John W. Peters is an alumnus of OU (1989), received his PhD from Virginia Tech in 1995, and was an NIH Ruth Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellowship recipient at Caltech. He is currently a Presidential Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Oklahoma. His research predominantly focuses on biological electron transfer as it relates to energy and human health, and he has published more than 200 research articles. He is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Academy of Microbiology and a recipient of the Cozzarelli Prize from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and the Horizon Prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry. In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors, playing golf, and fishing in the many lakes in Oklahoma.
Dr. Florence Mus
Dr. Nishya Mohamed Raseek
Nishya completed her undergraduate degree in Sri Lanka and moved to the USA to pursue her graduate degree in chemistry at the University of Kentucky. As a postdoctoral research associate in Dr. Peters' Lab, she studies Flavin-based electron bifurcation mechanism in FixABCX enzyme. Nishya uses UV-visible spectroscopy, EPR, and electrochemistry techniques to understand the redox chemistry of flavin and FeS clusters in the anaerobic conditions. She uses small-angle X-ray scattering and steady-state kinetics to understand conformationally gated electron-transfer reactions in FixABCX. Outside the lab, Nishya enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and baking.
Sayre Barron
Sayre is a 6th year graduate student from Cleveland, Mississippi. Her work focuses on using X-ray crystallography and Cryo-EM to understand how signals of nitrogen, redox, and nucleotide ratios are incorporated by the NifLA system in A. vinelandii to regulate nitrogen fixation. Sayre enjoys reading and baking cookies in her spare time.
Shakya Wije Munige
Shakya is originally from Sri Lanka and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Oklahoma. Her research focuses on understanding how changes in the catalytic metal center and its coordination environment influence catalytic bias in horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase. Shakya is particularly interested in using spectroscopic and kinetic approaches to understand how these changes affect enzyme function. Shakya enjoys traveling and exploring new places whenever she get the chance and she loves cooking and trying out new recipes, especially dishes from different cuisines.
Farnaz Ghorbani
Farnaz is from Iran and has a Master’s in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Tehran. She is curious, ambitious, and always up for learning something new. Farnaz is resilient, a little intense, and deeply curious about the world.
She really enjoy the simple things—just being, exploring, and seeing where life takes her.
Ritika Sharma
Ritika is a PhD candidate in Chemistry and Biochemistry working on nitrogenase and light-driven biohybrid systems. Her research focuses on understanding semiconductor–protein interfaces and electron transfer to develop new approaches for photocatalytic nitrogenase reactions. Originally from India, Ritika enjoys science communication and finding creative ways to make complex scientific ideas more accessible. Outside the lab, she enjoys writing, drawing, traveling, and exploring new places.
Dasplang Manje
Dasplang is a first-generation college student from the Yilpiya community in Mangu LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria. He is currently a fourth-year student in the Peters Lab, Dasplang’s research explores catalytic bias in horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase through protein expression, enzyme kinetics, and structural biochemistry. With a background in clinical and molecular research in Nigeria, he has experience in biomarker assays, clinical trial data management, and molecular biology. Dasplang is passionate about scientific inquiry, mentorship, and linking biochemical mechanisms to health. He also enjoys basketball and fishing.
Rafeza Khatun
Rafeza is from Jashore, Bangladesh. She began her academic career in Pharmacy, earning both her B.Pharm. and M.Pharm. degrees, where she developed a strong interest in biochemistry. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the University of Oklahoma under the supervision of Dr. Peters. Her research focuses on acetone carboxylase and explores how metal cofactors, nucleotide binding, and structural changes regulate its catalytic activity.
Marguba Kamrun
Marguba grew up in the beautiful city of Jhalokathi in southern Bangladesh, surrounded by rivers, lush greenery, and the natural beauty of the Bay of Bengal. In Dr Peters' lab, she is developing nitrogenase biohybrid systems by coupling semiconductor quantum dots with the MoFe protein. Marguba loves reading books and traveling to explore new places.
Shukurat Raji
Shukurat is from Oyo State, Nigeria, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). She is currently working on a biohybrid project that integrates quantum dots with the enzyme nitrogenase to enable more sustainable ammonia production. Outside the lab, Shukurat enjoys fashion design, trying new foods, and traveling for adventure.
Barakat Tope Kareem
Barakat is from Oyo State, Nigeria. She is currently a graduate student conducting research in Dr. Peter's lab, where she is working on the determinants of catalytic bias in ADH. After graduation, Barakat plans to pursue a career in research and continue contributing to scientific discoveries.
Lavang Huynh
Lavang is from Oklahoma City. She is interested in Biochemistry because it provides the foundational molecular framework. One of the most interesting aspects of biochemistry research is being able to determine protein structure. Structure determinations allow improvements and developments of not only breakthroughs in science but also has benefits in the modern day world. Lavagn has been working in Peters Lab for about 8 months. She was born and raised in Vietnam until the age of 11.
