CURRENT STUDENTS | |
 | Juan Avila Pagan | I completed my BS in Industrial Microbiology at the University of Puerto Rico. I am doing my rotations now. My research interests are gene editing, gene therapy, genome-wide association studies, neurological disorders, and cancer genetics. Hobbies/Interests: Staying active by going to the gym, hiking, and swimming; Listening to music and reading; Very excited to try rock climbing in Denver! |
 | Yichi Chen | I obtained my BS in Microbial Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. I am doing my rotations now. My research interests are evolution and precision medicine. Hobbies/Interests: Board games, writing, karaoke, skiing, hiking, and swimming. |
 | Nicole Garcia Tubens | I got my BS in Industrial Microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico. I am doing my rotations now. My research interests are gene therapy and DNA damage. Hobbies/Interests: Baking, reading; Big Marvel fan. |
 | Samantha Lopez Alvarez | I completed my BA in Biology at the University of Colorado, Denver. I am doing my rotations now. My research interest is personalized medicine within the Hispanic/Latino populations. Hobbies/Interests: Taking my dogs on walks/hikes all around Colorado; Riding my motorcycle. |
 | Michael Ntrakwa | I obtained my MS in Clinical Laboratory Science from the University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. I am doing my rotations now. My research interest is host-pathogen immunogenetics. Hobbies/Interests: Cooking and hiking. |
 | Sakaiza Rasolofomanana Rajery | I got my BA in Statistical and Data Sciences from Smith College, Northampton. I am doing my rotations now. My research interests are precision medicine and various computational methods that can advance omics technologies. Hobbies/Interests: Playing music (drums, piano), Latin social dancing, catching up with friends, and napping. |
 | Kayla Medina | I earned my BS in Integrative Biology from the University of Colorado, Denver. I am now working with Dr. Joshua Johnson in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology on exploring the anti-angiogenic functions of SERPINF1. My day-to-day work involves a variety of molecular biology techniques to investigate its potential impacts. Outside of the lab, I enjoy cruising on my sports motorcycle and spending time outdoors camping. |
 | Shalom Gutierrez | I received my BS in Biochemistry from the University of California, Riverside. I am now working with Dr. Katrina Claw in the Department of Biomedical Informatics on investigating the evolution of pharmacogenetics across species and populations. On a day-to-day basis, my work involves using computational methods to explore the evolution of pharmacogenes. Outside of the lab, I enjoy knitting. |
 | Cristina Lau | I completed my BA in Neuroscience at the University of Colorado, Boulder. I am now working with Dr. Joaquin Espinosa in the Department of Pharmacology to determine the pathogenicity of autoantibodies that are overexpressed in people with Down syndrome. My day-to-day work involves using animal models to investigate the pathogenicity of these autoantibodies. Outside of the lab, I enjoy paddleboarding, crocheting, taking walks around Boulder, trying different restaurants, and spending time with my family and friends. |
 | Susana Lopez-Ignacio | I got my BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology from California State University - Dominguez Hills. I am now working with Dr. Caroline Dias in the Department of Pediatrics to investigate brain-specific mosaicism in Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome. On a day-to-day basis, I use various cellular and molecular techniques to study mosaicism in different brain cell types related to the syndrome. Outside of the lab, I love trying new things, whether it's hiking, picking up a new sport, or taking a random art class. |
 | Annika Smith | I earned my BA in Biology and French from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. I am now working with Dr. Joshua Johnson in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, focusing on mRNA stability and ovarian aging. My day-to-day work involves treating cultured granulosa cells with various drugs and analyzing their effects on mRNA degradation through rt-qPCR and Western blotting. Outside of the lab, I enjoy being creative by working on sewing projects and making cyanotype prints while listening to audiobooks. |
 | Abby Cozart | I earned my BS in Genetics from North Carolina State University, Raleigh. I am now working with Dr. Kelly Sullivan in the Department of Pediatrics to investigate altered TNF-⍺ signaling in Down syndrome. My day-to-day work involves using cell and mouse models of Down syndrome to explore the molecular origins of dysregulated TNF-⍺ signaling and its pathological effects. Outside work, I enjoy hiking, crocheting, embroidering, and singing. |
 | Rose Doss | I earned my BS in Molecular Biology from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. I am now working with Dr. Martin Breuss in the Department of Pediatrics, conducting a genome-wide assessment of transcriptional state history. On a typical day, I am using combinations of several molecular biology approaches to induce genomic mosaicism and study early markers of cellular differentiation. Outside of the lab, I enjoy gardening both food and flowers, as well as creating functional items through woodworking. |
