| Andrea Alfonso alfonso2@wisc.edu David Beebe Lab |
Research: Our goal is a holistic approach to understanding cell behavior that integrates in vitro cellular scale engineering to recapitulate important in vivo microenvironmental characteristics in ways that provide biological insights, aid in diagnosis/treatment and enhance discovery. |
| Jennifer Anderson jlanderson37@wisc.edu David Evans Lab |
Education: BS, Biology, Minor in Chemistry, University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point, May 1999 Research: The Evan’s lab studies host-pathogen interactions in HIV/SIV. My research focuses on the role of killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I interactions in regulating NK cell responses in non-human primate models of infectious disease. |
| Emmie Bell elbell2@wisc.edu Xin Gao Lab |
Education: Purdue University Research: The overarching goal of the Gao lab’s research is to understand the functional roles of bone marrow microenvironment in regulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) during normal, pre-malignant and malignant hematopoiesis.. |
| Mayra Alejandra Betancourt Ponce betancourtpo@wisc.edu Barroilhet/Patankar Lab |
Education: BS, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus Research: In the Barroilhet/Patankar Lab, we study ovarian cancer through different approaches. My work will focus on elucidating the effects of oxidative phosphorylation inhibition in the ovarian tumor microenvironment, looking at effects on both cancer and immune cells. |
| Joshua Brand jabrand2@wisc.edu Huy Dinh Lab |
Education: BS, Biology, SUNY Geneseo Research: In the Dinh Lab we apply computational methods to high dimensional technologies such as single cell RNA sequencing to understand immune heterogeneity of various cancers. We are interested in finding predictive markers of progression, novel therapeutic targets, and understanding interactions that define tumor immune microenvironments. |
| Mikaela Bray mcbray@wisc.edu Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS Lab |
Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison Research: Dr. Barroilhet’s laboratory works on ovarian cancer prevention and early detection. Other projects include novel imaging techniques and identifying circulating biomarkers. |
| Beniah Brumbaugh bbrumbaugh@wisc.edu William Sugden Lab |
Education: BS, University of Vermont Research: Our Lab studies two human, oncogenic Herpesviruses: Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Kaposi’s Sarcoma Virus (KSHV). Using molecular approaches and biological imaging, I propose to examine viral processes that can be targeted to prevent viral replication. |
| Sasha Celada celada@wisc.edu Aaron LeBeau Lab |
Education: BS, Microbiology, Iowa State University, May 2022 Research: The LeBeau Lab utilizes antibodies from llamas and sharks as potential therapeutics for disease. Variable regions from these animals are smaller, which means they can penetrate tissues more effectively and survive harsher environments than human IgG. I am generating and characterizing antibody libraries with intent to improve the imaging and treatment of cancer. |
| Jiarui Chen jchen2429@wisc.edu Muhammed Murtaza Lab |
Education: MS, Wuhan University Research: Our lab is interested in novel oncology diagnostics for detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patient plasma. My research is centered on the development of new testing methodologies to enrich the target ctDNA fragments prior to shallow Whole Genome Sequencing (sWGS) with an emphasis on pan-cancer biomarkers for both early detection and treatment management. |
| Julia Colwell gambardella2@wisc.edu Marina Emborg Lab |
Education: Salve Regina University, RI Research: I am interested in the role of the neuronal protein tau in neurodegeneration. My research uses nonhuman primate models of disease, specifically an MPTP neurotoxin model of Parkinson’s disease (PD), and a MAPT R406W mutant model of frontotemporal dementia. I am currently mapping endogenous tau and phosphorylated tau distribution in the brains of healthy and diseased rhesus macaques using postmortem immunostaining methods and in vivo PET imaging. |
| Stephan DaRodda darodda@wisc.edu Dan Loeb Lab |
Education: UC Davis Research: I study Hepatitis B virus and the role of the envelope proteins in viral secretion by examing and comparing Duck Hepatis B virus to other Avihepadnaviruses, such as Snow goose Hepatitis B virus. |
| Siobhan Dietz sdietz3@wisc.edu Mathew Anderson Lab |
Education: BS, Biochemistry, Smith College, 2023 Research: “I’m looking at population diversity within clinical Candida albicans infections via whole genome sequence, as well as what defines a commensal vs. a pathogen in C. albicans.” |
| Samuel Dettle sdettle@wisc.edu Igor Slukvin Lab |
