Current Mentors

Below is a list of current thesis mentors. 
Click here for a list of rotation mentors for the past four years.

The MSTP is no longer maintaining an official MSTP Faculty list.  We invite all faculty to become involved in the MSTP.

Photo	Department or Graduate Program	Research Description (taken from their page or lab website)	MSTP Student
	Christopher Adams, MD, PhD Currently at Mayo Clinic *Internal Medicine - Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism & Nutrition *Genetics	Chris Adams has taken a Molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle atrophy Therapeutic interventions for skeletal muscle atrophy, obesity and type 2 diabetes	Matthew Miller (at Mayo) (Genetics)
	Christopher Ahern, PhD *Molecular Physiology & Biophysics	Function and pharmacology voltage-gated sodium channels that drive the rapid upstroke of the action-potential throughout the body.	Colin Clark (Molecular Physiology & Biophysics) Miranda Schene (Molecular Physiology & Biophysics) Alex Dou (Molecular Physiology & Biophysics)
	Brad Amendt, PhD *Anatomy & Cell Biology *Orthodontics *Cell & Developmental Biology Graduate Program	My laboratory is dedicated to understanding the role of transcription factors & signaling pathways in tooth & craniofacial development by: 1) studying the expression & regulation of transcription factor genes & signaling processes involved in craniofacial/tooth development 2) the molecular basis of selected human genetic disorders & 3) the role of stem cells & microRNAs in regulating craniofacial & regenerative medicine.	Amelia Hurley-Novatny (Cell & Developmental Biology)
	James Ankrum, PhD *Biomedical Engineering	My lab utilizes biomaterials and drug delivery strategies to influence the fate and function of cells both in vitro and in vivo. My long-term goal is to engineer enhanced cell-based and -inspired therapeutics to restore function to diseased and damaged tissues.	Riley Behan-Bush (Biomedical Engineering)
	Natoshia Askelson, MPH, PhD *Community & Behavioral Health	The goal of my research is understanding how we can make it easier for people, organizations, and communities to make healthy choices. As part of this work, I lead the PRC-RH Core Research Project, which is designed to assist micropolitan communities in identifying, adapting, and implementing evidence-based interventions.	Emily Janio (Community & Behavioral Health)
	Alex Bassuk, MD, PhD *Pediatrics *Neurology *Neuroscience Graduate Program *Genetics Graduate Program *Molecular Medicine *Cell & Developmental Biology Graduate Program	Congenital defects of the nervous system, especially neural tube defects, familial epilepsy, neurogenetics, neural stem cell biology Our laboratory is interested in understanding the basic mechanisms underlying both normal and disordered development of the nervous system. Our approach to these issues includes investigating the genetics of human neural tube defects (NTDs) and familial epilepsies, and elucidating the biology regulating neural stem cell development.	Saul Rodriguez (Neuroscience) Brittany Todd (co-mentor) (Neuroscience)
	Jennifer Bermick, MD *Pediatrics - Neonatology *Immunology	The Bermick laboratory is interested in how the neonatal immune system develops under normal conditions and after early life inflammatory exposures.	Jessie Knobbe (Immunology)
	Aaron Boes, MD, PhD *Pediatrics *Neurology *Psychiatry *Neuroscience Graduate Program	Our laboratory is interested in the link between brain structure and function across the lifespan, particularly network-based localization of neurological and psychiatric symptoms. We approach this topic using multi-modal neuroimaging methods that include lesion mapping, resting state functional connectivity MRI, and structural MRI.	Hassan Karoam (Ahamed) (Neuroscience)
	Gordon Buchanan, MD, PhD *Neurology *Neuroscience Graduate Program *MSTP Director	Research efforts in the Buchanan laboratory are focused on understanding basic mechanisms of epilepsy and sleep-wake regulation. We are particularly interested in the effects of seizures and vigilance state on cardio-respiratory control and how these may interact to lead to death following a seizure, or sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Our goal is to understand factors that render a given seizure fatal in an effort to help prevent SUDEP.	Ben Kreitlow (Neuroscience)
	James Byrne, MD, PhD *Cancer Biology *Biomedical Science	The Byrne Lab is drivin by our long-term interest: developing transformative technologies to improve patient care. Bridging the disciplines of biomedical engineering and oncology, our lab strives toward innovation.	Samual Hatfield (Cancer Biology)
	Joseph Cavanaugh, PhD *Biostatistics *Informatics	Model selection, time series analysis & modeling diagnostics	Andres Dajles (Biostatistics)
	Mary Charlton, PhD *Epidemiology *Cancer Biology	Health services epidemiology, Cancer surveillance and epidemiology, Assessment of differences in access and health services use between rural and urban populations related to the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer	Madi Wahlen (Epidemiology)
