A talented trio of students has earned accolades for their innovative work with Deepak Koirala, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry. Their awards are replicating like the RNA they study, as they unravel the complexities of viral RNA and reveal potential therapeutic targets.
Manju Ojha, Ph.D. candidate in biochemistry, Megan Nguyen, rising senior biochemistry and molecular biology major, and Jason Daniels ’25, biochemistry and psychology, all members of Koirala’s lab, recently received awards for their joint research on RNA.
Ojha received the Robert F. Steiner Award in recognition of her significant research contributions and dedicated mentorship of undergraduate students. The award was established in 1999 by Robert Cotter and Catherine Fenselau, former chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UMBC, in tribute to Steiner, a former UMBC faculty member and pioneer in biophysical chemistry.
“This award highlights the growing impact of our work on understanding RNA structure, RNA-protein interactions, and viral replication mechanisms—an area that remains central to advancing structural virology and therapeutic development,” Ojha says. “The recognition underscores the importance of tackling complex questions in RNA structure and function using integrative biochemical and structural approaches.”
Students at the center of the lab
Koirala’s group focuses on viruses whose genomes are made of RNA, which include those that cause diseases like polio, the common cold, and more. The group is developing novel techniques to determine the 3D structures of RNA, plus running experiments to figure out how RNA structures in the viruses interact with their host cell’s machinery. Students are deeply involved in all of it.
Nguyen has been studying the structure and function of plant RNAs under Ojha’s mentorship since 2023. Plant viruses are a major challenge for some crops. This spring, Nguyen received the Satterfield-Bell Scholarship, established in 2001, which recognizes an outstanding junior in chemistry who has conducted research.
“I have learned so many techniques and so much scientific theory from Manju and other lab members,” Nguyen says. “I’m thankful for this amazing experience and to be recognized for it. However, with the mentorship I’ve received over the past three years, I know this award is not only my own, but everyone’s in the Koirala lab.”
Daniels has leveraged his experience in the Koirala lab into a competitive summer research program, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute Summer Scholars Program. His long-term goal is to pursue an M.D. Daniels received the Faculty Award for Excellence in Biochemistry, given to a graduating biochemistry major who displays excellence in the classroom and the laboratory.
“I can confidently say that the Koirala lab has been transformative in my academic career and future in science,” Daniels says. “This would not have been possible without mentorship from Manju and Dr. Koirala.”
Tags: ChemBiochem, CNMS, Research, undergradresearch