Education: BS, Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Superior, May 2021 Research: The Slukvin lab is focused on translational hematopoietic therapies ranging from cancer to HIV immunotherapies. My research is focused on improving the efficacy and quality of hematopoietic differentiation using bioinformatics and DOE to guide the optimization of HPs (hematopoietic progenitors). |
| Kim Edwards kedwards22@wisc.edu David Gamm Lab |
Education: Indiana University Research: Choroideremia (CHM) is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by progressive and irreversible vision loss as a result of degeneration of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE). |
| Billy Erazo berazo@wisc.edu Laura Knoll Lab |
Education: BS, Industrial Microbiology, University of Puerto Rico Research: Our lab studies the host/pathogen interaction of protozoan parasites, including Toxoplasmas gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, and T. gondii’s diarrhea-causing cousins Cryptosporidium parvum and Entamoeba histolytica. My research focuses on finding which host genes involved in cell death pathways affect the invasiveness of E. histolytica. |
| Abby Evered aevered@wisc.edu Tyler Ulland Lab |
Education: BS, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Minor in Chemistry, Oregon State University, June 2022 Research: “My lab studies the innate immune response in Alzheimer’s Disease. More specifically, I work to characterize the roles various microbial metabolites play in neuroinflammation.” |
| Lauryn Flannagan lflannagan@wisc.edu Jeremy Kratz Lab |
Education: BS, Biological Sciences, Marquette University, 2022 Research: “In the Kratz lab, we use patient derived organoid models to better understand resistance mechanisms in pancreatic and liver cancer. As well as optimize the administration of current therapeutics to improve quality of life for cancer patients. My project is focused on using CRISPR-Cas9 editing to monitor and study how tumors are able to evolve and gain resistance to current therapeutics.” |
| Sean Foster stfoster@wisc.edu Quaovi Sodji Lab> |
Education: Michigan State University Research: Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy are emerging therapies that have revolutionized cancer therapy. However, each of these therapies is confronted by limitations that can potentially be resolved by the other. As such, understanding the mechanisms that govern the interactions between these novel therapies and ways to effectively harness their potential synergism will be crucial for advancing the field of oncology. |
| Anqi Gao agao9@wisc.edu Huy Dinh Lab |
Education: BS, Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, Emory University,2017 Research: My research in the Dinh lab focuses on studying the murine and human tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in melanoma and neuroblastoma using computational approaches. I am specifically interested in the myeloid response to various treatment regimens, with a focus on neutrophil heterogeneity. |
| Xiaoyue Gao xgao276@wisc.edu Lixin Rui Lab |
Education: BS, Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, June 2019, MS, Bioinformatics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , MS, Bioinformatics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Research: The major research focus of our lab is the molecular mechanisms of B-cell receptor and JAK-STAT signaling pathways and epigenetic enzymes, including protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) and DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), in lymphomagenesis. We employ a multidisciplinary approach, using biochemistry, RNA interference, genomic technologies (e.g., ChIP-seq, RNA-seq and single-cell RNA-seq), CRISPR/Cas9 and systems biology methods, to complete our research goal. |
| Nicholas Garcia nicholas.garcia@wisc.edu Anna Huttenlocher Lab |
Education: Indiana University Research: The goal of the Huttenlocher laboratory is to understand how cells migrate and communicate with other cells during inflammation, cancer and tissue repair. We work across disciplines to achieve these goals and take advantage of advanced live imaging, quantitative analysis and bioengineering systems to answer questions relevant to human disease. To achieve these goals, we use zebrafish amenable to real time imaging of cell migration and inflammation. We also use human iPS cells to engineer innate immune cells that are studied in organotypic models in vitro. Students and postdocs are encouraged to pursue challenging problems in biomedical research that address fundamental questions of interest. |
| Adam Glawe aglawe@wisc.edu Nett Lab |
Education: BS, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Univ of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009; MS, Biomedical Sciences, Midwestern University, 2016 Research: In the Nett lab, we study the fungal pathogen Candida auris. We investigate numerous perspectives including pathology, colonization, and possible therapeutic opportunities. |
