Former Personnel

Clara Kim is a fourth year undergraduate student majoring in Cellular and Organismal Physiology on the pre-dental track. She is working with PhD candidate, Seokwon Jo, to examine the degree of mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) deletion in different regions of the placenta. Outside of the lab, she enjoys exploring the city and baking new foods. June 2022-2024.

Ms. Briana Clifton worked in the lab since sophomore undergraduate student studying Human Physiology, Spanish, and Urdu/Hindi Studies. She is currently attending medical school and finding time to work in the lab in spare time. In the lab, she works with Dr. Beetch on the fetal programming of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Outside of the lab, Briana enjoys watching horror movies, trying new restaurants, and practicing her creative writing. September 2019-2023.
 
goldy gopher

Ms. Grace Chung  is a recent graduate of the Master of Biological Sciences Program. She is now a researcher in the lab continuing her thesis research on the role of  placental insulin signaling on the fetal programming of metabolic disease. She is now currently pursuing medical school in Washington. July 2018-2023

Ms. Sarah Larson is a third year undergraduate Human Physiology major planning to pursue medical school after graduation. Currently, she is working with Dr. Megan Beetch to examine how placental mTOR signaling regulates mitochondrial function in the placenta. When she is not in the lab, she enjoys weight lifting, cooking, teaching group fitness classes, and spending time outdoors embracing all four of Minnesota's marvelous seasons.
 
Ms. Blithe Zaun is a second year undergraduate Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development major planning to pursue a Ph.D. after graduation. She is now working with Mr. Seokwon Jo to examine how the overexpression of MCU in pancreatic beta cells affects the overall beta cell mass in the pancreas. When she is not in the lab she enjoys reading, writing, cooking, and camping in the Boundary Waters. February 2022 - December 2022.
 
Dr. Eric Gustafson received his Ph.D. in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota. As a talented electrophysiologist trained by Dr. Robert Miller, he is involved in many projects in the lab. His main focus is to understand the mechanisms of OGT and NMDAR in insulin secretion using patch-clamp electrophysiology in single cells or whole intact islets. May 1, 2018-2022.
 
Ms. Eunice Oribamise received her BS in Human Anatomy from Babcock University in Nigeria. She is currently a MS student in the Stem Cell Biology program and is currently working on pancreas development by nutrient sensor protein mTOR and OGT. She has a genuine passion to make an impact through science! Outside work, she enjoys watching good movies, learning new skills, and spending time with family and friends. January 2021-June 2022. Eunice is now a graduate student in IBP.
 
Mr. Fred Anderson is a sophomore studying Human Physiology, and Spanish & Portuguese Studies. He is collaborating with Mr. Seokwon Jo to explore the crosstalk between OGT, and mTOR in beta cells. He hopes to attend medical school after graduation. Outside of the lab, Fred enjoys rock climbing, documentaries, trying new foods, and spending time with family and friends. January 2021 - June 2022.
 
Ms. Nikita Patole is a senior undergraduate student studying Biology and Public Health. She hopes to attend medical school following graduation. In the lab, Nikita works with Ms. Alicia Wong to examine the relationship between Ogt and Pdx1 and their effect on beta cells. When she is not in the lab, Nikita enjoys running, trying out new baking recipes, reading, and spending time with family and friends. August 2021-May 2022
 
Dr. Mackenzie Moore is a General Surgery Resident at the University of Minnesota. She completed her MD at the University of Iowa. In the lab, she studied the influence of placental deletion of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) on beta-cell function as well as evaluating the role of OGT in the development of pancreatitis. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing soccer, live music, and traveling. Dr. Moore was supported by an NIH NRSA T32 Training Grant in Pancreatology from the University of Minnesota Department of Surgery. July 1, 2019 – June 2021.
 
Mr. Nick Esch was an undergraduate studying Cellular & Organismal Physiology and Nutrition. He worked with Mr. Seokwon Jo to explore the intersection between OGT, mTOR, and autophagy in beta cells. Beyond the research being done in the Alejandro Lab, he is also keenly interested in how metabolic pathways can be influenced through lifestyle-based interventions to promote healthspan and longevity. Following graduation he intends to attend graduate school, preceded by a gap year that will likely involve travel and additional research experience. When not in lab he enjoys cooking, reading, and attending concerts. September 2019 - May 2021
 
Ms. Nandini Avula is a former UMN undergraduate student studying Human Physiology, Spanish studies, and Public Health. In the lab, she worked with Dr. Samantha Pritchard to better understand the role of OGT and Pdx-1 on pancreatic beta cell mass. She is currently working with Dr. Mackenzie Moore to assess the role of OGT in pancreatitis. While waiting for medical school to start in the fall of 2021, she is stayed on as a Researcher in the lab to complete her project with Dr. Moore. June 2019- May 2021
 
Ms. Regina Schlichting is an undergraduate student studying Genetics, Cellular Biology, and Development and Spanish Studies, with hopes of attending medical school in the future. In the lab she is worked with Mr. Seokwon Jo on various products. September 2018-Dec 2020.
 
Ms. Amber Lockridge ~ A PhD student in the IBP graduate Program working with Dr. Alejandro to explore physiological mechanisms that adaptively regulate the coupling of beta cell glucose metabolism with insulin secretion with an eye towards better understanding the pathology of type II diabetes.  One of her projects is investigating the insulin secretion defect phenotype of mice with a pancreas-specific deletion of the enzyme O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT).  A second project involves the role beta-cell membrane ion channel NMDA receptor on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Amber is supported by an NIH NRSA F31 fellowship for two years!! September 1, 2015-August 2020. Dr. Lockridge is currently doing her PDF at NIH.
 
