry in 2019 after completing my B.S. in Chemistry. I also received a Master's in Advanced Data Analytics from UNT in 2021. My research currently includes the study of fungal natural products from secondary metabolites and mass spectrometric analysis of biological compounds."
Sharmila Neupane
"I'm first year Graduate student here at UNT chemistry. I received a Masters in Organic Chemistry from Central Department of Chemistry, Kathmandu Nepal. I have deep interest in synthesis of novel compounds and studing their reaction mechanism."
Sameera Jayasundara
"I'm a graduate student from Sri Lanka. I received my BS in Biological Sciences and the master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. Before starting graduate studies in Chemistry, I worked as a Brewer cum Production Executive in a major Sri Lankan brewing company for seven years. Also, I have brewing qualifications from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling, UK. I'm passionate about studying genetic engineering, natural products, and their synthesis pathways."
Francis Eze
"I received my BS in Applied Biochemistry from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. I have interest in synthesis of natural products from fungi. My Research focuses on Polyketide Synthases in Fungi."
Group Alumni
Jane Zhao (TAMS summer 2021)
Joshua Martinez (Chemistry Undergraduate Research Assistant Summer 2021; graduate student in the Skellam group)
Bhavik Tadigotla (TAMS Class of 2022; now at Rice University)
Kaylee Yu (TAMS Class of 2022; now at University of Texas Austin)
Nancy Dankwah (CHEM 2900/ 4900; 2021/22)
Kory Punch (CHEM 2900/ 4900; 2021/22)
Alice Chelliah (CHEM 2900/ 4900; 2021/22)
James Sheppard (CHEM 2900 / 4900; 2021/22)
Dr. Vijay Rayamajhi (Postdoctoral Research Associate 2021/22)
Joci Robinson (NSF REU Summer 2022)
Paras Modha (Summer volunteer 2022)
Uka Oji (2021 - 2022; now in Dr. Wang's group at UNT)
Kynnedi Sonnier (2021 - 2022; now in Dr. Kelber's group at UNT)
Diego Guerra Alarcon (CHEM 2900; Fall 2022)
Ruhi Patel (CHEM 2900 / 4900; 2021 - 2022)
Jay Patel (TAMS Summer Student 2022)
Sai Pranavi Gummuluru (CHEM 4900; 2022)
Neha Singaravelan (CHEM 2900 / 4900; 2021 - 2022; now at University of Alabama)
Arianna Fa (CHEM 2900 / 4900; 2021 - 2022)
Andrew Cai (TAMS Summer Student 2022)
Alondra Silva (Spring 2023; now in Dr. Atkinson's group at UNT)
Isabelle Ho (TAMS summer student 2023)
Brandon Marx (CHEM 2900 / 4900 2023)
Dr. Marcelo Amorim (Visiting FAPESP Scholar 2023/2024)
Dr. Lei Li (Postdoctoral Research Associate 2022 - 2024)
Jordan King (Graduate Student)
Ian Sartor (Undergraduate researcher 2022 - 2024)
Tram Nyugen (Undergraduate researcher 2022 - 2024)
Timothy Lim (Undergraduate researcher 2022 - 2024)
Jacob Goralczyk (Undergraduate researcher 2022 - 2024)
Md Nazim Uddin Chy (Graduaate Student)
Chelsi Wilson (Graduaate Student)
Joshua Martinez (Graduaate Student)
Dr. Nicolas Esnay (Postdoctoral Research Associate 2023 - 2024)