UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
  • Home
  • Previous Research
    • Centrifugal Microdevices >
      • PET Chips
    • Clinical Diagnostics and Forensic Analysis >
      • Cell Sorting and Solid Phase Extraction >
        • Acoustic Differential Extraction
        • Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells
        • Enhanced Sperm Cell Recovery
        • Monolith Stationary Phase for Microfluidic DNA Purification
        • Nucleic Acid Purification in a Two-Stage, Dual-Phase Microchip
        • Large Volume Reduction Solid Phase Extraction
        • Plastic SPE Microdevices
      • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) >
        • Infrared PCR
        • Microwave PCR
      • Label-Free Optical Methods for DNA and Cell Quantification
      • DNA Extraction and PCR Amplification
    • Fluidic Control >
      • Passive Valving
    • Genetic Analysis >
      • A Fully Integrated Microfluidic Genetic Analysis Device for the Detection of Blood Cancers
      • Electric Field-Flow Fractionation for DNA Concentration
      • Acousto-Optic Tunable Fiber
    • Narcotics and Explosives Colorimetric Detection
  • People
  • Publications
  • Collaborators
  • Contact
  • Conferences

Principal Investigator
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James P. Landers, PhD, FRSC
jpl5e@virginia.edu

Professor of Chemistry
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Associate Professor of Pathology
Director, Center for Nano-Biosystems Integration
Member, UVA Cancer Center
Jefferson Scholar Faculty Fellow
Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry

1991: Canadian Medical Research Fellow, Mayo Clinic
1988: Ph.D. Biochemistry, University of Guelph, Canada  
1983: B.S. Biochemistry, University of Guelph, Canada
Learn more
       Dr. James Landers is currently Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Virginia, as well as Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of Virginia Health System. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Biomedicine and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Guelph in Ontario (Canada) in 1984 and 1988, respectively. After a year as a post-doctoral fellow at the Banting Institute at the University of Toronto School of Medicine, as a Canadian Medical Research Council (MRC) Fellow at the Mayo Clinic-Rochester, he studied cancer biology and diagnostics under Thomas Spelsberg, a renowned breast cancer biochemist. He launched and directed Mayo Clinic’s Clinical Capillary Electrophoresis Facility in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, developing clinical assays based on capillary electrophoretic technology. 
        Dr. Landers joined the Chemistry Department at the University of Pittsburgh in 1997, where he forayed into analytical microfluidic systems with the goal of developing the next generation molecular diagnostics platform. This research was bolstered by the move in 1999 to the University of Virginia where access to a dedicated class-100 cleanroom for microchip fabrication allowed for rapid prototyping of microdevices for separations, DNA purification, and DNA amplification. His group was among the first to generate a fully integrated lab-on-a-chip (PNAS 103:19272, 2006), successfully applied to detecting infectious agents in biofluids and cancer diagnostics, and more recently defined new approaches to fluidic control on microchips (NATURE Physics 5:231, 2009). He has authored more than 180 papers and 25 book chapters on topics as diverse as receptor biochemistry, capillary electrophoretic method development, microchip fabrication, forensic DNA analysis and integrated microfluidic systems for application to both the clinical and forensic arenas. In addition, he has recently completed the third in the succession of editions of CRC Press Handbook of Capillary Electrophoresis, with this one extrapolated to microchip electrophoresis and associated microtechniques.

    Administrative Assistant
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Patricia White
phw7t@virginia.edu

