Walter Moss

Associate Professor

I grew up in the Bronx, NY and attended Brooklyn Technical High School. After a short stint as a Philosophy major at Hunter College, I transferred to SUNY Stony Brook to major in Chemistry. I took a year off to work as a lab manager at the New York Botanical Garden then went back to school to get my PhD under the mentorship of Doug Turner. After learning about RNA structure with Doug, I went on to research RNA Biology while a post-doc in the Joan Steitz lab at Yale University. Today, I integrate all that I learned to fold, find, and study RNA structure: more information on LinkedIn and Google Scholar. Outside of research I try to practice Stoic Philosophy and enjoy cooking and exercise.

Taylor Eich

Graduate Student, BBMB

I was born in Burnsville and raised in the nearby city of Savage, Minnesota. I earned my BS in Applied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Prior to joining the Moss Lab, I worked as a technician and part time student in the at the Mayo Clinic, where I studied how microRNAs regulate stemness . Currently, my research focus is in characterizing the secondary structures of precursor messenger RNAs related to human diseases using chemical probing and high-throughput sequencing..

Evelyn Coppenbarger

Graduate Student, BBMB

I grew up in upstate South Carolina, where I went to Clemson University, majoring in biochemistry as well as learning computer science. My current research focus is on continuing development of algorithms for finding folding RNA structures, as well as the application of these new methods to targets of biological significance: e.g., endogenous retroviruses, human pathogens, and undraggable human genes. Outside of work I like to spend time reading, writing, and trying out historical recipes.

Graduate Student, GEN

I was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and graduated from Lagos State University with a B.Sc. in Microbiology. I then moved to The Gambia to intern at the Medical Research Council Unit's clinical lab, followed by a position in the Genomics core facility, where I advanced to a Scientific Officer. I'm currently a PhD student in the Genetics and Genomics program, and I joined the Moss Lab in Spring 2024. My research focuses on identifying functional RNA secondary structures in Respiratory Syncytial Virus. In my free time, I enjoy soccer, video games, and historical docuseries.

Damilare Dabiri

Graduate Student, BCB

Born and raised in Egypt, I earned my B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Molecular Genetics, with a strong emphasis on computational biology. Before heading to academia full-time, I spent three years at PROTEINEA EG as a drug designer and protein engineer, honing my skills in AI-powered protein and antibody design. My PhD work focuses on gaining AI-driven insights into RNA biology, offering a fresh, multidisciplinary lens on tough biological challenges. Outside of research, I recharge with weightlifting and dive into social sciences through books that spark new ideas.

Abdelraouf Dapour

Mason Eisenhauer

Undergraduate, Biochemistry Major

I was born in Carmichael, California, and raised in West Des Moines, Iowa. I am an undergraduate student majoring in Biochemistry and Genetics with a minor in Computer Science. I joined the Moss Lab in the Spring of 2024, and my research focus is on the effects of heat stress on RNA secondary structures in the maize genome. Outside of the lab, I enjoy a good story and being outside.

Harrison Smith

Undergraduate, Biochemistry Major

I study genes!

Former Group Members:

Graduate Students:

Warren Rouse - BBMB Graduate Student, PhD. Currently an Associate Scientist at Kemin.
Jake Peterson - BBMB Graduate Student, lPhD. Currently a Bioprocess Scientist at Elanco.
Collin O'Leary - BBMB Graduate Student, PhD. Currently an Assistant Professor at Cornell College.
Ryan Andrews - BBMB Graduate Student, PhD. Currently a Postdoc in the Brenda Bass Lab.

Staff:

Van Tompkins - Senior Scientist, now an educator of the youth.
Lumbini “Indee” Moss - Postdoctoral Associate, now an artist
Sandamali Dassanayaka - Lab Technician, now in a new lab

Undergraduate Students:

Zheng “Sam” Xue - Biochemistry Major
Abigail Fowler - Microbiology Major
Margot Nall - Honor’s Program
Andrea Tigges - Genetics Major
Jenny Zhou - Biochemistry Major
Rachel Hoffmann - Biochemistry Major