Research Interests: Collective cell migration, cell polarity, kinases and phosphatases in cell migration, non-muscle myosin II, tissue morphogenesis, mechanobiology, tumor invasion and metastasis
Yujun Chen
Postdoctoral Fellow
B.S. Hainan University, China
Ph.D. Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Research Interests: Serine-threonine Protein phosphatase complexes in border cells and collective migration, live imaging techniques, optogenetic tools
Nirupama Kotian
Graduate Student
B.Sc. KETs V G Vaze College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai, India
M.Sc. KETs V G Vaze College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai, India
Research Interests: Cell adhesion proteins, regulation of adhesion in collectives and tumors, applications to cancer
Luke Messer
Graduate Student
B.S. University of Alabama in Huntsville
Research Interests: Regulation of Rap1 activity in collective migration, tissue-collective interactions, signaling pathways in migration
Emily Burghardt
Graduate Student
B.A. Northern Michigan University
Research Interests: Dynamic collective cell migration in a growing tissue, RNA-sequencing, genetic regulation of border cell motility
Carmen Del Real
Undergraduate Research Student, Bridges and Developing Scholars Programs
Life Sciences Major
Research Interests: Protein Phosphatase function, applications to cancer and human health
Manuel Garcia
Undergraduate Research Student, Independent Study
Biology Major
Research Interests: Rap1 small GTPase function, applications to cancer and human health
Hannah Coggeshall
Undergraduate Research Student
Biology Major
Research Interests: Adhesion proteins in collective cell migration, applications to cancer and human health
Elijah Gardner
Summer Research Student (RiPS KS-LSAMP)
Biology Major
Research Interests: Genetic regulation of cell migration, applications to cancer and human health
Alumni:
Marissa Komp (KSU Undergraduate Research Student, JCRC Cancer Research Awardee, 2017-2019). Veterinary Medicine Student, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 2019-present.
Loan Tang (KSU Undergraduate Researcher, K-INBRE Freshman Scholar, 2016-2018). Finishing studies at KSU, interested in public health research and studies.
Oshadhi Athukorala Arachchige (KSU Research Technician 2017-2018) – currently on leave from graduate school, University of Kansas Medical School, Kansas City, KS
Kevin Preuss (KSU Lab Manager 2017-2018) – currently in business school, San Antonio, TX and Program Integrator at Texas Biomedical Research Institute
Adelina Parral (KSU Bridges/DSP student 2017-2018) – currently doing research in science outreach at K-State
Ketki Sawant (CSU Graduate Student 2010-2015/KSU Postdoctoral Fellow 2016) – currently a Research Scientist at Cellf-Bio, Winston-Salem, NC
George Aranjuez (CWRU Graduate Student 2010-2015) – currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida
Ashely Burtscher (Research Technologist at Cleveland Clinic 2011-2015) – currently a Research Technologist in the Department of Cancer Biology, Cleveland Clinic
Sushmita Mukherjee (Postdoctoral Fellow at Cleveland Clinic 2009-2011) – currently a Clinical Project Manager in the Oncology group at Quintiles, Inc.
Kelly Shibuya (Medical Student, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, 2014) – currently a medical resident
Lauren Knox (2016-2017 Undergraduate Research Student) – currently a medical student at Drexel University Medical School
Heather Foy (Intern 2016) – currently working in healthcare
Kristen Hylen (2016 summer student K-State SUROP program: from Benedictine College)
Mouktika Ayyagari (2013 Undergraduate Researcher: from Case Western Reserve University)
Joanne Berry (2013 Visiting Undergraduate Volunteer: from Ohio Northern University)
Elizabeth Kudlaty (2010-2011 Undergraduate Researcher: from Northwestern University) – currently a medical resident at Northwestern University, Department of Medicine
Derek McCalla (2011 Undergraduate Researcher: from Oakwood University) – currently a medical resident
Emily Lewis (2010 Undergraduate Researcher: from Ohio State University) – received M.S. in Plant Biology/Conservation from Northwestern University
Connie Tzou (2008-2010 Undergraduate Researcher: from Case Western Reserve University) – currently a graduate student at University of Washington School of Public Health
Nicole Molander-Barraza (2012 Undergraduate Researcher in Case Western Reserve University ACES program: from Florida International University)
