ESBG LAB

We are an interdisciplinary research group leveraging advances in artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, and systems biochemistry to map the complex relationships connecting protein sequence, structure, function, and evolution. We focus on biomedically important protein families such as protein kinases, glycosyltransferases, and ion channels that are causally associated with human diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. We aim to develop personalized therapeutic strategies for these diseases based on a deeper understanding of how these proteins work in normal and disease states.

If you are interested in joining our lab, please get in touch with Dr. Kannan to discuss current openings and opportunities.

ONGOING RESEARCH

This is an overview of current research in the lab. You can click on each title for detailed information.

Mapping genome-phenome relationships in large protein families

Proteins are essential for life and their malfunctions are linked to diseases. Our lab studies these complex molecules to develop new therapies.

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AI and Deep learning models for biochemical applications

AI is revolutionizing biochemistry by analyzing protein sequences, like a code, to predict changes, group enzymes, and classify proteins.

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Evolutionary Data Analytics

Huge datasets from "omic" studies hold promise for protein research, but require user-friendly tools to analyze this complex information. Our lab builds user friendly tools for researchers.

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News


News Item

2024-08-12

Congratulations to Brady for winning the best presentation award at the EMBO Pseudoenzymes meeting in Girona, Spain


News Item

2024-04-10

Grace Watterson receives NSF GRFP fellowship!


News Item

2024-01-10

Zhongliang Zhou successfully defends his thesis


News Item

2023-12-15

George Bendzunas joins Lectinz Bio as Research Scientist


News Item

2023-12-05

Aarya Venkat starts a new position as Protein Engineer III at Ginkgo Bioworks in Boston


PEOPLE

Kannan

Dr. Natarajan Kannan

Professor and Georgia Coalition Distinguished Scholar

Nathan Gravel

Nathan Gravel

Graduate Research Assistant
Bioinformatics

Nathan Kleber

Nathan Kleber

Undergraduate Research Assistant
Biochemistry

Brady O'Boyle

Brady O'Boyle

Graduate Research Assistant
Biochemistry

Dr. Samiksha Katiyar

Dr. Samiksha Katiyar

Assistant Research Scientist
Bioinformatics

Ruili Fang

Ruili Fang

Graduate Research Assistant
Computer Science

Safal Shrestha

Safal Shrestha

Postdoc
Bioinformatics

Saber Soleymani

Saber Soleymani

Postdoc
Computer Science

Neha Gupta

Neha Gupta

Graduate Research Assistant
Bioinformatics

Ryan Bhowmik

Ryan Bhowmik

Graduate Research Assistant
Bioinformatics

Jason Lu

Jason Lu

Undergraduate Research Assistant
Bioinformatics

Parnian Rahimi

Parnian Rahimi

Graduate Research Assistant
Bioinformatics

 Farzaneh Saadati

Farzaneh Saadati

Graduate Research Assistant
Computer Science

Tej Shidhaye

Tej Shidhaye

Undergraduate Research Assistant
Biochemistry


ALUMNI

Liang-Chin Huang

Liang-Chin Huang

Principal NLP Scientist, Intelligent Medical Objects, Houton
Bioinformatics

Mariah Salcedo

Mariah Salcedo

Graduate Research Assistant
Bioinformatics

Aarya Venkat

Aarya Venkat

Protein Engineer III Ginkgo Bioworks
Biochemistry

Andrew Lamb

Andrew Lamb

Foundation Fellow
Biochemistry

Ayda Farhadi

Ayda Farhadi

Senior Data Scientist (UPS)
Computer Science

Navid Hashemi

Navid Hashemi

Assistant Professor of Computer Science, South Carolina
Computer Science

Claire Bunn

Claire Bunn

Gates Cambridge Scholar
Genetics

Carlos E Sanz

Carlos E Sanz

Assistant Investigator at Institut Pasteur de Montevideo
Biochemistry

Daniel McSkimming

Daniel McSkimming

Assistant Professor, University of South Florida
Bioinformatics

Eric Talevich

Eric Talevich

Scientific Solutions Architect, Form Bio
Bioinformatics

George Bendzunas

George Bendzunas

Research Scientist - Lectenz Bio
Biochemistry

Grace Watterson

Grace Watterson

Undergraduate Research Assistant
Biochemistry

Hyunjin Annie Kwon

Hyunjin Annie Kwon

Scientist, Amgen
Bioinformatics

Ishan Aggarwal

Ishan Aggarwal

Medical College of Georgia
Biochemistry

Krishnadev Oruganty

Krishnadev Oruganty

Principal Scientist, Flagship Pioneering, Cambridge
Biochemistry

Niral Thaker

Niral Thaker

Medical College of Georgia
Biochemistry

Priyanka Parikh

Priyanka Parikh

Undergraduate Research Assistant
Biochemistry

Rahil Taujale

Rahil Taujale

Graduate Research Assistant
Bioinformatics

Rayna Carter

Rayna Carter

Undergraduate Research Assistant
Biochemistry

Shima Dastgheyb

Shima Dastgheyb

Lead- Semantic Data Integration, Genentech, San Francisco
Computer Science

Smita Mohanty

Smita Mohanty

Postdoc
Biochemistry

Steven Thomas Scott

Steven Thomas Scott

Undergraduate Research Assistant
Genetics

Tuan Nguyen

Tuan Nguyen

Weill Cornell Medicine
Biochemistry

Wayland Yeung

Wayland Yeung

Scientist I, Tessera Therapeutics, Cambridge
Bioinformatics

Zheng Ruan

Zheng Ruan

Assistant Professor, Thomas Jefferson University
Bioinformatics

Zhongliang Zhou

Zhongliang Zhou

Senior Scientist, Merck
Computer Science

COLLABORATORS

Frank Sicheri

(Mount Sinai Hospital)

Alexandra Newton

(UC San Diego)

Susan S. Taylor

(UC San Diego)

Gerard Manning

(Genentech)

Christian Doerig

(Monash University)

Patrick Eyers

(University of Liverpool)

Contact

Lab picture