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The Team


Lucia Yuan
PhD Candidate | G4
M.S. in Chemistry at the University of Alabama
B.Eng. Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Lucia is from Mainland China. She is a PhD student at the Department of Chemistry. Outside of the lab, she enjoys yoga, pilates, reading, and traveling. She also has a super adorable labrador retriever!
M.S. in Chemistry at the University of Alabama
B.Eng. Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Lucia is from Mainland China. She is a PhD student at the Department of Chemistry. Outside of the lab, she enjoys yoga, pilates, reading, and traveling. She also has a super adorable labrador retriever!

Konpal Raheja
PhD Candidate | G4
M.S. in Chemistry at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, India
B.S. in Chemistry at The University of Delhi, India
Konpal is from India. Outside of the lab, she enjoys painting, sketching, dancing, and listening to music.
M.S. in Chemistry at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, India
B.S. in Chemistry at The University of Delhi, India
Konpal is from India. Outside of the lab, she enjoys painting, sketching, dancing, and listening to music.


Maryam Behzad Khoshgoee
PhD Candidate | G3
B.S. in Chemistry (minor in Microbiology) at the University of Tehran
Maryam is from Iran. Outside of the lab, she enjoys Pilates, reading books, watching horror movies, and trying new recipes in the kitchen.
B.S. in Chemistry (minor in Microbiology) at the University of Tehran
Maryam is from Iran. Outside of the lab, she enjoys Pilates, reading books, watching horror movies, and trying new recipes in the kitchen.


Bablu Hasan
PhD Student | G2
M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry & B.Sc. in Chemistry at the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
Bablu is from Bangladesh. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing cricket, traveling, and watching movies.
M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry & B.Sc. in Chemistry at the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
Bablu is from Bangladesh. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing cricket, traveling, and watching movies.


Audrey Hostetler
PhD Student | G2
B.S. in Biochemistry at Youngstown State University, OH
Audrey is from Youngstown, Ohio. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Chemistry. Outside of lab, She enjoys reading, listening to music, being in nature, working out, and trying new things.
B.S. in Biochemistry at Youngstown State University, OH
Audrey is from Youngstown, Ohio. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Chemistry. Outside of lab, She enjoys reading, listening to music, being in nature, working out, and trying new things.


Nehal Nupnar
PhD Candidate | G5
Co-advised (Prof. Mike Hore, Macro)
B.S. in Polymer Science and Technology at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee).
In August 2021, Nehal joined the Hore Research Lab and has been an integral part of the Karayilan Lab since May 2023. He is currently a Case Advancement Fellow at the Case School of Engineering. He also plays a key role as Director of Finance for both the Macromolecular Students Organization and the Polymer Initiative of Northeast Ohio (PiNO) Conference. Beyond the lab, he is an avid sports enthusiast with a particular love for volleyball and soccer. Since moving to the United States, he has started watching the NBA, and most evenings, he watches NBA games. He also enjoys traveling and has recently begun exploring tennis.
Co-advised (Prof. Mike Hore, Macro)
B.S. in Polymer Science and Technology at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee).
In August 2021, Nehal joined the Hore Research Lab and has been an integral part of the Karayilan Lab since May 2023. He is currently a Case Advancement Fellow at the Case School of Engineering. He also plays a key role as Director of Finance for both the Macromolecular Students Organization and the Polymer Initiative of Northeast Ohio (PiNO) Conference. Beyond the lab, he is an avid sports enthusiast with a particular love for volleyball and soccer. Since moving to the United States, he has started watching the NBA, and most evenings, he watches NBA games. He also enjoys traveling and has recently begun exploring tennis.


Junqi (Clark) Cui
MSc Student | G1


Alexey Shorin
Undergraduate Researcher | UG4
Alexey is from Moscow, Russia. He is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering on the biomaterials track with the intention to go to graduate school and conduct his independent research in the future. He loves being outside and always tries to find new ways to connect with nature.
Alexey is from Moscow, Russia. He is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering on the biomaterials track with the intention to go to graduate school and conduct his independent research in the future. He loves being outside and always tries to find new ways to connect with nature.


