Pictured, left to right: David, Clancy, Kristy, Rachel, Christi, Anibal, Dr. Pletcher. Front Row: Evie, Tahrim, Jane, Megan, Soyoung, Tatyana.
Principal Investigator
William H. Howell Collegiate Professor of Physiology
Professor, Molecular & Integrative Physiology
Research Professor, Institute of Gerontology
University of Michigan
Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1998
2023 Medical School Basic Science Research Award Recipient
Our laboratory combines genetic, biochemical, and behavioral techniques to understand the nature of aging-related disease. We use the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model system and focus on evolutionarily conserved molecular pathways. Currently, we are studying genes involved in linking neurosensory function, diet, and immune function with aging and aging-related disease. We also seek to harness technological advancements in computational analysis and robotics to improve the capabilities and efficiency of high-throughput lifespan measurements.
B.A.- Biology; University of Minnesota
Max Planck Demographics Research Technician
Ph.D.; Imperial College London
Post-Doc; Texas A&M University
Research Assistant Professor
Platform speaker, Drosophila Genetics Conference 2013
TED: The Science of Lifespan...
The focus of my research is to discern the mechanism by which environmental cues impact fly lifespan and physiology. While specific cues may be species specific, the neuronal pathways utilized are likely conserved across species. I am also interested in how the brain integrates the information from different environmental cues and whether certain cues use similar or different neuronal networks.
B.A.- Biology, Eastern Michigan University
Research Laboratory Specialist/Lab Manager
Responsible for laboratory productivity, including Drosophila food preparation, controlled climate maintenance, automation development and maintenance, inventory control, and various design & assembly related to assisting researchers with experimental methods. Recipient: 2021 Research Technical Staff Recognition Award. This award honors staff members for important contributions to the university’s research mission through exceptional performance and by going beyond the ordinary fulfillment of position duties.
Research Lab Specialist Assoc
I'm interested in sexual selection and evolution of life histories. While these topics have received substantial theoretical treatment, empirical progress so far has been mostly phenotypic studies at organismal and population levels. Insufficient effort has been made to gain mechanistic explanations of observed phenomena. Bridging the gap between evolutionary ecology and molecular physiology, we have recently discovered that insulin signaling within female body affects composition and sexual attractiveness of female cuticular pheromones via transcriptional regulation of genes encoding pheromone synthesis enzymes. My current work objective is to further dissect the molecular connections between insulin signaling and female attractiveness, and identify the role of this nutrient-sensing pathway in male reproductive physiology.
B.S. in Entomology from an Ohio state university.
M.S., University of Florida- Hahn lab
Post Doc, University of Florida- Hahn lab
I'm interested in how animals, from flies to humans, evaluate their body condition (such as fatness) to modulate their behavioral drives, such as hunger, and life history phenotypes, such as sexual maturation and aging. I am testing how the tissues that regulate and perform nutrient homeostasis, such as gut tissue and fat storage tissue, are affected by aging, and how they may in turn provide information about an animal's nutrient environment back to the brain to modulate the speed of aging and other life history. I am developing and employing methods to track and manipulate specific cell types in these tissues and identify their role in aging. My investigation into the physiology underlying insect behavior started in Dr. David Denlinger's lab, where I tested the role of clock genes and environmental temperature fluctuation in flesh fly circadian rhythmicity as I interned during my undergraduate degree in Entomology from The Ohio State University. Then, for my M.S. and Ph.D. in Entomology, I worked in the lab of Dr. Dan Hahn at the University of Florida to investigate how consuming and storing protein and carbohydrates affects sexual maturation and hibernation-like behavior in Caribbean fruit flies and corn earworm caterpillars.
B.A. Neuroscience & Chemistry, University of South Dakota
Ph.D. Candidate
My research focuses on the neuronal circuits that are responsible for homeostatic and hedonic feeding, which has implications in aging. Also, I plan to look at how certain neuronal receptors and how the circuitry involved in feeding are related to sleep. Previously, I received Neuroscience and Chemistry degrees from the University of South Dakota.
Ph.D. Candidate
I pursued my B.S. in Integrative Biology at the University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras https://www.uprrp.edu/english/ followed by a short NIH-PREP at Case Western Reserve University before starting in the Biological Chemistry Ph.D program at UMich.
My research is looking into defining the biochemical circuits and epigenetic memory of the Drosophila social interaction spectrum. I am interested in tackling these questions by designing and developing state-of-the-art methods that integrate bioinformatic approaches to establish metabolome profiles following distinct social interactions.
Ph.D. Candidate
I received my B.S. in Neuroscience with honors from Brown University in 2020, where I studied genetic modifiers of neurodegenerative diseases in C. elegans. I then worked as a research tech for two years at Massachusetts General Hospital before joining the Neuroscience Graduate Program at UMich.
My research investigates the physiological and neurological circuits and mechanisms of gentle touch in Drosophila, specifically in the context of aging and longevity.
B.S. Neuroscience, University of Michigan
Ph.D. Candidate
I received my Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with honors from the University of Michigan and completed the NIH-PREP program here as well. I am currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program.
I study the neuronal mechanisms underlying metabolism, aging, and social interaction in fruit flies. Specifically, I observe how manipulating brain insulin in flies influences their social behaviors across lifespan.
