Dr. Judith Klein-Seetharaman
Principal Investigator
Currently a tenured Professor in the School of Molecular Sciences (SMS) and the College of Health Solutions (CHS) at Arizona State University (ASU). She is also affiliated with the Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery. Dr. Klein-Seetharaman obtained her PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with the late Nobel Laureate Dr. Har Gobind Khorana. She completed her Biology and Chemistry undergraduate degrees from the University of Cologne in Germany. She has published over 160 peer-reviewed articles. Her main interests are in the structure, dynamics and interactions of proteins & other biomolecules.
Key Works:
Klein-Seetharaman J. (2023). Gobind's last graduate student. Biophysical reviews, 15(1), 75–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12551-023-01047-8
Murthy, M. H. S., Jasbi, P., Lowe, W., Kumar, L., Olaosebikan, M., Roger, L., Yang, J., Lewinski, N., Daniels, N., Cowen, L., & Klein-Seetharaman, J. (2024). Insulin signaling and pharmacology in humans and in corals. PeerJ, 12, e16804. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16804
For more information on Dr. Klein, see:
Dr. Latha Kannan
Laboratory Manager
Dr. Kannan, who currently works in the School of Molecular Sciences at ASU, completed her Biochemistry PhD at the Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute in India. Her expertise in multiple skills including but not limited to molecular biology, protein purification, protein expression, cell culture, is shown as her papers have been read at least 1,540 times.
Latest Publication:
Fini, E. H.; Pahlavan, F.; Vega, N. O.; Bibo, A.; Kaur, H.; Ghasemi, H.; Aldagari, S.; Hung, A.; Kannan, L.; Yazdani, H.; Zhai, R. G.; Link, N.; Ackerman-Biegasiewicz, L. K. G.; Klein-Seetharaman, J. Health Impacts of Asphalt Emissions: Examining Neurological Risks and the Need for Long-Term Exposure Mitigation. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2025, 486, 136849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136849.
Kannan, L., Kumar, A., Kumar, A. et al. Anti-herpes virus activity of the carnivorous botanical, Sarracenia purpurea. Sci Rep 10, 18953 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76151-w
For more information on Dr. Kannan, see:
Dr. Chase Harms
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr. Harms works on computational biology and molecular simulations in the JKS lab. He completed an undergraduate degree in Engineering Physics at the Colorado School of Mine. Dr. Harms completed his PhD on protein conformational dynamics focusing on matrix metalloproteases with Dr. Susanta Sarkar at the Colorado School of Mines. His thesis was titled, "A Framework for Substrate-Specific Allosteric Control of Matrix Metalloprotease-1 Activity."
Select Publications:
Kamboj, Sumaer & Harms, Chase & Wright, Derek & Nash, Anthony & Kumar, Lokender & Sarkar, Susanta. (2022). Identification of allosteric fingerprints of alpha-synuclein aggregates in matrix metalloprotease-1 and substrate-specific virtual screening with single molecule insights. Scientific Reports. 12. 10.1038/s41598-022-09866-7.
Kamboj, Sumaer & Harms, Chase & Kumar, Lokender & Creamer, Daniel & West, Colista & Sarkar, Susanta. (2021). A method of purifying alpha-synuclein in E. coli without chromatography. Heliyon. 7. e05874. 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05874.
Kumar, Lokender & Nash, Anthony & Harms, Chase & Planas-Iglesias, Joan & Wright, Derek & Sarkar, Susanta. (2020). Allosteric Communications between Domains Modulate the Activity of Matrix Metalloprotease-1. Biophysical Journal. 119. 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.06.010.
Meghana Murthy
Doctoral Graduate Student
Meghana is pursuing a PhD in Biochemistry in the School of Molecular Sciences (SMS) at ASU. She has a Master's in Biomedical and Bioengineering from The University of Texas at Arlington (2017) and a Bachelor of Engineering in Biotechnology (2014) from M. Visveshwaraya Institute of Technology, India. Meghana is already a very accomplished rising researcher! Her achievements and awards include:
- Invited speaker, IGF and Insulin System in Physiology and Disease Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), 2025
- Poster Presenter, IGF and Insulin System in Physiology and Disease Gordon Research Conference (GRC), 2025
- Outstanding Graduate Student Merit Award, SMS, ASU, 2024
- Poster presenter - Travel grant awardee, ASXL Research Symposium, ASXL Rare Research Endowment Foundation, Fall 2024
- 1st place in Mini-research grant award (National Science Foundation) Center for Climate Change and Coastal Resilience Conference, Purdue University in collaboration with Blue integrated partnerships at the University of Puerto Rico, December 2023
- 2SLGBTQIA+ Leadership Graduate Student Award, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, ASU, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024
- The College Leader 2022 Award, The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, ASU
Latest Publication:
Murthy, M. H. S., Jasbi, P., Lowe, W., Kumar, L., Olaosebikan, M., Roger, L., Yang, J., Lewinski, N., Daniels, N., Cowen, L., & Klein-Seetharaman, J. (2024). Insulin signaling and pharmacology in humans and in corals. PeerJ, 12, e16804. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16804
Naven Goh
Doctoral Graduate Student
Naven completed his undergraduate and master's degrees in Biochemistry (with a focus in Medicinal Chemistry) in the School of Molecular Sciences at ASU. He also completed both his undergraduate honors thesis for Barrett, the Honors College at ASU and his master's thesis in the JKS lab before joining as a Biochemistry PhD student. His master's thesis was titled, "Binding of Benzo[a]pyrene to the Retinal Binding Pocket of Mammalian Rhodopsin." His Barrett honors thesis was titled, "Investigating Suspected Light Sensitivity of Potential Opsin Proteins in Pocillopora damicornis." Most recently, Naven was awarded the NIH-funded Intergenerational Community Driven Training in Alzheimer’s Disease Research: An AI+X Approach T32 Trainng Grant for Spring 2025!
Shazeen Imtiaz
Doctoral Graduate Student
Shazeen completed her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry in the School of Molecular Sciences at ASU. Prior to joining the JKS lab as a PhD student, Shazeen also completed her undergraduate honors thesis for Barrett, the Honors College at ASU, in the lab. Her thesis was titled, "Testing the Effects of Catechol and Lemon Juice Components on Differentiation in Adipocytes."
Kristina Wechsler
Doctoral Graduate Student
Kristina is a graduate student in the Edson College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation. She completed her bachelor's in Nursing at the Catholic University of America and master's in aging at ASU. Her master's thesis was titled, "Feasibility of Computerized Cognitive Training on Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults." Below are some of her wonderful achievements:
- Chair for Master in Aging Advisory Board, 2024.
- Certification for National Association of Professional Gerontologists, 2023- present.
- Presenter at National Hartford Center for Gerontological Nursing Excellence, National Conference, 2023.
- Certification for National Association of Professional Gerontologists, 2023- present.
- Inductee in Sigma Phi Omega Honors Society, 2023.
More About Our Lab
Support our wonderful team's research by donating to our research projects using the links below!
In case of technical issues, please visit the ASU Foundation for a New American University website (https://www.asufoundation.org/empower-community-resilience/) and search, "Research Blindness" or "Increase Healthspan."
Disclaimer: Funds will only be used for research purposes.
Get in touch at jkleinse@asu.edu