 | Parker Hicks | I earned my BS in Biology from Concordia University Irvine. I am now working with Dr. Arjun Krishnan in the Department of Biomedical Informatics on transcriptomics-based knowledge discovery using cross-modal machine learning. My day-to-day work involves combining machine learning, natural language processing, and large-scale transcriptomics analyses to uncover gene expression signatures relevant to specific biological contexts. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing guitar and weightlifting. |
 | Megan Kraus | I earned my BS in Biology Pre-Med from Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion. I am now working with Dr. Ganna Bilousova and Dr. Melissa Haendel in the Department of Dermatology to uncover the genetic etiology and distinct subgroupings of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS). My day-to-day work is unique, involving a combination of computational phenotyping using electronic health records, machine learning methods for clustering analysis, and wet lab techniques such as iPSC and skin organoid culture along with Nanopore sequencing. It’s exciting to have such variety in my daily routine. Outside of work, I’m deep into planning my wedding for January, enjoy baking and cooking, and am currently attempting to hike all of Colorado's 14ers. |
 | Suraju Sadeeq | I earned my MS in Statistics from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. I am now working with Dr. Paul Norman and Dr. Chris Gignoux in the Department of Biomedical Informatics to investigate the role of polymorphic natural killer (NK) cell receptors in multiple sclerosis. My day-to-day work involves applying my statistical and computational skills to study genetic susceptibility to autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. Outside of work, I enjoy meeting friends and learning new skills. |
 | Tada Vargas | I earned a BS in Natural Science – Conservation Biology and a BS in Native American Studies – Tribal Law from Oglala Lakota College, followed by an MS in Legal Studies with a focus on Indigenous Peoples Law and Criminal Law from the University of Arizona. I am now working with Dr. Jill Norris in the Department of Epidemiology to investigate gene-environment interactions in the development of rheumatoid arthritis in seropositive cohorts. My day-to-day work involves using bioinformatics to explore genetic risk factors and gene-environment interactions in individuals at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis and their progression to disease. |
 | Yingping Wang | I am currently working with Dr. David Schwartz and Dr. Ivana Yang in the Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, focusing on identifying genes and transcripts that interact with MUC5B in pulmonary fibrosis. |
 | Luciana De Brito Vargas | I earned my Master's degree in Genetics from Universidade Federal do Paraná in Curitiba, Brazil. I am currently working with Dr. Leslie Lange in the Department of Biomedical Informatics and the Department of Epidemiology, focusing on leveraging genomics and other omics data to better understand the biological features and risk prediction of complex disease traits. My day-to-day work involves using large health research consortia to enhance the utility of polygenic risk scores, social determinants of health (SDoH), and omics features in characterizing and predicting pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. Outside of my research, I love learning languages! In addition to Portuguese, my mother tongue, I started learning English at age 11, followed by Spanish and some intermediate German. I often compare learning languages to learning programming languages, as I use R and bash daily in my research work. |
 | Helen Gomez | I earned my BS in Genetics and Biotechnology from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM. I am currently working with Dr. Regie Santos-Cortez in the Department of Otolaryngology to investigate the genetic determinants of inner and middle ear disorders. My day-to-day work involves using genetic, molecular, and bioinformatics techniques to study how genetic variants influence hearing loss and otitis media. I focus on sequencing, microbiota analysis, and mouse models to understand their impact on gene expression and disease mechanisms. Outside of my research, I enjoy traveling, pottery, and reading. |
 | Katie Kichula | I earned my BS in Biochemistry from Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. I am currently working with Dr. Paul Norman in the Department of Biomedical Informatics and the Department of Immunology, where my thesis work focuses on KIR and HLA associations with pre-eclampsia in Uganda. My day-to-day tasks involve using and developing state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing methods and bioinformatics tools to investigate polymorphic genes that modulate NK cell function in the context of placentation and early pregnancy. Outside of my research, I love spending time outdoors with my dog, who you might catch wearing a sweater that I've knitted! |
 | Stefanos Koutsoukos | I earned my BS in Biochemistry from the University of Maryland, College Park. I am currently working with Dr. Ganna Bilousova in the Department of Dermatology to characterize concordance in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa and cellular senescence. My work routinely involves using iPSC-derived fibroblasts to investigate the consequences of COL7A1 deficiency. |
 | Carissa Sherman | I earned my BA in Molecular Biology from Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO. I am currently working with Dr. Katrina Claw in the Department of Biomedical Informatics on pharmacogenetics within American Indians, focusing on the genetic characterization of nicotine metabolism and the return of results. My day-to-day work involves using mixed-method approaches, combining quantitative and qualitative methods, to examine the pharmacogenetics of nicotine metabolism and the bioethical considerations of genetics research with historically underrepresented populations. When away from, I enjoy beading earrings, and I have recently taken up bouldering. |