B.A. in Psychology, B.S. in Mathematics
Ph.D. Candidate
moranmeg@med.umich.edu
I received a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Mathematics from Anderson University (IN) in 2022. At Anderson, I completed clinical and survey-based research on Parkinson’s disease as well as mathematical research on polynomial root sequences and Rolle’s Theorem. I then completed a one year post-bac position as a research coordinator at the Clinical & Cognitive Neuroscience Center at Indiana University under Drs. Hetrick and Wisner before joining the Neuroscience Graduate Program at the University of Michigan in the Fall of 2023.
Soyoung Park
B.S. in Tourism Management from National Institute for Lifelong Education- South Korea.
Fly Food Cook in Cucina D'melano
Our Undergraduates:
Judith Joseph jojudith@umich.edu Class of 2027
Logan Schneider loganps@umich.edu Class of 2027
Sayem Sattarov isayem@umich.edu Class of 2027
Elena Walter eswalter@umich.edu Class of 2027
Gus Toppi gtoppi@umich.edu Class of 2027
Megan Galantowicz megangal@umich.edu Class of 2027
Xavier Choussat choussat@umich.edu Class of 2028
Rakin Choudhury crakin@umich.edu Class of 2027
Member Name
Yousef Emara
Ryan Lashin
Kevin Jia
Sohil Jayee
Nadia Niha
Jasmine Bains
Madelynn Verheek
Aaryana Stringfellow
Zoe Strong
Tuhin Chakraborty
Paola Melnik
David Boettger
Sydney Jones
Allyson Munneke
Yang Lyu
Florence (Flo) Garcia
Zachary Alem
Cathryn Duran
Easton Cummings
Robert Holt
Christian Hain
Jacob Johnson
Yuan Luo
Kevin Ye
Saige Porter
Sona Raju
Brian Chung
Yashasvinni Nannapuraju
Maria Tjilos
Austin Piontkowski
Kassidy Rejent
Stephen Moss
Anna San Bartalome
Gabrielle Adams
Michael Young
Haley Richardson
Hailee Nielsen
Marta Plumhoff
Zachary Hoisington
Joshua Tucker
Ryan McMahon
Payton Krause
Lakshmi Guduguntla
Sabine Hutter
Madeline DeMarco
Lindy Jensen
Zachary Harvanek
Jung-Eun Lee
Kyrinna Wei
Jenny Ro
Nate Juliar
Morsi Rayyan
David Vargas
Sam Inn
Emily Feuka
Alex Standiford
Ceyda Bilgeir
Jeffrey Noble II
Michael Waterson Ph.D.
Katie Marney
Nancy Lindford
Nathan Hyuck
Nick Asher
Kathleen Abenes
Peter Paquet
Kylie Miller
Shivani Deshmukh
Stephen Stark
Gloria Pak
Tammy Chan Ph.D.
Amanda Sanders
Pooja Sivakumar
Greg Wnuk
Filip Ancevski
Ingrid Hansen, MS
Lisa Johnson, Ph.D.
Rinoa Yoon
Kristen Shirey
Grace Eunhyae Hwang
Azra Dervicefendic
Tsung-Han Kuo, Ph.D.
Louis Standiford
Emily Wang
Trisha Paul
Jessica Eakin
Yuzhong (Ricky) Liu
Amanda Rutishauser
Weixiong (Max) Zheng
Joshua Abramson
Kellie Lee Watkins
Trevor Brooks
Zach Petroni
Steve Wilson
Sergiy Libert, Ph.D.
Danielle Skorupa, Ph.D.
Peter Poon, Ph.D.
Jessica Zweiner
Next Step
Wayne State School of Medicine
Undergrad Studies
Undergrad Studies
Moved to UROP lab
Moved to different lab
Hospital intern
Gap-year internship
Masters in Public Health/Epidemiology
Michigan Neuroscience Institute/Allada lab
Michigan Neuroscience Institute/Allada lab
Undergraduate academics
Fulbright Scholarship- Barcelona Spain
Undergraduate Studies
Gap year
Rutgers University, Assistant Professor
Physical Therapist
Undergraduate Studies
Gap Year
Tufts University, Clinical Researcher
Northwestern University, Research Technician
Gap Year
Gap year, Exploring the USA in a van
China research university
UMHS Anesthesiology technician
Research opportunity
University of Illinois College of Medicine
Milwaukee science writer
Change of Major
UM School of Public Health
Graduated
U-Toledo School of Medicine
LSI Cianfrocco lab tech
Undergraduate academics
Change of Major to Pre-Law
Undergraduate academics
Graduated
University of Michigan Medical School
Graduated
UC-Berkeley School of Pharmacology
UM Masters of Public Health
Undergraduate academics
Zoetis Inc. Associate Scientist
Wayne State University Medical School
McDonald's
UM Masters in Public Health
UM Grad School
Yale Medical School, Resident Psychiatrist
Editor- Springer Nature
Undergraduate research assistant
Fisher Scientific/Entrepreneur
Laboratory assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
Veterinary Medicine- UC Davis
Undergraduate research assistant
Yale Post-Doc Fellow
Germany, self-employed
Iceland
Undergraduate research assistant
Graduated
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
WMU Stryker School of Medicine
Undergraduate research assistant
UROP- Mechanical Engineering
Undergraduate research assistant
Texas
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
UM School of Public Health
Industry research lab
Argentina
Summers Knoll School, Ann Arbor- Teacher
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
Baylor College of Medicine
Postdoc Fellow, Scripps
Postdoc Fellow
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
med School
UROP student
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate research assistant
MIT Postdoc Fellow
Scripps Florida Postdoc Fellow
UC Postdoc Fellow
U-Texas Medical School
Last Year in Lab
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