Dr. Jaume Amengual
Dr. Amengual is from Spain (Palma de Mallorca). He obtained his PhD in 2009 at the University of the Balearic Islands (Spain). He was a post-doctoral fellow at Case Western Reserve University (2009-2013) and at New York University (2013-2015). In 2016 he became a Research Assistant Professor at the School of Medicine – NYU (2016-2017). In 2018, he joined the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois Urbana – Champaign.
Molly Black, CVT
Molly joined the lab in the spring of 2018. She has worked on campus since 1996 for various labs in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. Currently she helps with ordering, safety protocols, and helping students with their projects.
Walter Catalan, BS
Walter is from El Salvador. He is currently a PhD student in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. He received his B.Sc in Food Science and Technology from Samorano University in Honduras in December 2020. Walter joined the lab in January 2021.
Donald Molina, BS
Donald is from Nicaragua. He received his BS in Food Science from Zamorano University in 2019. He had the opportunity to work as a research scholar at Purdue University and Texas Tech University in 2020, where he worked in food chemistry and microbiology. He joined the Amengual Lab in the fall of 2021 and is now a PhD student. Donald’s research focuses on the role of LRAT on lipid secretion, and he collaborates on projects related to atherosclerosis regression.
Amparo Blanco Cirer, MSc
Amparo joined the lab in January 2022 as a PhD student for the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. She received her BSc in Biotechnology at the Universitat de Barcelona in 2017. For her final thesis she performed an Erasmus program internship in the Wurzburg Universitat, where she studied Chlamydia trachomatis and ovarian carcinoma. Amparo carried out her MSc in Regenerative Medicine at Queen Mary University of London. Her master thesis consisted of the study of Padre-Willi syndrome, where she had the opportunity to work with neural stem cell cultures.
Colin Xiao, BS
Colin joined the lab in January 2024 as an MS student in the Division of Nutritional Sciences. He received his BS in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in May 2023. His current research focuses on the impact that beta-ionone has on gene expression, as well as the role exosomes play in the excretion of vitamin A.
Theodorus Mikhael, Undergraduate
Theo joined the lab in August of 2022. He is currently a junior majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology with Bio-Engineering & Chemistry minors. Theo intends to pursue medical school with an interest in Endocrinology & Anesthesia after graduating in May 2025.
Kriti Maiya, Undergraduate
Kriti joined the lab in August of 2022. She is currently a junior majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology with Chemistry and Public Health minors. Kriti plans to pursue dental school with a particular interest in Orthodontics after graduating in May of 2025.
Olivia Edakkunnathu, Undergraduate
Olivia Edakkunnathu joined the lab in August of 2022. She is currently a junior majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology with minors in Chemistry and Legal Studies. Olivia intends to pursue medical school after graduating in May of 2025 with an interest in practicing abroad.
Delaina Sigman, Undergraduate
Delaina joined the lab in January of 2023. She is a current student in Food Science and Human Nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics. Delaina aims to receive a bachelor’s and master’s degree in May of 2025 in preparation for her dietetics internship. She is in the Army ROTC and aspires to be an Active-Duty Dietitian.
Michelle Zhu, Undergraduate
Michelle joined the lab in October of 2023. She is currently a junior majoring in Dietetics and Nutrition with Chemistry and Health Administration minors. Michelle intends to continue research as a master’s student after graduating in May of 2025. She aspires to eventually be a community dietitian.
Ismail Mohammed Ahmed, Undergraduate
Ismail joined the lab in October of 2023. He is currently a senior majoring in Food Science and Nutrition with a concentration in Nutrition and Health. Upon graduating in May of 2024, he plans to pursue medical school with an interest in Primary Care and Sports Medicine.
Eva Hu, Undergraduate
Eva joined the lab in January of 2024. She is currently a sophomore majoring in Food Science and Human Nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics. After graduating in May 2026, Eva plans to pursue a research-based master’s degree and aims to become a clinical dietitian.