Updated: Mar 24
Johnny is originally from Indiana, where he grew up surrounded by corn. When Johnny was a kid, he dreamed of moving to Florida to study sharks. Then one day, Johnny realized he loved corals and the terpenes they produce. He is currently pursuing studies of coral terpene biosynthesis. Outside of science, Johnny enjoys playing the violin and modelling.
Updated: Feb 3
I joined the lab in October of 2024 and works in drug discovery and medicinal chemistry. My experiments focus on the synthetic functionalization of diterpenoids to create a library of semi-synthetic analogs that are then screened for biological activity. Promising compounds undergo chemoproteomic experiments to shed light on the mechanism of action to pursue more target-based drug discovery. As an undergraduate I worked at Moffitt Cancer Center on the design and synthesis of dual inhibitors of p53/MDMX & p53/MDM2 as well as drug-like selective SIRT2 deacetylase inhibitors.
Updated: Jan 8
Originally from New Jersey, Nicole relocated to Florida in 2018 to pursue her undergraduate studies at the University of Tampa, where she earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Environmental Science, with minors in Chemistry and Applied Dance. Prior to beginning her graduate studies at the University of South Florida, she worked for two years as an analytical chemist in a NELAC-certified laboratory, conducting metals and microbiological analyses of soil, drinking water, and wastewater in support of EPA and FDEP regulatory compliance. As a graduate student, Nicole’s research focuses on the ecological roles of terpenes and their secondary metabolites, with particular emphasis on chemical defense and predator deterrence. Her work investigates how specific molecular features contribute to antifeedant activity and how these compounds mediate inter-organismal interactions through the use of mass spectrometry techniques and live bioassays. Outside of the laboratory, she enjoys running, fitness training, and maintaining dance as an active component of her life.
