Alumni

Sakaguchi Lab Dinner 2025 spring

GRADUATE ALUMNI:

  • Catherine (Kate) Fonder, Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB). Current position: Scientist 1/Postdoc at University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health.
  • Nesreen Sedeek, M.S. in Neuroscience; Current position: Ph.D. Program in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB), ISU.
  • Bhavika Patel, Ph.D. in Neuroscience; Current position: Scientist, Lanterne Dx.
  • Najiba Mammadova, Ph.D. in Immunobiology and Neuroscience. Current position: Global Programs Manager-Applications, Akoya Biosciences.
  • Metzere Bierlein del la Rosa, D.V.M., M.S. in Biomedical Sciences. Current position: Veterinarian, Veterinary Specialty Center.
  • Anup Sharma, Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and Minor in Neuroscience. Current position: Principal Scientific Researcher (Biomarker Discovery), Genentech
  • Eun-Ah Ye, Ph.D. in Neuroscience. Current position: Research Professor, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  • Kabilan Mohan, Ph.D. Biomedical Sciences. Ocular Biology and Imaging Lab, East Tennessee State University.
  • Jisun Oh, Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience. Current position: New Drug Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Republic of Korea.
  • Carlos Ariza, Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. Current position: Health Data Scientist.
  • Matt Harper, Ph.D. Neuroscience; Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa.
  • Jeff Orasky, M.S. in Neuroscience. Current position: Professor of Biology, Polk State College, Florida.
  • Jelena Ostojic, D.V.M., Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Biomedical Sciences. Current position: Veterinary Clinical Pathologist, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany.
  • Jennifer Recknor Behr, Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and Neuroscience. Current position: Regulatory Intelligence Strategist at Gore Medical.
  • Samantha Van Hoffelen, Ph.D. Neuroscience.
  • Ming Li, Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology and Neuroscience.
  • Sinisa Grozdanic, D.V.M., Ph.D. in Veterinary Anatomy and Neuroscience. Current position: Veterinary Ophthalmologist, Animal Eye Consultants of Iowa.
  • Michael Lawler, M.D., M.S. Neuroscience and Zoology.
  • M. Heather West Greenlee, Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Zoology, Current positions: Interim Dean, Graduate College, Professor & Lora and Russ Talbot Endowed Professor in Veterinary Medicine, ISU.
  • Timothy Folsom, M.S. in Neuroscience and Zoology. Current position: Research Staff, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota.

  • K. Eric Stone, M.D., M.S. in Neuroscience and Zoology. Current position: Assistant Professor of Medicine/ Clinical Non-Invasive Cardiology, Acting Chief, ALMVA Heart Center, Univ of Texas Health San Antonio.

    RECENT UNDERGRADUATE ALUMNI (since 2018, from a total of 212 undergraduate research trainees):

  • Renee Hartung, B.S. Biology w/ Honors. Current position: optometry student, Rocky Mountain University, Utah.
  • Harshita Sharma, B.S. Microbiology w/ Honors. Current position: Research staff, Indiana University.
  • Bridget McGovern, B.S. Biology w/ Honors. Current position: 
  • Priyasha Deb, B.S. Biology w/ Honors. Current position: 
  • Logan Roberts, B.S. Biology w/ Honors. Current position: grad school at Biomedical Sciences, ISU.
  • Marissa Stone, B.S. Biology w/ Honors. Current position: veterinary school.
  • Michael Kumar, B.S. Biology. Current position: Research Support Specialist | Department of Neuroscience & Physiology at SUNY Upstate Medical University.
  • Liya Mooradian, B.S. Genetics w/ Honors. Current position: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Pharmacology Grad Student.
  • John Swanson, B.S. Biology. Current position: medical student at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • Eric Kremer, B.S. Biology, Current position: medical student at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Billings, MT.
  • Joshua Ylonen, B.S. Biology, Current position: graduate school in Biomedical Sciences, ISU.
  • Juan Carlos Oropeza: B.S. Biology and BPMI, Current position: medical student at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • Caitlin Walz, B.S. Biology. 
  • Abigail Fowler, B.S. Microbiology w/ Honors, Current position: graduate school Boston University.
  • Hannah DeJong, B.S. Biology, Current position: medical student at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Gabrielle Sawin, B.S. Mechanical Engineering; Current position: Mechanical Engineer at Benchmark.
  • Anna Garbe, B.S. Biology w/ Honors; Current position: medical student at Univ. Iowa Carver College of Medicine.
  • Talia Sylvester, B.S. Biology w/ Honors; Current: Physicans Assistant program at Medical Univ of South Carolina.
  • Divyesk Kumar, B.S. Chem Eng.; Current position: medical school Univ. Iowa Carver College of Medicine.
  • Jeremiah Reed, B.S. Biology; Current position: graduate school Iowa State University.
  • Stefan Peng, B.S. Comp Sci; Current employer: Boeing Corp.
  • Alaina Berg, B.S. Biology; Current position: medical school Univ. Iowa Carver College of Medicine.
  • Kyle Jackson, B.S. Chem Eng; Current position: medical school Univ. Iowa Carver College of Medicine.
  • Razan Alsayed-Omar, Genetics.
  • Adam Elmkarkech, Biology Grinnell College.
  • Amy Stark, B.S. Genetics w/ Honors; Current position: Ph.D. Program Vanderbilt Univ.
  • Dr. Laura Pesquera Colom, B.S. Biology w/ Honors; Current position: D.D.M. Program Harvard University Dental School; pursuing Residency in Periodontology at the University of Illinois-Chicago
  • Marissa Roghair, B.S. Biology w/ Honors; Current position: Ph.D. Program in Microbiology, ISU
  • Emily Kozik, B.S. Biology Mathematics, Grinnell College; Current position: Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience, Yeshiva University.
  • Kalee Plante, B.S. Biology.
  • Grace Herzberg, B.A. Biological Premedical Illustration.
  • Samantha Swift, B.S. Biology; Current position: Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience, Medical College of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
  • Libby Siedell, B.A. Biological Premedical Illustration.
  • Tabitha Madni, B.S. Biology, Lancaster Univ., UK; Current position: Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience, Univ. Calgary Medical School.