Our Group

Senior Research Scientist

PhD CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography at Goa University, India

p.parvatkar@northeastern.edu

Since getting his PhD from the CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography in Goa, India in 2011, Prakash has done a variety of research all over the world before landing here in the Manetsch Laboratory as a senior research scientist. His postdoctoral research has included exploration of MOFs and COFs at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, solid-phase peptide synthesis at Kyoto University in Japan, and even organic electrochemistry right here at Northeastern! Now that he is back in Boston, he is a part of many projects in the Manetsch laboratory, including natural product synthesis, photocatalysis, and medicinal chemistry.

Aside from doing chemistry in its many forms, Prakash would like to travel to at least one country in each of the seven continents. He also loves eating all kinds of ice cream, preferably while enjoying the view from a tall hilltop!

Doctoral Candidate

B.S. University of Rochester

kassu.m@northeastern.edu 

Though born in Awassa, Ethiopia, Minte was raised in the suburbs of Rochester, NY; he even stuck around to attend the University of Rochester. As an undergraduate Minte aspired to move on to pharmacy school, but after his exposure to introductory organic chemistry courses he had a change of heart and his pharmacy school aspirations quickly turned into aspirations of pursuing a research-based career in drug discovery. After receiving his B.S. in Molecular Genetics, Minte enrolled in the NIH sponsored Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) at Virginia Tech. During his 12-month tenure, Minte conducted anticancer research where he primarily used solid-phase peptide synthesis to develop hetero-multivalent scaffolds. Minte’s work in the Manetsch Laboratory focuses on optimizing the fragment-based lead discovery strategy: Kinetic Target-Guided Synthesis.

Outside of lab, Minte spends his time exercising, spending time with close friends, and making Matt regret challenging him in Mario Kart

Doctoral Candidate

B.S. Pace University

asakawa.a@northeastern.edu 

Ami attended Pace University in New York City (known to the cool kids as
"The Big Apple”) for her undergraduate studies. At Pace, Ami worked in a cell biology lab where her research focused on the amyloid forming sequences in Trichomonas vaginalis. Ami has always maintained an interest in infectious, parasitic diseases and here in graduate school she has taken her biology research background and applied it to her medicinal and synthetic chemistry efforts in the lab. Ami’s work in the Manetsch Laboratory focuses on the synthesis of quinolone (P4Q, THA and PEQ) analogs.

Ami is a passionate New York Mets fan. Outside of lab, Ami enjoys playing the piano, and adventuring with her friends. Ami’s hood is always decorated with her cartoon drawings of cats, birds, fish and more!

Doctoral Candidate 

B.S., M.S. Wuhan University huang.lil@northeastern.edu

Lili comes to Northeastern from the Wuhan University (WHU) in China where she obtained her B.S. in Chemistry and her M.S. in Inorganic Chemistry. Lili completed her masters research under Dr. Jiangbin Xia, where she focused on the preparation and modification of conductive polymers and their application in electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells. Prior to her experience as a synthetic chemist, Lili gained chemical biology experience as a member of the laboratory of Dr. Xiang Zhou where she focused on nucleic acid related signal pathways based and ligand regulation. Lili’s work in the Manetsch Laboratory focuses on the synthesis of Anguidine macrolactone derivatives.
Lili enjoys traveling around the world visiting famous cities and landmarks. She is a very talented ballet dancer and model.  

 Doctoral Candidate 

B.S. University of New Haven

miller.bra@northeastern.edu 

Brandon hails from Goshen, New York; a suburban town known as the home to the oldest harness racing (the less exciting horse racing) track in the world. Brandon completed his Bachelors degree at the University of New Haven in Connecticut where he majored in Chemistry. His undergraduate research in the group of Dr. Pier Cirillo focused on the total synthesis efforts of Spiromastixone J, a deep-sea depsidone with Gram-positive antimicrobial activity. Brandon spent his summer before graduate school working for a small medicinal chemistry startup in Connecticut called Synovel Laboratory. His work in the Manestch Laboratory focuses on the synthesis of Streptothricin F Analogs and the synthesis of Cyclic Thiosulfinates. 

Brandon spends most of his time outside of lab putting off going to the gym. He enjoys playing soccer, and exploring the city of Boston. Brandon firmly believes that the New York Jets will win a super bowl in his lifetime. 

Doctoral Candidate

B.S. University of New Haven

wagner.ali@northeastern.edu 

Alicia attended the University of New Haven where she majored in Forensic Science with a minor in Chemistry. She became involved with organic chemistry research in her third year at the University of New Haven. In the group of Dr. Pier Cirillo, her primary research focus was synthesizing analogues of a marine natural product, Cadiolide B, which has shown potential as a promising solution to Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Alicia’s work in the Manetsch Laboratory focuses on the optimization of 1,2,4-triazoles as antimalarial inhibitors, and optimization of the fragment-based affinity-selection lead discovery strategy, the Automated Ligand Identification System.

When not in the lab, Alicia likes to spend her time hiking, playing Animal Crossing, and playing with her cat, Pickles. Alicia is not known around the lab for her ability to reach items on the tall shelves.