PhD Candidates
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Killian O'Connell
kco4yh@virginia.edu
degrees
B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, 2015
research interests
Point-of-care diagnostics for infectious diseases, personalized medicine, bioanalytical chemistry, organ-on-a-chip, sequencing.
other activities
  • Storage of Corrosive Materials on a Fiber-Based Fluidic Device and Related Methods U.S. Utility Patent Application, 2021
  • American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Pre-Doctoral Student Award, 2021
  • Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Council (GSASC) UVA Research Grant Award, 2020
  • First Place Oral Presentation, 2nd Annual UVA Chemistry Department Retreat, 2019
  • Learning through Experiments and Demonstrations Program, President, University of Virginia, 2018-2019
  • Professional Society Member of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC)
  • Professional Society Member of the International Bordetella Society (IBC)
  • Marathon, Boston Qualifying Time: 3 hours 17 min, 2021
  • Honors Undergraduate Research Scholar (HURS), Colorado State University
  • UW Purple and Gold Scholars Award, University of Washington
  • Debate Champion, Northwest Parliamentary Tournament
Jamila Marshall Roberts
​jsm2dg@virginia.edu
Degrees
MSc Chemistry, Clark Atlanta University, 2015 
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BSc Chemistry (Hons.), Biology minor, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, 2010
Research Interests
Forensic science, microdevice fabrication, microfluidic separations, bioanalytical chemistry, rapid PCR, and improving diagnosis of infectious diseases.
Other Activities
  • Professional Society Member of the International Bordetella Society (IBC)
  • Student Affiliate Member of the American Association of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
  • Student Member of the American Chemical Society (ACS)
  • 2021 Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) State Doctoral Scholars Fellowship Awardee
  • The 25th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (µTAS 2021) - Poster Presentation
  • Biosafety Officer & Chemical & Laboratory Safety Officer, Landers Bioanalytical Microfluidics Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia (2019 – Present)
  • 72nd AAFS Annual Scientific Meeting, 2020 - Oral Presentation
  • Merck Rising Stars in Analytical Chemistry and Materials Science Symposium, 2019 - Poster presentation
  • Recipient of a Chemistry Department Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award for 2017 - 2018 & nominee for the University-wide Graduate Teaching Award
  • Laboratory Technician, Coppin State University, 2016
  • TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials 2015, oral presentation
  • Research assistant in the Department of Chemistry and the High Performance Polymers and Composites Center, Clark Atlanta University, 2014 - 2015
  • Quality Assurance Technician, Barbados Dairy Industries Ltd, 2011 - 2013
  • University of the West Indies Campus Research Day 2010, poster presentation 
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Leah Dignan
lmd4bt@virginia.edu
Degrees
 B.S. Chemistry (ACS Certified), Mathematics Minor, St. Mary's College of Maryland, 2016
Research interests
Forensic chemistry, microfluidic analysis and device fabrication, and the detection of illicit drugs,explosives, and chemical warfare agents. 
Other activities
  • PhD Candidate - With Distinction
  • Learning through Experiments and Demonstrations Program, University of Virginia
  • ACS Student Award in Chemistry for St. Mary's College of Maryland, 2017
  • 252nd ACS National Meeting, poster presentation, 2016
  • Undergraduate Research Fellow, St. Mary's College of Maryland, 2016
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Sadie Kiendzior
smk8ud@virginia.edu
Degrees
B.S. Biology, University of Saint Joseph, 2018
Research Interests
Forensic analysis of nucleic acids, detection of microbial pathogens for forensic analysis, development and genetics.
Other Activities
  • ​First place for oral presentation at the Beta Beta Beta regional conference, 2018
  • Sr. Mary Consuela Mulcahy Founders’ Award in Biology, 2018
  • American Chemical Society award in Physical Chemistry, 2017
  • American Chemical Society award in Organic Chemistry, 2016
  • CRC Press First Year Achievement award in General Chemistry, 2015
Selected publications
Lambert, K. M., Z. D. Stempel, S. M. Kiendzior, A. L. Bartelson and W. F. Bailey (2017). "Enhancement of the Oxidizing Power of an Oxoammonium Salt by Electronic Modification of a Distal Group." The Journal of Organic Chemistry 82(21): 11440-11446.
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Renna Nouwairi
rln3bm@virginia.edu
Degrees
B.S. Chemistry (ACS Certified), Mathematics Minor, James Madison University, 2017
Research Interests
DNA/RNA analysis, rapid amplification, microchip electrophoresis, bioanaytical chemistry, microfluidics and device fabrication
Other Activities
  • Jefferson Scholars Foundation Dissertation Year Fellow
  • Institutional Review Board Contact
  • Career Seminar Series Committee Member
  • Student Member of the American Chemical Society (ACS)
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Rachelle Turiello
rat3a@virginia.edu
Degrees
B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies: Bio-Cultural Hominid Anthropology, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)
M.S. Forensic Science, Towson University
 