| Athena Golfinos agolfinos@wisc.edu Huy Dinh Lab |
Education: BS, 2017 Biology, UW Madison Research: My research is focused on assessing the translational value of various mouse models of head and neck cancer (HNC) compared to their clinical counterparts. I am also interested in using both model organisms as well as clinical samples to assess differences in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in different varieties of HNC. |
| Alena Hanson ajhanson23@wisc.edu Svaren Lab |
Education: BS, Neuroscience, Lawrence University, 2020 Research: |
| Regan Harmon rlharmon2@wisc.edu Deric Wheeler Lab |
Education: Research: “I study AXL, a receptor tyrosine kinase, and its role in the progression of Head and Neck cancer. I focus on AXL’s involvement in cetuximab resistance and its effect on the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME).” |
| Thomas Harr tharr@wisc.edu Nathan Sandbo Lab |
Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison Research: Fibrotic lung disorders are a difficult-to-treat group of diseases that result in progressive loss of lung function, significantly impact quality of life, and are often fatal. Dr. Sandbo’s lab team aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms mediating fibroblast activation (myofibroblast differentiation) and extracellular matrix remodeling during pulmonary fibrosis. They use transgenic approaches in the bleomycin pulmonary fibrosis model to accomplish this. More specifically, their primary area of focus is identifying key molecular mechanisms, peptides, and small molecules that can modify matrix formation during lung fibrosis, with an eye toward developing diagnostics and therapeutics. |
| Marienela Heredia heredia3@wisc.edu Laura Knoll Lab |
Education: John Jay College of Criminal Justice NYC Research: Our lab’s research is focused on understanding the complex host/pathogen interactions of human enteric parasites. My project centers around the parasitic amoebozoan, Entamoeba histolytica, which infects 10% of the global population and is the causative agent of amebiasis and amebic dysentery. My research entails developing and characterizing novel murine models of both commensal and pathogenic Entamoeba infection via oral challenge, with the goal of making possible the study of the entire Entamoeba life cycle in vivo. |
| Angela Hsu angela.hsu@wisc.edu Melissa Skala Lab |
Education: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Research: The Skala lab develops biomedical optical imaging technologies for cancer research, cell therapy, and immunology. Current projects focus on tumor immunology and immunotherapy, cell-level metabolic heterogeneity, and cell-cell interactions. Collaborative projects leverage our unique photonics-based tools for clinical problems, including quality control in T cell and stem cell therapies, designing personalized treatment plans for cancer patients, monitoring diseases in the eye, discovering new therapies for a range of diseases, and many others. Projects are highly diverse and range from translational research to hypothesis-driven questions to algorithm / instrumentation development. |
| Kyle Jancola jancola@wisc.edu Gaelen Hess Lab |
Education: BS, Biology- Molecular Biology Emphasis, Azusa Pacific University, May 2018 Research: The Hess Lab leverages CRISPR/Cas9 screening technologies to answer biological questions that impact human health. Specifically, my research will characterize the impact single nucleotide polymorphisms have on therapeutic response and disease risk in relation to two genes involved in DNA repair: BRCA1, a commonly mutated gene in breast and ovarian cancer, and MSH2, a member of the DNA mismatch repair pathway, whose loss of function significantly increases cancer risk |
| MD Ensanul Kabir (Ehsan), DVM, MSc ekabir@wisc.edu Igor Slukvin Lab |
Education: Bangladesh University Research: The main focus of research in my lab is to significantly advance the clinical use of stem cells through development of novel sources of hematopoietic stem cells and mature blood cells for transplantation, transfusion and cancer immunotherapy. |
| Aqsa Khalid akhalid7@wisc.edu Muhammed Murtaza Lab |
Education: National University of Science and Technology, Pakistan Research: The Murtaza Lab is interested in furthering research around circulating and cell-free tumor DNA and RNA. More specifically how it can provide insights into the tumor’s genome thus providing improvements to cancer care. |
| Jooyong Kim kim799@wisc.edu Bo Liu Lab |
Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison Research: Their experimental approach utilizes a combination of cutting-edge technologies including CRISPR-mediated gene editing, single cell RNA sequencing, proteomics, and gene therapy. Current basic research topics include cell fate determination, programmed necrosis, inflammation, epigenetics, as well as matrix biology. The translational research of the lab focuses on pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of aortic aneurysm and venous thrombosis. |
