Current and Past Lab Members

Current Members

Kira Jonatzke, B.S.

Research Laboratory Technician, Senior

Department of Human Genetics


Project: Defining the impact of pathogenic tRNA synthetase variants on gene function using yeast, worm, and mouse models

Christina Del Greco, B.S.

Ph.D. Student

Department of Human Genetics


Project: Define the molecular mechanisms of diseases caused by mutations in mitochondrial tRNA charging enzymes

Sheila Marte, B.S.

Ph.D. Student

Department of Human Genetics


Project: Identify factors that modulate phenotypes associated with tRNA synthetase mutations

Allison Cale, B.S.

Ph.D. Student

Department of Human Genetics


Project: Predictive modeling to identify pathogenic mutations in genes encoding aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases

Anthony Antonellis, Ph.D.

James V. Neel Collegiate Professor 

Chair

Department of Human Genetics

Email: antonell@umich.edu

Twitter: @sequenceman

Alumni

Megan Forrest, Ph.D.

Post-doctoral Fellow

Spring 2020 - Summer 2023

Subsequent Position: Clinical Molecular Genetics Fellow,  University of Chicago

Current Position: Clinical Molecular Genetics Fellow,  University of Chicago


Jennifer Pierluissi, M.S.

Research Lab Specialist Intermediate

Fall 2019 - Winter 2023

Subsequent Position: Scientific Reviewer at the FDA

Current Position: Scientific Reviewer at the FDA


Maclaine Parish, B.S.

Undergraduate Researcher

Fall 2019 - Summer 2022

Subsequent Position: Ph.D. Student, Cellular and Molecular Medicine at Johns Hopkins

Current Position: Ph.D. Student, Cellular and Molecular Medicine at Johns Hopkins


Molly Kuo, M.D., Ph.D.

Cellular and Molecular Biology Program

Defended Ph.D. Thesis in June 2021

Subsequent Position: Returned to Medical School training

Current Position: Returned to Medical School Training


Rebecca Meyer-Schuman, Ph.D.

Department of Human Genetics

Defended Ph.D. Thesis in August 2021

Subsequent Position: Post-doctoral fellow in Zoghbi lab, Baylor College of Medicine

Current Position: Post-doctoral fellow in Zoghbi lab, Baylor College of Medicine


Elizabeth Fogarty, Ph.D.

Neuroscience Program

Defended Ph.D. Thesis in September 2019

Subsequent Position: Post-doctoral fellow in Buttitta lab, University of Michigan

Current Position: Post-doctoral fellow in Buttitta lab, University of Michigan


Natasha Golovchenko, B.S.

Research Associate

Fall 2017 - Summer 2019

Subsequent Position: Ph.D. Student, Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Current Position: Ph.D. Student, Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences


Chetna Gopinath, Ph.D.

Cellular and Molecular Biology Program

Defended Ph.D. Thesis in November 2017

Subsequent Position: Post-doctoral fellow in Raleigh lab, UCSF

Current Position: Competitive Intelligence Manager, Roche


Stephanie Oprescu, B.S.

Research Associate

Summer 2014 - Summer 2017

Subsequent Position: Ph.D. Student, Purdue University

Current Position: Post-doctoral Fellow in Zaret lab, University of Pennsylvania


Kayla Smith

Undergraduate Researcher

2016 - 2017 Academic Year


Miranda (Rogers) McMillan, M.S.

M.S. Student

Department of Human Genetics


William Law, Ph.D.

Department of Human Genetics

Defended Ph.D. Thesis in April 2016

Subsequent Position: Post-doctoral fellow in McCallion lab, Johns Hopkins University

Current Position: Research and Development Supervisor, PerkinElmer


Laurie Griffin, M.D., Ph.D.

Cellular and Molecular Biology (M.D., Ph.D. Student)

Defended Ph.D. Thesis in March 2016

Subsequent Position: Returned to Medical School training

Current Position: Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident, Brown Medical School


Alex Kolenda

Undergraduate Researcher

2013 - 2015 Academic Years

Subsequent Position: Medical Student, University of Michigan

Current Position: Psychiatry Resident, University of Colorado


Sarah Kawar

Undergraduate Researcher

2013 - 2014 Academic Year

Subsequent Position: M.S. Student, Wayne State University

Current Position: Dentist, Executive Dentistry 


Rachel Wallen, M.S.

M.S. Student, Human Genetics

Winter 2012 - Winter 2014


Megan Brewer, Ph.D.

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Winter 2011 - Fall 2013

Subsequent Position: Senior Hospital Scientist, ANZAC Research Institute

Current Position: Early Career Research Network Coordinator, Macquarie University


Aimee Vester, B.S.

Undergraduate Researcher and then Research Technician

Fall 2009 - Spring 2013

Subsequent Position: M.D., Ph.D. Student, Emory School of Medicine

Current Position: Pediatrics Resident, Cincinnati Children's Hospital


Heather McLaughlin, Ph.D.

Department of Human Genetics

Defended Ph.D. Thesis in May 2012

Subsequent Position: Clinical Molecular Genetics Fellow,  Harvard Medical School

Current Position: Senior Director, Molecular Diagnostics, Pharming Healthcare, Inc.


Chani Hodonsky, Ph.D.

Research Technician

Summer 2009 - Spring 2012

Subsequent Position: Master’s student, School of Public Health, University of Michigan

Current Position: Senior Scientist, Human Genetics, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 


Kira Charney, M.D.

Undergraduate Researcher and then Research Technician

Fall 2009 - Summer 2011

Subsequent Position: Medical student, Michigan State University

Current Position: Hospitalist, Northwestern Medical Lake Forest Hospital


Stephanie Baum, M.D.

Undergraduate Researcher

Neuroscience Honors Student

Winter 2010 - Spring 2011

Subsequent Position: Medical student, Wayne State University

Current Position: Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident, Lenox Hill Hospital