The Haglund Research Group
Department of Chemistry
Haglund Research Group
Dr. Ellinor Haglund
Dr. Ellinor Haglund joined the University of Hawaii (UH) in August 2018 as an assistant professor in chemistry. Her work is focused on a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and in vitro biophysical characterization of the folding and function of proteins with a so-called Pierced Lasso Topology (PLT). A PLT is a “knot-like” topology where a covalent loop is formed in the protein backbone and part of the amino acid chain threads through this region. More than 600 proteins with PLTs have been discovered to date, represented in all kingdoms of life. Interestingly, this topology can be made and broken depending on the chemical environment. Thus, PLTs may act as biological switches turning protein activity on/off.
Graduate Members
Grace Orellana
Chemistry PhD Candidate
Misfolding of proteins is a challenging field to explore due to the various mechanisms that are still being examined. Misfolding can occur from the unfolded, intermediate, or native state depending on the environmental conditions and the system. Proteins can misfold due to the chemical environment or mutations forming aggregation prone regions (APR), causing them to form amorphous aggregates and possibly amyloid fibers. APR can be predicted and analyzed by using a variety of methods such as computational design and experimental studies regarding induced aggregation. My research is involved in understanding the link between transient formation of oligomers and misfolding of proteins.
Ivy Vo
Chemistry Master's Student
My research focuses on Superoxide dismutase (SOD) from Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MtSOD) to understand the role of cofactors (Cu/Zn) and the Pierced Lasso Topology (PLT) in protein folding and function. This is crucial in understanding the mechanisms that allow MtSOD to suppress the host immune system. My long-range goal is to elucidate the biophysical properties and determine the evolutionary effect of the environment across organisms utilizing MtSOD in comparison with hSOD1.
David Budean
Chemistry PhD Candidate
My research focuses on the chemokine family of signaling proteins. We work towards understanding the structure and function of select CXC ligands through thermodynamic, kinetic and NMR experiments. We explore the formation of monomeric, homodimeric, and heterodimeric species that can activate the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) important in immune response.
Jitendra Pandey
Chemistry PhD Student
CCL chemokine ligands are small signaling proteins crucial for immune response regulation. They attract immune cells to sites of inflammation and infection, playing a vital role in coordinating immune system activity. The primary focus of my research revolves around biophysical characterization of CC ligands (especially CCL2, CCL8, CCL11, and CCL20) selected for CCR-2 receptor. We analyze wild types and mutated chemokines by using kinetics and thermodynamics techniques. I am also working on investigation of requisite amino acid sequence for ligand:receptor interaction and biological function of these chemokines.
Amanda Taitano
Chemistry Master's Student
Metabolism and the gut microbiome are closely linked yet the mechanisms connecting them remain unclear. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model, I study how knocking down Upd1, a leptin analog, alters microbiome composition and affects metabolic regulation. Analyzing these effects provides insight into how gut-microbe interactions shape metabolic pathways. Additionally, I explore the structural properties of Upd1 to better understand its role in metabolic signaling, bridging microbiome research, metabolic regulation, and structural biochemistry.
Saber Eslami
Chemistry PhD Student
My research focuses on understanding the sequence evolution, structural dynamics, and functional adaptations of human copper chaperone (hCCS) proteins, which are essential for delivering copper to superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). Proper copper loading of SOD1 is critical for its enzymatic activity in neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and maintaining cellular redox balance. CCS homologs are widely distributed across vertebrates, invertebrates, fungi, and some plants, reflecting their conserved role in cellular copper homeostasis. The highest sequence conservation is observed in mammals, where CCS proteins share ~60–80% sequence identity, highlighting their evolutionary significance. However, variations in sequence, metal-binding affinity, and regulatory mechanisms across different species suggest that CCS has undergone adaptive evolution, potentially to fine-tune its function in distinct cellular environments.
Undergraduate Members
Lee Daguio
Lee is a junior biology major currently working on a photodecarboxylase research project in the Haglund group.
Charlie Emelio
Charlie is a junior biology major currently working on a SOD research project in the Haglund group.
Paul Yamane
Paul is a junior molecular biology major currently working on a leptin research project in the Haglund group.
Former Graduate Members
Patrick Martin
Patrick received his M.S in chemistry from UH Manoa in 2022. He helped establish the chemokine project in the Haglund group.
Clara Lundbaeck
Clara received her M.S in engineering from Umea University in 2025. Her project focused on phase separation behavior.
Jennifer Simien
Jennifer received her PhD in chemistry from UH Manoa in 2024. Her research focused on the folding and function of the human hormone leptin.
Josefin Eriksson
Josefin received her M.S in engineering from Umea University in 2025. Her project focused on generating stabilized dimers.
Ida Aaman
Ida received her M.S in engineering from Umea University in 2025. Her project explored the link between protein structure and evolutionary sequence adaptations.
Former Members
Emily Kurth
Emily received her B.S in biochemistry from UH Manoa in 2022. She had multiple undergraduate research opportunity program funded projects during her time in the Haglund group and helped establish the chemokine project. Currently, she works as a clinical research associate within the medical program at University of Hawaii.
Emma McRae
Emma received her B.S in biochemistry from UC Berkeley in 2022. She is currently pursuing her PhD in chemistry at the University of Indiana.
Alyssa-Jade Riglos
Alyssa received her B.S in biochemistry from UH Manoa in 2023. She is currently pursuing her PhD in chemistry at the University of Washington.
Anthony Ly
Anthony received his B.S in biochemistry from UH Manoa in 2024. He worked on an undergraduate research opportunity project in the Haglund group.
Jared Sloan
Jared received his B.S in biology from UH Manoa. He worked on an undergraduate research opportunity project in the Haglund group. He is currently in medical school at the University of North Texas.
Kayla Osumi
Kayla received her B.S in biochemistry from UH Manoa in 2021. She had an undergraduate research opportunity program funded project on the expression and purification of superoxide dismutase in the Haglund group. She is currently pursuing her PhD in chemistry at UC Davis.
Julia Vo
Julia received her B.S in biochemistry from UH Manoa and is obtaining an optometrist degree at Optometry school at Marshall B. Ketchum University.
Ivy Ammerman
Ivy received her B.S in biology from Hawaii Pacific University.
Selma Stafshede
Selma spent the 2020-21 school year as an exchange student at UH Manoa and is currently in law school in Sweden.
Hannah Osthaous
Hannah spent the 2022-23 school year as an exchange student at UH Manoa and is currently earning a bachelor's in biochemistry in Zurich, Switzerland.
Madison Olson
Madison received her B.S in biology at UH Manoa. She worked on an undergraduate research opportunity project in the Haglund group.