Our Team
Yangguang Ou
Principal Investigator
I am an assistant professor who joined the Department of Chemistry at UVM in Fall 2020 and am also a faculty member in the Neuroscience Graduate Program, the Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Sciences program, and the Vermont Center for Cardiovascular and Brain Health Pipeline Investigator Program. I completed my Ph.D. in analytical chemistry with Prof. Stephen Weber at the University of Pittsburgh and then did a postdoc with Prof. Parastoo Hashemi, who runs two concurrent labs at both the University of South Carolina and Imperial College London. As a result of my professional training, my background and interests span a broad range of analytical techniques, from separation science to electrochemical sensing. I will leverage these expertise to develop new sensing technologies for environmental and neuroscience applications and for creating clinical diagnostic tools. In my spare time, I like to travel, explore new restaurants, and do Pure Barre. Even though I grew up in Florida and am used to beaches, I cannot wait to take to the hills and explore the beauty that is Vermont!
Uma Nudurupati
Chemistry Ph.D Graduate Student
Hi, I’m Uma! I am from Kharagpur, West Bengal, India. I have an undergraduate in Chemical Sciences from the University of Hyderabad, India, with research experience in physical chemistry and crystal engineering. I recently graduated with an MS from UMass Amherst, where I studied aggregation and association of structural proteins via light scattering. I am interested in developing biosensors for varied clinical applications. Outside of the lab, I enjoy writing, reading, crocheting, and playing board games.
Terdha Narla
Master’s Student in Pharmacology
Hello. I am Terdha. I am from Visakhapatnam, a coastal city in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. I hold a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy. Currently, I am graduate student in the Department of Pharmacology’s Master’s program. I have been interested in neuroscience since my undergrad and the neurobiology course I took during my first semester here at UVM, further accelerated my interest in the field. Due to this I decided to work on Autism, a complex neurodevelopmental disorder, for my master’s thesis under the guidance of Dr. Ou, so that I can learn more about the how the gut microbiome impacts neurotransmitters involved in brain development and further contributes to cognitive decline. Outside the lab, I enjoy painting and listening to music.
Toheeb Adegoke
Chemistry Ph.D Graduate Student
Hi, I am Toheeb. I’m from Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University Ibadan, with some research experience in Analytical Chemistry. I will be modifying electrodes for environmental sensing in the Ou Group. I’m specifically interested in building electrodes for selective and sensitive measurement of heavy metals.
Nikki Villarini
Laboratory Technician
Hi! I’m Nikki and I am from Buffalo, New York. I just graduated from UVM with a B.S. in chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am interested in electrochemistry and it’s various environmental applications. In my free time I like to ski/snowboard, skate, listen to music and hangout with my friends!
Owen Neilan
Undergraduate Student
Hello, my name is Owen and I’m from Swampscott, Massachusetts. I am currently a sophomore majoring in neuroscience with minors in chemistry and emergency medical services. I am interested in exploring the intersection between medicine and biotechnology/biomedical engineering, specifically as it relates to neurological diseases. Outside of academics, I am a rower on UVM’s crew team and a cellist in the UVM Symphony Orchestra.
Kira Gotwals
Undergraduate Student
Hi! My name is Kira, and I’m from a small town in Pennsylvania about an hour north of Philly. I’m a sophomore studying Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry. I'm pre-med and have always had an interest in medicine, and I am particularly fascinated by the chemistry of the brain and how it impacts diseases and disorders. I love to climb, and most of my free time is either spent climbing at the gym or finding some other way to get outside.
Hamzah Safri
Undergraduate Student
Hi, my name is Hamzah Safri and I’m from Boston, Mass! I am currently a sophomore at UVM studying neuroscience and minoring in computer science. I enjoy going outside, playing games, reading neuroscience paper and spending time with friends.
Ella Partlow
Undergraduate Student
Hi! I’m Ella and I’m from Swanton, Vermont. I’m currently a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Statistics. I enjoy learning about everything related to chemistry and neuroscience, and I am particularly interested in the development of biotechnologies to gather quantitative chemical data on certain neurological conditions like depression. Outside of academics I compete in powerlifting!
Bobby Kelly
Post-Bac Pre-med Student
Hi, my name is Bobby Kelly and I am currently a post-baccalaureate pre-medical student. I received my B.A. in psychological sciences here at UVM in the spring of 2023. I am interested in autism research with the aim of improving quality of life and improving accessibility, particularly in a healthcare setting. Outside of academics I enjoy playing guitar and playing with our cat Pandora.
Adam Davis
Undergraduate Student
Hi, I'm Adam. I'm originally from West Tennessee. While I'm currently a biochemistry major at UVM, I've already received a B.A. from St. John's College. There, I studied philosophy and the history of science and became interested in how we gain knowledge about things that we can't directly experience. This led to an interest in analytical chemistry which I'm excited to pursue further through my work in the Ou lab.