	Elizabeth Chrischilles, PhD *Epidemiology	Research Interests:Cancer outcomes in practice; Medication use and effects among the elderly; Pharmacoepidemiology; Comparative effectiveness research; Health services epidemiology	Lucas Barrett (co-mentor) (Epidemiology)
	Rebecca Dodd, PhD *Internal Medicine - Heme/Onc *Molecular Medicine *Cancer Biology	The Dodd lab studies soft-tissue sarcomas, a type of cancer that develops in connective tissue such as muscle, nerves, fat, or tendons. Specific areas of research include 1) the genetics of sarcoma, 2) the tumor microenvironment, 3) preclinical platform applications, and 4) novel genome editing tools.	Akshaya Warrier (Cancer Biology)
	Adam Dupuy, PhD *Anatomy & Cell Biology *Pathology *Cancer Biology *Cell & Developmental Biology Graduate Program *Genetics Graduate Program *Molecular Medicine	The goal of my current research is to understand the role that somatic mutation plays in all aspects of tumor biology. Much of our work has made use of the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system to engineer mouse cancer models in which somatic mutations are generated by transposon insertions. The current work in my laboratory focuses on the genetics of hepatocellular carcinoma and T-cell leukemia.	Levi Doyle (Cancer Biology)
	Joseph Glykys, MD, PhD *Pediatrics *Neurology *Neuroscience Graduate Program *Molecular Medicine	Our research areas include studying changes in neuronal chloride concentration and cellular volume during pathological conditions, neonatal seizures, epilepsy, and GABAA receptor physiology. We approach these scientific questions in the neocortex with electrophysiological techniques and two-photon imaging.	Gage Liddiard (Neuroscience)
	Marlan Hansen, MD *Otolaryngology *Neurosurgery *Cancer Biology *Informatics	Auditory neurobiology and response of the auditory nerve to injury, its regenerative capacity, and methods to ameliorate damage using in vitro and in vivo animal models and human subjects.	Joseph Vecchi (Molecular Physiology & Biophysics)
	Lyndsay Harshman, MD, MS *Pediatrics - Nephrology, Dialysis & Transplantation	My research focuses on linking neuroimaging & neurocognitive assessments in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to inform greater understanding of changes that may be occurring in the developing brain in parallel with progression of CKD. A greater understanding of the neurocognitive changes observed in this population will allow for targeted provider assistance with patient/family medical decision-making & medication compliance.	Lucas Barrett (co-mentor) (Epidemiology)
	John Harty, PhD *Pathology *Cancer Biology	Current projects in the lab: Basic immunology and imaging of CD8 T cell immunity to liver-stage malaria; CD4 T cell and antibody mediated immunity to blood-stage malaria; Basic immunology and imaging of cerebral malaria; Tissue resident memory CD8 T cell dynamics and protection from influenza virus infection of the lung; Impact of repetitive influenza exposure on generation and persistence of protective CD8 T cells; Regulating memory CD8 T cell differentiation through inflammatory cytokines.	Maddie Mix (Immunology)
	Ali Jabbari, MD, PhD *Dermatology *Cancer Biology *Immunology	Dr. Jabbari's overall research goals are, broadly, to define mechanisms of cutaneous as well as systemic autoimmune disease, identify potential therapeutic targets, construct or discover novel therapeutics, and assess the efficacy of these new therapies.	Ryan Reis (Cancer Biology)
	Julia Klesney-Tait, MD, PhD *Internal Medicine - Pulmonary *Immunology Graduate Program	Dr. Klesney-Tait’s research focuses on the role of the innate immune system in the regulation of inflammation as it impacts on the evolution of sepsis and the development of bronchiolitis obliterans following lung transplantation.	Jayden Bowen (Immunology)
	Amy Lee, PhD Currently at U of Texas at Austin *Molecular Physiology & Biophysics *Neurology	She is broadly interested in the structure/function relationships of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, and the roles that these channels play in orchestrating the development and mature function of the nervous system.	Joseph Vecchi (co-mentor) (Molecular Physiology & Biophysics)
	Catherine Marcinkiewcz, PhD *Biomedical Science (Molecular Medicine) *Biomedical Science (Pharmacology) *Neuroscience	In light of its complex role in human psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, the lab is currently investigating how environmental factors like stress, alcohol, and the use of antidepressant drugs can alter serotonin neurons in the dorsal raphe and their efferent projections to stress and reward processing centers in the brain.	Gabby Bierlein-De La Rosa (Neuroscience)
	Wendy Maury, PhD *Microbiology & Immunology *Molecular Medicine *Immunology Graduate Program *Microbiology Graduate Program *Cancer Biology	The goal of our research is to understand interactions between enveloped viruses and the host. We currently focus on two main areas of research: enveloped virus entry and innate host immune responses to virus infection. Using filoviruses and flaviviruses, we have identified a novel set of cell surface receptors and continue to explore the cellular biology of these interactions as well as the pathological consequences.	Hannah Van Ert (Immunology) Jonah Elliff (Microbiology)
