Ben Allen, Ph.D., Associate Professor Cell & Developmental Biology
Scott Barolo, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology
Laura Buttitta, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
I enjoyed reading science fiction as a high school student and became interested in biology as a “pre-med” undergraduate. After a summer of research in a chemistry lab my sophomore year, I decided to abandon my plans for medical school, and apply to graduate school instead. I obtained my Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in Developmental Biology in 2004. I then joined Dr. Bruce Edgar's lab as a postdoctoral researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. There I began using Drosophila (fruit flies) as a model system to study developmental control of cell cycle regulation. My lab at U. Michigan opened in Jan. 2011 and uses Drosophila to study how the cell cycle is regulated during development. I also teach half of the U. Michigan undergraduate Developmental Biology course (Bio 205).
Anati Azhar, Ph.D. Candidate Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
I graduated with a BSc in Molecular Biology and a minor in Japanese Language and Cultural Studies from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. During my undergrad days, I was a research assistant in Wittkopp Lab and authored an honors thesis, 'The spatial and temporal regulation of microRNA in D. melanogaster'. This helped spur my journey into research as I am currently a PhD candidate in Csankovszki Lab in UMich studying dosage compensation in C. elegans. I enjoy cooking, reading manga, playing video games as well as drawing in my downtime.
Gabbi Rozumek, Ph.D. Candidate Department of Pathology
I earned my B.S. in Biology from Roger Williams University (Bristol, RI) in 2020. During my undergraduate studies I participated in two RI-INBRE Summer Research Fellowships (2018 & 2019) at the University of Rhode Island focused on nanoparticle formulation and drug delivery. At my home institution, I used CRISPR technology to develop molecular tools for gene over-expression in yeast. I am currently a PhD Candidate in the Molecular & Cellular Pathology at the University of Michigan studying the genetic causes and molecular mechanisms behind rare vision and eye defects. Outside of the lab I enjoy playing soccer, taking my 2 dogs Petey and Lola for walks, and reading.
Ethan Hillman, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher
I attended Anderson University, a undergraduate university in Indiana, where I majored in Biology and Chemistry. At Anderson, I got my first taste of teaching as a lab assistant and tutor and which lead to me doing research on antimicrobials and using fluorescent proteins as biosensors. After undergrad, I joined Purdue’s Interdisciplinary Life Sciences (PULSe) program where I integrated my interests in Microbiology and Engineering as part of the Agricultural and Biological Engineering department. Our work focused on top-down and bottom-up engineering approaches to control microbial populations for agricultural and energy applications. As a Postdoc in the department of Internal Medicine, I am using similar approaches to develop treatments for various diseases by targeting the gut microbiome. I am fascinated by the extent to which the microbes on our bodies and across the earth affect our everyday lives and my research aims to leverage these microbes as solutions to problem ranging from health to sustainability.
Ligia Buloto Schmitd, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher
I got my dental and master’s degrees at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. I specialized in the field of Oral Medicine, and conducted my PhD at the Oral Health Sciences Program, University of Michigan School of Dentistry. My PhD work focused on cancer neuroscience, the investigation of nerve-tumor interactions, more specifically in the context of oral cavity cancer. I am currently a postdoctoral fellow at Roman Giger’s lab, where my research focuses on Schwann cell biology in peripheral nervous system injury and regeneration. When I am not following protocols in the lab, I love to follow recipes in the kitchen! I also love traveling and getting to know other cultures.
Hannah Bell, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher
I completed my undergraduate degree in Microbiology from UCLA in 2017. I then completed my PhD in the lab of Dr. Yatrik Shah at the University of Michigan in 2022, where I studied the interaction between the microbiome, the immune system and cancer. I am now a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Weiping Zou at the University of Michigan, where I study how immune cells induce cell death. Outside of lab, I enjoy running marathons, baking cookies, and hanging out with my two dogs.
Ryan Rebernick, MSTP Student & Ph.D. Candidate Department of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics
I attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I majored in Biochemistry. At Wisconsin, I studied the role of the petidylarginine deaminase enzymes in rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease. Following graduation I completed a 1 year post-bac at the National Institutes of Health and matriculated to the University of Michigan MD/PhD program in 2018. I'm currently a graduate student in the lab of Dr. Marcin Cieslik in the Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics. I am passionate about applying clinical sequencing to improve both our understanding and treatment of cancer. My ultimate goal is to obtain a position as a physician scientist bringing new treatments to patients with high-risk cancer. Outside of lab, I love to run and read fantasy fiction (The Wheel of Time is my favorite).
