GRADUATE STUDENTS

GRADUATE STUDENTS

GRADUATE STUDENTS

GRADUATE STUDENTS

GRADUATE STUDENTS

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Current Students

StudentYearMentorEducationResearch

Carissa Birznieks

Carissa Birznieks

2023RotatingBS Biological sciences, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, MS Modern Human Anatomy University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

My research interests include exploring different models and approaches to understanding the initiation and progression of endocrine disorders such as diabetes, as well as the multitude of factors that play a role in development of complications over time.

Carissa's ORCHID

 

Gilda Opoku

Gilda Opoku

2023RotatingMD, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

I am interested in translational research of non-communicable diseases within the cardiovascular and renal physiology domains. I am especially interested in Hypertension and its complication like heart and renal failure.

Gilda's ORCHID

Gabriel Medrano

Gabriel Medrano

2023RotatingBS, Human Biology, University of California Irvine

I am interested in studying the mechanisms of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and fatty liver disease.

Gabriel's ORCHID

Asia Ingram

Asia Ingram

2022KumarBS, Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester; MS, Reproductive Science and Medicine, Northwestern UniversityI study pituitary endocrinology and ovarian physiology.

Obed Nyarko

Obed Ofori Nyarko

2022SucharovMD, 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.

Obed's PubMed Profile

Jay Pavelka

Jay Pavelka

2022LauBS, 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.

Kira Steinke

Kira Steinke

2022Restrepo and GibsonBS, 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.

Matt Breit

Matt Breit

2021Melanson 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.

Matt's ORCHID ID

Francesca Cendali

Francesca I. Cendali

2021D'AlessandroBA, 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.

Francesca's PubMed Profile

Suzzi Kafer

Suzzi Kafer

2021Boyle

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.

Suzzi's ORCHID

Thi Tina Nguyen

Tina Nguyen

2021NozikBS 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.

Tina's PubMed Profile

Tyler Dobbs

Tyler Dobbs

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.

Tyler's ORCHID

Nicholas Hulett

Nicholas Hulett

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.

Nick's Google Scholar Profile

Karlin Rufenacht

Karlin Rufenacht

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.

Karlin's ORCHID


Student Leadership (2023-2024)

Admissions Committee 
Karlin, Kira and Obed

ORE Student Council 
Francesca (Vice President) and Nick

Recruitment Leads 
Jay, Karlin and Suzzi 

Retreat Committee 
Asia, Nick, Tina, Tyler 

Seminar Planners
Gilda and Matt  

 Social Media Manager 
Francesca 

Social Events Planner
Carissa, Gabriel and Suzzi 

Website Managers 
Obed and Tina 

Alumni

NameThesis MentorProgramGraduation Year

Dubner, Allison M.

Weiser-Evans, Mary C.M.

IPHY

2023

McDonald, Rosie

Kumar, Raj

IPHY

2023

Swenson, Karli
Karli's Google Scholar Profile

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

IPHY provided a very supportive and collaborative environment. The diverse training and curriculum allowed me to be well prepared for the rigors of a postdoc.
Michael Oliphant

Mike Oliphant

PhD, Graduated 2019, NCI F99/K00 Postdoctoral Fellow, Joan Brugge and Senthil Muthuswamy Labs, Harvard Medical School

Are you an Integrated Physiology alumnus? We'd love to stay in touch!

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