Current Lab Members
Shihoko Kojima Ph.D.
Principle Investigator
Studied a bacterial toxin as an undergrad, then became fascinated by the circadian clock and “clock” genes, especially by their names. Love research + science no doubt, but even more passionate about soccer, as I have been playing ever since I was eight.
Evan Littleton
Ph.D. Student
(MCB/Biology)
Grew up in Virginia and studied at Virginia Tech as an undergraduate, graduated in 2018. I knew I loved molecular biology and the amazing complexity of cells, so I wanted to keep learning more about them through research. To me, studying the molecular circadian rhythm and how cells are able to tell time in such a precise way is a perfect mixture of what I find most fascinating about biology. Outside of the lab I love to watch sports, especially basketball and football!
Lin Miao
Ph.D. Student
(Biology)
I am from China. I got my Bachelor’s degree in Tianjin University, and my Master’s degree in University of Southern California. In the lab, I am working on the question of how is the rhythmic and tissue-specific Per2AS expression regulated. Outside the lab, I enjoy traveling, doing sports and playing some music.
Luke Stanley
Undergraduate Research Assistant (Biological Sciences)
John Schafer
Undergraduate Research Assistant (Biological Sciences)
Weizhi Lin
Undergraduate Research Assistant (Biochemistry)
Alumni
Postdocs
Chuanli (Julie) Zhou, Ph.D. (2016-2017, Current: Postdoc at UT Southwestern Medical Center)
Rebecca Mosig, Ph.D. (2019-2020, Current: Landos Biopharma. Inc)
Graduate Students
Benjamin Unruh, Ph.D. (2017 -2023, Current: Scientific Information Analyst, NIH)
Undergraduate Researchers
Veronica Taylor (2014-2015, then Pharm.D. program, VCU)
Landon Frazier (2015-2017, then M.D. program, Georgetown University)
Allie Castaneda (2016-2017, then Ph.D. program, Virginia Tech. Current: Lab Instructor, Ohio State University)
Jake Deslauriers (2016-2017, then Ph.D. program, NC State. Current: Scientist, Life Edit Therapeutics)
Naseem Maghzian (2017)
Thomas Salazar (2017)
Connie Magarelli (2017-2018, then D.O. program. Liberty University)
Camille Schrier (2017-2018, then Pharm.D. program, VCU, Miss Virginia 2019, Miss America 2020)
Deigo Flores (2018)
Pooja Shethna (2018)
Melinda Rieck (2018)
Kevin He (2017-2019, Current: Ph.D. program, UCLA)
Michaela Gosting (2018-2019, Current: Genetic Counseling program, Univ. Maryland)
Maddie Childress (2019-2020, Current: M.D. program, VCU)
Sophia Sobrado (2021 Summer MAOP)
Ayana Jackson (2019-2021)
Naya Nerikar (2021-2022)
Maisy Rhoades (2021-2022)
Kyle Batty (2021-2022)
Brady Stipancic (2021-2022)
Logan Peters (2022)
Ashlee Pieno (2021 – 2023)
Katherine Ngo (2022 – 2024)
Mike Tran (2023-2024)
High School Researchers
Lily Zhu (2016-2017)
Aarati Pokharel (2016-2017)
Norah Griggs (2021 Summer internship)
Technical Staff
Zachary Erwin (2015-2016)
Kerry Gendreau (2015-2017, Current: postdoc, Virginia Tech)
Kaysha Perrin (2019-2020)
Max Rivers (2021)
Ayati Konar (2021)
Darrell Storholt (2021)
Juan Hernandez (2022-2023, Curent: Ph.D. program, Virginia Tech)
Douglas Weidemann (2022-2023)