| Paul Kuehnert pkuehnert@wisc.edu Claire O’Leary Lab |
Education: BS, Biology and Chemistry- SUNY at Buffalo, May 2012 Research: “We are focused on how rare cells, called tuft cells, in the single cell epithelial barrier lining the gastrointestinal tract coordinate defensive and protective responses to changing conditions, including microbial metabolites. We are also investigating the role of barrier function and the microbiome in inflammation in the biliary tract (gallbladder and bile ducts), an understudied tissue with constant exposure to high concentrations of bile acids, which have damaging detergent-like properties.” |
| Christopher Lee cclee8@wisc.edu Sauer Lab |
Education: BS, University of California, Los Angeles Research: “The Evans Lab is investigating lentiviral mechanisms for counteracting tetherin-mediated eradication of infected cells. My work centers on how neutrophils use antibody-mediated effector functions like ADCC and ADCP to eliminate HIV-infected cells, as well as on the role tetherin plays in upregulating these antibody-dependent immune functions.” |
| Savannah Lutz sslutz2@wisc.edu Emma Mohr Lab |
Education: Portland State University Research: Mohr’s research goal is to improve the health of children impacted by infections in pregnancy. She currently studies congenital Zika virus infection in a translational macaque model. The Mohr Research Group’s objective is to define the infection’s pathogenesis and long–term neurodevelopment to ultimately identify novel therapeutic targets to improve health outcomes. |
| Ari Machtinger machtinger@wisc.edu David O’Connor Lab |
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Research: The overarching goal of the O’Connor lab is to contribute meaningfully to the global response to viral infections impacting human health. We do this by studying the interplay of viral pathogenesis, host genomics, and immunity. |
| Ally McCullen amccullen@wisc.edu Matt Reynolds Lab |
Education: Gonzaga University Research: My laboratory integrates aspects of immunology, virology, molecular biology, and genomics to combat important human and veterinary diseases. In particular, our research interests are centered around understanding how adaptive immune responses against self-antigens can be harnessed to fight AIDS viruses and cancer. |
| Sara Maloney smmaloney4@wisc.edu Adam Bailey Lab |
Education: BS, University of California, Riverside Research: Some of the research in the Bailey lab focuses on factors that lead to coagulopathy during viral hemorrhagic fever. My project aims to understand the mechanisms that upregulate and/or activate Tissue Factor during Ebolavirus infection and how that can result in coagulation abnormalities. |
| Gabrielle Mamlouk mamlouk@wisc.edu Okonkow Lab |
Education: BS, North Carolina State University, Integrative Physiology & Neurobiology, 2019 Research:The Okonkwo lab examines modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors linked to cognitive resilience in Alzheimer’s disease. I am focusing on health disparities in Alzheimer’s disease, including how sex interacts with modifiable lifestyle factors and genetic vulnerability as they relate to cognitive decline. |
| Ivy McDermott imcdermott@wisc.edu Nate Sandbo Lab |
Education: BS, Molecular/Cellular/Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder Research: I study the role of macrophages in the development of pulmonary fibrosis in mice treated with bleomycin and mice treated with a novel potential therapeutic. Our therapeutic targets fibronectin specifically, but some preliminary data demonstrates that there may be unintended consequences in immune cell numbers. I propose to investigate if macrophage numbers remain untrained following treatment and if the phenotype of these macrophages changes in treated mice compared to untreated mice. |
| Margot Miranda-Katz mirandakata@wisc.edu Jim Gern Research Group |
Education: BA, Biology, Colby College Research: In the Gern lab we study the interactions between host and viral pathogens that modulate the severity of respiratory illness as well as the role these infections play in the initiation and activation of asthma. My work focuses on the role of virally induced cell death pathways in the pathogenesis of rhinovirus related wheezing illness and asthma exacerbation. |
| Mallorie Mitchem mamitchem@wisc.edu Huttenlocher Lab |
Education: BS, Biology/Anthropology, Case Western Reserve University, 2020 Research: “I study the molecular mechanisms that regulate neutrophil migration using zebrafish as a model organism. My focus is on the polarization of neutrophils during reverse migration and how human disease mutations may impact migration.” |
| Nat Murren murren@wisc.edu Rebecca Richards Lab |