Griffin Pardo
Undergraduate Researcher | UG4
Griffin is pursuing a BS in Chemistry as well as a BA in Psychology. He is from Westfield, NJ. Outside of the lab, he enjoys playing tennis, watching movies, and exercising.
Griffin is pursuing a BS in Chemistry as well as a BA in Psychology. He is from Westfield, NJ. Outside of the lab, he enjoys playing tennis, watching movies, and exercising.


Dhoopshikha Basgeet
Undergraduate Researcher | UG4
Dhoopshikha is from Mauritius. She is pursuing a double bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Chemistry, with a minor in Biology. She intends to attend graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. and focus on research in her career. Outside of the lab, she is a member of the Eta Pi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta at CWRU and serves as a French peer tutor. She loves to dance and has been an Indian Classical Dancer for over a decade.
Dhoopshikha is from Mauritius. She is pursuing a double bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Chemistry, with a minor in Biology. She intends to attend graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. and focus on research in her career. Outside of the lab, she is a member of the Eta Pi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta at CWRU and serves as a French peer tutor. She loves to dance and has been an Indian Classical Dancer for over a decade.

Jackie Knappenberger
Undergraduate Researcher | UG4
Jackie is from Dallas, Texas. She is pursuing a BS in chemistry and minors in business management and computer science. Outside of the lab, she enjoys walking, drawing, and spending time with friends and family.
Jackie is from Dallas, Texas. She is pursuing a BS in chemistry and minors in business management and computer science. Outside of the lab, she enjoys walking, drawing, and spending time with friends and family.


Ryan Pappalardo
Undergraduate Researcher | UG4
Ryan is pursuing a BS in Chemistry with a minor in physics. He is from Warrenton, VA. Outside of the lab, he enjoys building and launching rockets, reading, and lifting weights.
Ryan is pursuing a BS in Chemistry with a minor in physics. He is from Warrenton, VA. Outside of the lab, he enjoys building and launching rockets, reading, and lifting weights.

Ajitesh Lalam
Undergraduate Researcher | UG3
Ajitesh is a first-year undergraduate student originally from Munster, Indiana. He is pursuing a BS in Biology and a BA in Chemistry while on the pre-medicine track. Outside of the lab, he works as a Gelfand STEM Fellow and enjoys photography, spending time with his friends, and learning more about discoveries in medicine.
Ajitesh is a first-year undergraduate student originally from Munster, Indiana. He is pursuing a BS in Biology and a BA in Chemistry while on the pre-medicine track. Outside of the lab, he works as a Gelfand STEM Fellow and enjoys photography, spending time with his friends, and learning more about discoveries in medicine.


Aaryan Patel
Undergraduate Researcher | UG2
Aaryan is from Rocky River, OH. He is pursuing a degree in Chemical Biology and a secondary major in Finance on the pre-medical track. He currently plans on attending medical school after completing his undergraduate degree. In his free time, he enjoys playing pickleball, watching football and basketball, and spending time with his friends.
Aaryan is from Rocky River, OH. He is pursuing a degree in Chemical Biology and a secondary major in Finance on the pre-medical track. He currently plans on attending medical school after completing his undergraduate degree. In his free time, he enjoys playing pickleball, watching football and basketball, and spending time with his friends.


Kaan Aydin
Undergraduate Researcher | UG2
Kaan is from Nutley, New Jersey. He is pursuing a degree in Chemistry while on a pre-medical track. He plans to attend medical school after completing his undergraduate studies. Outside of the lab, Kaan enjoys photography, listening to music, playing volleyball and soccer, and working in emergency medical services as an EMT.
Kaan is from Nutley, New Jersey. He is pursuing a degree in Chemistry while on a pre-medical track. He plans to attend medical school after completing his undergraduate studies. Outside of the lab, Kaan enjoys photography, listening to music, playing volleyball and soccer, and working in emergency medical services as an EMT.

Pranav Khadkikar
Undergraduate Researcher | UG2
Pranav is from Dublin, Ohio, and is pursuing a BS in Chemistry and a BA in Environmental Studies. He plans to attend graduate school. He enjoys running, reading, listening to music, and seeing friends.
Pranav is from Dublin, Ohio, and is pursuing a BS in Chemistry and a BA in Environmental Studies. He plans to attend graduate school. He enjoys running, reading, listening to music, and seeing friends.
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn." -B. Franklin
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