Haddie DeHart
Carpenter Lab
Entered August 2019
I am a PhD student in the Carpenter Lab. My research is focused on a transcription factor in the Sonic Hedgehog pathway. More specifically, I am interested in tGLI1, a truncated form of GLI1, and it’s role in brain cancer growth and progression. Before coming to IU, I lived in Boston, MA, where I first worked for Foundation Medicine, one of the leading companies in precision medicine, and The Center for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. When I am not in lab, I greatly enjoy rowing, running, biking, and binge-watching movies.
Alfa Dhakal
Hundley Lab
Entered August 2020
I am a grad student in the Hundley Lab. My research interest lies in RNA biology and editing. Currently I am working with C. elegans as a model system. I completed my Master's in Biology from Purdue Northwest. I am from Kathmandu, Nepal and I enjoy dancing, listening to audiobooks and trying out new recipes.
Nicholas Downing
Hollenhorst Lab
Entered August 2019
I am a grad student in Dr. Pete Hollenhorst’s lab. I study the role of the Mediator complex in regulating oncogenic expression in prostate cancer. I joined the CMCB program in August 2019 weeks after defending my MS thesis from the IU Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Indianapolis. That work explored the role of Angiomotin-Like-1 in regulating astrocytic morphology and gap junction formation in the context of glioblastoma. Outside of lab, I enjoy playing guitar and hiking with my dog, Liam.
Argha Ghosh
Mitra Lab
Entered 2021
I am a PhD student in Dr. Anirban Mitra's lab. I joined in the spring of 2021. My research interests include understanding tumor-stromal cross-talk that regulates ovarian cancer metastasis and how it can be therapeutically targeted. I have a Master's degree in molecular biology from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, with a thesis, where I have studied the effect of small molecules in targeting the Hedgehog signaling in breast cancer stem cells. Other than that, I love doing photography which includes landscape and wildlife, I am a huge sci-fi fan, my favorite movie being Interstellar. I love to read lots of fiction and popular science books and occasionally paint as well. Hoping to get a golden retriever very soon!
Kelly Hartsough (she/her)
Walczak Lab
Entered August 2018
I graduated from Penn State in 2018 and entered the CMCB program the fall of that same year. Currently, I am a graduate student in the Walczak Lab. My research seeks to understand how polyploid cells are able to resume mitosis, as this can lead to genome instability. Outside of the lab, I can be found going on runs with my dog, Oliver.
Natasha Hockaden
Carpenter Lab
Entered August 2018
I am a PhD student in Dr. Richard Carpenter’s lab and I study the involvement of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) in breast cancer metastasis. Before I started my PhD journey, I majored in biochemistry at DePauw University working in two labs studying zebrafish heart regeneration and stress on the immune system. I also worked as a Flow Cytometry Data Analyst for clinic trial studies at Covance. When I am not being a total science nerd, I binge watch an unhealthy amount of TV and compete in mounted archery with my mule, Mooney, and teach others how to get involved in the sport.
Renee Kinne
Hollenhorst Lab
Entered August 2020
I did my undergrad at Michigan State University and joined the CMCB program in 2020. I’m in the Hollenhorst lab where I’ve been looking into chimeric transcription factors. For fun I like to bake bread and watch Murder, She Wrote.
Benjamin Koch
Innes Lab
Entered August 2018
I entered the CMCB program in 2018 after completing my undergraduate degrees in biology and cello at Indiana University. I work in Roger Innes' lab where we study plant pathogen interaction. Initially I was interested in developing plant vesicles as nanoparticles to carry medicine. My project has morphed over time and now I study the biogenesis of plant vesicles in the context of plant pathogen defense. Outside of the lab, I enjoy making music, exploring new bike routes, and having fun with my girlfriend Gabby and our cats Eloise and Rigatoni (Riggy, for short).
Tara Metcalfe
Nephew Lab
Entered August 2020
I am a CMCB student who entered the program in 2020 and am in the Nephew lab. For my research, I am interested in epigenetics and the role it plays mechanistically in platinum-induced ovarian cancer stem cells. Besides this I previously graduated from Michigan State University and in my spare time I love any type of physical activities and cooking/baking.
Priyanka Mukherjee
Hundley lab
Entered August 2018
I am a PhD student in Dr. Heather Hundley’s lab. My research is currently focused on trying to understand the tumorigenic potential of an RNA-binding protein, ADAR3, in glioblastomas. Before coming to IU in Fall 2018, I received a dual BS-MS degree from St. Xavier’s College (Kolkata, India). For my master’s dissertation, I studied how chemical and molecular chaperones (sodium phenyl butyrate and ERp29, respectively) could modulate Connexin 43 trafficking to the cell surface. As if experimenting in the lab wasn’t enough, I really enjoy experimenting with food too. I am always trying to learn new recipes, cuisines and cooking hacks. After any crazy day at work, this is what helps me destress.
Ji Wang
Mitra Lab
Entered August 2019
I am an international Chinese PhD student from Dr. Anirban Mitra’s lab with research emphasis on peritoneal metastasis in ovarian cancer and on immune microenvironment in peritoneal metastasis. I joined the CMCB program in 2019. Before I came here, I was once a medical doctor from the department of gynecology and obstetrics. I have got my Bachelor and Master degree of clinical medicine in China, both of which are equivalent to MD in the USA. Actually, the PhD foreign life is completely new to me and mentors here are really kind to volunteer to help you adapt to new surroundings, just like microenvironmental factors in peritoneal metastasis assisting ovarian cancer cells in adapting to the new microenvironment in greater omental tissues. Now my main job in my lab is to do some bioinformatic analysis on sequencing data or on the public online free database such as TCGA, AOCS, GEO. During my leisure time, I would like to cook Chinese food and to play video games on game consoles. Except for that, I also like watching movies, Japanese manga and so on.