Education: BS, Biochemistry, University of Washington, March 2022 Research: “In the Richards Lab we focus on developing and improving next-generation Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cells (CAR T) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). My research focuses on investigating and manipulating the cytokine milieu in AML to improve CAR T-cell efficacy and reduce cytokine-related toxicity.” |
| Jenna Nagy jnagy2@wisc.edu Raunak Sinha Lab |
Education: Ohio State University Research: First, I propose to characterize the influence of synaptic and circuit mechanisms, such as presynaptic inhibition, on retinal circuit function. Second, I propose to characterize the influence of molecular factors, such as Synaptotagmin 17, on retinal circuit function and formation. |
| Andrew Norton aanorton2@wisc.edu Adam Bailey Lab |
Education: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Research: He has always had a strong desire to study viral pathogenesis and infectious disease prevention and mitigation. He joined the Bailey Lab to study the interaction between viral and host factors that contribute to viral hemorrhagic fever pathogenesis. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys advocacy, medical education, working out, electronic music, traveling, and spending time with friends. |
| Adam Pagenkopf apagenkopf@wisc.edu Jacques Galipeau Lab |
Education: BS, Biochemistry, UW- La Crosse, May 2014 Research: My research project will investigate the mechanism of action of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) as a cell therapy in inflammatory bowel disease. I will interrogate the immune interactions between MSCs, chemokine dyads, and macrophages. We plan to investigate inducible chemokine signaling interactions in culture-adapted marrow MSCs in vitro, then further validate these in a murine model of gut acute tissue injury. |
| Phuc Pham pham@urology.wisc.edu Quaovi Sodji Lab |
Education: Dickinson College Research: Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy are emerging therapies that have revolutionized cancer therapy. However, each of these therapies is confronted by limitations that can potentially be resolved by the other. As such, understanding the mechanisms that govern the interactions between these novel therapies and ways to effectively harness their potential synergism will be crucial for advancing the field of oncology. |
| Mireya Pimentel mipimentel@wisc.edu Brown Lab |
Education: BS, Biochemistry, University of Arizona, 2023 Research: “At the Brown Lab, we study transplant immunology and aim to model the immune system utilizing humanized mice.” |
| Jenna Port jmport@wisc.edu Zsuzsa Fabry Lab |
Education: Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, BS, 2023 Research:I study neuroinflammation and the peripheral lymphatic system during Multiple Sclerosis. I focus on the interactions between cribriform plate lymphatic endothelial cells and dendritic cells to see how this crosstalk effects dendritic cell trafficking to the cervical lymph nodes therefore impacting t-cell mediated immune response during multiple sclerosis. |
| Brendan Rattin rattin@wisc.edu Kris Saha Lab |
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Research: The Saha Lab focuses on a wide variety of research topics with the goal to advance stem cell and gene therapies. My project specifically focuses on using novel non-viral Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cells (CAR T) for the development of a senescence associated therapy to reduce Brain tissue dysfunction. |
| Hunter Ries hries@wisc.edu Thomas Friedrich Lab |
Education: BS, University of Wisconsin – Madison Research: Work in the Friedrich Laboratory leverages deep sequencing to elucidate the evolutionary mechanisms shaping RNA virus emergence. I study viral genetic changes within and between hosts, and how these changes impact pathogenicity and transmissibility. We work closely with clinicians and public health officials to translate our findings and investigate real-world cases. |
| Livia Romanov lromanov@wisc.edu Jenny Gumperz Lab |
Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison Research: The Gumperz lab studies human innate T lymphocytes, with a particular focus on a subset called Natural Killer T (NKT) cells. NKT cells are able to affect the functions of many other types of immune cells, and in so doing they can markedly influence the outcome of immune responses. Because of this, and because they are activated by conserved antigens, NKT cells are of interest as a human lymphocyte population that could be harnessed clinically for immunotherapeutic strategies. |
| Jarron Roy jarron.roy@wisc.edu Becky Richards Lab |
