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Dr. Andrew McHill, PhD
(he/him/his)
Andrew graduated with a Ph.D. in Integrative Physiology with a specialization in sleep and circadian physiology from the University of Colorado Boulder. After graduating, he completed an NIH funded post-doctoral fellowship at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School within the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders and joined the OHSU Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences in Dr. Shea's Circadian Laboratory in 2016 as a visiting post-doctoral fellow. In September 2017, he became a Research Assistant Professor within the institute and in 2021 established the Sleep, Chronobiology, and Health Laboratory within the OHSU School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. Dr. McHill is interested in understanding the contributing mechanisms by which the mistiming of behaviors (i.e. shiftwork or jetlag) and chronic insufficient sleep leads to adverse health and poor cognitive performance outcomes. Outside of working late nights in the lab, Andrew enjoys hiking the Oregon trails, watching all the PNW sports teams (but especially, Rip City!, RCTID, and go Zags!), and adventuring with his wife and two young sons.
Brooke Shafer, PhD
(she/her/hers)
Brooke is a Postdoctoral Researcher who joined the lab in March 2023. She got her Ph.D. in Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, where her work focused on the neural reflex control of blood pressure in response to arterial blood gas disturbances in order to interrogate early mechanistic pathways that contribute to hypertension development in conditions like obstructive sleep apnea. She is interested in taking her background in autonomic neural control and investigating how disruptions to circadian rhythms may increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular health outcomes. In her spare time, Brooke likes to do all the outdoor things, go wine tasting, play volleyball, groan about the Detroit Lions, and smother her two dachshunds with all her love.
Kathryn Mcauliffe
(she/her/hers)
Kathryn is a PhD student at OHSU School of Nursing. She received a B.S. in Psychology, with minors in communication and creative writing, at Santa Clara University before pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing at Johns Hopkins University. She worked as a med surg RN at University of Michigan Hospital before moving into Clinical Research at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit, where she did vaccine research for 2.5 years. In her doctoral studies, Kathryn is interested in sleep and shift work, especially to help new-grad nurses transitioning into bedside work. In her free time, she enjoys writing creatively, petting her cats (Shadow, Spooky, and Gandalf), knitting, and going to rock shows.
Sophia Kogan
(she/her/hers)
Sophia is an ABSN to PhD student who recently completed her nursing education here at OHSU School of Nursing before starting the PhD program. She has been part of the Sleep, Chronobiology, and Health lab since fall of 2022. Prior to this program Sophia earned a BS in Biology and a BA in Public Health Studies from Portland State University. Sophia is an Oregon ARCS Scholar and is interested in studying the intersection between pain sensitivity and chronobiology, with a long-term goal of improving pain management interventions. Outside of school and research, Sophia enjoys traveling, reading, bouldering, and going to concerts.
Maddy Wary
(she/her/hers)
Maddy is a PhD student in the Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience program at OHSU. Prior to this, Maddy graduated from the University of Rochester with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and a B.A. in Brain and Cognitive Science in June 2022, where she worked in a sleep lab under Dr. Wilfred Pigeon and Dr. Michelle Carr examining the interaction between dreaming and learning and memory. After graduation, she joined Dr. Satish Singh’s lab at the VA Medical Center in Jamaica Plain, Boston, where she used A.I. to predict polyp pathology in real time during colonoscopies. Now, she has moved to Portland to pursue her love of sleep neuroscience. She is currently working in Dr. Andrew McHill's Sleep, Chronobiology, and Health lab to focus her dissertation work on how difference exogeneous factors, such as light and diet, can influence sleep health. Outside of research, you'll most likely find her playing tennis, camping, hiking, or lecturing her friends and family about keeping a consistent sleep schedule.
Yasmine Robles
(she/her/hers)
Yasmine graduated from Western Oregon University in 2021 with a B.A. in Psychology and Minor in Human Biology. She is a former Clinical Research Associate and current Co-Investigator for Northwest Psychometric LLC working on validating a Life Events Questionnaire for clinical and research use to measure childhood psychological trauma in adulthood. She has worked at OHSU since 2021 primarily in heart failure research and is interested in studying sex differences in neuroendocrine and sleep outcomes as an incoming PhD in Nursing student. In the future, she plans to become a neuroscientist. Yasmine loves spending time with her fiancé and two Frenchies, Moana and Rambo, and enjoys dancing and indoor cycling.
Courtney Lysiak
(she/her/hers)
Courtney graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in Health and Human Biology in May 2023, where she also worked in a fluid mechanics lab studying flagellar movement. After graduation, she moved to Oregon to pursue her interest in clinical research. Having focused her undergraduate education on the social determinants of health, she is particularly interested in modifiable risk factors and occupational health. Outside of the lab, she enjoys exploring Oregon, watching horror movies, crafting, and spending time with her cat, Willie.
