Members
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. Maria Unger
Maria F. Unger, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Dr. J. J. Zartman lab. Her professional interests include but not limited to Calcium signaling and cell communication, development, aging, inflammation, immune and autoimmune responses, genetics & genomics, bioinformatics, olfaction, circadian rhythms, genealogy and global health.
Maria enjoys being a researcher for 20+ years and has an experience of being in different roles: Volunteer, Research Technician, Graduate student and a Postdoctoral fellow; she studied a wide range of scientific problems including speciation, genome sequencing and assembly, Transposable element annotation and others. Currently, she works with Drosophila melanogaster and is focused on Calcium signaling. She studies G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), G-protein subunit G alpha q and it’s role in a cell signaling cascade, as well as other components of Calcium signaling in a developing Drosophila wing.
For fun, Maria enjoys reading scientific papers, watching historical documentaries, science fiction, painting, dancing and gardening. She has a family of three as well as a happy owner of a dog, a cat, fish, chickens and honeybees.
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.
Dr. Mayesha Sahir Mim
Bio: Transitioning from a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Dhaka to pursuing a master’s and a PhD in Bioengineering at the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at ND, my academic journey has been quite unique and unconventional. My research experience spans from sustainable energy, and machine learning for skin disease detection to working at a humanoid robotics lab aiding older adults and children with autism. Currently, as a doctoral researcher, I am an experimentalist investigating the role of calcium signaling using genetic and optogenetic methods to better understand tissue and organ morphology. Through the Zartman lab’s collaboration with other labs on campus, at Purdue and at the University of California-Riverside, I am actively contributing to projects involving various animal models and sophisticated computational models to analyze and enhance our experimental results. I am driven by a desire to address unanswered questions in developmental biology, leading to the development of tools and treatments for human diseases. Beyond the lab, I am passionate about addressing the societal and ethical impacts of scientific endeavors and defining our roles in science policy formation and science communication as researchers.
Beatriz Borrelly
Bio: Graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences with a Minor in Psychology in Spring of 2024 from the University of South Florida. I am now in my gap year and plan to apply to medical school. During my undergraduate, I worked with Drosophila melanogaster and was a Learning Assistant for the Genetics Laboratory for three semesters. I was also a Resident Assistant for the Housing and Residential Education as well as a Peer Leader in the Chemistry Department.
I am the research technician for our laboratory, where I maintain the laboratory stocks, organize inventories, manage updates to our papers and website, assist other lab members with their research projects, and much more. MSEL really fascinated me for its work and for focusing on neurodegenerative diseases. Combining Drosophila melanogaster with diseases in the human brain really resonated with me as I always wanted to learn more about neurodegenerative research due to my family’s experience as well as my curiosity. Working with Drosophila was also a bonus as it was something I enjoyed while completing my bachelor’s degree.
For fun, I enjoy dancing, crocheting, arts and crafts, braiding hair, and spending time with my dog and loved ones.
Graduate Students
David Gazzo
Bio: My passion for studying developmental biology stems from my family’s experience with genetic illnesses. Witnessing my grandparents’ cognitive decline, coupled with their encouragement to pursue higher education, inspired me to pursue an engineering career focused on unraveling the signaling networks driving tissue development and disease while designing treatments to preserve the cognitive health of our communities.
Benjamin Speybroeck
Bio: My research focuses on unraveling the mechanisms of morphogenesis, particularly the eversion process of the imaginal wing disc in Drosophila melanogaster. I combine advanced imaging techniques and genetic tools to explore how cells coordinate and remodel during development. By investigating these processes, I aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of developmental biology and its implications for regenerative medicine and genetic disease research.
Caitlin Frank
Bio: I am a Ph.D. student in the Bioengineering Department at the University of Notre Dame, where I focus on molecular biology and genetic engineering. I grew up in a suburb outside of Phoenix, Arizona, with my two older sisters and my parents. After graduating from high school, I moved to Troy, New York, to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where I earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. During my undergraduate years, I conducted research at the Arizona State University Biodesign Institute, studying the Cleavage and Polyadenylation Complex in C. elegans. I also worked in a research lab at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, investigating the recombinant production of biodegradable dye, derived from coral chromoproteins, in E. coli. These experiences helped shape my interest in the molecular mechanisms underlying genetic diseases.
Learning that my sisters and I carry a genetic pre-mutation of Fragile X syndrome has fueled my passion for biological engineering, to help develop treatments for people with genetic disorders. I aim to develop a deeper understanding of how genetic mutations contribute to neurodegenerative diseases and how genetic engineering techniques can be employed to “cure” or prevent these diseases in the future. My current research focuses on understanding perturbations in the Bone Morphogenic Protein signaling pathway in Drosophila and investigating its implications in disease development and progression.
Yikang Gong
Bio: I am passionate about applying innovative technologies to unravel
complex cellular processes. With a strong foundation in molecular and
cell biology and currently developing skills in machine learning, data
analysis, and image processing, my current projects explore the dynamic
nature of calcium signaling and aim to optimize cell engineering
strategies for regenerative applications. My interdisciplinary approach
and commitment to data-driven discovery fuel my aim to unlock
fundamental “life rule” insights, ultimately contributing to advancements
in regenerative medicine
Undergraduate Research Assistants
2024-2025 Academic Year
Andrew Wang (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)
Lucy Chmura (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)
Clare Lucey (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)
Lucy Rakowski (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)
Danny Ward (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)
Bridget Sweeney (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)
Cole Morris (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)
Lab Alumni / Last known affiliation
Dr. Nilay Kumar, Postedoctoral Research Scientist at Purdue University
Dr. Marycruz Flores-Flores, Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
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
Undergraduate Research Alumni
Research Assistants (2022-2023): Lucy Chmura, Batradz Djikkaity
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