Alumni News
Robert P. Hayes, Ph.D.
Principal Scientist, Merck Research Laboratories
Robert P. Hayes is a Principal Scientist in Protein and Structural Chemistry at Merck & Co., Inc., based in Boston, MA, where he supports drug discovery across therapeutic areas using X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and integrative structural biology.
He began his academic journey at SUNY Plattsburgh and Georgia Tech, followed by a summer REU program at Washington State University with James Brozik. Inspired by this experience, he earned his Ph.D. at Washington State University with ChulHee Kang in 2013, studying structural biology related to chlorophenol bioremediation.
He conducted postdoctoral research with Ailong Ke at Cornell University, contributing to CRISPR studies published in Cell and Nature.
Dr. Hayes joined Merck Research Laboratories in 2016 and contributes to drug discovery through structural biology and medicinal chemistry collaborations. He is passionate about mentoring interns and co-op students.
WSU shaped my scientific career through mentorship from faculty like Jim Brozik and ChulHee Kang, along with the training I gained from the broader chemistry and molecular biosciences community. I encourage fellow Cougs to connect with me on LinkedIn to learn more about careers in pharmaceutical research.”
Dr. Kamal Seneviratne
Assistant Professor and Biomedical Researcher
Dr. Kamal Seneviratne, a 2017 Ph.D. graduate of the Department of Chemistry, continues to build an impressive career in biomedical research and higher education. As a member of Dr. Cliff Berkman’s research group, Kamal developed the strong scientific foundation that launched his research journey.
Following graduation, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he expanded his expertise in biomedical and translational research. Today, he leads an independent research laboratory at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), holds a secondary appointment with the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and maintains an affiliation with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Dr. Seneviratne’s research program is supported by funding from the Maryland Stem Cell Research Foundation and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the NIH. We are proud to celebrate his accomplishments and the impact he is making through scientific discovery, innovation, and mentorship.
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It is always wonderful receiving news from our alumni. Please keep in touch with us and let us know what you are up to or notify the WSU Chemistry community of the passing of a colleague.
Send updates to: chemistry@wsu.edu