Gehan Ranepura
Physics PhD Student, Gunner Lab
Job Title
Objective
Looking for summer research opportunities for 2024 in the field of computational biophysics and computation chemistry/physics methods development . Open to learning more about companies that work in quantitative finance and data science/engineering.
Bio
As a member of the Gunner Lab, Gehan Ranepura is interested in the use of theoretical and computational methods to study photosynthetic proteins and network pathways. The overall aim is to better understand how photosynthetic proteins efficiently transform solar energy to useful products. Gehan works on using cutting edge computational techniques for generating and analyzing detailed data driven models based on underlying physical principles to drive the modification of natural systems and the design of artificial photosynthetic systems for enhanced human use.
Technical Skills
Python, MATLAB, Mathematica, Git/GitHub, Linux/Linux CLI, Gaussian, OpenMM, PyMOL, Chimera, VMD, Dynamo, RELION, Coot, LaTeX, Microsoft Office Suite
Professional Development Skills
• GenAI, LLMs Meetup: December 2023
• BioHack NYC – AI/ML-in-Bio Hackathon hosted by Nucleate & Entrepreneur First : October 2023
Publications
1. Gehan A. Ranepura, Junjun Mao, Josh V. Vermaas, Jimin Wang, et al. Computing the relative affinity of chlorophylls a and b to light-harvesting complex II. Journal of Physical Chemistry B. 127, 10974-10986. December 14, 2023; doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c06273
2. Clark JF, Ciccarelli EJ, Kayastha P, Ranepura G, Yamamoto KK, et al. BMP pathway regulation of insulin signaling components promotes lipid storage in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLOS Genetics. 17(10): e1009836. October 11, 2021; doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1009836
3. V. Deligiannakis, G. Ranepura, I. L. Kuskovsky, M. C. Tamargo, Advanced material system for the design of an intermediate band solar cell: type-II CdTe quantum dots in a ZnCdSe matrix. Journal of Applied Physics. 126, 235302. December 19, 2019; doi.org/10.1063/1.5126224
4. C. M. Imperato, G. A. Ranepura, L. I. Deych, I. L. Kuskovsky. Theoretical Determination of Optimal Material Parameters for ZnCdTe/ZnCdSe Quantum Dot Intermediate Band Solar Cells. Journal of Electronic Materials. 47, 4325-4331. March 30, 2018; doi.org/10.1007/s11664-018-6241-6
5. James F. Clark, Michael Meade, Gehan Ranepura, David H. Hall and Cathy Savage-Dunn. Caenorhabditis elegans DBL-1/BMP Regulates Lipid Accumulation via Interaction with Insulin Signaling. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 8(1), 343-351. January 1, 2018; doi.org/10.1534/g3.117.300416
Conferences
1. Gehan Ranepura, Junjun Mao, Josh Vermaas, Jimin Wang, Christopher J. Gisriel, Muhamed Amin and M. R. Gunner. Computational Predictions of Chlorophyll a vs b Binding in Light-Harvesting Complex II. Photosyntheiss Gordon Research Conference (GRC), Newry Maine, July 2023. Poster.
2. Gehan Ranepura, Junjun Mao, Christopher Gisriel, Muhamed Amin and M.R. Gunner. Continuum Electrostatic Analysis of Chlorophyll a vs b Binding in Light-Harvesting Complex II. NanoBioNYC Launch Event, New York NY, April 2023. Talk.
3. Gehan Ranepura, Junjun Mao, Christopher Gisriel, Muhamed Amin and M.R. Gunner. Continuum Electrostatic Analysis of Chlorophyll a vs b Binding in Light-Harvesting Complex II. Eastern Regional Photosynthesis Conference (ERPC), Woods Hole MA, April 2023. Talk.
4. Gehan Ranepura, Junjun Mao, Christopher Gisriel and M.R. Gunner. Binding Affinity of Variant Chlorophyll Types To Far-Red Light Acclimated Cyanobacterium Photosystem II. Eastern Regional Photosynthesis Conference (ERPC), Woods Hole MA, April 2022. Poster.
5. V. Deligiannakis, M. Begliarbekov, S. Alsheimer, G. Ranepura, I. L. Kuskovsky and M. C. Tamargo. Optimized Material for Intermediate Band Solar Cells: Type-II CdTe Quantum Dots in a ZnCdSe Matrix. 6th International Workshop on Infrared Technologies, Princeton, NJ, 08544. October 2019. Poster.
6. Gehan Ranepura, Sonali Dhindwal, Reza Khayat. Structural Analysis of Pseudomonas phage phi8 through Cryo-ET. CUNY ASRC Biophysics Symposium 2019, New York NY, 10031. May 2019. Poster.
7. Gehan Ranepura, Daniella Abramov, Daniel Aviel, Nicholas Palmisano, Alicia Meléndez, and Cathy Savage-Dunn. Autophagy Regulation due to DBL-1/BMP Signaling in the model C. elegans. Society for Developmental Biology Northeast Regional Meeting (NESDB) 2018, Woods Hole MA, April 2018. Poster.
8. Gehan Ranepura, Cassandra Imperato, Lev Deych, Igor Kuskovsky. Theoretical Determination of Optimal Material Parameters for ZnCdTe/ZnCdSe Quantum Dot Intermediate Band Solar Cells. 32nd Queens College Chapter for the Scientific Research Society (Sigma Xi) Annual Research Day, Flushing NY, April 2018. Poster.
9. Gehan Ranepura, Nicholas Palmisano, Alicia Meléndez, and Cathy Savage-Dunn. Autophagy Regulation due to DBL-1/BMP Signaling in the model C. elegans. Queens College, Flushing NY, May 2017. MARC-U*STAR Thesis Defense.
10. Gehan Ranepura, Nicholas Palmisano, Alicia Meléndez, and Cathy Savage-Dunn. Autophagy Regulation due to DBL-1/BMP Signaling in the model C. elegans. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), Tampa FL, November 2016. Poster.
11. Gehan Ranepura, Bingmei Fu. Theoretical Determination of the Permeability of the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB). Summer Undergraduate Research Program, Queens College, Flushing NY, September 2016. Talk.
12. Gehan Ranepura, Nicholas Palmisano, Alicia Meléndez, and Cathy Savage-Dunn. Autophagy Regulation due to DBL-1/BMP Signaling in the model C. elegans. Honors in Math & Science Research, Queens College, Flushing NY, May 2016. Talk.
Awards
• Amie James Science Travel Award - CUNY Graduate Center - December 2023
• Graduate Travel Award for Annual BPS Meeting - Biophysical Society - November 2023
• Baruch ’60 Center Award for Best Oral Presentation - 40th Eastern Regional Photosynthesis Conference - April 2023
• Futures Initiative’s Paul C. Notari Environmental Studies Grant, CUNY Graduate Center - April 2023
• Doctoral Student Research Grant (DSRG) - CUNY Graduate Center - March 2023