Doctoral Candidate 

B.A. University of South Florida

marusyk.y@northeastern.edu 

Yuliya majored in Chemistry and minored in Astronomy (woah, cool) at the University of South Florida. There, she also worked in the lab of Dr. Nicholas Lawrence at the Moffitt Cancer Center Department of Drug Discovery. Her focus in the lab was the synthesis of small molecule ACK1 and JAK2 inhibitors. Yuliya’s work in the Manestch Laboratory focuses on the synthesis of Streptothricin F Analog.  Yuliya is among the labs well traveled! She was born in Ukraine and has lived in a handful of major US cities thus far: Denver, Tampa, Boston. 

Outside of lab Yuliya enjoys sewing, fashion, traveling, cooking, and playing the piano. We have no idea how she has time to still be so fun outside of the lab, but she manages it well! 

Doctoral Candidate

B.A. Skidmore College diagne.k@northeastern.edu 

Khaly is a graduate of Skidmore College in New York where he majored in Chemistry with a concentration in Biochemistry. There, he did water purification research where he designed and printed chips to filter soil particles from interstitial water under the supervision of Dr. Kimberly Frederick. During his time at Skidmore Khaly also completed a research fellowship at the Helmholtz Institute of Research in Germany with Dr. Anna K. H. Hirsch where he worked on the co-crystallization of protein complexes in the MEP pathway with implications on therapeutic development towards members of the ESKAPE pathogens. In the Manetsch Laboratory, Khaly works on the synthesis of quinolone (P4Q, THA and PEQ) analogs.  

Khaly is a native of Senegal (the 2021 Africa Cup of Nation Champions) and is a huge fan of Liverpool F.C. Khaly himself is an avid soccer player; he claims to be able to “bend it like Beckham” but the jury is still out on that one! Khaly also enjoys playing chess. 

Doctoral Candidate

B.S. Hanover College trombley.r@northeastern.edu 

Roger majored in Chemistry at Hanover College where he spent most of his time hard at work in the library. Throughout his time here, Roger was able to partake in a few, minor research experiences and was always very attentive and joyous in his laboratory coursework. Roger’s work in the Manetsch Laboratory focuses on the optimization of 1,2,4-triazoles as antimalarial inhibitors.  

Outside of the lab, Roger enjoys playing tennis, watching sci-fi shows, and hiking. Roger is the lab’s designed “hat guy” whether it be a baseball cap, a beanie, or one of those cool umbrella hats, there’s a good chance Roger has one in his closet! 

Undergraduate Student

Northeastern University, Class of 2024

podgurski.ma@northeastern.edu

Maris is a chemistry major at Northeastern who intends to graduate in the spring of 2024. Her work in the Manetsch Laboratory marks the first research experience of her young career in the chemical sciences (aside from those vinegar and baking soda volcanoes from back in the day). Maris attended high school at the Thornton Academy in Maine where her affinity for science blossomed into a true passion. Maris joined the Manetsch Laboratory in the fall of 2021 - her work in the lab focuses on the optimization of 1,2,4-triazoles as antimalarial inhibitors.

Outside of lab work Maris enjoys to draw and to paint. Additionally, Maris has a passion for cooking. However, that passion has yet to translate into a skill. We suggest to order pizza if you plan to visit her place for dinner. For those of you keeping up with the news, Maris's hopes of having the family cat, Ester, move in with her have at long last been fulfilled! 

Undergraduate Student

Northeastern University, Class of 2024

 smith.jac@northeastern.edu

 Jacki is a chemistry major who joins us from Nashoba Regional Highschool (so she is well familiar with the chilly Massachusetts weather!) and she intends to graduate in the spring of 2024. Before we were lucky enough to have her join the Manetsch Laboratory, she worked in the Beuning DNA Laboratory here at Northeastern. She also has a number of co-ops under her wing, with her previous work in the Dana-Farber Medicinal Chemistry department, as well as her current co-op in the Process Chemistry Department at Takeda. In the Manetsch Group, she is working on the synthesis of triazole antimalarial inhibitors.

When not busy in lab, Jacki has a slew of diverse hobbies! She enjoys reading and painting, and if the indoors get to be boring, she likes kayaking and even archery (wow!). One of her big life goals is to kayak on six continents (excluding Antarctica— understandably).

Undergraduate Student 

Northeastern University, Class of 2025

aning.p@northeastern.edu

Portia is a pharmaceutical science major who joins us from Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, Illinois, and she intends to graduate in spring of 2025. In the Manetsch Group, she focuses on quinolone-based molecules as antimalarials. Her research here has sparked interest in getting a co-op, and we’re hoping that her talents in the lab will find her many exciting opportunities to get one in the near future!

When undergraduate responsibilities aren't too overwhelming, Portia loves to dance as a hobby (and has been doing so for the past seven years!)

 Undergraduate Student

Northeastern University, Class of 2026

abramson.ka@northeastern.edu

Katya is a chemistry major who joins us from the United Nations International School, with an intended graduation date of spring 2026. Joining the Manetsch group is her first step into the world of research, and we’re excited to see where her love of chemistry takes her, both academically and in future co-ops! She is working on the streptothricin F project, and is currently preparing rare gulal sugar intermediates. 

Outside of lab, Katya is a big animal lover, and claims that she wants to take home every animal she sees– we wonder if she’s ever tried to adopt one of the many campus rabbits? She had four pet rats named Hubert, Goldstein, Binki, and Franklin— hopefully she’ll be able to have more in the future! Katya’s love even extends to the virtual world of animals, as she is a big Pokémon nerd, with her favourite one being Houndoom.