Wankowicz Lab Members
Stephanie Wankowicz, Ph.D.
she/her/hers
Principal Investigator
Stephanie @ wankowiczlab.com
https://stephaniewankowicz.github.io/
0000-0002-4225-7459 
stephanie-mullane-wankowicz-2657a726 
Stephanie's Citations 
@stephanie_mul 
stephaniewankowicz Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she researched the economics of the Clean Water Act under Dr. Paul Kolkoswki. After graduating, she worked as a Data Specialist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, managing the Bladder Cancer Translational Research Center under Joaquim Bellmunt. During this time, she performed clinical and translational research, helping to identify the relationship between the expression of PD-L1, an immune checkpoint marker, and overall survival in metastatic bladder cancer.
Subsequently, Stephanie worked as a computational biologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, working in Eli Van Allen’s lab. There, she developed algorithms utilizing high-throughput genomics data to assess responses to oncology treatments. She led the largest study of prostate cancer exomes, identifying new genes and pathways commonly mutated in prostate cancer. Additionally, she helped identify genetic biomarkers that predict patient responses to immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy.
In 2018, Stephanie began her graduate career in the Biophysics program at UCSF, working in James Fraser’s lab. She developed computational tools to automatically construct conformational ensembles from X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM data, extracting low-populated but biologically important states of macromolecules. Leveraging structural bioinformatics, she uncovered the spatial redistribution of entropy in ligand binding. Her graduate studies were supported by fellowships from NSF, UCSF Discovery Fellows Program, and the UCSF Antiviral Drug Discovery Program. Her work has been recognized through many awards, including D.E. Shaw Computational Chemistry Fellowship, Intersections Science Fellowship, UCSF Mentorship Award, and Penn Rising Stars in Biophysics and Biochemistry.
In 2024, Stephanie opened her lab at Vanderbilt University in the Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Department, Center for AI in Protein Dynamics, and Center for Structural Biology. The lab has two main areas of research: (1) improving the modeling of structural conformational ensembles from X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM data, (2) elucidating the structural mechanisms by which conformational entropy influences binding specificity and catalysis. Find out more about our current research here.
Stephanie is deeply committed to making science a welcoming place. At UCSF, she initiated a mentorship program for the Biophysics program at UCSF and founded a DEIJ Journal Club in the Fraser lab. Outside of the lab, you are most likely to find Stephanie running on the road or trail!
Ahmed Aslam
he/him
Undergraduate Researcher
Ahmed is an undergraduate pre-medical student at Vanderbilt University double majoring in Biochemistry and Computer Science. He is determined to integrate his passion for medicine and computer science to uncover the underlying mechanisms driving health from a biophysical perspective. He is particularly interested in how microscopic variations in molecular structures can have major effects on cellular and viral processes. Using advanced computational approaches, Ahmed aims to understand more about the processes that sustain life and apply his research toward transformative solutions in healthcare.
When he’s not in the lab, you can find him enjoying good weather, playing Spikeball, or playing video games.
Carol Li
she/her
Undergraduate Researcher
Carol is an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University, double majoring in Neuroscience and Computer Science. She has a strong interest in computational modeling for structural biology and envisions applying neuroscience-inspired techniques to enhance and understand AI models.
When she’s not working, you can find her dancing or trying out every sport under the sun!
Ella Seo
she/her
Undergraduate Researcher
Ella is an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University with a strong interest in biophysics. She is passionate about understanding cellular processes from a physical, quantitative perspective and exploring how this foundational research can ultimately lead to practical applications in human health and medicine.
When she’s not working in the lab or central library, she is likely to be found practicing ballet or going for long walks.
Ian Farran
he/him
Research Technician
Ian holds a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of California, Davis. With extensive industry experience, he has worked across biotech, adhesives, and molecular research, specializing in protein characterization, assay development, and process optimization. Most recently, at The Every Company, Ian developed HPLC methods, created Python tools to optimize fermentation processes, and implemented assays across multiple sites. He also conducted research under Dr. Marie Heffern, contributing to a ChemBioChem publication on the structural effects of metals on C-Peptide.
When he’s not in the lab, Ian enjoys pursuing hobbies such as blacksmithing and archery.
Oliva Chen
she/her
Undergraduate Stduent
Olivia Chen is an undergraduate Chemistry major at Vanderbilt University. During a summer internship at the Chinese Academy of Science, she refined molecular techniques like DNA extraction and antibody treatments for citrus diseases, raising her interest in microbiology. In her freshman year, she furthered her experience at the University of California, Irvine, under Dr. Seiler, focusing on regenerative medicine and acquiring skills in rat care, perfusion, and H&E staining. Currently passionate about biochemistry and biophysics, Olivia is dedicated to exploring protein dynamics and contributing to the drug industry. Outside the lab, Olivia enjoys rock climbing and photography!
Vratin has an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering and holds a Master’s degree in Computational Biology from Carnegie Mellon University, where he conducted research under Dr. David Koes. Vratin’s previous work focused on leveraging machine learning to improve protein binding pocket representation and dataset curation. He’s particularly passionate about applying data-driven methods to challenges in structural biology and biophysics.
When Vratin’s not laboring over bugs, you can find him playing the guitar or wandering about museums.