About Us

Our group is focused on glycomics, glycoproteomics, and proteomics. We work not only on the bioinformatics and bioanalysis that comes from these methods, but also on developing methods that enhance the current capabilities of these research fields.

Working with us is working with a diverse, multinational group that is familiar with global collaboration.

Past Members

Group Members

Dr. Mechref

Dr. Yehia Mechref

Prof. Yehia Mechref is a Paul W. Horn Distinguished Professor in the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas Tech University. He is also the Chairman of the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Director of the Center for Biotechnology and Genomics. He received a B.Sc. in chemistry from the American University of Beirut (Beirut, Lebanon) and a Ph.D. with an honorable mention from Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK, USA). Dr. Mechref is a world-renowned scientist.

He is a nationally and internationally recognized scientific leader in the development of sensitive biomolecular mass spectrometry methods enabling qualitative and quantitative assessments of the roles of proteins, glycoproteins, and glycans in biological systems. He has developed a fast, highly sensitive chromatographic method that efficiently separates and distinguishes among gangliosides in blood samples from patients with different diseases of the esophagus, including adenocarcinoma, high-grade dysplasia, and Barrett's Esophagus. His method for analyzing N-linked glycans, using multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, permits quantitative comparison of the expression of N-glycans in brain-targeting breast carcinoma cells and metastatic breast cancer cells. The permethylated N-glycan MRM method he developed yields rapid, reliable identification and relative abundances of glycans from varied, complex biological samples. He has further refined MRM to minimize the tissue needed and optimize the process, making it possible for the first time to profile glycans on the surfaces of tissues and cells, rather than whole-tissue samples, thus conserving limited tissue samples for other studies.

He pioneered a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) system to analyze glycomic samples in conventional proteomic laboratories, eliminating the need for more specialized facilities and making glycomic analysis more accessible to the broader scientific community. Dr. Mechref has, as well, completed a comprehensive characterization of bovine collagen glycosylation that may be foundational in developing the biochemical modifications necessary for its use in treating human diseases.

Over the past eight years, Dr. Mechref’s research program has received over $9M in funding from the NIH, CPRIT, and CH Foundation, and he currently has five active NIH grants (3R01s, U01 and S10). Dr. Mechref is a prolific writer who has published 29 review articles, 14 book chapters, and 185 peer-reviewed research papers. He has guest-edited 7 journal special issues and he is a member of the editorial boards of numerous journals.

Currently, Dr. Mechref’s Google Scholar h-index is 60, with 10,936 citations. He has 11 US patents. He has organized and co-organized numerous symposia and conferences, and is a standing member of the NIH EBIT study section. Dr. Mechref is the recipient of the 2019 TTU President’s Academic Achievement Award, the 2019 TTU Nancy J. Bell Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Award, the 2016 Barnie E. Rushing, Jr. Faculty Distinguished Research Award, and the 2015 Barnie E. Rushing, Jr. Faculty Outstanding Research Award.

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Department Website

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Group Members

Sherifdeen Onigbinde

PhD Candidate

Sherifdeen Onigbinde is a Ph.D. Student in Chemistry at Texas Tech University. He earned his BS in Biochemistry from the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria. Sherifdeen is working as a Research Assistant under the supervision of Dr. Mechref. His research focuses on developing and employing LC-MS/MS techniques to analyze complex biological samples. Currently, he is working on improving the digestion-efficiencies of O-glycoproteases for efficient identification and characterization of O-glycopeptides in a variety of biological samples.

Mojibola Fowowe

PhD Candidate

Mojibola earned his bachelor's and master's degree in Biochemistry from the Federal University of Technology, Akure and the University of Lagos, Nigeria respectively. His research is focused on the study of small extracellular vesicles and their potentials as biomarkers for cancer, neurotrauma, and neurodegenerative diseases. He has also worked on enhancing the ionization efficiency of glycans and glycopeptides for better identification in LC-MS/MS-based systems. Besides research, Mojibola enjoys computing and learning new skills.

Oluwatosin Daramola

PhD Candidate

Oluwatosin earned his BS degree in Industrial chemistry and MS degree in Analytical chemistry from Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria. He is currently a PhD student of Analytical chemistry and working in Dr Mechref research group. His research is focused on the development of MS based glycomics method.

