Maya Demirchian, Undergraduate Researcher - Maya is working towards a bachelor's degree in human physiology with a minor in Spanish. After her undergraduate degree, Maya hopes to attend medical school. She is interested in preventative medicine and the effects of nutrition and exercise on health. Outside of the lab, Maya loves to run, travel, and spend time with her friends and family.
Katrina Dietsche, Undergraduate Researcher - Katrina will be going to the NIH for a post-bacc. She spent almost two years and an undergrad research in our lab. Katrina graduated with a bachelors degree in cellular and organismal physiology with a minor in nutrition. Her primary interests lie in the mechanisms behind caloric restriction and time-restricted feeding as well as nutritional interventions for metabolic disease. Katrina recently joined the lab and has spent the summer learning and aiding various projects. After completing her bachelor's degree, Katrina would like to attend medical school. Outside of lab, Katrina enjoys working as a certified nursing assistant, listening to music, and volunteering as a tutor downtown.
Saad Khan, Visiting Ph.D. Scholar - Saad is a visiting Ph.D. student from the Department of Immunology in the University of Toronto. His academic interests lie in learning more about the gut-liver axis during health and metabolic disease. He is currently interested in learning how B cells in the liver and the gut regulate various parameters of metabolic syndrome. Outside of lab, Saad is involved with science outreach programs, an advocate for student mental health, a collector of funky socks and an avid foodie who will go to great lengths to satisfy his cravings.
Houda Cohen, Graduate Student- got her MD Degree from the University of Hassan II Medical School in 2011. She then moved to Minnesota and joined Dr. Kyba's laboratory where she helped characterizing a Dux knockout mouse to explore Dux4 gene function and better understand its role in FSHD in humans. Next, she joined Dr. Metzger lab and took the lead in the development of a novel cancer cachexia experimental model in mice using an inducible C26 Tyrosine Kinase-Ganciclovir suicide-gene system (C26TK-GCV) to investigate long-term effects of cancer cachexia on heart and skeletal muscle in cancer survivor mice. In her free time, Houda love walking outdoor and spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys cooking, baking, interior design and snow tubing.
Sacha Robert, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow - Sacha received a Ph.D. in Cellular Biology from the University of Rennes in France where his research focused on the danger signals and cell signaling during hepatic fibrosis development. During his first postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Brenda Ogle, he sought to understand how the interactions between cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) can modulate the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes. Using induced pluripotent stem cells cultured in an optimized ECM, his data revealed a key role of FAK signaling in iPSCs differentiation. Recently, Sacha joined the Revelo laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow where he will be investigating immune mechanisms that instigate the progression of NAFLD into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). He is particularly interested in ECM remodeling during the inflammatory process that triggers HCC.
Zoe Schmiechen, Graduate Student – Zoe received a B.A. from Grinnell College in Biological Chemistry. After college, she went on to complete a two-year Postbaccalaureate fellowship at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, studying the immune response to food allergy. She joined the MICaB Ph.D. program this fall with a focus in Immunology. She is currently rotating in the Revelo lab, and working on a project investigating the interaction between obesity and food allergy sensitization. Outside of lab, Zoe enjoys cooking, eating brunch, yoga, and running.
Gustavo Serrano, Undergraduate Researcher, University of Puerto Rico - Gustavo is a visiting member of the life sciences summer undergraduate research program (LSSURP) visiting from Puerto Rico. At the University of Puerto Rico, Gustavo is pursuing a degree in biology in hopes of doing his graduate studies in a science-related field. During his time with the Revelo lab, he will be looking at the effects of B cell accumulation on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Back in Puerto Rico, Gustavo competitively fences and enjoys working out.
Nicole Karas, Undergraduate Researcher - Nicole is currently a senior at the University of Minnesota studying physiology and public health. She will be graduating in May of 2019 and applying for dental school in the upcoming year. Nicole will be working with the lab on a research project through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) focusing on the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise training against NAFLD. She is interested in improving her laboratory skills and gaining valuable research experience. Outside of the lab, Nicole enjoys spending time with family and friends and volunteering at a local dental clinic.
Richard Martinez, PhD Rotation Student (MICaB program) - Prior to joining the Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology graduate program in 2018, Richard worked as a researcher in a lab studying molecular mechanisms and symptom modification of osteoarthritis. His current research interests focus on human microbiota and how they contribute to human diseases. Presently, his project is beginning to investigate the role of gut microbiota and possible effects on liver disease. When he is not in the lab or studying, Richard enjoys trying new restaurants, immersive board games, and listening to audiobooks.
Sheida Etehadasnaf, Researcher - Prior to joining the Revelo Lab, Sheida was a visiting scholar in Dr. Christopher Burlak laboratory where she focused on diabetes research. Sheida earned her Master of Science in Biology with an emphasis in Microbiology from Iran's Islamic Azad University. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the North Tehran Branch of the same university. Sheida is interested in expanding her skills and understanding how findings in biomedical research can be translated to therapies. Sheida enjoys sports such as skating, swimming, soccer, and mountain climbing when she isn't in the lab.
Jamie Maertens, Lab manager Jamie graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Psychology. Prior to joining the Revelo Lab, Jamie worked on research projects in the fields of Pharmacology and Behavioral Neuroscience, with a focus on animal models of addiction. Outside the lab, Jamie enjoys playing music, knitting, and long, rambling walks with no particular destination.