Meet Our Team!
Salman Banani
Principal Investigator
Salman graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Biology from the University of California Berkeley, and received his M.D. and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He then completed residency training in Clinical Pathology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and postdoctoral fellowship at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Salman then joined the faculty at the University of Chicago in 2024 as an Assistant Professor.
Kathryn Lasseter
Laboratory Manager
(they/them)
Kathryn has worked as a research technician, safety officer, and operations manager in genetics, bioengineering, and virology labs. Their professional interests include setting up accessible laboratory infrastructure, conveying lab safety in an engaging way, and acting as a liaison between scientists at the benchtop and the larger institution they work within. Outside of lab, they like gardening, puzzles, and horror movies.
Nalini Gorantla
Postdoctoral Scholar
(she/her)
Nalini is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Banani Lab, specializing in the study of condensate-associated proteins. Her research primarily focuses on identifying the interactions of these proteins with other molecules and investigating their potential roles in disease pathology. With a passion for understanding the intricacies of protein function, she is dedicated to advancing our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying disease pathology. Her work aims to shed light on the biological significance of these proteins and their potential as therapeutic targets.
Justin Ross
Research Specialist
(he/him)
As a member of the Banani lab, Justin looks forward to making contributions to the field of condensate biology. He is interested in understanding the specific roles of pathological biomolecular condensates in the development of genetic disorders. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, going to the gym, and playing with his two dogs.
Hannah Ridenour
Research Specialist
(she/her)
Hannah is a Research Specialist with a passion for all things RNA. Her research interests include the pathological aggregation of proteins in neurodegenerative disorders and cellular dysregulation in cancers. Outside of the lab, she enjoys running, playing sudoku, and spending time with her dog, Cheese.
Maddie Loops
PhD Student
(she/her)
Maddie is a first-year PhD student in the Cell and Molecular Biology program, currently rotating with the Banani Lab. Her research focuses on the tRNA splicing and ligation pathway, particularly investigating the subcellular localization and interactomes of core complex components in relation to neuronal degeneration disease pathologies. She is broadly interested in cellular stress adaptation and cancer-related signaling mechanisms. Outside the lab, Maddie enjoys cooking, exploring the city, and spending time with her cat, Miso.
Pets
Duchess
Pawrent: Kathryn
Duchess is the world’s leading prosecutor for puppy law, with an extensive portfolio of advancing puppy rights. She also loves ham and insurance fraud.
Cheese
Pawrent: Hannah
Cheese is an expert in chew toy durability testing, having personally destroyed over 100 prototypes. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys squirrel conspiracies and is a part-time nap enthusiast.
Sven
Pawrent: Justin
Sven is a leading expert in quantum tunneling and nuclear fusion, and has published 17 books so far. When he is not uncovering the secrets of our universe, he enjoys getting belly rubs and taking naps on the floor.
Mac
Pawrent: Justin
Mac earned his PhD in Neuroscience at the age of 17 (in dog years), and is considered to be among the world’s top behavioral researchers. His academic interests include: barking at falling leaves, pestering his humans to play with him, and stealing food from the counter.
Miso
Pawrent: Maddie
Good girl!
Miso is a professional cardboard quality control specialist, expertly evaluating the durability, sourcing, and comfort of cardboard boxes. In her free time, she enjoys meeting new bugs and engaging in spirited battles with her reflection in the mirror.