People

Welcome to the Sakaguchi Lab at Iowa State University. 

The Sakaguchi Lab at Iowa State University is dedicated to promoting a diverse, inclusive and welcoming community for all persons without regard to ethnicity, race, creed, cultural background, gender identity, national or native origin, physical ability, religious affiliation, or sexual orientation, and recognizes that all these vast diversities exist among, and benefit our community.

Principal Investigator

Graduate Students

  • Catherine Fonder

    • B.S. University of Wisconsin – Green Bay; Double major in Human Biology with an emphasis in Health Sciences and Psychology
    • MCDB Graduate Student
    • Honors: Brown Fellowship Awardee '21; David Gladson Scholarship Awardee '21, '22, '23
    • Hometown: Hazel Green, Wisconsin

  • Nesreen Sedeek

    • Bachelor of Pharmacy (Clinical Pharmacy)-Asyut University, Egypt
    • Neuroscience Program Graduate Student
    • Honors: David Gladson Scholarship Awardee '24
    • Hometown: Asyut, Egypt
    nesedeek@iastate.edu

Undergraduate Students

  • Madison Chng

    • UG Research Assistant (Mallapragada Lab)
    • Major: Chem Engineering
    • Hometown: W. Des Moines, IA
    • Hobbies: singing, swimming, and spending time with friends and family
    mchng@iastate.edu

  • Renee Hartung

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: BIOL
    • Hometown:
    • Hobbies:
    rhartung@iastate.edu

  • Veronika Hokrova

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Biology, Pre-Medicine
    • Hometown: South Elgin, IL
    • Hobbies: Tennis, swimming, hiking, running
    vhokrova@iastate.edu

  • Michael Kumar

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Biology (LAS)
    • Hometown: Peoria, IL
    • Hobbies: growing plants, skateboarding
    • Honors: LAS Deans High Impact Scholarship; GDCB Summer Internship
    mrkumar@iastate.edu

  • Isabelle Lein

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Biology (LAS); Minor: Spanish; Honors
    • Hometown: Rosemount, MN
    • Hobbies: Lifting weights, cooking, writing, spending time with friends, family, and my dogs, and fishing
    • Honors: 23 Fall & 24 Spring-LAS Deans High Impact Scholarship

  • Bridget McGovern

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Biology, Honors
    • Hometown:
    • Hobbies: Ultimate frisbee
    • Honors: LAS Deans High Impact Scholarship

  • Liya Mooradian

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Genetics (LAS) & Science Communication Certificate
    • Hometown: Boston, MA
    • Hobbies: Drawing, Painting, Fashion, Photography, and Rock Climbing
    • Honors: McNair Scholars Program; 24 Fall LAS Deans High Impact Scholarship
    liya@iastate.edu

  • Leilani Ramirez-Velez

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Biology
    • Hometown:
    • Hobbies:
    leilanir@iastate.edu

  • Harshita Sharma

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Microbiology, Honors
    • Hometown: New Delhi, India
    • Hobbies:
    • Honors: Microbiology Undergraduate Research Award
    sharmah@iastate.edu

  • Shea Sopher

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Biology (LAS)
    ssopher@iastate.edu

  • Vinh Khang Tran

    • Position: UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Biology (LAS)
    • Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
    • Hobbies:
    khang04@iastate.edu

Uncategorized profiles

  • Abigail Fowler

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Microbiology
    • Hometown: Cedar Rapids, IA
    • Hobbies: hiking, baking, knitting

  • Eric Kremer

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Biology
    • Hometown: Ankeny, IA
    • Hobbies: Biking, fishing, and playing with my dog

  • Juan Carlos Oropeza

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Majors: Biological Pre-medical Illustration (BPMI) and Biology
    joropeza@iastate.edu

  • Caitlin Walz

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Biology (CALS)
    • Hometown: Rochester, Minnesota
    • Honors: CALS Office of Academic Innovation Award for Undergraduate Research
    • Hobbies: cooking, playing piano, reading