Group Members

Nurul Islam Setu

Doctoral Student

Once my chemistry teacher said that chemistry is everywhere. At that time, I did not get him. Then I have been introduced to organic chemistry  in my high school which gave me some idea about the vastness of chemistry. Later, I did my undergraduate in pharmaceutical science which is interweaved with different branches of chemistry. During my master’s degree, I did a project on preparation and evaluation of microcrystalline cellulose from waste cotton as directly compressible tablet excipient. Since then I am interested to do some chemistry. I joined Dr. Peng’s lab as her research is interdisciplinary, focusing on nucleic acid chemistry and its applications in other fields including drug discovery, DNA diagnostics, and nanotechnology. My Ph. D. project is mechanistic investigation of DNA cross-linking by modified nucleoside. I am really having good time while working in the lab.

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Thilini Nimasha Fernando, Ponnamperumage

Doctoral Student

After earning my undergraduate degree from the University of Ruhuna in Sri Lanka, my path to becoming a research scientist in chemistry led me to UWM. During the first half of my undergraduate studies, I have studied biology, molecular genetics, microbiology along with chemistry and I was constantly fascinated by the cellular molecules and mechanisms and wanted to incorporate concepts I studied in chemistry with biology. And I always found it amazing how structure and mechanisms in biological chemistry resonate with the organic chemistry I learnt. I think that is where my penchant for biological chemistry and organic chemistry arises. So, I chose University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and Dr. Peng’s research group because, they take on utilizing synthetic organic chemistry to discover effective anti-cancer drugs and the related studies on cellular mechanisms unites organic chemistry and biological chemistry. The way Dr. Peng’s lab has addressed various dimensions in chemistry and the multidisciplinary research focus really captivated my interest.

Wasiu Olaniyi Awoyera

Doctoral Student

After earning my undergraduate degree, I pursued research at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM), where my early interest in organic synthesis and drug discovery matured into a focused passion for designing and constructing complex molecules with therapeutic potential. Joining Dr. Peng’s research group was a natural step, as the lab emphasizes the use of synthetic organic chemistry to create innovative chemical strategies for anti-cancer drug development. Through this work, I aim to contribute to the design, synthesis, and optimization of novel chemical entities with the potential to become next-generation therapeutics. My goal is to apply my expertise in chemistry to advance the discovery and development of novel anticancer therapeutics.

Regina Titilayo Oddiri

Doctoral Student

My foundation in biochemistry, coupled with personal experiences and a clear awareness of the limitations of current cancer therapies, has shaped my drive to contribute meaningfully to anti-cancer drug discovery. This motivation has guided my pursuit of a Doctoral degree in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Through extensive academic and research training, I have developed a deep appreciation for how biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, and organic chemistry intersect to enable the rational design of molecules that modulate or target the intricate pathways underlying cancer progression. With this interdisciplinary interest, I joined the Peng Lab, which focuses on synthesizing and elucidating the mechanisms of novel, inducible, and low-toxicity anticancer agents that address therapeutic limitations by acting directly on nucleic acid chemistry, particularly DNA, in cancer cells. My research centers on the design, development, and mechanistic study of photoinducible DNA interstrand crosslinking agents as potential anticancer therapeutics. By harnessing light to trigger precise and controllable DNA damage within cancer cells, my research aims to minimize off-target toxicity while advancing next-generation, targeted cancer treatment strategies.

Mayurika Mahendran

Doctoral Student

I have completed my Bachelor’s Special degree in Chemistry at the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The four years of my undergraduate degree reinforced my desire to seek a career in academic research and teaching. Stimulated by my undergraduate research experience, I became interested in Organic Chemistry with special reference to Synthetic medicinal chemistry. I am presently working as a PhD student researcher at the UWM under the guidance of Prof. Xiaohua Peng. I have chosen UWM and Prof Peng research group because of the sheer excellence of the PhD program because of my great inspiration in synthetic organic chemistry in inventing new and innovative anti-cancer drugs and assessing their mechanism of action. These advancement offer promising pathways for my research in cancer treatment and demonstrating successful applications in the clinical studies.  

Julia Anna Rose Jakusz

SURF Recipient (Undergraduate Researcher)

I have always had a deep passion for learning chemistry, finding it truly fascinating how this scientific discipline permeates every aspect of our lives and influences nearly everything we do. Throughout my time at UW-Milwaukee, I have been fortunate to take several chemistry classes, and I have thoroughly enjoyed each one of them along with working in the lab at Froedtert Hospital. As I enter my third year at the university, pursuing my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences within the MLS program, along with minors in Biology and Spanish, I am driven by the desire to further my education in organic chemistry through graduate school before applying to Medical School. My ultimate goal is to become either a surgeon or to remain in the research field, specifically in pathology or oncology. The prospect of delving deeper into the intricate world of organic chemistry excites me, as I believe it will equip me with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute significantly to these areas of medicine. Being a part of an incredible project with Dr. Peng and the rest of the team has been a remarkable experience, and I am immensely grateful for the opportunity. I hope to continue my involvement in this project throughout my remaining years here at UWM, as it aligns perfectly with my academic and career aspirations.

Cody Joshua Miller

Undergraduate Researcher

Although I have always had an interest in the sciences (mainly biology and chemistry), my primary focus is on zoological veterinary medicine, which I hope to study in the future.  I initially joined Dr. Peng’s lab group in an effort to amass laboratory hours for my veterinary school application, but soon afterwards I found that I really enjoyed studying the medicinal applications of organic chemistry in oncology.  Within a few months of being in the lab group, I learned a plethora of laboratory techniques related to microbiology and I helped facilitate joint research between this lab group and the biology department.  I have mainly worked under Thilini Fernando in the main lab on tumor cytotoxicity, but I am also currently researching the cytotoxicity of FAN towards the GI microbiota with Dr. Sonia Bardy (biological sciences).  As a whole, joining this lab group has unexpectedly been one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in college thus far, and I hope to further research new applications of our novel chemotherapeutics. 

Natalie Hope Raschka

Undergraduate Researcher

I am currently entering my second year at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, majoring in Biomedical Sciences with minors in Biology and Chemistry. I joined Dr. Peng’s lab because I was fascinated by the intersection of organic chemistry and cancer research, and I wanted to be part of a team that contributes to meaningful scientific discovery. Working in the Peng Lab has given me the opportunity to expand my understanding of DNA reactivity and anticancer agents, and has strengthened my passion for research. After completing my undergraduate studies, I plan to apply to medical school, with the goal of becoming either a physician or a researcher. I am excited to continue learning, contributing to this project, and pursuing a career that bridges science and medicine.