PEOPLE
Principal Investigator
Linda C. Samuelson, Ph.D.
John A. Williams Collegiate Professor of Gastrointestinal Physiology
Associate Director, Center for Organogenesis
Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology
Embryonic Stem Cell Director, Transgenic Animal Model Core
Ph.D. in Microbiology The University of Chicago
Junior Faculty
Nataliya Razumilava, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
1996 M.D. Vitebsk State Medical Institute, Vitebsk, Belarus
2009 Internal Medicine Residency, Wayne State University
2011-13 T32 Training, Mayo Clinic , Rochester, Minnesota
2015 Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology Fellowships, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Awards and honors:
2016-17 Pilot Feasibility Award from the UM GI Peptide Center
2017 The American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) Young Physician-Scientist Award
2017-19 AASLD Pinnacle Research Award
2019-24 NIH NIDDK K08
2020-22 Gilead Sciences Research Scholar Award
Elise Hibdon, Ph.D.
Adjunct Research Investigator, Molecular & Integrative Physiology
2005 B.A. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The College of Wooster
2010 Ph.D. in Molecular & Cellular Physiology, University of Cincinnati
Awards and honors:
2016-18 Debbie’s Dream Foundation-AACR Career Development Award for Gastric Cancer Research
2018-19 NIH NIDDK K01
Postdoctoral Fellows
Ashley Calder, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral research fellow
2014 B.S. in Biotechnology, Utah Valley University
2021 Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida
Graduate Students
Kevin McGowan, B.S.
Ph.D. student, Molecular and Integrative Physiology
2017 B.S. in Biology and Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Awards and honors:
2017 Rackham Pre-candidate Research Grant
2018-20 NIH T32 Training Program in Organogenesis fellowship
2020 Rackham Candidate Research Grant
Christopher Huynh, B.S.
Ph.D. student, Molecular and Integrative Physiology
2017 B.S. in Chemistry, Montclair State University
Awards and honors:
Rackham Merits Fellowship
Elizabeth Delgado, B.S.
Fellow, Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP), University of Michigan Medical School
2019 B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Duke University
Awards and honors:
2019-20 Postbac Research Education Program (PREP) Fellowship, University of Michigan
2019 Duke Department of Cell Biology Undergraduate Research Fellowship
2019 Graduation with Distinction in Biology
Research Staff
Theresa M. Keeley, M.S.
Samuelson Laboratory Manager
2005 B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan
2015 M.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Eastern Michigan University
Undergraduate Students
Nikhil Srinivasan
B.S. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, expected 2025
Katie German
B.S. Biology, Health and Society, University of Michigan, Expected 2025
kmgerman@umich.edu
Alumni
Undergraduate:
Molly Cavanaugh, B.S. (2019-22)
Cuerrent Postion: PhD candidate at University of Alabama at Birmingham
Sreya Gutta, B.S. (2021-22)
Anjani Raja, B.S. (2021-22)
Current Position: Medical Student at Wayne State Medical School
Junior Faculty:
Emily Walker, Ph.D. (2019-20)
Current Position: Research Investigator, Department of Internal Medicine
Postdoctoral Fellows:
Anand Venugopal, M.D., Ph.D. (2019-20)
Current Position: GI Fellow Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan
Nobukatsu Horita, M.D., Ph.D. (2015-18)
Current Position: Physician-scientist at Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
Elise Demitrack, Ph.D. (2010-15)
Current Position: Adjunct Research Investigator, Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, the University of Michigan
Zhiping Liu, Ph.D. (2009-11)
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis TN
Jim Ren, Ph.D. (2007-08)
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Renu Jain, Ph.D. (2001-03)
Current Position: Deputy General Manager for Quality Control at Biological E. Limited, India
Masaharu Nakajima, M.D., Ph.D. (1996-99)
Current Position: Behavioral scientist with a research animal breeding company in Japan
Lennart Friis-Hansen, M.D., Ph.D. (1995-96)
Current Position: Department Head, Dept. Clinical Biochemistry, Hillerod Hospital, Denmark
Post Baccalaureate Students:
Nilsa La Cuza (2014-15)
Current Position: PhD student at UCSF
Graduate Students:
Natacha Bohin (2014-19). Ph.D. Cellular & Molecular Biology
Current Position: Postdoctoral fellow at Queen Mary University Barts Cancer Institute, London, UK
Gail Butler Gifford (2011-16). Ph.D. Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Current Position: Technology Transfer Manager at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Institute, Seattle, WA
Alexis Carulli (2010-16). M.D., Ph.D. Medical Scientist Training Program (2008-2016). PhD Molecular and Integrative Physiology 2016
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz, Denver
Asma Al-Menhali (2006-11). Ph.D. Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Current Position: Associate Professor of Biology, University of Arab Emirates
Kelli VanDussen (2005-10). Ph.D. in Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Jennifer MacKellar (2007-08). M.S. in Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Current Position: Program Manager, Green Chemistry Institute, American Chemical Society
Lymari Lopez-Diaz (2002-07), Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology
Current Position: Adjunct Faculty at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, MI
Karen Hinkle (1997-02), Ph.D. in Physiology 2002
Current Position: Dana Professor of Biology, Associate Provost for Research and Chief Research Officer, Norwich University, Northfield, VT
Trever Portenga (1998-00), M.P.H. 2000
Current Position: Physician Assistant, Staag Medical Center, Hartford, MI.
Jean Lay (1995-99), Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular
Current Position: Ontology Engineer, Qiagen
Karen A. Lacourse (1995-98), Ph.D. in Physiology
Current Position: Head of Partner Relations and Training, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA