GROUP MEMBERS

We are an interdisciplinary team specializing in fluorescence superresolution microscopy and immunobiology. Our members bring diverse expertise from fields such as analytical chemistry, biochemistry, biological sciences, and engineering.

Ying S. Hu, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering (By Courtesy)

Full Member of University of Illinois Cancer Center

Email: yshu@uic.edu

Office: 312-355-0838

Hirushi Gunasekara, Postdoctoral Scholar (2019-)

Education: B.S., Chemistry, University of Kelaniya. Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago

Research Interests: PAINT superresolution imaging.

Selected Publications:

• H Gunasekara^⫽, T Perera^⫽, J Anderson, B Saed, N Ramseier, K Neama, YS Hu^*. Superresolution Imaging with Single-Antibody Labeling. Bioconjug Chem, 2023. In press. ^⫽ Equal contribution pdf Link
• H Gunasekara, R Munaweera, L Novotná, BF Lillemeier^*, YS Hu^*, Chaotropic perturbation of noncovalent interactions of the hemagglutinin tag monoclonal antibody fragment enables superresolution molecular census, ACS Nano, 2022. PMID: 34797055 pdf Link

I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka and am the valedictorian of the Faculty of Science for year 2016. I joined UIC in Fall 2017 and worked in Dr. Miller’s group developing LRET biosensors for Phosphoprotein phosphates implicated in Atrial Fibrillation. With my increasing interest in super-resolution imaging field, I joined Dr. Hu’s group in Fall 2019. I love colors and enjoy painting, crochet and crafts during my free time.

Badeia Saed, Graduate Researcher (2019-)

Education: B.S., Chemistry; B.S., Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Research Interests: T cell cytokine biology.

Selected Publications:

• B Saed, R Munaweera, J Anderson, W O’Neill^*,  YS Hu^*, Rapid statistical discrimination of fluorescence images of T cell receptors on immobilizing surfaces with different coating conditions, Sci Rep, 2021. PMID: 34326382 PMCID: PMC8322097 pdf Link

Badeia earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2015. Upon graduating, she continued research in Kinesiology and began tutoring. She tutored local high school students in all subject areas and tutored students in Chemistry at a local community college. Due to her interest in Biochemistry, she joined Dr. Hu’s group in Fall 2019. Badeia enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and traveling during her free time.

Neal Ramseier, Graduate Researcher (2021-)

Education: B.S., Chemistry, Purdue University.

Neal earned his BS in Chemistry at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Neal’s previous work was in drug discovery involving developing drugs for bone fracture repair. Neal joined the Hu lab in the Fall of 2021 after discovering his interest in analytical chemistry and the immune system. In his free time, Neal enjoys traveling, eating good food, and working on projects such as fixing cars.

Alyssa Burgess, Graduate Researcher (2022-)

Education: B.S., Chemistry; B.S., Spanish, Appalachian State University

Research Interests: Superresolution imaging and cytokine biology.

I earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Spanish from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. My previous experience was in studying the temperature stabilization of protein-based therapeutics in solution using a tardigrade protein. I joined UIC and the Hu group in Fall 2022 to pursue my interests in biochemical and immunological research. In my free time I enjoy cooking, backpacking, and climbing.

Alex Tu, Graduate Researcher (2023-)

Education: B.S., Chemistry, Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville.

Alex earned his BS in Chemistry from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville in 2019. Previous experience includes efforts to identify GPCR structures; as well as industry R&D for medical devices. Alex joined Dr. Hu’s lab in Fall 2023 after converging interest in biochemistry and the immune system. Alex is an avid gamer and loves cooking.

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Dinethri Herath, Graduate Researcher (2023-)

Education:B.S., Chemistry, University of Ruhuna. M.S., Chemistry, Sam Houston State University

I earned Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka and Master’s Degree in Chemistry from Sam Houston State University.  My previous work was focused on developing therapeutic agents to treat cyanide intoxication. I joined Dr. Hu’s group because of my interest in analytical chemistry and super resolution imaging. In my leisure time, I like to listen to music and visit the beach.

Josh Bruno (Undergrad researcher, 2023-)

I am a senior undergraduate pursuing a major in neuroscience and a minor in philosophy. My research focuses on studying the intercellular and intracellular communication and phenotype upon activation of microglia, the resident immune cell of the central nervous system. Using super-resolution techniques and computational modeling, I hope to elucidate the behavior of these cells hidden by the diffraction limit of microscopy. Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading, playing guitar, and watching baseball.

Parakh Patel (Undergrad researcher, 2023-)

Oleksandr Hodovanets (Undergrad researcher, 2023-)

I am a sophomore Undergraduate student pursuing my bachelor’s in Biochemistry. I joined Dr. Hu’s lab in the Fall 2023 to collect new skills and gain more experience. I hope it will be a great start for my pursuit of fighting cancer and developing the needed skills for that.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time talking about theoretical or philosophical questions, climbing, running, and coding little programs that help me in study. Also, I hope to spend a lot of time hiking around the world when I’ll get my Bachelor’s.

Group alumni

Thilini Perera, PhD (2018-2024)

University of Illinois Chicago, Chemistry, PhD (’24)

Thesis: Probing Immunoglobulin G Binding and Immunometabolism Using Single-Molecule and Superresolution Imaging

Haoran Jing, PhD (2018-2023)

Postdoctoral associate, Novartis (Boston)

University of Illinois Chicago, Chemistry, PhD (’23)

Thesis: Single-Molecule Super-Resolution Imaging of Nano-Bio Interactions and Membrane Structures of Immune Cells

Hirushi Gunasekara, PhD (2019-2023)

Postdoctoral scholar, University of Illinois Chicago

University of Illinois Chicago, Chemistry, PhD (’23)

Thesis: Superresolution Imaging Through Single-Molecule Labeling

Rangika Munaweera, MS (2019-2021)

PhD candidate, University of Queensland, Australia

University of Illinois Chicago, Chemistry, MS (’21)

Naysha Pinet Velez, MS (2019,20-23 )

University of Illinois Chicago, Chemistry, MS (’23)

Nicole Szydlowski (U, 2018-19)

Pharm. D. student, University of Illinois Chicago (Class of 2023)

University of Illinois Chicago, Biological Sciences, BS (’19)

Ariana De-Jesus Hernandez (U, 2019)

M.D. student, Ponce Health Sciences University, Puerto Rico (Class of 2025)

University of Puerto Rico at Cayey, Chemistry, BS

Wendi Fu (U, 2019)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Electrical Engineering, BS

Neama Keshta (U, 2021-22)

University of Illinois Chicago, Biological Sciences, BS (’22)

Jesse Anderson (U, 2020-2023)

Engineer, UL Solutions

University of Illinois Chicago, Chemical Engineering, BS (’23)