	Robert Mullins, PhD *Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences *Molecular Medicine *Genetics Graduate Program	Biology and pathology of the choroidal microvasculature in aging and macular disease; mechanisms involved in the development of drusen; structural and compositional changes in Bruch's membrane in aging and disease, and their effects on ocular physiology; animal and in vitro models of age-related macular degeneration; cell biology of inherited retinal diseases.	Nate Mullin (co-mentor) (Genetics) Lola Lozano (co-mentor) (Genetics) Renato Jensen (co-mentor) (Genetics)
	Nandakumar Narayanan, MD, PhD *Molecular Medicine *Neuroscience	The specific problem we are interested in is cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. Our current research focuses on the influence of dopamine on prefrontal networks controlling cognitive behaviors such as timing and performance monitoring. We hope to identify new treatment strategies that can be translated to a clinical setting.	Mackenzie Conlon (Molecular Medicine) Chris Hunter (Neuroscience)
	Elizabeth Newell, MD *Pediatrics - Critical Care *Neuroscience Graduate Program	Our laboratory studies how neuorinflammation contributes to Traumatic brain injury (TBI) so that novel targeted therapies may be developed.	Brittany Todd (co-mentor) (Neuroscience) Molly Larson (Neuroscience)
	Christine Petersen, DVM, PhD *Epidemiology	Dr. Petersen is also the principal investigator and last author in studies that follow the immunopathology of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and tick-borne diseases, including Borreliosis (LD) in a canine natural disease model. We have ongoing studies of dogs infected with visceralizing Leishmania spp in the US, Brazil and India and in people in Brazil and Ethiopia.	Sahaana Arumugam (Immunology)
	Dawn Quelle, PhD *Neuroscience & Pharmacology *Cancer Biology *Molecular Medicine	Our goal is to define the critical regulators of ARF signaling and determine their significance to tumor suppression using molecular approaches and in vivo models of cancer. In so doing, we will advance our fundamental understanding of ARF-mediated tumor suppression and also identify novel regulators of growth (both positive and negative) whose characterization will likely contribute to new paradigms of carcinogenesis.	Ellen Voigt (Cancer Biologjy)
	Joseph Reinhardt, PhD *Biomedical Engineering *Biostatistics *Informatics *Radiology	Structural and functional evaluation of the normal and abnormal lung; lung tissue functional assessment to guide radiation therapy; analysis of breathing sounds to predict sputum accumulation during mechanical ventilation; segmentation, measurement, and network analysis of the retinal vasculature; pediatric airway segmentation, measurement, and shape modeling	Qi Wang (co-mentor) (Biomedical Engineering
	Richard Smith, MD, PhD *Otolaryngology *Pediatrics *Internal Medicine *Genetics Graduate Program *Molecular Medicine *Informatics *Immunology Graduate Program *Molecular Physiology & Biophysics	My laboratory focuses on inherited hearing impairment and complement-related renal diseases like membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II (MPGN II; also known as Dense Deposit Disease) and atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. Inherited hearing impairment can occur with other co-inherited clinical features to form a recognized phenotype (syndromic hearing loss) or appear in isolation (non-syndromic hearing loss). We are using RNAi to develop novel methods to correct hearing loss.	Joseph Chin (Molecular Medicine)
	Ashley Spies, PhD *Biochemistry & Molecular Biology *Pharmaceutical Sciences & Experimental Therapeutics (PSET)	Our research group investigates the fundamental properties of protein-ligand interactions, from a physical and chemical perspective. Our primary focus is on pharmaceutically relevant enzymes. The application and development of computational chemistry often plays a central role in addressing research questions centering on the discovery and design of novel ligands to validated drug targets. Computational insights are bolstered by in vitro and in vivo assays.	Andrew Kalenkiewicz (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
	Hanna Stevens, MD, PhD *Biomedical Science *Psychiatry *Neuroscience	Dr. Stevens's research seeks to understand molecular and cellular aspects of early brain development and their relevance to psychiatric disorders. Her work is particularly focused on understanding how prenatal stress, environmental exposures, and genes that play a role in early development have an impact on childhood behavior and act as risk factors for multiple psychiatric disorders.	Michelle Chen (Neuroscience)
