Team

Shijiao Huang

Principle Investigator

Research Investigator. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Postdoc. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Ph.D. Peking University, China

B.S. Nanchang University, China

Honors

K-INBRE Developmental Research Project Program (DRPP) Award

COBRE CNAP Pilot Award

Iryna Graham

Research Assistant

Iryna received her education in Biology and Biochemistry. She had experience in a both medical and research laboratory. Iryna became a laboratory technician at Kansas State University in 2022 and joined the Huang laboratory in 2023. Her goal is to provide the best environment for the research and help to improve aging research to a new level. 

Shelby Innes

Graduate Student 

Shelby is a PhD student in Biochemistry and is interested in neurobiology and neurochemistry. She got a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a minor in Psychology, from Emporia State in May 2021. She recently received her M.S. in Biochemistry from KSU in Spring 2023, doing her thesis in Dr. John Tomich's lab. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing volleyball, playing chess, and playing Pokémon games.

Andrea Miller

Graduate Student 

Andrea is a Graduate student for the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at KSU. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry from KSU in the Spring of 2025. She is intrigued by the molecular mechanisms of aging and the role of neurons in these processes. Her goal in the Huang lab is to research the link between neuron signaling and longevity pathways. In her free time she likes to go hiking and hang out with her pet cat.

Amit Dutta

Graduate Student 

Amit is a Ph.D. student in Biochemistry with a research interest in neurodegenerative diseases, computational biology and therapeutic development. He earned his B.S. (2022) and M.S. (2024) degrees in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering from Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Bangladesh. Outside of his academic pursuits, he enjoys photography and traveling.

Mingyi Liu

Postdoctoral Researcher

Mingyi received his Ph. D. in 2023 from Shanghai Tech University and Chinese Academy of Sciences. During his thesis work he focused on understanding the localization and function of tubulin isotypes in cilia and nervous system. Mingyi joined our lab as a postdoctoral fellow in April 2024.  His projects in the lab ask questions about which neurons are necessary for longevity pathways and neural signaling influencing aging and age-related diseases. In his free time, Mingyi enjoys reading, playing badminton and spending time with music. 

Lizzie Vetter

Undergraduate 

I am from Wichita, KS and am an undergraduate student studying Medical Biochemistry with a minor in Biology. I joined the lab in Spring of 2025 after taking medical biochemistry with Dr. Huang as one of the professors teaching. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the effects of stress on body at the cellular level, so I joined Dr. Huangs lab to learn more. I am starting nursing school in August 2026 and am very excited to start that journey to becoming a nurse! I enjoy running and lifting in my free time as well as knitting if I am sitting down to watch a tv show. If I get stressed at all I will start to bake things like cookies or banana bread to procrastinate! 

Thomas Harp

Undergraduate 

Thomas is a 3rd year student studying Medical Biochemistry, and joined the lab in the Fall of 2024. He is from Osawatomie KS, and graduated from Paola High School. Thomas is interested in learning about the various factors affecting aging and lifespan, and is also looking forward to practicing and utilizing laboratory techniques. His goal is to attend Med School, and use the skills and knowledge from this lab to achieve those goals. He is also a member of Powercat Motorsports, and spent his sophomore year as Engine Lead for the team.  

Maddie Baucom

Undergraduate 

Maddie is from Olathe, KS and an undergraduate student at Kansas State University. She is studying Human Health Biology with a minor in Psychology. She is interested in getting her PhD in biomedical sciences on a biochemistry and molecular biology track, focusing on therapeutical development for neurodegenerative diseases. She joined the lab in Spring 2024. She is interested in anime, manga, and her dog Desmond.  

Joey Kyle   

Undergraduate 

Joey is an undergraduate student in the Biochemistry program at K-State. With the desire to work in clinical science directly with patients, his goals include going to medical school to study psychiatry. Joey has always been fascinated with the mechanisms of the human brain and found the Huang lab a great fit. The opportunity to do research into the treatment for aging and neurodegenerative disease interested him greatly.  In his free time, he enjoys playing with his cat, Lydia, and ping pong. 

Jane Oltjen 

Undergraduate 

Jane is a junior studying Medical Biochemistry on the premedical track when she joined the lab in January of 2024. She is currently working on a lifespan extension study using C. elegans in the lab. In her free time, she likes to play tennis, hang out with her friends, and travel. Jane hopes to one day become a primary care doctor and help her patients find ways to enhance their lifespan!

Ben Wiedenmann 

Undergraduate 

Ben is from Louisburg, KS and is an undergraduate student studying Medical Biochemistry on the premedical track at K-State. Ben is very interested in the research of longevity and anti-aging. He joined the lab in the spring of 2024. Ben’s goal is to attend Medical School and combine his love of learning and health to make his community a better place. In his free time, Ben enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with friends. 

Reegan Parker

Undergraduate 

Reegan is from Denver, CO and an undergraduate student at Kansas State University. She is studying Human Health Biology with a minor in Psychology on a Pre-Medical (PA) track interested in neuroscience, oncology, and pediatrics. She joined the lab in fall of 2023 with the K-State ESR CAT Community. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching Grey’s Anatomy, being active, and spending time with friends and family.

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