team
Meet The Team.
ABOUT
Principal Investigator
Asheley Chapman
Dr. Asheley Chapman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Vanderbilt University, where she leads the Chapman Lab. She earned her B.A. in Religious Studies from Agnes Scott College and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology under the mentorship of Professors M.G. Finn and Susan Thomas. She completed her postdoctoral training in the immunoengineering lab of Professor Darrell Irvine at MIT and the Scripps Research Institute. Dr. Chapman joined the Vanderbilt faculty in January 2026.
Dr. Chapman’s research integrates protein engineering, chemical biology, and drug delivery to develop precision vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. Her work focuses in particular on modulating B cell responses and exploring germinal center biology to design next-generation nanomedicines.
Graduate Students
ABOUT
Olivia Sherron
ChBE Graduate Student
Olivia is originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in Biomolecular Engineering from the University of South Carolina. While at UofSC, she worked in Dr. Nicholas Truex’s laboratory investigating engineered proteins for increased inflammatory responses, with an emphasis on cancer immunotherapy applications. During this time, she designed a novel transcription factor for upregulating the cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha, and tested the construct in human cell lines. Olivia joined the Chapman lab in 2025 as a first year ChBE student. In her free time, Olivia likes trying new coffee shops around Nashville, going to fitness classes, and FaceTiming her parents (mostly to see her family dog, Louie).
ABOUT
Mayayi Izzo
ChBE Graduate Student, NSF GRFP
Mayayi is from Rhode Island and received her Sc.B. in Biomedical Engineering at Brown University. During her undergraduate studies, she collaborated in Dr. Anita Shukla’s lab to develop surface-functionalized liposomes for enhanced targeting of bacterial infections. For two years following graduation, she worked as a research technician in Dr. Michelle Teplensky’s lab at Boston University, investigating how metal-organic frameworks can be leveraged to deliver biomolecular cargo and modulate immune responses in the context of cancer. In Fall 2026, Mayayi joined the Chapman Lab as a first-year Chemical Engineering PhD student, NSF Graduate Research Fellow, and Russell G. Hamilton Scholar. In her free time, she enjoys reading, weightlifting, and playing boardgames with family and friends.
Research Staff
ABOUT
Morgan Marinelli
Lab Manager
Morgan grew up in Texas, where she received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. While at UT, she was active in the Chemical Engineering Honors Society, conducted nanoparticle research in Dr. Humphrey's lab, and studied lung fluid dynamics in Dr. Eldridge's group. Between semesters, she interned with ExxonMobil and Texas Instruments. Following her graduation, she worked for 2 years in olefins manufacturing at ExxonMobile in Baytown, Texas before joining the Chapman Lab at Vanderbilt University in Spring 2026 as a Research Assistant and Lab Manager. In her free time, Morgan enjoys travel, reading, yoga, and teaching her dog new tricks.
ABOUT
Alena Kozunda
Research Specialist
Alena received her M.S. in Chemistry from Belarussian State University in Minsk, Belarus. She joined Vanderbilt University in 2000, initially working in the Department of Cell Biology and subsequently in the Department of Medicine's Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology. Since 2016, she has served as a Laboratory Manager across the Department of Medicine and the Department of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). In Dr. Asheley Chapman's lab, Alena coordinates multi-funded research projects, oversees advanced in vivo procedures, ensures compliance with IACUC and IBC standards, and trains research staff. In her free time, Alena enjoys baking bread and pastries, exploring nature, and spending time with her family, cat, and dog.
Undergraduate Students
ABOUT
Sophie Phan
ChBE Undergraduate
Sophie is originally from Seattle, Washington, and is a sophomore studying Chemical Engineering at Vanderbilt University. She previously attended the University of Washington before transferring to Vanderbilt in Fall 2026. Sophie joined the Chapman Lab in 2026 as a research assistant. She is also a student-athlete on the Vanderbilt Women's Swim team. In her free time, Sophie enjoys going on walks, trying new restaurants, and spending time with friends.
ABOUT
Luke Novak
ChBE Undergraduate
Luke is originally from Foster City, California, and is a first-year Chemical Engineering student at Vanderbilt University, where he is an Ingram Scholar. In high school, he led AsthmaML, a team building a machine learning tool to predict asthma attacks. His team placed third nationally at BioEHSC, and he presented the project to more than 30 biopharma companies at the California Society of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology conference. He also assisted in the development of an AI model that detects early signs of colorectal cancer in patient cells and studied how disinfectant runoff affects beneficial bacteria in leaves at UC Santa Cruz’s California Summer School for Mathematics and Science. Outside the lab, he ran All Teens Financial Academy, a financial education nonprofit that reached more than 50,000 students. Luke joined the Chapman Lab in September 2026 as a first year ChBe undergraduate student. In his free time, Luke enjoys running, traveling, and hunting for the best food in Nashville.
Ethos
What We Believe
Science and engineering are powerful tools for discovery and for improving life. Conducting research is a privilege, one that we earn through dedication, persistence, and a deep commitment to truth and innovation. We build on the efforts of those who came before us, and we carry the responsibility to pursue knowledge with integrity and care.
We value a wide range of perspectives, bold ideas, and people from all backgrounds, experiences, and skill sets. Our lab is a place where respect, collaboration, and support are not just encouraged—they're essential. These principles help us do our best science and create a community where everyone can thrive.
To the end of developing better and safer vaccines and therapeutics, we hold these principles in the forefront of our minds:
Rigor
Dedication
Community
Integrity
Innovation
Perseverance
Discipline
Collaboration
Service
