Current Members

Michael Welte, Ph.D. – Principal Investigator

Academic info

Queer scientist

TAGC 2024 Interview

Journal of Undergraduate Research Interview

Fun Fact: Michael currently owns 55 fly-themed t shirts and wears one almost everyday.

 

Pakinee Phromsiri – Graduate Student

“I want to know how development is affected when histone variant H2Av is improperly regulated.”

Fun Fact: Pakinee’s hobbies include baking treats for the lab and making our lovely fly t-shirts.

 

 

 

Roger White – Graduate Student

“I am studying the mechanism of fatty acid uptake and the regulation of fatty acid trafficking.”

Fun Fact: Roger has both played and coached American football.

 

 

 


Alicia Shipley – Graduate Student

“I am working to elucidate the dynamics of histone variant H2Av exchange on lipid droplets.”

Fun Fact: Alicia is the lab’s provider of daily Dad Jokes.

 

 

 

 

Minhao Chen- Graduate Student 

“I am studying the mechanisms of lipid droplet formation and regulation in ovaries under stress.”

Fun Fact: Minhao doesn’t like anything that tastes sweet.

 

 

 

Naduni De Silva- Graduate Student 

“I study the mechanism of Importin 9 in H2Av chaperoning.”

Fun Fact: Nadi is a die-hard fan of K-pop groups BTS, GOT7, and Monstax.

 

 

 

 

Noah Reger- Graduate Student 

 

“I am studying the role of the histone variant H2Av in developmental timing.”

Fun Fact: Noah’s favorite literary work is Faust by Goethe.

 

 

 

Brian Jencik – Laboratory Technician

 

Fun Fact: Brian has 18 siblings.

 

 

 

 

Caleb Borick- Undergraduate Researcher 

 

Fun Fact: Caleb schedules his sleep in 90-minute increments to avoid waking up during deep sleep periods.

 

 

 

Somes Jacobson- Undergraduate Researcher 

“I am studying the developmental effects of heat shock factors on Drosophila wing discs.”

Fun Fact: Somes grew up on an urban farm.

 

 

 

Brendan Mahaney- Undergraduate Researcher 

 

 

Fun Fact: Brendan has broken his wrist three times in the same spot.

 

 

Justin Anderson- Undergraduate Researcher

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rohan Nanduri- Undergraduate Researcher

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zoe Stanley- Undergraduate Researcher 

 

 

Fun Fact: Zoe has an identical twin

 

 

 

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Click here to see Lab Pets