Dr. Sean Moran
Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 2014-present.
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009-2013
Ph.D., Columbia University, 2008
M.Phil., Columbia University, 2006
M.A., Columbia University, 2003
B.Sc., McGill University, 2001
Sean Moran is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at SIUC (2014-present). He received his B.Sc. in Biochemistry from McGill University in 2001. He did his graduate work with Brian Gibney at Columbia University in biophysical/bioinorganic chemistry with an emphasis on thermodynamics and protein design. Afterwards, he did his postdoc with Martin Zanni at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing on vibrational labeling and 2D IR spectroscopy of proteins. The Moran lab at SIUC combines these interests in a wide range of projects aimed at understanding the structures and dynamics of complex biopolymers, including enzymes, DNA/RNA, and biomaterials.
Sean’s hobbies include playing the guitar, watching other people play the guitar, and complaining. He also loves cats. As a Connecticut native, he roots for the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Celtics, the UCONN Huskies, and the Hartford Whalers (RIP).
smoran@chem.siu.edu
Postdocs
Principal Investigator
Dr. Sean Moran
Links:
SIU Carbondale School of Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences
Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 2014-present.
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009-2013
Ph.D., Columbia University, 2008
M.Phil., Columbia University, 2006
M.A., Columbia University, 2003
B.Sc., McGill University, 2001
Sean Moran is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at SIUC (2014-present). He received his B.Sc. in Biochemistry from McGill University in 2001. He did his graduate work at Columbia University in biophysical/bioinorganic chemistry with an emphasis on thermodynamics and protein design. Afterwards, he did his postdoc with Martin Zanni at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing on vibrational labeling and 2D IR spectroscopy of proteins. The Moran lab at SIUC combines these interests in a wide range of projects aimed at understanding the structures and dynamics of complex biopolymers, including enzymes, DNA/RNA, and biomaterials.
Savannah Randles
savannah.randles@siu.edu
Katherine (Katie) Helme
Katie is a senior undergraduate studying biophysics. Some of her hobbies include painting and music. Her favorite animal is the red panda and she has a pet gecko name Aristotle.
katherine.helme@siu.edu
Post Docs
???
We currently have no post-doctoral researchers. If you are curious about open positions, please inquire with Dr. Sean Moran at smoran@chem.siu.edu.
Graduate Students
Sunil Basnet
Sunil is from Jhapa, Nepal. He received both a B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry from Tribhuvan University. He joined the lab in Fall 2018. Some of his hobbies include sketching with charcoals and reading/writing literature.
Katherine (Katie) Helme
Katie was a former undergraduate member of the lab. She received her Bachelor's in Biophysics with minors in Math and Chemistry in Spring 2020. She is currently a PhD candidate. Hobbies include reading, playing music, and weightlifting.
Riya Krishnan
Riya is from Kerala, India. She went to IISER Thiruvananthapuram and received her BS-MS in Chemistry with a minor in Physics in 2022. She is currently pursuing her PhD. Hobbies include photography and hiking.
Zafeiria Nikolaidi
Zafeiria is from Athens, Greece. She received her bachelor's in Chemistry from the University of Crete in 2021. She's currently pursuing her PhD. She enjoys traveling, baking, swimming, aerial dancing, and playing the piano.
Haley Rice
Haley went to Southeastern Illinois College and finished her Bachelor's in Biology with a minor in Chemistry at Illinois State University. She is from Marion and came home to pursue her Master's at SIUC. She loves sewing, art, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her dog, Arlo.
![IMG_3105[1]_edited_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bd528d_a38f74bbcebf4e2ca0e93e2ed5f4ad6e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_190,h_195,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG_3105%5B1%5D_edited_edited.jpg)
Riley Knierim
Riley was a former undergraduate of the lab and received her B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics from SIUC in 2024. She likes to spend her free time reading and playing with her two kittens, Athena and Pandora
You?
Join the group! Email Dr. Moran for more information or click here to apply to our graduate program
Undergraduate Students
Lab Alumni
Undergraduate Students
You?
Interested in research? Email Dr. Moran for more information.
Alumni
Alison Randla
Alison graduated as a pre-vet animal science major in 2024. Alison joined the lab in Fall 2021. She loves animals and punk/emo music. Her favorite band is My Chemical Romance. She spends a lot of time at the farms on campus for her major, which are conveniently close to McLafferty, our laser lab! She will be attending University of Oklahoma for Veterinary Medicine.
Tayler D. Hill
Tayler graduated in Summer 2020 with her PhD. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the SIU MedPrep program.
David A. Price
David graduated in Summer 2020 with his PhD. He is currently a Post-Doctoral reseacher at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
Joanna (Asia) Hughes
Postdoctoral Researcher
2018 - 2020
Hannah Lepird
Hannah graduated in Summer 2021 with her Master's. She is now a chemical consultant in Minnesota.
Poornima Wedamulla
Poornima graduated in Summer 2021 with her Master's. She will be moving on to her PhD at University of British Columbia.
Ria Patel
Ria was an REU student in Summer 2021. She is completing her senior year at Illinois Wesleyan and applying to dental school.
Blaze Rightnowar
Blaze graduated in May 2019 with his B.S. in chemistry. He is currently attending graduate school at Oregon State University where he is working towards earning his PhD. His hobbies include studying classical and 20th century philosophy and playing video games.
Kaitlyn Hutson
Kaitlyn received her B.S. in Microbiology May 2019.
Brian Kettell
Brian (AKA Old Spice) graduated in May 2018 with his B.S. in Chemistry. He is current attending graduate school at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, where he is working to obtain a PhD in chemistry.