Research Interests
Bioanalytical chemistry, microfluidics and device fabrication, rapid polynucleic analysis, body fluid identification, microchip electrophoresis.
Other Activities
  • Forensic Sciences Foundation Jan S. Bashinski Criminalistics Graduate Thesis Grant (2021)
  • Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Graduate Research Fellowship (2020 - 2023)
  • Forensic Chemist, Prince George's County Police Department, 2018-2019
  • Qualified as an expert witness in Crime Scene Processing and Evidence Collection, Baltimore City Circuit Court, 2018
  • Graduate Adjunct Instructor, Forensic Science, Towson University, 2017-2019
  • Crime Laboratory Technician, Baltimore Police Department 2016-2018
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Towson University 2015-2016
  • American Academy of Forensic Science 68th-74th Annual Scientific Meetings, 2016-2022
  • Bode Cellmark Forensics 4th Mid-Atlantic DNA & Investigators Conference, 2015
  • Forensic Anthropology Intern, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, 2012
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Scott Karas
sk3ff@virginia.edu

Degrees
B.S. Biochemistry, Ohio University
M.S. Chemistry, University of Rhode Island

Research Interests
Bioanalytical Chemistry, Microfluidic Device Fabrication and Development, Chem/Bio Weapon Detection, Illicit Drug Detection
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Larissa Cunha
llc9t@virginia.edu
Degrees
B.S. Chemistry, University of South Carolina, 2019
B.S. Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 2013
Research interests
Drug Detection, Microchip Fabrication for Forensic Applications, Microfluidic Separations, Forensic Chemistry, Detection of Chemical/Biological Weapons.
Other activities
  • Pharmacist in the Walmart Brazil Drugstore Division, 2013-2014.
  • Intern at Criminalistics Institute of Pernambuco (BR), working with detection of illicit drugs and body fluids, 2012.

PhD Students
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Junyi Yao
rcb9sz@virginia.edu
​DEGREES
B.S. Pharmacy, Yantai University, 2015
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Bioanalytical chemistry, Organ-on-a-chip, Drug screening, Microfluidic chips fabrication
OTHER ACTIVITIES
  • ​Financial support for research and professional development, College and Graduates School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, 2021
  • The 23rd International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (MicroTAS), Switzerland, 2019
  • The 6th International Conference on Bio-Sensing Technology, Malaysia, 2019
  • The 9th International Multidisciplinary Conference on Optofluidics (IMCO), Hong Kong, 2019 
  • The 22nd International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (MicroTAS), Taiwan, 2018
  • The 10th International Symposium on Microchemistry and Microsystems (ISMM), Korea, 2018
  • The 8th International Multidisciplinary Conference on Optofluidics (IMCO), China, 2018 (Best Oral Presentation Award)
  • Researcher/ Teaching Assistant, Southern University of Science and Technology, 2015-2021
  • Undergraduate student Research and Presentation Grant, Yantai University, 2015
Selected Published
  • Junyi Yao, Yiyang Guan, Yunhwan Park, Yoon E Choi, Hyun Soo Kim and Jaewon Park. Optimization of PTFE Coating on PDMS Surfaces for Inhibition of Hydrophobic Molecule Absorption for Increased Optical Detection Sensitivity. Sensors, Vol. 21, pp. 1754 (2021).​
  • Junyi Yao, Hyun Soo Kim, Jee Young Lee, Yoon-E Choi, and Jaewon Park. Mechanical stress induced astaxanthin accumulation of H. pluvialis on a chip. Lab on a Chip, Vol. 20, pp. 647-657 (2020).
  • *Kelu Peng, *Junyi Yao, Sunghyun Cho, Younghak Cho, Hyun Soo Kim, and Jaewon Park. Liquid metal-embedded microfluidic pressure sensor for real-time monitoring. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, Vol. 305, pp. 111909 (2020).
  • Junyi Yao, Fan Lin, Hyun Soo Kim, and Jaewon Park. The effect of oil viscosity on droplet generation rate and droplet size in a T-junction microfluidic droplet generator. Micromachines, Vol. 10, pp. 808 (2019).

