Team

Malay Mondal (Ph.D. student)

I am originally from Bagerhat, Bangladesh. My goal is to become an independent researcher focusing on biomolecular condensates and their applications in understanding diseases and developing new therapeutic approaches. Outside of research, I enjoy cycling, traveling, and exploring new places.

Priyankar Mandal (Ph.D. student)

I'm from Bankura, a small town in West Bengal, India, and I'm now a PhD student at the University of Southern Mississippi, far from home in every sense except the humidity. I came here for the science and stayed for the questions it keeps throwing up. Somewhere down the road, I'd like to lead my own research group. When I'm not in the lab, I write poems, paint, and read papers I had no real reason to read.

Conner Allen (UG researcher)

 I am from Poplarville, Mississippi, and have been working in the Rangachari lab since June 2025. I love lifting weights, playing basketball, and watching nature documentaries. After I obtain my BS in Chemistry (Biochemistry), I will attend a PhD program and hope to have my own research group one day.   

Naqiyah Kidibai (UG researcher)

I am from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and moved to the United States in 2023 to attend USM. I am currently working toward a BS in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and I hope to pursue a PhD after graduation. I joined the Rangachari Lab in August 2026, where I look forward to learning a lot and developing skills that I can apply in my future career. In my free time, I enjoy baking, taking long walks and playing lots of (killer) Sudoku 

Former students (Ph.D.)

Dr. Shailendra Dhakal (defended his Ph.D dissertation on Sep 28th, 2023) - Post-doc at Harvard Medical School/ Massachusetts Gen Hospital, Boston, MA

Dr. Jhinuk Saha - Post-doc at Florida State University/National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, FL

Dr. Anukool Bhopatkar - Post-doc at UTMB, Galveston, TX; now at UMMC, Jackson, MS

Dr. Dexter Dean - Post-doc at NHLBI, Bethesda, MD; now at Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA

Dr. Gaurav Ghag- Post-doc at UTMB, Galveston, TX; now at Gilead Sciences, Palo Alto, CA.

Dr, Amit Kumar, Post-doc at Max Planck, Tübingen, Germany; now at Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Former students (M.S.)

Matthew Planchard

Rebekah Bullard

Morgan Malone

Azin Mirzazadeh

Former undergraduate student researchers

Landon Lee (honors UG researcher)

Carter Bonds ( UG researcher)

Brea Ford - (Ph.D) at U. Alabama at Birmingham

Sydney Boyd - (MD) at UMMC, Jackson MS

Leah Cantrelle - (Doctor Assistant)

Luke High - (MD) at UMMC

Courtney Wyant - (MD) at William Carey University

Shiva Adhikari - (Ph.D) at Florida State University

Mary Margret Maddox - (Pharm.D) at William Carey University

Samuel Gherhart - MD at UMMC

Stephen Stuart

elly Hill - MD at UMMC

Wisam Beauti - MD at UMMC

Ryan Campbell - (Ph.D) at Florida State University.

Christopher Mullins - Pharm.D at Mercer, GA

Randi Reed - Ph.D at Florida State University

Timothy Potter

Stacy Coffyn

Lab Pictures

Shailendra’s defense - Sep 2023

Aug 2022

Jhinuk’s defense - May 2023

Aug 2018

Feb 2017

Olivia Gibson - MD-Pharm.D at U.Tennessee

Morgan Woodrow

Matthew Planchard

Dragana Alford

Jessica Vital

Pritesh Patel

Michael Samel - MD

Lakeshia Gibson MD at UMMC

Rebekah Rice Ph.D

Summer researchers

Shiela Lidell (2009), Laswanique Gray (2009), Benjamin Hanf (2010), Jonathan St.John (2011), Dexter Dean (2012), Randi Reed (2014), Bijal Patel (MS INBRE Scholar; 2017), Gabriel Gardner (Summer INBRE scholar) Dylan Tran (Summer INBRE scholar), Leah Cantrelle (Summer NSF scholar), Bobby Evans (Summer REU), Rene Dupre (Summer REU), Benjamin Hemming (Summer INBRE), Lily Siddon (Summer REU).

Anukool’s defense - Oct 2021

Aug 2018

Muzahid Ezaj (Muzzy) (Ph.D. student)

I am from Bangladesh. I completed my undergraduate and master’s degrees in genetics before joining the Rangachari Lab in 2023 as a PhD student. I have done a second master’s in Chemistry. My doctoral research focuses on the structural and pathological characterization of heterotypic amyloid fibrils and biomolecular condensates involving TDP-43 and α-synuclein. Outside the lab, I enjoy traveling, fishing, and playing cricket.

Jason Ang (Lab Tech)

I’m originally from Surabaya, Indonesia. After working with the Rangachari Lab as a research technician, I intend to pursue a PhD in biophysical chemistry. After that, we’ll see where life takes me. In my free time, I enjoy reading, going to coffee shops, and playing racquet sports.