Members

Associate Professor
Pharmaceutical Sciences

About
Andrew was born in Lawrence, Kansas and raised in Ohio where he earned his Bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University. He later returned to Kansas, obtaining his PhD in chemistry from the University of Kansas, working with Prof. Thomas Prisinzano on the synthesis of opioid receptor ligands. Staying in the Midwest, Andrew joined the laboratory of Prof. Paul Hergenrother at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow. In the fall of 2018, Andrew joined the faculty at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring Chicago, drinking microbrews, and spending time with his wife, daughter, and cat.

Fun fact: Andrew was born in the same city he earned his Ph.D. in.
Andrew-ism: We shouldn’t anthropomorphize ligands, and we certainly shouldn’t call them losers!! That’s mean!!

Education

NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 08/15 – 06/18
PhD, University of Kansas, 08/10 – 05/15
BA, Ohio Wesleyan University, 08/06 – 05/10

Lisa was born and raised in sunny Southern California, graduating with a BS in Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology and a minor in Chemistry from CSU Long Beach in Spring 2020. After deciding she wanted to experience what a real winter was like, she came to UIC and joined the Riley Lab in Spring 2021. She is working on biomimetically synthesizing Aristotelia alkaloids and evaluating their activity. Outside of the lab, you can usually find Lisa working on a Lego set or learning a new piece at the piano.

Fun fact: Lisa has an ever-growing fun sock collection and doesn’t own any plain white socks.
Lisa-ism: 🫡

Ana was born in Chiapas, Mexico and moved to Grand Rapids, MI when she was 2. She received her BS in Biochemistry from the University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit, MI in 2021. Ana joined the Riley lab in the Spring of 2022 after deciding that Chicago would be her next adventure. She is working on developing new streamlined approaches for the synthesis and analysis of natural product analogs. When not in lab, Ana is learning to make a new Mexican dish or reading/watching anything supernatural. And everyday Ana reminds herself that Latinas belong in the STEM field (and Dr. Riley could not agree more!).

Fun fact: Ana’s elbows are double-jointed.
Ana-ism: “I could drink ranch.”

Megan was born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and has always dreamed of living in the city. She is a proud alum of Purdue University where she graduated with her BS in Chemistry in Spring 2022. Megan joined the Riley lab in Spring 2023. She is working on synthesizing and testing analogs for the treatment of pain. When not in lab, you can find Megan at home taking care of her many houseplants and her orange cat, Sprout, or out exploring the city with friends.

Fun fact: Megan is the lab’s resident Swiftie and can recognize any Taylor Swift song within the first 5 seconds.
Megan-ism: “HuuuuuH?”

Joseph was born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez in 2023. Wanting to pursue his passion in neuroscience, Joseph joined the Riley Lab in 2024. He is currently working on synthesizing natural product analogs and testing their effects in vitro and in vivo. When not in the lab, Joseph likes to play videogames, do arts and crafts, play the viola, cook, listen to music, and sleep.

Fun fact: Joseph has an older brother who is exactly 2 years older than him.
Joseph-ism: “I sometimes talk and make no sense.”

Danielle was raised in Huntley, Illinois and graduated with a BA in chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in Spring 2023. She joined the Riley lab in Spring 2024 and is currently synthesizing ibogaine analogs to treat addiction. When Danielle is not in the lab you can find her at the gym or playing horror games on the Nintendo Switch.

Fun Fact: Danielle has been to Lollapalooza 6 years in a row, and counting.

Danielle-ism: “Sometimes I forget that I am left-handed.”

Leo was born in San Germán, Puerto Rico and grew up in Chicago. He graduated with his B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Arizona in Fall 2023. After joining the University of Arizona he has focused on developing small molecule inhibitors involved in various diseases, and after joining UIC has continued on that path currently focusing on developing analogs for substance use disorder. When not in lab, you can find Leo at home tinkering with computers, playing video games, or spending time with friends.

Fun fact: Leo enjoys building computers!
Leo-ism: “Hullo :)”

Jacob grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and graduated with a BS in Chemistry from the University of Utah in 2021. After graduating he first worked in QC for an industrial chemical plant and then for a pharmacology lab studying pulmonary toxicology. Jacob joined the Riley lab in 2025. He is currently working on a project to synthesize and characterize the activity of natural products found in a natural remedy called sinicuichi. Jacob enjoys running, hiking, camping, and he watches movies religiously. His wife Kt and dog Mowgli are his best friends.

Fun Fact: He can identify many common edible mushrooms (and their toxic look-alikes) and has eaten many of them.
Jacob-ism: Have you seen (insert movie or Spongebob episode)?

Benjamin Clark, PhD (2024-2025) — R&D Scientist at Bachem

Malaika Argade, PhD (2019-2021) — Research Scientist in the UICentre, UIC

Sharna-kay Daley, PhD (2019-2019)