Team

Ying S. Hu, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Faculty Affiliate, Biomedical Engineering and Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics

Full Member, University of Illinois Cancer Center

Office: 312-355-0838, email: yshu@uic.edu

My academic journey began in Texas, where I studied applied electromagnetism and antenna designs as an undergrad. As a graduate student and DOE CSGF fellow, I explored light waves and designed nanomaterials for cancer theranostics. As a postdoctoral scholar in Southern California, I studied super-resolution microscopy and T cell biology. The academic journey has taken me to Chicago, where I established a research laboratory focused on nanoscale immunobiophysics. I work fluently across engineering, molecular biology, and chemistry. I enjoy music, arts, autobiographies, cooking, tennis, and biking along the lake.

Hirushi Gunasekara, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar (PhD, 2019-23; Postdoct, 23-)

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

Research Interests: PAINT superresolution imaging, cytokine biology. Read UIC Today’s feature story on Hirushi’s work.

Selected Publications:

• Gunasekara H, Cheng Y-S, Perez-Silos V, Zevallos-Morales A, Abegg D, Burgess A, Gong L-W, Minshall RD, Adibekian A, Murga-Zamalloa C, Ondrus AE, Hu YS*, Unveiling cellular communications through rapid pan-membrane-protein labeling. Nat. Commun. 2025;16(1):3584.PMID: 40234465; PMCID: PMC12000395. Link.
• Gunasekara H, Perera T, Chao CJ, Bruno J, Saed B, Anderson J, Zhao Z, Hu YS. Phalloidin-PAINT: Enhanced quantitative nanoscale imaging of F-actin. Biophys J. 2024;123(18):3051-3064. PMID: 38961624. Link.
• Gunasekara H, Perera T, Anderson J, Saed B, Ramseier N, Neama K, Hu YS. Superresolution imaging with single-antibody labeling. Bioconjug. Chem. 2023;34(5):825-833. PMID: 37145839; PMCID: PMC10859171. pdf Link
• Gunasekara H, Munaweera R, Hu YS, Chaotropic perturbation of noncovalent interactions of the hemagglutinin tag monoclonal antibody fragment enables superresolution molecular census, ACS Nano, 2022. PMID: 34797055 pdf Link Correction: Gunasekara H, Munaweera R, Novotná L, Lillemeier BF, Hu YS, ACS Nano, 2022. PMID: 36417787 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.

Han Xu, Ph.D.,  Postdoctoral Scholar (2025-)

B.S., Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jiangsu University. M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University. Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xiamen University

Research Interests: RNA biology, biotechnology

I earned my Doctor’s Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Xiamen University, China. My previous research work was mainly focused on molecular imaging and nanomedicine. I joined The Ying Hu Group in the spring of 2025 because I am interested in immunofluorescence labeling and high-resolution imaging techniques. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music and watching movies.

Neal Ramseier, Graduate Researcher (2021-)

B.S., Chemistry, Purdue University

Research Interests: Signaling within specialized membrane structures, membrane contact sites

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-)

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

Research Interests: TNF-⍺ regulation at transcriptional, translational, and transport levels

Selected Publications:

• Kady N, Abdelrahman S, Rauf A, Burgess A, Weiss J, Gunasekara H, Ramseier N, Maine I, Zevallos-Morales A, Perez-Silos V, Wolfe A, Hristov A, Brown N, Inamdar K, Sverdlov M, Hu Y, Murga-Zamalloa C, Wang C, and Wilcox R. The GATA-3 dependent transcriptome and tumor microenvironment are regulated by eIF4E and XPO1 in T-cell lymphomas. Blood (Cover). 2025;145(6):597-611.PMID: 39652777. Link.
• Burgess A, Gunasekara H, Hu YS*, Rapid and uniform NHS-ester-based membrane protein labeling of live mammalian cells. Bio-protoc. 2025. DOI: 10.21769/BioProtoc.5455. Link.

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.

Dinethri Herath, Graduate Researcher (2023-)

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

Research Interests: Single-molecule labeling, extracellular vesicles, nanoparticles

Selected Publications:

• Herath HDW and Hu YS, Unveiling nanoparticle-immune interactions: how super-resolution imaging illuminates the invisible [review article]. Nanoscale. 2025;17(3):1213-1224. PMID: 39618290. Link.

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.

Supun C. Sooriyawansha, Graduate Researcher (2024-)

B.S., Chemistry, University of Kelaniya.

Supun earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, in 2023. Upon graduating, he continued his research in Computational Chemistry while working as a Teaching Assistant and Junior Academic Staff Coordinator at the National Glassblowing Centre in Sri Lanka. He was awarded two Senate Honors for publishing papers in prestigious index journals in 2023. Supun joined UIC and Dr. Hu’s lab in Fall 2024 after a converging interest in Cancer Cells, Immune Systems, Super-Resolution Imaging, and Computational Chemistry. In his free time, Supun enjoys traveling, eating good food, and watching TV series.

Parakh Patel (Undergrad researcher, 2023-)

James Xie (Undergrad researcher, 2025-)

I am a third year undergraduate student pursuing my bachelor’s in Chemistry on the pre-med track. I joined Dr. Hu’s lab in the Spring of 2025 with an interest in computational chemistry and immune system research. I aim to develop valuable research experience and deepen my understanding of immunology. In my free time, I enjoy eating good food, watching TV shows, and folding origami.

Jacob Tamas (Undergrad researcher, 2024-)

Jacob is a rising senior working on T cell engagers.

Mackey (2021-)

Mackey enjoys walks only on nice days, playing with his toys, endless pets, and ham.

Nala (2019-)

Nala loves to watch her mom work, play if in the mood, and sleep for hours!