Akeem Sanni

PhD Candidate

Akeem got his bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria. He is a Ph.D. Student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas Tech University, and a member of Dr. Mechref's research group. He focuses on developing and applying LC-MS/MS techniques for glycomics and proteomics of life-threatening human diseases, and he's presently working on the identification of candidate serum biomarkers in patients with narcolepsy type I. Akeem likes to play football.

Waziha Tasnim Purba

PhD Candidate

Waziha is from Bangladesh. She has completed her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Shahjalal University of Science & Technology and also obtained her M.Sc. degree in Chemistry (Specialization in Analytical Chemistry) from the same university. She received NST (National Science and Technology) Fellowship 2019 under the Ministry of Science & Technology (Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh). After that, she joined Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Ltd. as a Quality Control Officer and was serving there for more than 1.5 years. She joined Texas Tech University to pursue her Ph.D. in analytical chemistry in the fall of 2021. She joined Dr. Mechref’s research group to ameliorate her research knowledge in the bioanalytical field. Her work is focused on LC-MS/MS-based proteomics and glycoproteomics analysis for detecting peptides and glycopeptides. She is mostly interested in working on the detection, separation, and method development of glycans and glycopeptides on different cancer biomarker discoveries. Traveling, and watching movies are her favorite activities in her leisure time.

Md Mostofa Al Amin Bhuiyan

PhD Candidate

Alamin achieved both his bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry from Shahjalal University of Science & Technology in Bangladesh. Currently, he is a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas Tech University, where he is a member of Dr. Mechref's research group. Alamin has practical experience in the pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh. He worked diligently in the Quality Control Department of Square Pharmaceuticals Limited, an FDA-approved pharmaceutical company, demonstrating his expertise in ensuring product quality and safety. He is currently involved in the exciting field of CBD and Hemp commercial products, exploring their percentage in different products with different methods of LC-MS/MS. Additionally, he is working in the field of proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics study of different diseases and treated samples.

Judith Nwaiwu

PhD Candidate

Judith Nwaiwu earned a bachelor’s degree from the Federal University of Technology Owerri and a master’s degree from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. Both degrees were in Biochemistry. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas Tech University under the supervision of Dr. Mechref. Her research interests are neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and drug resistance.

Moyinoluwa Adeniyi

PhD Candidate- Lab Safety Captain

Moyinoluwa was born and raised in Nigeria. He completed his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Biochemistry from Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, and the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, respectively. He is currently a Ph.D. student in Chemistry at Texas Tech University. He has some work and research experience in biomedical research, and he joined Dr. Mechref’s Lab to acquire and apply the knowledge of analytical chemistry in researching and providing a solution to diseases.

Joy Solomon

PhD Candidate

Joy Solomon earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Bowen University, Osun state, Nigeria. She is currently a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas Tech University, under the supervision of Dr. Mechref. Her goal is to make remarkable contributions in the study of diseases and their progression, which would be a useful tool for developing treatments and therapeutic agents. She enjoys baking during her leisure time.

Vishal Sandilya

PhD Candidate

Vishal got his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Texas Tech University in 2023. He worked as a supplemental instruction (SI) leader for organic chemistry II for multiple semesters during his undergraduate studies, where he helped tutor students in challenging concepts from organic chemistry II. Vishal joined the Mechref Omics Lab in 2022 as an undergraduate research assistant where he discovered his passion for mass spectrometry. Currently, he is pursuing a PhD in analytical chemistry under Dr. Mechref in Mechref Omics Lab. Vishal’s research focuses primarily on understanding the proteomic and glycomic alterations in the human body brought upon by diseases such as cancer, narcolepsy, and many other medical conditions.

Ayobami Oluokun

PhD Candidate

Ayobami Oluwaseun Oluokun earned her Bachelor of Technology degree in Industrial Chemistry from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, graduating with a first-class honor and as the overall best-graduating student in her department and faculty. She received the National Association of Science Students (NASS) Best Student of the Year Award and various scholarships. Currently, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at Texas Tech University under the guidance of Dr. Mechref, focusing on identifying and quantifying glycans and proteins for biomarker discovery using LC-MS/MS and developing novel research methods.