	David Stoltz, MD, PhD *Internal Medicine - Pulmonary *Biomedical Engineering *Molecular Medicine *Molecular Physiology & Biophysics	Dr. Stoltz's research focuses on the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis related airway disease with a particular emphasis on studying airway epithelial and smooth muscle cells, the role of paraoxonases (PONs) on Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing regulation, mucociliary clearance, and advanced airway imaging modalities and analysis.	Guillermo Romano Ibarra (Molecular Medicine)
	Eric Taylor, PhD *Biochemistry & Molecular Biology *Molecular Medicine *Neuroscience Graduate Program *Cancer Biology *Cell & Developmental Biology Graduate Program *Molecular Physiology & Biophysics *Informatics	The Taylor Lab investigates the molecular mechanisms regulating mitochondrial function and their relationship to disease. We employ diverse experimental models as necessary to solve fundamental problems in metabolism. We have specific expertise in molecular genetics and metabolomics. We have ongoing projects on diabetes, cancer, and neuroscience.	Daniel Pape (Molecular Medicine)
	Budd Tucker, PhD *Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences *Molecular Medicine *Neuroscience Graduate Program	Dr. Tucker’s Laboratory is focused on combining state-of-the-art patient-specific stem cell, gene therapeutic, and human retinal engineering technologies to study and treat inherited retinal degenerative blindness.	Nate Mullin (co-mentor) (Genetics) Lola Lozano (co-mentor) (Genetics) Renato Jensen (co-mentor) (Genetics)
	Mary Weber, PhD *Microbiology & Immunology	Our laboratory studies how obligate intracellular pathogens, such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Orientia tsutsugamushi, co-opt host processes and subvert host defense mechanisms to establish their unique intracellular niches. To address these questions, we employ a multi-faceted approach using cell biology, microbial genetics, and immunology.	Xavier Tijerina (Microbiology)
	Michael Welsh, MD *Internal Medicine - Pulmonary *Neurosurgery *Neuroscience Graduate Program *Molecular Medicine *Genetics Graduate Program *Informatics *Molecular Physiology & Biophysics	The Welsh laboratory emphasizes research in two main areas. The first is understanding the biology of cystic fibrosis, and developing new treatments. Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the gene that encodes the CFTR anion channel. Welsh and his colleagues are learning how the CFTR anion channel is regulated and how mutations disrupt its function. They also focus on the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis lung disease, learning how the loss of CFTR causes the bacterial airway infections and inflammation that destroy the lung.	Akansha Jain (Molecular Physiology & Biophysics)
	Michael Wendt, PhD *Internal Medicine - Hematology, Oncology, & Blood & Marrow Transplantation *Cancer Biology *Molecular Biology *Models of Metastasis *Genetics *Pharmacology	Our lab is focused on understanding and targeting the molecular mechanisms necessary for cancer cells to exit the primary tumor environment, metastasize, and acquire resistance to currently used targeted molecular therapies. A critical aspect of metastasis and drug resistance is the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Understanding and overcoming how EMT facilitates drug resistance is a major focus of our research.	Levi Doyle (Cancer Biology)
	Kristan Worthington, PhD *Biomedical Engineering	In our lab, 1) we utilize a method of high resolution 3D printing called two-photon polymerization (TPP). This technique has successfully created 3D structures from both synthetic and biological polymers. 2) Utilizing two-photon polymerization for creating degradable 3D structures which release drugs targeting a specific disease. 3) Implementing photo-polymerization of various polymers and combining the polymerized structure with cells to restore and maintain normal physiological function. 4) The samples created within the lab are tested to determine their viscosity and elastic modulus as well as observing microscopic topography through use of a rheometer and atomic force microscope (AFM).	Qi Wang (co-mentor) (Biomedical Engineering)
	Li Wu, PhD *Biomedical Science (Cancer Biology) *Biomedical Science (Molecular Medicine) *Immunology *Microbiology *Medical Scientist Training Program	Defining the mechanisms of virus replication and understanding the role of immune cells and host factors in regulating viral infection are essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Dr. Wu’s lab studies the mechanisms of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 replication, virus interaction with host factors, and anti-viral innate immunity. The lab focuses on the mechanisms of HIV-1 restriction by the host protein SAMHD1, a unique cellular dNTP triphosphohydrolase that regulates dNTP homeostasis and maintains genomic stability. The lab also investigates the mechanisms by which N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications of viral and cellular RNA regulate virus gene expression and the host cell response to infection. These mechanistic studies can lay the foundation to facilitate the development of more effective interventions against viral infections.	Daniel Sands (Microbiology and Immunology)

Last Updated 06/19/2024