Triona Matheson - University of Portland, B.S. Chemistry
D. Farrens Lab

Triona graduated from the University of Portland in 2018 with a double major in Chemistry: Biochemistry and Spanish. She is currently a PhD Candidate in the PMCB program within the Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry department. In 2020, she joined Dr. David Farrens' lab where she studies the structure and function of the Cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1). In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing board games, reading, and playing with her cat, Waffles.

Weekie Yao - Reed College, B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
D. Farrens Lab

Weekie graduated from Reed College in 2017 majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She joined Dr. David Farrens’ lab in 2017 as a research assistant and later stayed in the Farrens lab as a PhD student. Her broad research interest is understanding protein structure and how it relates to its function and her current research is focused on study structure and functions of visual GPCR.

Daniel Bejan- Washington State University, B.S. Biology
M. Cohen Lab

In April of 2020 Daniel joined the Cohen lab, where his focus is on synthesizing chemical tools to elucidate the roles of specific PARP family members. He hopes to expand his training in chemistry and molecular biology to pursue industry positions in the growing field of chemical biology after graduation.

Jacqueline Emathinger- San Diego State University, B.S. Biology
S. Gurley Lab

Jackie is an MD/PhD student who joined the Gurley lab in summer 2019. She is currently investigating the protective role of ACE2 in acute kidney injury. Outside of the lab, Jackie devotes her time to reading, rowing on the Willamette river, and raising her puppy Willa.

Mason Handford- University of California- Santa Cruz, B.S. Chemistry
M. Riscoe Lab

After transferring from a community college in the California Sierra Nevada region, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2018. During my time at UCSC, I conducted research in Dr. Scott Lokey's lab, delving into the intricate interplay between lipophilicity and hydrophilicity in hexameric macrocyclic peptides, with a specific focus on their solubility and passive permeability. Following my undergraduate studies, I embarked on practical experiences, including an internship at Genentech in South San Francisco, followed by a research assistant role in Prof. Carsten Schultz's lab at Oregon Health & Science University. In 2019, I was admitted into the Program for Molecular and Cellular Bioscience graduate program. Joining Dr. Michael Riscoe's research group, my focus has been on the discovery and development of novel 4-aminoquinolines for combating multidrug-resistant malaria. During my time at OHSU, I have had the wonderful opportunity to teach chemistry at the local liberal arts college – Lewis and Clark College, for the last three years. While not in the lab, I enjoy partaking in summer bike rides, baking, cooking, playing board games, and spending time with my enchanting wife, Alexandra, and beautiful son, Theodore.

Ryan Hecht- University of Rochester, B.S. Microbiology
C. Morgans Lab

Originally from Maryland, I attended the University of Rochester in upstate New York where I earned my B.S in Microbiology. During that time I studied the ontology of innate-like T cells in the lab of Dr. Jacques Robert. After volunteer teaching in Guatemala for one year, I enrolled in OHSU’s Program in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences where I joined the lab of Dr. Catherine Morgans. My thesis research is dedicated to understanding the etiology of an autoimmune disorder known as Melanoma Associated Retinopathy (MAR) which causes Congenital Stationary Night-blindness (CSNB). Outside of my life as a researcher, I dedicate my time to playing/writing music, cooking, snowboarding, hiking, and spending time with my cats. 

Julia Huey- Georgia Institute of Technology- Atlanta, BS Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, BS Biochemistry
A. Janowsky Lab

My name is Julia Huey, but mostly folks call me Juli. I spent my formative years in Georgia, which can be blamed for my excessive use of the word "y'all" and firm belief that fried okra is the best vegetable. At Georgia Tech, I worked in the M.G. Finn lab in support of projects to characterize and modify virus-like particles for in vivo applications. After college, I worked as an industrial process engineer in various chemical plants and manufacturing facilities. I found my heart was still in the lab, so I decided to pursue a graduate education. At OHSU, I discovered my interest in central nervous system pharmacology and joined the lab of Aaron Janowsky. Here, I am studying the G-protein coupled receptor trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1). I am fascinated by the molecular mechanisms underpinning psychiatric disorders including addiction, and hope to better understand how chronic methamphetamine use affects TAAR1 signaling and trafficking. When I'm not in the lab, I can be found hiking the glorious Northwest with my husband Ike and our dog Cashew, or cozied up on the couch with a good podcast, our cats Blini and George, and a knitting project.

