GRADUATE STUDENTS
GRADUATE STUDENTS
GRADUATE STUDENTS
GRADUATE STUDENTS
GRADUATE STUDENTS
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Current Students
| Student | Year | Mentor | Education | Research |
 Jacob Anna | 2024 | Rotating | My research thus far has focused on how the vascular system functions normally and in response to various physiological stressors, disease states, and healthy aging. I am interested in determining how local cellular changes within the vessel influences its function and how this impacts clinical outcomes in highly prevalent cardiovascular disease states. | |
 Mariana Casa De Vito | 2024 | Rotating /Sucharov | BS in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and Neuroscience from CU Boulder | My research focuses on metabolic dysfunction in pediatric and adult heart failure. There is a shift in substrate utilization and mitochondrial function that happens in the failing heart that needs to be studied in order to develop novel heart failure therapies. I have an interest in studying the role mitochondrial metabolism play in disease and a personal interest in nutrition/ exercise physiology. |
 Christopher M. Clements | 2024 | Rotating | The first level of physiological complexity begins at the atomic and molecular levels. As a trained peptide and biochemist, I am fascinated by chemistry's role in regulating the delicate balance between health and disease. Specifically, I am interested in the chemical mechanisms driving health and disease states. Additionally, I am interested in translating this molecular and physiological understanding into novel therapeutics and practices to improve patient outcomes. | |
 Kiarra Coger | 2024 | Rotating | BA in Biological Sciences | I am interested in women's reproductive health research. More specifically looking at the pathophysiology of diseases and disorders within the female reproductive tract leading to infertility or pregnancy-related complications. I am also interested in maternal-fetal health and how different pregnancy-related disorders can lead to poor maternal or fetal outcomes and various maladaptive responses both long and short-term. |
| 2024 | Rotating/ Edward Lau | BS in Biological Science from Florida Atlantic University | Research: Cheyanne’s research explores the use of engineered heart tissues and stable isotope labeling to identify cellular crosstalk signals prevalent in cardiac disease. |
 Christopher Hoffer | 2024 | Rotating | B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa | Chris is a graduate student in the Integrated Physiology Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School, where he works under the mentorship of Dr. Kathleen Woulfe. A native of Marion, Ohio, Chris served 15 years in the U.S. Marines before earning his B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Since moving to Colorado in 2021 to pursue his passion for research, Chris has concentrated on investigating the physiological mechanisms underlying sarcomere dysfunction with a focus on age and sex differences in the heart. In his free time, Chris enjoys film photography, hiking, and cheering on THE Ohio State Buckeyes, as well as spending time outdoors with family. |
| 2024 | Rotating | BA in Biology and Chemistry from Willamette University in Salem Oregon | I am interested in studying different organ systems under the pretense of cancer cachexia. Particularly, I am seeking to better understand the molecular mechanisms that drive muscle, endothelial, and bone cross talk. With this, I hope to find novel molecular targets to use for potential therapies in the treatment of cancer cachexia. |
 Lourdes Jimenez Madrigal | 2024 | Rotating | BS, Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso | I have a keen interest in translational research, focused on therapeutic applications and medical interventions. Bench-to-bedside-to-bench model. |
 Dean Oldham | 2024 | Rotating | In my view, obesity is the biggest health related issue in the U.S. My research interests involve the physiological changes with obesity and the effect it has on different organ systems (e.g. brain, cardiovascular, hepatic, etc.). | |
 LeAnna J. Phillips | 2024 | Rotating | B.S. in Biology, Minor in Chemistry, Indiana University | I am interested in whole-body metabolism and mechanisms of metabolic diseases like Diabetes and Obesity. |
Natalia Weinzierl | 2024 | Rotating | BS in Human Physiology at the University of Iowa | My general research interests include whole-body and tissue-specific metabolism, endocrinology, inflammation, and musculoskeletal physiology. I am specifically interested in studying the mechanisms by which certain conditions (e.g. cancer, diabetes, and other inflammatory diseases) can affect different tissues/organs, and how tissue cross-talk can exacerbate dysfunction. I’m also interested in studying sex differences within these conditions. Natalia's ORCHID |
Carissa Birznieks | 2023 | Benninger | BS Biological sciences, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, MS Modern Human Anatomy University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus | I study connections between cells in the pancreatic islet to understand how disruptions in cell-cell communication may drive development of diabetes.
