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).

I earned my Bachelor's in Computer Science and Biology at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. During this time, I participated in research projects where I got to explore the topics of cell mechanics and cell migration. I was fascinated by cell migration and decided to do my Master's at McGill investigating the signaling dynamics of migrating cells. I am currently a third-year PhD student in Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan. In the Pearring Lab, I study the role of a centriolar protein, CEP162, in retinal development. Outside of the lab, I enjoy trying new recipes, running, Pilates and travelling.

I completed my bachelor's degree in Industrial Biotechnology at the University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez Campus in 2023. As an undergraduate student, I worked under the mentorship of Dr. Carlos Rios-Velazquez working towards identifying novel CRISPR-Cas systems using metagenomic libraries generated from diverse environments around Puerto Rico. During the summers I participated in research in a broader range of fields from bacteriophages to cancer biology and epigenetics. This last experience really cemented my desire to go to graduate school and pursue research. I am currently a PhD student in the Cellular and Molecular Biology Program at the University of Michigan studying how certain stresses shape the innate immune system and their effect on host defense against pathogens. Outside of research I enjoy watching movies, being outdoors, and hanging out with my cat!

I was born and raised in Brazil, and I’m incredibly proud of my roots! I graduated as a Biomedical Scientist at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, and later obtained my M.S. and Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Sao Paulo. I also developed part of my studies at the University of Kansas Medical Center as a Fulbright Doctoral Dissertation Research Award grantee. Then, I focused on understanding the role of dual-specificity phosphatases in pancreatic cancer. Now, as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Lyssiotis Lab, I’m interested in the role of mitochondrial metabolism in pancreatic cancer initiation. Outside the lab, I enjoy running, going to live concerts, having beers with friends in a sunny afternoon and staying home with my cat.

I received my B.S. from the University of Michigan in 2021 in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, completing my honors thesis on the role of ER-mitochondrial and ER-peroxisomal contact sites in ER stress response. Following this, I was a technician in Dr. Scott Leiser's lab studying aging in C. elegans. Now, I am pursuing a PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology in the lab of Dr. Billy Tsai, studying how misfolded protein substrates induce cytosolic autophagy events. Outside of the lab, I love to paint, sew, and try new restaurants! 

Collin graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Honors Biology and minors in Mathematical Biology and Japanese in May 2021. His undergraduate research focused on methane leak tracking in the lab of Joe von Fischer. Following his graduation, he worked for a year at the United State Air Force Academy’s Biology Department, where he served as a mentor to their iGEM team and conducted research on PFAS contaminates. In July 2022, he moved to Bloomington, Indiana to work as a lab manager in the lab of Kenneth Nephew. In the Nephew lab he studied ovarian cancer stem cells and the functional role of ZNFX1 in ovarian cancer tumorigenesis. He is now interested in tumor recursion and drug resistance in cancer. Out of lab Collin enjoys cooking, getting outdoors for hiking or sports, and playing board games, Magic the Gathering, and D&D.

I’m currently a 3rd year PhD student in Dr. Swathi Yadlapalli’s lab through the Cellular and Molecular Biology program. I earned my bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from the University of Oregon, and it's here that I became interested in how genes are regulated in the brain to control functional outputs. This led me to pursue a PhD at the University of Michigan, where, in my first few years, I mentored several undergraduate students in the lab. These mentorships helped me solidify my proclivity for teaching, especially in a lab setting. My thesis project aims to understand how temperature regulates alternative splicing in neurons to control sleep behavior in fruit flies. In my spare time, I enjoy paddleboarding, baking, and watching football.

Pavithra completed her Masters from Heidelberg University, Germany and is currently a 4th year PhD student in Dr. Ursula Jakob's lab at the University of Michigan. In the lab, she investigates the role of polyphosphates in amyloidogenic processes and neurodegeneration. If not seen bopping around the lab with her headphones on, she can be found on a quest to find good coffee, plants and food.

I graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2021 and then worked as a lab technician for two years at the University of Rochester studying mitochondrial bioenergetics. I am now a third year Cellular and Molecular Biology student studying how 5′ UTRs of viral RNAs affect translation initiation and how they interact with viral proteins. Outside of lab I enjoy reading, drawing, and cooking.