| Breanna Dooling | I earned my BA in Cellular, Molecular, and Genetic Biology from Boston University in Boston, MA. I am currently working with Dr. Huntington Potter in the Department of Neurology to study how apolipoprotein E4 contributes to Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology in individuals with Down syndrome. My day-to-day work involves differentiating and aging human iPSC-derived brain cell types and organoids to quantify differences in Alzheimer's-related pathologies using various molecular biology techniques. Outside of my research, I love hiking and camping in the summer, and skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. |
| Lauren Dunn | I earned my BS in Biology from Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, VT. I am currently working with Dr. Kelly Sullivan in the Department of Pediatrics to study liver dysfunction in individuals with Down syndrome. My day-to-day work involves using a combination of primary human data and mouse models to further investigate the mechanisms leading to co-occurring conditions in Down syndrome, specifically focusing on liver dysfunction. Outside of my research, I enjoy skiing, backpacking, fishing, and playing soccer. |
 | Betzaida Maldonado | I earned my MS in Forensic Science from Marshall University in Huntington, WV. I am currently working with Dr. Chris Gignoux in the Department of Biomedical Informatics to understand the interplay between genetics and social determinants of health in historically underrepresented populations. My day-to-day work involves using a combination of statistical tools to analyze genomics data and applying community-engagement approaches to gain a better understanding of health disparities. |
| Jason Wilson | I earned my BS in Biology from Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS. I am currently working with Dr. Kelly Sullivan in the Department of Pediatrics to explore how innate immune signaling directs a program of transient site-specific copy gains. My day-to-day work involves using cell culture, molecular biology, and sequencing methods to investigate how transient copy number gains are generated at the IFNR locus on chromosome 21 and how Trisomy 21 dysregulates this process. When away from work, I enjoy golfing, skiing, hiking, and following Kansas City sports. |
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| Haley Wolff | I earned my BS in Genetics and Genomics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I am currently working with Dr. Audrey Hendricks in the Department of Biomedical Informatics to advance methodologies for estimating substructure and allele frequencies from genetic summary data. My day-to-day work involves developing statistical methods to enhance the utility and equity of publicly available summary data. Outside of work, I enjoy rock climbing, road cycling, mountain biking, and snowboarding. |
| Katie Marker | I got my MPH in Epidemiology from the University of California, Berkeley. I am currently working with Dr. Chris Gignoux in the Department of Biomedical Informatics on fine-scale population structure in rare variant analyses, focusing on when it becomes a problem and how to correct for it. My day-to-day work involves using computational methods to create realistic genetic and phenotypic simulations to identify under what genetic and phenotypic architecture fine-scale population structure affects association tests. I also test various statistical methods to adjust for this structure in association studies. Outside of work, I enjoy yoga, engaging in any and all water sports, and skiing. |
| Nicholas Pollock | I received my BS in Biochemistry from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. I am currently working with Dr. Paul Norman in the Department of Biomedical Informatics to create fully representative MHC haplotypes. My day-to-day work involves developing and modifying targeted sequencing methods for Illumina and Nanopore sequencing to capture regions of interest in the human genome. I then de novo assemble these regions into new genomic references using bioinformatic pipelines that I have created. Outside of work, I enjoy being outdoors and spending quality time with my wife and kids. |
| Mariah Meyer | I earned my BS in Biology with a focus on Genetics and Evolution from the University of Montana in Missoula, MT. I am currently working with Dr. Ethan Lange in the Department of Biomedical Informatics to evaluate the genetics of cardiovascular and renal disorders in multi-ancestry populations. My day-to-day work involves using bioinformatics and statistical methods to analyze genetically complex cardiorenal diseases, particularly in large, underrepresented, and admixed populations. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors hiking, camping, kayaking, and skiing. I am also an avid gardener and baker, and my biggest passion is my dog, Norman. |
 | Evan Sticca | I got my BA in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. I am currently working with Dr. Chris Gignoux in the Department of Biomedical Informatics on combinatorial phenotyping for opioid use disorder in the CCPM BioBank electronic health records. My day-to-day work involves using EHR data mining to assess the risk of opioid use disorder. Outside of my research, I enjoy spending time with my wife, two kids, and our dog. |
