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

    • MCDB Graduate Student
    • Honors: Brown Fellowship Awardee '21; David Gladson Scholarship Awardee '21, '22

Undergraduate Students

  • Chase Coffman

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Genetics, Minor: Microbiology
    • Hometown: Lake Quivira, KS
    • Hobbies: Weight-lifting, Rowing, Running, Listening to music, and playing piano.
    coffman3@iastate.edu

  • Rachel Currant

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Genetics (CALS)
    • Honors: Buck Genetics Scholarship, '21; Borlaug-Ruan Internship, '22

  • Hannah DeJong

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Biology (LAS)
    • Hometown: West Des Moines, IA
    • Hobbies: kickboxing, reading, and watching football

  • Abigail Fowler

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

  • Anna Garbe

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Biology
    • Honors: LAS Dean’s High Impact Scholarship

  • Peyton Hamel

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Genetics (LAS)
    • Honors: LAS Dean’s High Impact Scholarship

  • Eric Kremer

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

  • Riley Kuennen

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Chemical Engineering

  • Isabelle Lein

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Biology (LAS); Minor: Spanish
    • Hometown: Rosemount, MN
    • Hobbies: Lifting weights, cooking, writing, spending time with friends, family, and my dogs, and fishing

  • Bridget McGovern

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Biology

  • Gabrielle Sawin

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Mechanical Engr./Minor: Biomedical Engr.
    • Hometown: La Salle, Illinois
    • Honors: Cardinal Key Honors Society
    • Hobbies: Running, bouldering, hiking

  • John Swanson

    • UG Research Assistant
    • Major: Biology (AGLS)
    • Hometown: Ames, IA
    • Hobbies: swimming, hiking, and golfing

  • 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

  • Alexis Zwank

    • VSEER Intern, LSAMP IINSPIRE Program