Undergraduate Students
Will Treene
Ella Frazier
Nicola Lawless
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Major: Biology & Religious Studies
Mentor: Leah Dignan
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Mentor: Jamila Marshall Roberts
Major: Biology
​Mentor: Killian O'Connell
Brennan Stewart
Zohar (Zoe) Ziff
Logan Cunningham
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Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: Killian O'Connell
Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: Scott Karas
Major: Biology & English
Mentor: Rachelle Turiello
​Samuel (Sam) Biedler
Leah Gunnoe
Hamayal Jabbar
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Major: Biology
Mentor: Renna Nouwairi
Soumil Madhiwala
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Major: Biology
Mentor: Rachelle Turiello​
Major: Interdisciplinary
Mentor: Renna Nouwairi
Michael Flanagan
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Major: Biology
Mentor: Sadie Kiendzior
Major: Biochemistry & Psychology
Mentor: Sadie Kiendzior
Ellaha Momand
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Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: Larissa Cunha
Emilee Holmquist
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Major: Chemistry (BS)
Spanish (BA)

Mentor: Renna Nouwairi
Kelsey O’Neill
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Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: Larissa Cunha
Allison Burton
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Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: Scott Karas


Alumni

Shane Woolf, PhD
Tiffany Layne, PhD
Anchi Tsuei, PhD
Christopher Birch,
PhD, Post-doctoral Fellow
Jingyi Li, PhD, Research Scientist
Charlie Clark, PhD​
​Shannon Krauss, PhD
Jacquelyn DuVall, PhD
Kimberly Jackson, PhD
​Hillary Sloan, PhD

​Kerui Xu, PhD
​Qian Liu, PhD
​Yiwen Ouyang, PhD
​Ling Huang, PhD
​Jian Wen, PhD
​Joan Bienvenue, PhD
​Lindsay Bazydlo, PhD
​Jessica Norris, PhD
​Daniel Marchiarullo, PhD
​Brian Poe, PhD
​Kyudam Oh, Ph.D
Briony C. Strachan, Ph.D
Jenny A. Lounsbury, Ph.D
Jingyi Li, Ph.D
Carmen R. Reedy, Ph.D
Kristin A. Hagan, Ph.D
James M. Karlinsey, Ph.D
Christopher J. Easley, Ph.D
Daniel C. Leslie, Ph.D

Brandon Thompson, PhD,  Post-doctoral Fellow
​Daniel Nelson, PhD, Post-doctoral Fellow
Francisco Lara, Ph.D, Post-doctoral Fellow
Murali Ghatkesar, Ph.D, Post-doctoral Fellow
​Mariana Almeida, Visiting Graduate Student
Juliane Cristina Borba, Visiting Graduate Student
Gabriela Duarte, Ph.D, Visiting Graduate Student
Annie Piland, Undergraduate
​Alexandra Markmann, Undergraduate
Sabrina Kim, Undergraduate
George Fairman, Undergraduate
Christopher Tomley, Undergraduate
​Liam Spears, Undergraduate
Kendall Jenkins, Undergraduate
​Victoria Holt, Undergraduate
Josh Shield, Undergraduate
​Sarah Wychoff, Undergraduate
Jacob Hughes, Undergraduate
Megan Taleg, Undergraduate
Casey Engel, Undergraduate
David Dent, Undergraduate
Morgan Carter, Undergraduate
Michael Do, Undergraduate
Brett A. Melnikoff, Undergraduate
Ibrahim Tora, Undergraduate
Mackenzie Long, Undergraduate
Michelle Sjostrom, Undergraduate
Anne Karlsson, Visiting Undergraduate
Alexis Chernish, Undergraduate


Contact Landers Research Group
jpl5e@virginia.edu
(434) 243-8658
375, 379, 395 Chemistry Building
McCormick Road
​Charlottesville, Va 22904
UVA Chemistry Department
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  • Home
  • Previous Research
    • Centrifugal Microdevices >
      • PET Chips
    • Clinical Diagnostics and Forensic Analysis >
      • Cell Sorting and Solid Phase Extraction >
        • Acoustic Differential Extraction
        • Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells
        • Enhanced Sperm Cell Recovery
        • Monolith Stationary Phase for Microfluidic DNA Purification
        • Nucleic Acid Purification in a Two-Stage, Dual-Phase Microchip
        • Large Volume Reduction Solid Phase Extraction
        • Plastic SPE Microdevices
      • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) >
        • Infrared PCR
        • Microwave PCR
      • Label-Free Optical Methods for DNA and Cell Quantification
      • DNA Extraction and PCR Amplification
    • Fluidic Control >
      • Passive Valving
    • Genetic Analysis >
      • A Fully Integrated Microfluidic Genetic Analysis Device for the Detection of Blood Cancers
      • Electric Field-Flow Fractionation for DNA Concentration
      • Acousto-Optic Tunable Fiber
    • Narcotics and Explosives Colorimetric Detection
  • People
  • Publications
  • Collaborators
  • Contact
  • Conferences