Fellows – Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) Post-Doctoral Program

Current Fellows

2025 Cohort

Ashley M. Loeven

Ph.D., Biological Science – Cell and Molecular Biology, Florida State University
Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular & Integrative Physiology
Mentor: Susan V. Brooks, Ph.D

Research Interest: Ashley is studying how aging influences the cellular and molecular mechanisms of motor unit expansion and neuromuscular junction remodeling.

amloeven@umich.edu

Catherine Wilhelm

Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Michigan
Postdoctoral Fellow, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Mentor: Herman Fung

Research Interest: Catherine is interested in using structural biology and biochemistry to understand how protein complexes selectively and specifically bind nucleic acids. Her current research investigates how heterochromatin-binding proteins bind and condense nucleosomes at the nuclear periphery.

cawilhel @umich.edu

Clancy Short

Ph.D., Entomology Department, University of Florida
Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan
Mentor: Scott Pletcher

Research Interest: Clancy is interested in how organs talk to each other in animals to maintain nutrient homeostasis in complex nutritional environments, and how these communication mechanisms change as animals accumulate age and experiences.

clancysh@med.umich.edu

2024-2027 Cohort

Benedict Abdon

Ph.D., Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School
Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular & Integrative Physiology
Mentor: Matthias Truttmann (https://truttmann.lab.medicine.umich.edu/)

Research Interest: Ben is interested in how alterations in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein folding capacity (proteostasis) impacts healthy aging and metabolism.

babdon@med.umich.edu

Francisco Gomez-Rivera

Ph.D., Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School
Postdoctoral Fellow, Hematology & Oncology
Mentor: Mark Chiang

Research Interest: Francisco’s research focuses on understanding how mutations in the alanine-rich domain of ZMIZ1 affect T-cell development and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in both murine and human models.

fgr@umich.edu

Lindsey Hughes

Ph.D., Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine
Postdoctoral Fellow, Vascular Surgery
Mentor: Katherine Gallagher (https://katherinegallagherlab.com/)

Research Interest: Lindsey is interested in the immune regulation of tissue repair, specifically epigenetic mechanisms that regulate wound healing responses by macrophages and fibroblasts in diabetes.

hughesld@med.umich.edu

2023 Cohort

De’Jana Parker

Ph.D., Integrated Biosciences, North Carolina Central University
Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCDB)
Mentors: Ariangela J. Kozik & Gary Huffnagle

Research Interest: De’Jana is interested in how bacterial members of the microbiome interact with host immune cells. Specifically, her research centers on the interactions between Rothia species and lung immune cells, with a focus on macrophages and epithelial cells. She aims to understand the immunomodulatory roles of Rothia within the respiratory environment, including its potential to influence cytokine production and macrophage activation states.

dejana@umich.edu

2021 Cohort

Kipchumba Kaitany

Ph.D., Biological Chemistry
Postdoctoral Fellow, Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Markos Koutmos

Research Interest: Kip is interested in RNA structure-function and is particularly drawn to the study of RNA-protein interactions.

kaitanyk@umich.edu

Lauren McCarthy

Ph.D., Physical Chemistry, Rice University
Postdoctoral Fellow, Biophysics
Mentor: Dr. Julie S. Biteen

Research Interest: Lauren is applying single-molecule microscopy and tracking to learn how E. coli cells are organized, particularly under conditions of stress.

lamccar@umich.edu

Active UM IRACDA Alumni

Rebecca Cox

Ph.D., Biomedical Science, Cornell University
Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Mentor: Dr. Scott Leiser

Research Interest: Rebecca is interested in the role of FMO-2 and neuropeptide pathways in a C. elegans model of dietary-mediated longevity.

rebeccco@umich.edu

Molly Thorson

Ph.D., Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan
Postdoctoral Fellow, Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Mentor: Dr. Jillian Pearring

Research Interest: Molly is interested in studying outer segment growth in photoreceptors.

mttho@umich.edu

Current U Michigan Postdoctoral fellows/MI IRACDA Alumni who share their programmatic and institutional knowledge with current MI IRACDA Scholars.

Former Fellows

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Wylie Stroberg
2016-2020
Assistant Professor,
University of Alberta

Victor A Cazares
2016-2020
Assistant Professor,
Williams University

Jennifer Judge
2017-2019
Regulatory Affairs Scientist,
Cook Myosite

Holly Turula
2019-2020
Assistant Professor,
Western Michigan University

Zoe Thompson
2017-2021
Assistant Professor
Utah Valley University

Nathan Horrell
2020-2021
Medical, Regulatory Writer
Medpace, Inc.

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DeLawrence Sykes
2017-2020
Assistant Professor,
Berry College (GA)

Neda Nourabadi
2017-2020
QA Senior Associate
Amgen

Lauren Jepsen
2018-2021
Assistant Professor
Cornell College (IA)

Elizabeth Duran
2018-2022
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Ramiah Jacks
2019-2023
Research Investigator
University of Michigan Medicine

Vanessa Punal
2019-2023
Research Laboratory Specialist Lead
University of Michigan

Sonya Wolf-Fortune
2019-2023
Assistant Professor
University of Michigan

Jennifer Flanagan-Natoli
2021-2024
Chemistry Lecturer and Instrumentation Specialist,
Union College

Max Baymiller
2022-2025
Visiting Professor, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Wesleyan University

Hector Mendoza 2021-2025
Assistant Professor,
Biology, Loyola University, Chicago

Kathleen Kish
2023-2025
Research Scientist, Neurology
University of Michigan

Nicole Rodgers
2023-2025
Technical Writer,
MilleporeSigma

Patrice Hicks
2022-2025
Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences,
University of Michigan

Kristen Turner
2022-2025

Lauren McCarthy
2021-2025