Current Members
Allison Cale, B.S.
Ph.D. Student
Department of Human Genetics
Project: Predictive modeling to identify pathogenic mutations in genes encoding aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases
Stephanie Laureano Figueroa, B.S.
MSTP Student
Department of Human Genetics
Project: Distinguishing pathogenic and benign variants in tRNA synthetase related axonal neuropathy
Emily Trybulec, B.S.
Ph.D. Student
Department of Human Genetics
Project: To be added
Mark Dulchavsky, M.D., Ph.D.
Clinical Genetics Residency Fellow
Department of Pediatrics
Project: To be added
Jane Lindland, B.S.
M.S. Student
Department of Human Genetics
Project: To be added
Katherine Smith, B.S.
M.S. Student
Department of Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology, LSA
Project: To be added
Elisabeth Walters, B.S.
Research Associate
Department of Human Genetics
Project: To be added
Anthony Antonellis, Ph.D.
James V. Neel Collegiate Professor & Chair
Department of Human Genetics
Email: antonell@umich.edu
Alumni
Christina Del Greco, Ph.D.
Genetics & Genomics Graduate Program
Defended Ph.D. Thesis in March 2025
Subsequent Position: Governor’s Science and Technology Fellow, Pennsylvania
Current Position: Governor’s Science and Technology Fellow, Pennsylvania
Sheila Marte, Ph.D.
Genetics & Genomics Graduate Program
Defended Ph.D. Thesis in March 2025
Subsequent Position: Middle & High School Educator, CSHL DNA Learning Center
Current Position: Middle & High School Educator, CSHL DNA Learning Center
Kira Jonatzke, B.S.
Research Laboratory Technician
Fall 2023 - Spring 2025
Subsequent Position: Research Associate, Pediatrics, University of Michigan
Current Position: Research Associate, Pediatrics, University of Michigan
Megan Forrest, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Fellow
Spring 2020 - Summer 2023
Subsequent Position: Clinical Molecular Genetics Fellow, University of Chicago
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, 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 & 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: Pediatrics-Medical Genetics Resident, University of North Carolina
Current Position: Pediatrics-Medical Genetics Resident, University of North Carolina
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: Research Lab Specialist, Buttitta Lab, University of Michigan
Natasha Golovchenko, Ph.D.
Research Associate
Fall 2017 - Summer 2019
Subsequent Position: Ph.D. Student, Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Current Position: Post-doctoral Fellow, Pathology, University of Michigan
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: Senior Competitive Intelligence Lead, Ophthalmology, 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 (now McMillan), M.S.
M.S. Student
Department of Human Genetics
Subsequent Position: Research Assistant, Michigan State University
Current Position: Research Project Manager, University of Kansas Medical Center
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 & 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: Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident, Brown Medical School
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Utah
Alex Kolenda, M.D.
Undergraduate Researcher
2013 - 2015 Academic Years
Subsequent Position: Medical Student, University of Michigan
Current Position: Psychiatry Resident, University of Colorado
Sarah Kawar, D.D.S.
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: Graduate Research Development Advisor, 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: Clinical Fellow, Pediatrics, 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, Clinical Strategy, GeneDx
Chani Hodonsky, Ph.D.
Research Technician
Summer 2009 - Spring 2012
Subsequent Position: Master’s student, School of Public Health, University of Michigan
Current Position: Assistant Director, 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 (now Brownridge), M.D.
Undergraduate Researcher
Neuroscience Honors Student
Winter 2010 - Spring 2011
Subsequent Position: Medical student, Wayne State University
Current Position: Physician, Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York