Odunayo Oluokun

PhD Candidate

Odunayo hails from Oyo state, Nigeria. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Biochemistry with first class honors and distinction from the Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria, respectively. Odunayo discovered her passion for scientific research during her undergraduate research project at the functional food and nutraceutical unit of the department and has since improved on her research skills and scholastic ability as a graduate research assistant. She joined the lab in Fall 2023. She is currently working on biomarker discovery for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Besides academia, she is a talented fashion designer, movie scriptwriter, actor and a volunteer with different NGOs where she carries out community development services.

Favour Chukwubueze

PhD Candidate

Favour earned her bachelor's degree in Pure and Industrial Chemistry from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria. She is currently pursing her doctorate degree in Analytical Chemistry at Texas Tech University under the supervision of Dr. Mechref. Her research focuses on employing LC-MS/MS techniques in proteomics and glycoproteomics analysis of complex biological samples.

Esther Onyinyechi Oji

Graduate Student

Esther Onyinyechi Oji earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Master of Science degree in Environmental Chemistry from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria. During her studies, she developed a strong passion for research, which led her to serve as a Graduate Research Assistant after graduation. She later earned a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas Tech University. Esther joined the Mechref Omics Lab as a graduate student volunteer in Spring 2024. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at Texas Tech University under the supervision of Dr. Yehia Mechref. Her research focuses on applying advanced LC-MS/MS-based multi-omics approaches to investigate disease mechanisms and identify biomarkers associated with inflammatory and neurological disorders such as atopic dermatitis and traumatic brain injury. Her work integrates analytical chemistry with systems-level biological analysis to better understand disease progression and therapeutic responses.

Shafia Shafiq Nishe

Graduate Student

Shafia Shafiq Nishe earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in pharmacy from the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas Tech University under the supervision of Dr. Yehia Mechref. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, she worked as a scientist in the Research and Development division of a multinational pharmaceutical company in Bangladesh. Her research interests focus on understanding the molecular and structural biology mechanisms underlying neurological disorders and cancer.

Abdulrahman Abdulmumin

Graduate Student

Abdulrahman Abdulmumin is a Ph.D. student in Analytical Chemistry at Texas Tech University and a researcher in the Mechref Omics Laboratory, specializing in LC-MS/MS–driven omics for translational biomedical research. His work focuses on advancing glycomics, glycoproteomics, and proteomics to decode complex biological systems. His current research centers on Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), where he integrates N- and O-glycomics with proteomics to identify early molecular signatures of neurodegeneration and enable blood-based biomarker discovery. He also contributes to IgG Fc N-glycosylation studies in multiple sclerosis and proteomic investigations in traumatic brain injury. He holds an M.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, and a B.Tech in Chemistry from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria, reflecting a transition from materials chemistry to advanced bioanalytical science. Alongside his research, he serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, supporting undergraduate training and mentorship. He is driven by a vision to advance multi-omics technologies for early disease detection and precision medicine. Outside the laboratory, he enjoys playing soccer.

Ronny Barrera

Graduate Student

Ronny Barrera is originally from Ecuador and received his bachelor’s degree from Zamorano University. He later obtained a master's degree in food safety from Texas Tech University. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry in the Analytical Chemistry Division at Texas Tech University as a member of the Mechref Omics Lab. His academic interests focus on glycomics and the discovery of glycan-based biomarkers to support the detection and understanding of human diseases. He also has a strong interest in statistical analysis and the interpretation of complex biological data.

Pelin Yildiz

Graduate Student

Pelin Yildiz received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from Middle East Technical University (METU), Turkey. During her master’s studies, she worked on mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Her work focused on targeted protein quantification and peptide analysis using an MRM/SRM method. She is currently a PhD student in analytical chemistry at Texas Tech University. She is a member of the Mechref Omics Lab. Her research interests include expanding her background in proteomics toward mass spectrometry-based multi-omics approaches. She is particularly interested in glycomics and glycoproteomics. She also aims to explore lipidomics and metabolomics to better understand disease-related molecular changes.