Sian Marin

Sian Marin is a second-year PhD student from Belize whose research focuses on marine natural products with an emphasis on organic synthesis. His work centers on elucidating the mechanisms of terpene cyclases and mimicking selective oxidation processes observed in natural products, with the goal of accessing new and potentially more bioactive molecules. Prior to beginning his doctoral studies, he conducted research in Dr. Leahy’s laboratory, where he focused on the synthesis of activity-based probes for palmitoyl amides. Outside of the laboratory, Sian enjoys playing video games, spending time at home with his pet cat, maintaining an active lifestyle through regular gym visits, and exploring his interest in food.

Erik Jakubec

Erik is a second-year doctoral student whose research focuses on soft coral terpene biosynthesis and genome-encoded cryptic natural products. His work is grounded in an interdisciplinary approach to traditional natural products discovery, integrating spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques with bioinformatics, plasmid engineering for heterologous expression, enzymatic studies, and product diversification. During his undergraduate training at the University of South Florida, he conducted research in Dr. Baker’s laboratory, investigating fungal and marine natural products and their potential for drug discovery targeting orphaned diseases. Outside of the laboratory, Erik enjoys outdoor activities such as biking and running, as well as reading and exploring interests in computing and video games.