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Gilda Opoku | 2023 | Evans | MD, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology | I am interested in respiratory physiology. My research focuses on the assembly of Muc5ac and the phsyiological impact of discrupting it. This would inform potential therapeutic measures in the management of conditions like Asthma. |
Gabriel Medrano | 2023 | Melanie Cree | BS, Human Biology, University of California Irvine | I study the pathways underlying metabolic dysfunction/diseases, particularly in the context of pediatric PCOS and hepatic steatosis. |
| 2022 | Henry | BS, Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester; MS, Reproductive Science and Medicine, Northwestern University | The impact of obesity on the progression of Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) and drug efficacy. |
| 2022 | Sucharov | MD, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana | I study pediatric heart failure. I am currently working on developing an animal model of disease for pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy. |
| 2022 | Lau | BS, Pre-health and Biomedical Sciences, University of Northern Colorado | My research is investigating the effects of tissue cross talk using iPSC derived adipocyte and cardiomyocyte models. |
| 2022 | Restrepo and Gibson | BS, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bellarmine University; MS, Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus | Encoding and recall of hippocampal engrams related to behavior. |
| 2021 | Melanson and Catenacci | BS, Dietetics, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; MS, Exercise Physiology, West Virginia University | My research focuses on novel dietary interventions to improve obesity treatment strategies. Specifically, I am utilizing doubly labeled water (DLW) for assessing objective measures of energy intake and diet adherence from a 12-month randomized trial comparing weight loss generated from intermittent fasting and daily caloric restriction. I am also interested in reward-based eating behaviors and appetite hormone alterations from weight loss. |
 | 2021 | D'Alessandro | BA, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado College | My work focuses on using MS-based methods to study how exercise affects proteomic and metabolomic profiles in humans and mice. I particularly investigate exercise's impact on metabolic pathways related to conditions like cardiovascular diseases, hemolytic diseases, and cancer. I employ mass spectrometry analysis to explore the roles of various metabolites and gain comprehensive insights into their functions within these processes. |
| 2021 | Boyle | BS in Biochemistry, Minor in Environmental Toxicology, North Carolina State University | Suzzi focuses on the effects of gestational exposure- such as to PFAS chemicals, obesity, or stress- on long-term offspring metabolic health. She utilizes umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells as her experimental model. |
| 2021 | Nozik | BS Biological Science (Microbiology), Minors in Bioinformatics and Chemistry, San José State University | I am interested in the maternal stress on neonatal to adulthood outcomes! My research focuses on extracellular superoxide dismutase on the development of lung and pulmonary vasculature and the macrophage accumulation with prenatal hypoxic stress. |
| 2020 | Nadeau | BS, Exercise Science, South Dakota State University; MS, Exercise Physiology, Boise State University | I study body composition and fat distribution in adolescents with severe obesity and how it impacts their metabolic health such as type 2 diabetes. Specifically, I am investigating how metabolic bariatric surgery elicits changes in body composition, particularly losses in lean mass and how that may influence weight regain after surgery. |
| 2020 | Reusch | BS, Exercise Science, Harding University; MS, Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University | My scientific focus is on the effects of type 2 diabetes on skeletal muscle. I am interested in hyperglycemia's independent effects on muscle architecture and blood supply. |
| 2020 | Santoro | BS, Physiology with a minor in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming | My research focuses on the composition of the olfactory system and how it is altered by experience. I am particularly interested in lifelong neurogenesis and how it may serve an adaptive as well as a reparative function in the olfactory system. |
Cheyanne Durham
Patrick Livingston
Student Leadership (2024-2025)
Admissions Committee
Karlin, Kira and Obed
ORE Student Council
Nick and Jay
Recruitment Leads
Jay, Karlin, and Suzzi
Retreat Committee
Asia, Nick, Tina, Tyler, Gilda
Seminar Planners
Gilda and Matt
Social Media Manager
Francesca
Social Events Planner
Carissa, Gabriel and Suzzi
Website Managers
Obed and Tina
Alumni
| Name | Thesis Mentor | Program | Graduation Year |
Dubner, Allison M. | Weiser-Evans, Mary C.M. | IPHY | 2023 |
McDonald, Rosie | Kumar, Raj | IPHY | 2023 |
Swenson, Karli | Bates, Emily | IPHY | 2023 |
Nash, Michael | Friedman & Wesolowski | MSTP | 2022 |
Kahn, Darcy | Bergman, Bryan | IPHY | 2022 |
Llerena Cari, Evelyn | Johnson, Joshua | IPHY | 2022 |
Dahle, Jared | Catenacci, Victoria A. and Melanson, Edward L. | IPHY | 2021 |
Strand, Keith A. | Weiser-Evans, Mary C.M. | IPHY | 2020 |
Presby, David M. | MacLean, Paul S. | IPHY | 2019 |
Foright, Rebecca M. | MacLean, Paul S. | IPHY | 2019 |
Coates, Sydney L. | Moore, Lorna | IPHY | 2019 |
Oliphant, Michael U. J. | Ford, Heide L. | IPHY | 2019 |
Soderborg, Taylor K. | Friedman, Jacob E. | MSTP | 2019 |
Libby, Andrew E. | McManaman, James L. | IPHY | 2018 |
Schmidt, Linnea G. | Williams, Trevor J. | IPHY | 2017 |
Roof, Allyson K. | Gutierrez-Hartmann, Arthur | IPHY | 2017 |
Rumer, Kristen K. | Winn, Virginia D. | MSTP | 2013 |
Alumni Testimonials
The IPHY program provided a broad, supportive environment that was integral to my development as a scientist. As an IPHY student, access to the state-of-the-art resources on the Anschutz Medical Campus contributed significantly to my successful research in graduate school.
Keith Strand
PhD, Senior Scientist, PfizerIPHY provided a very supportive and collaborative environment. The training and curriculum allowed me to be well prepared for the rigors of a postdoc.
Mike Oliphant
PhD, Graduated 2019, NCI F99/K00 Postdoctoral Fellow, Joan Brugge and Senthil Muthuswamy Labs, Harvard Medical SchoolI am thankful for the breadth of research I was exposed to while in the IPHY Program, as it gave me a birds-eye view of physiology in addition to a focused education in reproductive physiology. I gained experience in both translational and clinical research that prepared me for a research career in a clinical setting.
Sydney Coates Lane
PhD, Maternal Health Scientist, Ferring Pharmaceuticals