Shelby graduated with honors from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and minors in bioinformatics and professional writing in May of 2025. Shelby conducted her undergraduate research on chromatin remodeling and histone variant proteins in Arabidopsis under the mentorship of Dr. Joe Ogas. After graduation, Shelby was a teaching assistant and residential mentor for the Summer Science Program in Biochemistry where she taught high school students how to purify proteins and conduct enzyme assays. At the University of Michigan, Shelby is interested in studying epigenetics and transcriptomics in pediatric cancer. Outside of the lab, Shelby enjoys reading fantasy books, listening to Taylor Swift, and playing with her cat Arwen.

I earned my undergraduate and master’s degrees in Biotechnology in India, followed by a master’s in Molecular and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado Boulder. I then joined Dr. Amanda Garner’s lab in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Michigan as a Research Specialist, where I contributed to the development of innovative small molecules targeting cancer. After a decade-long hiatus, I returned to graduate school and am now a fourth-year Ph.D. student in Dr. Stephanie Moon’s lab (Program in Chemical Biology). My research focuses on how the loss of proteostasis during aging and neurodegeneration intersects with the integrated stress response. Outside the lab, I enjoy spending quality time with my friends and family. As a scientist and mother, I value hard work, patience, and resilience—qualities that shape my work in the lab and my life beyond it.

I completed my bachelor's degree in Biology in 2021 from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. I then moved back to my home state of Utah for three years where I worked as a lab technician at the University of Utah studying the mechanisms that ensure accurate chromosome segregation during cell division. I am currently a second year PhD student in the Cellular and Molecular Biology program in the lab of Dr. Kristen Verhey. My thesis project focuses on post-translational modifications to the microtubules that make up the mitotic spindle and how they promote accurate cell division. Outside of lab I enjoy hiking, reading, and crochet!

My name is Emily Seiden and I am a postdoctoral fellow in Patrick Grohar's lab. I study pediatric bone tumors and we use both cell culture and animal models to discover and repurpose drugs for use in the clinic. Currently, we are beginning a canine clinical trial for dogs with osteosarcoma. For undergrad, I went to The University of Alabama in Huntsville. I majored in biology and chemistry, participated in tutoring and also ran the film club. My PhD training was done at Indiana University School of Medicine and my degree was in Anatomy and Cell Biology. Throughout my PhD I pursued teaching in histology and also designed a workshop to teach grad students how to be effective TAs. Outside of lab, I am a competitive powerlifter. I also have a dog, Jessa, who loves long walks and playing with new friends. I also just got married to my husband Richard on Oct 11th at the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL.

I’m Rocìo Cisneros, originally from East Oakland, California, and a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan. My research focuses on looking at the intersection of lysosomes and lipids. Outside the lab, you’ll find me reading, exploring the U.S. National Parks like Joshua Tree and hunting down great coffee.

I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pathology studying how cells sense and repair damage in tissues like the gut. My work explores how the intestinal lining heals after injury and inflammation, which is important for understanding diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease. I love using microscopy to watch cells respond to stress in real time and finding new ways to strengthen our body’s natural repair systems. Outside the lab, I enjoy spending time with my partner, hiking, yoga and sharing science with the community.

I am a second-year graduate student in the Cellular and Molecular Biology Program. I work in the labs of Michelle Hastings and Rachel Niederer. My thesis work is focused on investigating the use of ASOs for people with Cystic Fibrosis who are not amenable to currently available therapeutics. When not in the lab, I enjoy gardening, knitting, and baking.

My name is Helen Washington and I am currently a 2nd year Ph.D. Candidate in Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan! I went to Mount Holyoke College for undergrad where I graduated with my B.A. in Biochemistry in May of 2024. I am originally from Baltimore, Maryland and my favorite thing to do there is go to the Barnes and Noble by the harbor in the inner city. Here at the UofM, I am co-mentored by Dr. Michelle Hastings and Dr. Sonya Wolf-Fortune in the Pharmacology department. My project focuses on studying the expression of inflammasome complexes in psoriasis and developing a psoriasis antisense oligonucleotide to target these inflammasomes for therapeutic benefit. Aside from science, some of my hobbies include knitting, drawing, watching movies, and listening to music! I am very excited to be an instructor for DFB!