Principal Investigator
Dr. Jeremiah Zartman
Bio: My primary research focus is studying the signaling networks that regulate cell decisions such as differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis, as it relates to organogenesis, cancer, and wound healing at a systems-level. A key challenge for systems bioengineers is to create bottom-up approaches that instruct cells to repair themselves or regenerate tissues. However, this goal requires new tools and knowledge. My laboratory seeks to identify fundamental principles that govern how cells communicate and coordinate their behavior to organize themselves into functional organs. This research provides new perspectives on the causes of tissue degeneration and cancer.
We develop cell-, organ- and whole-animal models to study the molecular basis of human diseases. We also create tools to advance quantitative data analysis of thick tissues. Currently, our research group investigates the molecular logic of organ development, which holds the key to fixing the underlying causes of disease: broken cell communication.
Postdoctoral and Research Staff
Dr. Pablo Cisternas Esguep
Bio: Since a very young age, I gravitated toward Biology. In college, my degree in Biological Sciences explored therapeutic approaches to treat male infertility by analyzing spermatozoa’s apoptotic machinery. After that, I obtained my Ph.D. in Molecular Biosciences in Neurobiology. My thesis described astrocyte-secreted products’ changes and neurotoxic effects on synaptic structure and functioning under gestational hypothyroxinemia (a lack of the thyroid hormone T4). Later, I led an Institutional Improvement Project for Science and Innovation that examined iPSCs-derived exosomes as synaptoprotective agents. Most recently, I conducted research identifying novel in situ and secreted astrocyte-derived neurodegenerative/neuroprotective biomarkers in the context of Alzheimer’s Disease, focusing on astrocytic tau. Additionally, I investigated the synaptotoxic effects of cerebrovascular amyloid build-up and its interplay with tau. My current field of study is to elucidate protein-protein interactions (PPIs) dynamics in Drosophila-based disease models. Also, I aim to integrate the field of PPIs and its related pathways in astrocyte biology, exploring its mechanisms in cancers like glioblastoma and analyzing neuronal survival and synaptic preservation.
Marycruz Flores-Flores
Graduate Students
Dr. Nilay Kumar
Mayesha Mim
David Gazzo
Bio: My goal as a researcher is to give back to our natural world in a way that will preserve and rebuild our environment. To achieve this goal, I have focused my education on engineering with a specific interest in the intersection of chemistry and biology for genetic engineering and human health. My past scientific experience involved research at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). During my time at INL, I focused on optimizing a bio-leaching process to retrieve cobalt from lithium-ion batteries by improving the capabilities of an organic acid produced by the bacterium Gluconobacter oxydans. Along with this, I studied a possible metal purification process that would be able to eliminate many current processes that create hard-to-dispose-of hazardous waste. This study investigated the affinity of algae to absorb and/or adsorb rare earth metals from solution. Building off these projects my final work at INL involved exploring the ability of iron- and sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms to retrieve tellurium (Te) from mine tailings. Following my time at INL and my graduation from Montana State University (MSU), I began graduate school at the University of Notre Dame. My graduate research currently harnesses the skills that I developed over my time at INL and MSU to investigate the effects of the calcium signaling within the Drosophila melanogaster model system to identify promising therapeutic targets for various genetic diseases.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Current Research Assistants (2022-2023): Lucy Chmura, Batradz Djikkaity
Undergraduate Research Alumni
2020-2022 Giorgia Giordano (defended UG thesis, April 2022). Congratulations!
Akanksha Sachan, Madyson McDougal
Spring 2019: Seth Tautges, Trent Robinett, Cesar Moreno, Andrew Blake, Grace Gasper, Elizabeth Parisi, Mark Legendre, Beverley Watson, Ryan Govi, Adriana Szypnda
Fall 2018: Seth Tautges, Trent Robinett, Cesar Moreno, Brooke Gleason, Adriana Szpynda, Mark Legendre, Heather Flynn, Spencer Hayes, Ryan Govi, Andrew, Blake, Quincey Hogue
Summer 2018: Seth Tautges, Ulises Hernandez (PODEMOS participant), Ana Olivares (PODEMOS participant), Lev Suliandziga
Lab Alumni / Last known affiliation
Dr. V. Vijay Kumar Naidu, Data Scientist, Zifo
Dr. Francisco Huizar, Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Scientist, DILIsym Services, a division of Simulations Plus
Dr. Dharsan Soundarajjan, Mathematical Modeler at Immunetrics
Dr. Megan Levis, Post-doc at the University of Notre Dame
Dr. Ramezan Paravitorghabeh, former post-doc, Senior Data Scientist, Pfizer
Dr. Qinfeng Wu, Senior Consultant at Guidehouse
Dr. Pavel Brodskiy, Data Scientist at Caris Life Sciences
Dr. Cody Narciso, BioTek Instruments
Dr. Miranda Burnette, Senior Research Engineer, Organogenesis
Jamison Jangula, Masters in CBE, May 2019, University of North Dakota