Afnan Alzamrooni, Postdoctoral Fellow in Internal Medicine
I completed my master's degree in clinical pharmacy where I developed a great interest in the cardiovascular pharmacology. Driven by curiosity, I then pursued my PhD studies in developmental biology where my primary research interest was understanding how the avian model develops early on during embryogenesis with a focus on cardiac development. I currently hold a postdoctoral research position at Michigan Medicine where I aspire to explore my research interests in cardiac regeneration and develop innovative treatment modalities that can improve patient outcomes. I have a strong commitment to education and mentorship, and I believe in its power to shape the future of science. My mentorship has inspired and guided students to realize their full potential and has led to the successful education of many budding scientists. Outside of my professional life, I enjoy volunteering, traveling, and engaging in various activities that allow me to give back to my community and serve those in need.
Adrienne Giannone, PhD Candidate in Cellular & Molecular Biology
I completed my bachelor's in biochemistry at UC Davis, where I researched the role of Wnt signaling on osteocyte homeostasis and mechanotransduction. I then pursued a master’s in biochemistry and cellular biology at Stony Brook University, where my main project focused on analyzing the transcriptomic impacts of a gap junction KO on lens development. I am currently in my first year at Michigan in the department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, and I hope to continue studying cell signaling while integrating computational tools into my research. Outside of the lab, I enjoy running, beading, and relaxing with my cat and a good epic fantasy book!
Koral Campbell, PhD Candidate in Molecular & Cellular Pathology
I earned my bachelor’s degree at William Woods University (Fulton, MO) in 2019. During my undergraduate studies, I worked in two research labs, one focused in microbiology (Anchorage, AK), the other in biochemistry (Columbia, MO). After graduation, I worked as a research technician at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis, TN) where I studied the effect of splicing factor mutations in myelodysplastic syndrome. I am currently a PhD candidate in Molecular and Cellular Pathology at the University of Michigan studying the transformation of various pre-malignant bone marrow diseases into leukemias. Outside of research, I enjoy hiking, reading, and writing.
Sam Collie, PhD Candidate in Cellular & Molecular Biology
I am a fourth year PhD student in the lab of Carole Parent through the Cellular and Molecular Biology program. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Millsaps College in my home state of Mississippi. There I became fascinated with basic research and cellular processes that underlie how cells communicate to each other and travel throughout a wide variety of complex environments. This led me to spend my summers engaged in research studying a variety of topics from cancer cell invasion to membrane trafficking. During my undergraduate training, I also gained a passion for mentoring that has propelled me to seek a career as an educator. My thesis project is to understand how the innate immune cells relay chemical signals to each other to recruit each other to sites of injury and infection. My career goals are to bridge the gap between basic science and teaching to provide students from all backgrounds with the opportunity to engage, understand, and participate in the research that leads to landmark discoveries.
Tasmine Clement, PhD Candidate in Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Notre Dame. I came to the University of Michigan to pursue master's degrees in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics and I am currently a PhD student in the Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics. When not in the lab, I enjoy eating, sleeping, and spending time with my dog.
Erick Bayala Rodriguez, Postdoctoral Fellow in Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
As a proud Puerto Rican, I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Puerto Rico-Humacao campus. Early in my undergraduate education, I developed my interest in biology and visual arts. At that moment I saw scientific illustration as a powerful tool for learning and sharing my scientific research by taking advantage of my art background. This fascination for how natural shapes and colors are created in the world led me to fall in love with the field of Developmental Biology. I pursued this passion during my Ph.D. at University of Chicago. There, as part of the integrative Biology graduate program, I tried to understand how the beautiful color patterns we see in butterflies get organized and eventually realized during their development. After completing my Ph.D., I was awarded a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship which led me to start a postdoctoral position here at University of Michigan. My current work still tries to understand both the process of color patterning and pigmentation but now in the fly system which allows me to dissect such developmental processes more mechanistically. In the future, my work will help us understand the developmental principles of how color patterns are produced and evolved in nature.
Cameron Roberts, Postdoctoral Fellow in Microbiology & Immunology
After completing my undergraduate degree at the University of Detroit Mercy, I struggled to determine my career path. I had always thought of going to medical school but decided to pursue a master’s degree at Wayne State to explore scientific research as a career. I quickly transitioned to the PhD program at Wayne State. After completing my Ph.D. I took on a position as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Maria Sandkvist at the University of Michigan Medical School. Here, we study bacterial secretion systems and their relevance to human disease. I enjoy playing soccer, baking bread, and all things Detroit!
Joanna Lum, PhD Candidate in Molecular & Cellular Pathology
I completed my undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). I am currently a PhD candidate in the Venneti Lab at the University of Michigan, where I study epigenetic and metabolic drivers of pediatric brian cancers. Outside of the lab, I enjoy lifting, rock climbing, and spending time with my dog Indie!
Previous Instructors
Find our previous instructors at the History of DFB tab.