Kaya Keutler- Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, MS in Biochemistry and Biophysics
C. Schultz Lab

Χαίρετε (chaírete, greek for hello),

My name is Kaya Keutler and I was born in the north-west of Germany. However, my parents have left the country for many years to live abroad and therefore I grew up on a small island in Greece, where I spent a great childhood and still feel deeply connected to the sea and the sunshine. However, as a curious nature and after my diagnosis as a diabetic, I early decided to become a scientist - in later stages this idea shaped up and I decided to study biochemistry. My studies took me back to Germany, where I finished my bachelors in the small city of Tübingen, working on the purification and functional characterization of an anti-apoptotic protein in the Garcia-Saéz Lab. However, I realized that even though I enjoyed any research field, I had the desire to focus on diabetic research. That brought me to Freiburg, where I started my master studies in biochemistry and biophysics. Through the university of Freiburg I had the chance to perform an internship followed by my master thesis in the lab of Carsten Schultz in Heidelberg. There I worked on Insulin secretion and the signaling factors regulating that process. After a rather short journey I finally arrived in the research field I was aiming for. During my PhD here at the OHSU Schultz lab, I will continue working on insulin secretion trying to unravel the influence of autocrine signaling and the importance of a particular class of signaling factors called "trace amines".

Ivan Rodriguez Siordia- The Center for Biological Research of the Northwest, M.S. Biotechnology
M. Cohen Lab

In April of 2020, Ivan joined both the Cohen Lab and the Zhang Lab under a co-mentorship opportunity. During his graduate formation, his aim is to expand his knowledge in structural biology by studying the structure of proteins involved in the body’s immune response. 

Alix Thomas- Paris 7 Diderot University, MS in Biochemistry
C. Schultz Lab

I received my BA in chemistry from Paris 5 Descartes University in 2015 and then started a master in Biochemistry with a focus on the structural biology of proteins. During this master I worked on developing a protein-protein interaction assay based on UAAs incorporation and small chemical probes in the lab of Terrence Strick at the Jacques Monod Institute. I then did my master thesis in the lab of Mario Pende in the Necker Institute where I was mentored by Ganna Panasyuk. There I worked on biliary atresia, focusing on the molecular mechanisms driving autophagy. I then joined the lab of Carsten Schultz in Heidelberg for a small internship followed by a PhD here at the OHSU Schultz Lab. I am currently working on developing a FRET biosensor-based imaging platform to study the effect of combinatorial drugs on the signaling network in human cell.

Deja Brooks - Portland State University, B.S. Biochemistry
K. Beatty Lab

Deja received a BS in Biochemistry from Portland State University in 2019. She joined OHSU's PBMS program in 2021 where she now identifies beta-lactam antibiotic targets in mycobacteria to help drive better treatment options for infected patients. 

Aleksandra Dagunts - George Washington University, B.S. Biology
B. Lobingier lab

Aleksandra is an MD/PhD student who joined the Lobingier lab in 2022. Her research focuses on cellular mechanisms of opioid receptor regulation. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking and climbing with her husband and dog, training in dog agility, and volunteering with Portland Street Medicine.

Assmaa ElSheikh - Tanta University's School of Medicine, M.D. and M.S. in Medical Biochemistry
S. Shyng Lab 

I am currently a PhD candidate in the department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry at Show-Ling Shyng lab. Originally from Egypt, I earned my medical degree from Tanta University's School of Medicine, followed by a master's degree in medical biochemistry from the same institution. My journey in science led me to the United States in 2019, where I embarked on an enriching career path within the Show-Ling Shyng lab, delving into the intricate cell signaling pathways associated with insulin secretion. Transitioning into the PBMS PhD program in 2020, I've honed my focus on exploring novel therapeutic avenues for patients with congenital hyperinsulinism.  

Beyond the lab, I find joy in various hobbies such as reading books, listening to songs, and the art of cooking. I cherish moments spent socializing, making new connections, and, most importantly, relishing quality time with my two beloved children. 

