Principal Investigator (PI)Coral Y. Zhou, Ph.D.
Coral completed her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Maryland, College Park. She graduated from the University of California, San Francisco with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics before completing postdoctoral work at the University of California, Berkeley. After 15 years in California, Coral moved to Lawrence, Kansas to start her lab in January 2025. Coral is passionate about chromatin, active mentorship, and training the next generation of scientists and critical thinkers. She also loves to draw on the whiteboard. Outside of the lab you can find her cooking, reading, doing yoga, or hanging out in Kansas City.
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Graduate Student Researcher
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Cael Gorman, B.S.
Cael Gorman is a Molecular Bioscience PhD student at the University of Kansas. He received
his B.S. in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology from the University of Kansas in 2025 and has worked as a research assistant in Zhou Lab before starting graduate school in the fall semester of 2026. Cael is combining molecular biology with comparative genomics and bioinformatics to study heterochromatin genes have diversified in structure and function across Xenopus species of different ploidies. His broader interests include understanding how genome organization and ploidy influence gene regulation, organismal biology, and evolutionary diversification, with an interest in potential biomedical applications including gene therapies. Outside of the lab, Cael enjoys spending time outdoors fishing and playing baseball, reading, playing guitar, and supporting Jayhawk athletics. |
Lab Technician
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Regan Warren B.S.
Regan Warren graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.A. in Ecology, Evolution, and
Organismal Biology in 2026. She continues to work with the KU Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute, where she co-founded the KU Society for Herpetology, and continues her research on the Italian Wall Lizard and Philippine Flying Dragon. In the Zhou Lab, Regan is using genomics to investigate how H3K9me3, the epigenetic mark for heterochromatin, is established and maintained during the development of Xenopus laevis frogs. She is also our main “frog whisperer” and is breeding X. laevis and X. longipes. Aside from her research interests, Regan enjoys performance car culture, spending time outdoors, skiing, creating pottery, and hanging out with her friends, family, and pets. |
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Undergraduate Researchers
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Sarayu Pentapati
Sarayu Pentapati is a biochemistry major at the University of Kansas with a strong interest in
medicine and biomedical research. As an undergraduate researcher in the Zhou Lab, she uses immunofluorescence staining and quantitative imaging to discover how genomes become silenced by forming heterochromatin during early embryonic development using the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. Outside of the lab, Sarayu is passionate about pursuing a career in medicine and exploring the connection between basic research and human health. She loves dancing, reading books, drawing, and watching every single reality tv show possible! |
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Mayank Shrestha
Mayank Shrestha is a Biochemistry major and a Statistics minor at the University of Kansas.
Using African clawed frogs Xenopus laevis, Mayank is using biochemical methods using egg and embryo extracts to explore the dynamics of heterochromatin establishment during the early stages of embryogenesis. Outside of the lab, Mayank loves playing the cello, swimming, reading books, and hanging out with friends. He is interested in pursuing a career in medicine with a heavy emphasis on research. He hopes to make medicine more accessible throughout the world, and especially in third world countries like Nepal where he is from. |
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Danny Jack
Danny Jack is a Biochemistry major at the University of Kansas. Working in the Zhou lab since February 2025, Danny uses biochemical methods with Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog) egg and embryo extracts to investigate how nuclear-to-cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio and ploidy influence the establishment of heterochromatin during early embryogenesis. Outside of the lab, Danny loves wrestling, playing the trumpet in the KU marching band, and reading. He is interested in pursuing a career in medicine, drawn to research as a way to deepen his understanding of science and strengthen his ability to connect with diverse communities through academic outreach.
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Senior Froggy
Frog is currently a senior year froggy at the University of Kansas, majoring in Pond Ecology with a minor in Fly Management. He joined the Zhou lab in July 2025 after hearing rumors of a grant-funded bug buffet and decided to stick around once he realized science involves fewer predators than the swamp. His research interests include splash dynamics, algae bloom gossip, and the evolutionary psychology of lily pad loyalty.
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Alumni!
Katherine Lenz, Undergrad, 2025 - 2026, Next step: Medical student at KUMC