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Research: The overarching goal of the Richards Lab is to develop chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies to cure pediatric cancers. CD19 CAR T cells have revolutionized therapy for patients with high-risk B cell malignancies, but CAR T-cell therapy has been slower to advance for patients with myeloid malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The Richards Lab focuses on overcoming some of the primary obstacles to success for CAR T-cell therapy in AML, including tumor heterogeneity and shared expression of target antigens on cancer cells and healthy cells. We use synthetic biology to engineer next-generation CAR T cells with a particular focus on target antigen selection, modular CAR design, and immune receptor signaling. |
| Alejandra Ruiz ruiz32@wisc.edu Gustavo Caballero-Flores Lab |
Education: Northeastern Illinois University Research: Our lab studies the mechanisms by which commensal bacteria and local immune responses limit the access or expansion of external pathogens in the gut, and in turn, how these pathogens evade such natural barriers to successfully colonize the host. For this purpose, we primarily use mouse models of disease resembling enteric infection in humans, as well as methods from microbiology, immunology, and high-throughput technologies. |
| Kaetlyn Ryan ktryan2@wisc.edu Mostafa Zamanian Lab |
Education: BS, Biochemistry/Chemical Engineering/Human Biolgy, North Carolina State University Research: Our lab studies neglected tropical diseases caused by parasitic worms. My project focuses on developing assays and measuring specific phenotypes such as motility and protein secretion as proxies for drug response. This work involves a combination or wet lab and computational approaches that we hope will result in discoveries that improve diagnostics through the identification of specific protein markers of infection and that will further drug screening methods for anti-parasitic compounds. |
| Michael Sande msande@wisc.edu Ulland Lab |
Education: BS, Microbiology, University of Kansas, 2020 Research: “Recent evidence has provided evidence implicating the NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. Part of my research in the Ulland lab will focus on utilizing approved FDA drugs to investigate how they may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s in an AD model mouse.” |
| Kjell Sandstrom ksandstrom2@wisc.edu David Evans Lab |
Education: BS, Biochemistry, University of Minnestoa-Twin Cities Research: David Evans’ lab studies host-pathogen interactions in HIV and SIV infections. Specifically, I study the natural killer cell receptors KIR and NKG2/CD94, their engagement with MHC class-I ligands, and the effect of presented HIV/SIV peptides on receptor/ligand interactions. |
| Octavia Santis Larrain santislarrai@wisc.edu Tamplin Lab |
Education: BS, Biotechnology, Universidad Mayor, 2018 Research: “At Tamplin’s lab, we study hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and their microenvironment. Due to the importance of these cells in treating many blood cancers and diseases, we are interested in understanding the biology and the interactions between HSCs and their supportive niche to help improve treatments. We use mice and zebrafish as complementary models to achieve our goal.” |
| Lauren Sarko sarko@wisc.edu Kris Saha Lab |
Education: BS, Biological Sciences, Pennsylvania State University Research: The Saha Lab focuses on a wide variety of research topics with the goal to advance stem cell and gene therapies. My project specifically focuses on using novel non-viral Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cells (CAR T) for the development of a senescence associated therapy to reduce Brain tissue dysfunction. |
| Erin Schaeffer elschaeffer@wisc.edu Giulio Tononi Lab |
Education: BS, Neuroscience, Brown University, 2017 Research:At the Center for Sleep and Consciousness, we study the mechanisms and functions of sleep as well as the neural substrates of consciousness |
| Amanda Schussman schussman@wisc.edu Muhammed Murtaza Lab |
Education: BS, Genetics, University of Wisconsin- Madison, May 2016 Research: Our lab is interested in novel oncology diagnostics for detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patient plasma. My research is centered on the development of new testing methodologies to enrich the target ctDNA fragments prior to shallow Whole Genome Sequencing (sWGS) with an emphasis on pan-cancer biomarkers for both early detection and treatment management. |
| Phoenix Shepherd pshepherd@wisc.edu Robert Kirchdoerfer Lab |
Education: BS, Biology, UW Madison Research: Coronavirus entry into host cells relies heavily on the structural spike protein (S). The structural biology of S plays important roles in pathogenesis and immune-system recognition during infection. My work investigates the dynamic, structural, and immunoevasive functions of feline coronavirus S proteins to better understand viral disease. |
| Mason Shipley mashipley@wisc.edu Donna Neuman Lab(Twitter) |