Connor Garrels - Western Washington University, B.S. in Biochemistry
S. Reichow Lab 

Connor graduated with a BS in Biochemistry from Western Washington University in 2020 where he studied blood coagulation factors by X-ray crystallography. He is a PhD candidate in the Reichow Lab where he uses cryo-electron tomography to investigate the consequences of native membrane organization on lens membrane protein function.

Sarahi Garza - University of California, Los Angeles, B.S. in Neuroscience and Biomedical Research
J. Frank Lab 

Sarahi grew up in Los Angeles, CA and is a first-generation Chicana who graduated in 2020 from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a B.S. in Neuroscience and Biomedical Research. At UCLA, Sarahi was an NIH funded Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) scholar in Dr. Stephanie Seidlits lab investigating the effects of hyaluronic acid at different molecular weights on neural stem cells to inform the production of biodegradable hydrogels for spinal cord repair. She joined the Neuroscience Graduate Program at the Oregon Health and Science University Vollum Institute in 2020. Sarahi later joined the Frank lab in 2021 and develops biological assays to test novel photoswitchable THC compounds and investigate cannabinoid signaling with high spatiotemporal precision. She hopes to make science more accessible to marginalized communities like her own as she is the co-founder of the Society for Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and the National Science Policy Network (NSPN) chapters at OHSU. For fun, she is a foodie, likes to ride her razor scooter, and learning languages such as Arabic. 

Adam Miller - Portland State University, B.S. in Biochemistry  
S. Reichow Lab 

Adam grew up in Nebraska and moved to Portland in 2009. Adam joined the Reichow Lab as an undergraduate at Portland State University before working in the Lampi Lab at OHSU and returning to the Reichow Lab as a PhD student. Adam's research interests are in the structure and function of small heat shock proteins in relation to age-related diseases. As a structural biologist, Adam specializes in CryoEM to uncover mechanistic insights of polydisperse and disordered protein structures. 

Rozhan Noroozi - S. Reichow Lab 

Adam Oken - Whitman College, B.A. in Mathematics and Biochemistry
S. Mansoor Lab 

Adam graduated with a BA in mathematics and biochemistry from Whitman College where he combined skills from both majors to understand the function of fumarase using X-ray crystallography. For his PhD, he joined the Mansoor lab to study the structure and function of ATP-gated P2X receptor ion channels using structural, biophysical, and electrophysiological approaches with the goal of developing novel ligands with therapeutic potential. Outside of lab, he enjoys kayaking the rivers/oceans within the PNW, playing tennis with friends, and eating all of the delicious food Portland has to offer.

Tatum Weishaar - Appalachian State University, B.S. in Chemistry 
B. Lobingier Lab

Originally from Florida, I made my way to Boone, NC, to get my B.S. in Chemistry at Appalachian State University in 2022. Here, I spent time in the anthropology department researching Siddha herbal medicine, and then later in the chemistry department characterizing a subunit of dimethyl sulfide monooxygenase. These research opportunities cultivated my interest in laboratory research, medicine, and biochemistry. I then moved to Portland, OR, in September 2022 to start my PhD journey in the PBMS program at OHSU. I joined the Lobingier lab where I am investigating the cellular trafficking of the D1 dopamine receptor, which has implications for drug efficacy and neurodegenerative disease. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hanging out with my dog, Voodoo, reading (horror and fantasy genres), painting, and spending time on the river. 

David Xthona Lee - Pomona College, B.A. in Mathematics
S. Reichow Lab 

David grew up in Eugene, OR, and holds a BA in Mathematics from Pomona College, where he competed in swimming and water polo. Prior to joining PBMS, he conducted research in the laboratories of Jonathan Pruneda and William Messer, investigating bacterial ubiquitin effectors and longitudinal viral immunity, respectively. Currently, He is pursuing his PhD in the Reichow Lab, where he is focused on examining the structure and function of small heat shock proteins in the eye lens. He is particularly interested in utilizing cryoEM to determine the structural mechanisms underlying chaperone function and dysfunction. When not in the lab, you’ll find David enjoying quality time with his children, exploring nature, immersed in a book, or attempting to master the art of baking.