Mr. Ahmad Essawy is a product of the University of Minnesota undergraduate GCD program. He began his post-baccalaureate research career at the UMN Stem Cell Institute working on optimizing differentiation of IPS cells into beta cells, and studying the mechanism of beta cell apoptosis. He joined Alejandro lab as a post-baccalaureate junior scientist with hopes of furthering his research and setting a foundation for future graduate work. In the lab, he is currently studying the role of OGT in glucagon cells. March 1, 2018-April 2020
 

Dr. Samantha Pritchard was a post-doctoral fellow who received her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from Iowa State University. As a post-doc in the Alejandro Lab, she studied the role of OGT in regulating pancreatic and endocrine progenitors through Pdx1 and the role of OGA in glucose homeostasis. Dr. Pritchard was supported by an NIH NRSA T32 Training Grant in Diabetes Endocrinology, and Metabolism from October 1, 2018- October 2019. She is currently working at Rush University in Chicago as an Assistant Professor.

Mr. Nicklas Damberg graduated as a Biology student at the University of Minnesota. Nicklas and Ms. Amber Lockridge worked together to assess bihormonal cell number in multiple projects. He was a UROP student in 2018. He is looking forward to applying to medical school this summer! September 2016- October 2019

Ms. Paola M. Pou Acosta is an undergraduate biology student in the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey. She is participating in the Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Program from UMN and working with Mr. Seokwon Jo and Mr. Brian Akhaphong studying insulin signaling pathways in mTOR and TSC2 placental models. Outside of the lab, Paola loves mofongo, ice cream, reading, sports, and movies. July 2019-August 2019.

 
Dr. Ramkumar Mohan was a Post-Doctoral Fellow from 2-16-2019. He received his Ph.D. from Michigan Technological University September 2016.  He worked on the role of OGT on mitochondrial function and beta-cell regeneration. He is currently living in Detroit, Michigan with his wife, and pursuing a post-doctoral training at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
 

Mr. Daniel Baumann was former Researcher 1. He worked on the role of OGT in pancreatic development. He also investigated the contribution of placental nutrient sensors in beta-cell programming and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. He is currently a graduate student in IBP Graduate Program.

Ms. Tate  Zemanovic worked in the lab during her 3rd  and 4th year as Physiology Major student at the University of Minnesota. Tate is now a graduate student in New York City.

Ms. Miranda Olson work on third year student Physiology. She worked on the impact of nutrient sensor protein mTOR and OGT during pregnancy on the development of beta-cell mass.

Ms. Lensa Ali- worked in the lab during her junior year majoring in Physiology, and she studied the impact of OGT in beta-cell development. She is now in medical school at the University of Minnesota.

Ms. Michelle Ann Wasan-  joined the lab as a junior student from the University of Washington in Seattle. While in the lab, she assisted in characterizing the phenotype of mice overexpressing a kinase-dead mutant mTOR and offspring of dams exposed to low-protein diet during the last week of pregnancy. She is now in Pharmacy School at the University of Minnesota in Duluth!

Ms. Bailey Aberthany worked on her honors thesis in the lab which was on the role of OGT in beta-cell adaptation to insulin resistance. She is now in Medical School at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Ms. Alleah Abrenica- was our first summer intern from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. Her summer project involved insulin signaling assessment in liver and visceral fat of mice lacking Serine Racemase. Summer of 2016

Ms. Danica Fondevilla- was our Summer 2017 intern from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. She worked on the insulin signaling pathway in liver and adipose tissue of mice lacking placental mTOR signaling.

Ms. Michelle Sia- was our Summer 2018 intern from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. She worked on Akt and mTOR signaling in the various models of fetal programming of type 2 diabetes (RUPP and TSC2 deletion in the placenta).

Ms. Kinsley Kehlenbeck, worked in the lab during her senior as an undergraduate student double majoring in Spanish Studies and Physiology. She worked on various projects mastering tissue sectioning, staining and imaging techniques as well as analyzing beta and alpha cell mass. As a type one diabetic herself, Kinsley is very interested in learning more about pathways involved in the onset of diabetes and the genes involved in the progression of the disease. Kinsley is now in Dental School at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Ms. Neha Panigrahy was a Senior student in Chemistry and Physiology. She completed her honor thesis in the lab looking at the role of OGT in autophagy. She is now in Medical School at University of Illinois- Urbana Champaign.

Dr. Elizabeth Morgan was a Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellow who has joined the Alejandro Lab to research placental nutrient sensing proteins and their role in fetal growth restriction. She was returning to the bench after a long hiatus, having studied molecular biology and bioinformatics prior to her matriculation into medical school. She starts as an attending physician in Massachusetts at the completion of her fellowship next Fall, 2019, and hopes to use what she has learned with Dr. Alejandro to continue her scientific career. 

Ms. Elina Da Sol Chung worked in the lab during her 3rd-4th year as a Physiology student at the University of Minnesota. Ms. Chung is currently applying for Medical School.

Ms. Hani Abi is a senior majoring in Biology, Society and Environment in the college of liberal arts. In the lab she worked with Amber Lockridge on various products from July to October 2019.