Education: BS, University of Idaho Research: Our lab studies the epigenetic mechanisms regarding chromatin remodeling and insulator protein functions/interactions that regulate HSV-1’s latency and reactivation in neuronal cells. My work focuses on investigating the roles of the enhancer element located in the 5′ exon of the Latency Associated Transcript (LAT) during HSV-1 reactivation, and the effects this enhancer has on the non-canonical reactivation gene cascade with the intent of identifying new therapeutic targets that specifically treat viral reservoirs. |
| Melanie Staffenson staffenson@wisc.edu Eric Shusta Lab |
Education: BS, Biology, Minor in Neuroscience, University of Portland, May 2020 Research: Our lab uses protein engineering and iPSC-derived BBB models to develop systems for targeted non-invasive drug delivery into the CNS. Specifically, my project focuses on optimizing the retention and distribution of our novel lamprey VLR/immunogenic antigen complex, P1C10-H250, in glioblastoma (GBM) tumors. |
| Dawson Stroik dpstroik@wisc.edu Wei Guo Lab |
Education: BS, Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2023 Research:My main focus is on regulating the alternative splicing of myocardial proteins as a therapeutic approach for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. |
| Soniya Tamhankar soniya.tamhankar@wisc.edu Eric Shusta Lab |
Education: MS, Pennsylvania State University Research: Our lab is interested in developing in vitro models of the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) that accurately mimic the in vivo characteristics of the BBB. An in vitro BBB model would enable the combinatorial screening of drug candidates and drug-targeting strategies, a process that is not amenable to an in vivo system. |
| Vaibhav Vemuganti vvemuganti@wisc.edu Federico Rey Lab |
Education: MS Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru Tech. University, India Research: My work revolves around using interdisciplinary techniques in unraveling nuanced features of complex biological systems involving the gut. Specific flora in gut communities was shown to posses varied propensity to alter alzheimer’s pathology for the better or worse, hence studying metabolic profiles of these gut communities might help in learning pathology through the lens of microbiology and identifying novel disease mitigating systems for therapeutic targets. |
| Sophia Vrba vrba@wisc.edu Zsusza Fabry Lab |
Education: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Research: For the last several years, I have focused my research program on immune, traumatic and infectious diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) that are important for public health. Our goal is to improve strategies for treating CNS inflammation. |
| Janay Walters jkwalters@wisc.edu Lee Eckhardt lab |
Education: Northern Michigan University Research: The Eckhardt laboratory studies functional genomics, focusing on the cellular mechanisms of inherited and acquired arrhythmia syndromes. The team is particularly interested in understanding the cellular dynamics, channel regulation and cellular microdomains for potassium inward rectifier channel family Kir2.x and how this relates to arrhythmic disease. |
| Caelan Wright ctwright@wisc.edu Pehar Lab |
Education: BS, Mol, Cell and Devo Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2022 Research: The Pehar research program focuses on the molecular mechanisms linking aging to the development of neurodegeneration, with the aim to identify new therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. |
| Szu-Tsen Yeh syeh8@wisc.edu Dominko Lab |
Education: UC San Diego Research: I am currently working on the characterization of genome engineered Wisconsin Miniature Swines (WMS) that are developed for human compatible tissue or organs. We use novel strategies to achieve the classic triple knockouts in swine and are currently exploring knockin of different genes for better humanization of the tissues. I am helping the development of screening and monitoring protocol for pig-to-primate xenotransplantation as well as screening for previously unknown targets to prolong xenotransplantation-graft survival. |
| Qijun Zhang qzhang333@wisc.edu Federico Rey Lab |
Education: University of Science and Technology of China Research: My research focuses on integrating genomics, metagenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics by systems genetics approaches to understand complex traits and identify host genetic elements that control gut microbial functions and metabolism in genetically diverse mouse populations. |
| Xiyu Zhang xzhang2539@wisc.edu Xin Gao Lab |
Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison Research: The overarching goal of the Gao lab’s research is to understand the functional roles of bone marrow microenvironment in regulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) during normal, pre-malignant and malignant hematopoiesis. |