Kiziah Pugmire
(she/her/hers)
Kiziah graduated with a BS in Neuroscience and minors in Psychology and Business from Brigham Young University in April 2024. During her undergrad she worked in a Sleep Psychology lab studying how autism, nocturnal loneliness, depression, suicidality, and more effects sleep. She also worked in the Brain and Behavior lab to study the differences in functional connectivity in individuals with scrupulosity (religious OCD). She looks forward to eventually getting her PhD in the biomedical sciences. Outside of her academic interests, Kiziah enjoys spending time with her husband, travelling to as many countries as possible, hiking, and relaxing in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
Gemma Pleas
(she/her/hers)
Gemma Pleas graduated in 2024 from Washington University in St. Louis with a B.A. in psychology and a focus in cognitive neuroscience. There, she was a member of the NCAA track team and worked in a cognitive control systems lab investigating effort-based decision making and mindfulness. With interests in sleep, neuroeconomics, neurodegenerative diseases, and behavioral neuroscience in general, Gemma is excited to gain more hands-on experience in the lab to study sleep and its impact on the body and brain. She plans to eventually pursue a Ph.D. in behavioral or cognitive neuroscience and conduct research in the field. In her free time, Gemma enjoys hiking, reading, baking, doing arts & crafts, and watching track and field.
Ariana Smith
(she/her/hers)
Ariana graduated in 2024 from Portland State University with a B.S. in Public Health Studies with concentrations in Community Health Promotion and Pre-Clinical Health Sciences. Her undergrad focused on neonatal and maternal health and she spent 3 years working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at OHSU. She is interested in maternal-fetal outcomes and how sleep and circadian rhythms influence both mother and baby in gestation, birth, and post-partum. Outside of research, Ariana enjoys spending time exploring the PNW with her husband and two dogs, Reagan and Remy, reading, and watching ice hockey (Go Anaheim Ducks!).
Mari Wahab
(she/her/hers)
Mari graduated from Lewis and Clark College in May 2023 with a BA in Biology and a minor in Health Studies. Currently, she is in the process of applying to medical schools for the 2023 application cycle. Her specific interests lie in specialties such as neurology, radiology, public health, and infectious diseases. To further enhance her research skills and stay engaged in the field after graduation, Mari has joined a lab for the summer and fall of 2023. Besides her academic pursuits, she enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants and the outdoors with friends, spending quality time with her cats—Nova and Carti—and cherishing moments with her family.
Shresta Anand
(she/her/hers)
Shresta is a junior at Portland State University double majoring in General Science and Public Health and minoring in Biology. She joined the lab as an EXITO cohort 7 scholar in July of 2023 and is also a McNair Scholar. She plans to pursue a Master of Public Health after her undergrad with the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health. With the lab, she is interested in getting research experience as an undergrad and seeing how sleep and irregular sleep impact mental health symptoms and overall well-being. Outside of academics, Shresta enjoys playing video games, listening to music, and spending time with her friends, family, and tuxedo cat Smokey.
Matt Cordova
(he/him/his)
Matt is currently still in undergrad at The University of Portland where he is planning on graduating with a B.S in Human Biology and a minor in psychology. After graduation, he plans on applying to medical school and is interested in fields such as oncology, cardiology and general surgery. He is particularly interested in studying how environmental factors such as sleep and lifestyle lead to chronic disease. Outside of the lab, he enjoys running for the cross-country team at UP, cooking, spending time with friends, and going on hikes with his girlfriend Morgen.
Other ColLaborators
Other ColLaborators
Our laboratory is housed in the OHSU School of Nursing on Marquam Hill. We work closely with the Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute (OCTRI) to conduct our research. Dr. Jonathan Emens is our research M.D and we often collaborate internally at the School of Nursing with the laboratories of Drs. Quin Denfeld and MinKyoung Song. We are also frequent collaborators with the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences Laboratories of Dr. Steven Shea, Dr. Saurabh Thosar, Dr. Ryan Olson, and Dr. Nicole Bowles, and the OHSU School of Medicine laboratories of Dr. Melanie Gillingham and Dr. Jonathan Purnell.
Are you an undergraduate or nursing student interested in joining our team? Click here to find out more.
Previous Members of the Lab
We thank you for all your work in making this research possible!
Josie Velasco (Research Assistant)
Joey Hebl (Medical Student)
Desirae Christopher (Senior Research Assistant)
Savannah Blancarte (Research Assistant)
Angie Pavao (Research Assistant)
Zac Caddick PhD (Post Doc)
Zoë Sanderson (Undergraduate Student)
Audrey Kantor (Undergraduate Summer Intern)
Julianna Esquivel (Research Assistant)
Danny Freitas (Research Assistant)
Jax Greenwald (Research Assistant)
Raina Akbar (High School Intern)
Zennette McCoy (Research Coordinator)
Georgi Brady (Senior Research Assistant)
Elsie Bran Mendoza (Undergraduate Summer Intern)
Garrett Smith (Undergraduate Summer Intern)
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