Research Program Leadership
Polly E. Mattila, PhD
Research Scientist
Endocrine Division Scientific Director
Kershaw Lab Lead Project Manager
pem18@pitt.edu
Ashlee Wood, MS
Research Technician
Kershaw Lab Manager
anw115@pitt.edu
Shari L. Reynolds, BS, CCRP
Health Professional
Endocrine Division Lead Human Research Coordinator
reynoldssl2@upmc.edu
Mahesh K. Basantani, PhD
Adjunct Assistant Professor
International Research Liaison
mkbasantani@gmail.com
John J. Dube, PhD
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Interinstitutional Summer Research Liaison
jdube@chatham.edu
Former Laboratory Members
Pre-Doctoral High School, College, or Post-College/Pre-Graduate School Students
| Name | Position Within Kershaw Lab |
| Noah P. Gardner, MS | Research Scientist |
| Daniel S. Brenner, MD, PhD | Research Scientist |
| Sarah Rastatter | Undergraduate Researcher |
| Rachel Wills | Research Scientist |
| Andin Fosam | Undergraduate Researcher |
| Samantha Silsbee, MMsc-PA | Undergraduate Researcher |
| Zachary Schenk, DPT | Undergraduate Researcher |
| Caitlin Carney | Undergraduate Researcher |
| Adasia Ritenour | Undergraduate Researcher First Experience in Research Program |
| Amy Huynh | Undergraduate Researcher First Experience in Research Program |
| Joshua Strayer | Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Researcher |
| Ronald Ecoff | High School Student |
| Anna Meyer | Undergraduate Researcher |
| Megan Miller | Undergraduate Researcher |
| Madeline Young | Undergraduate Researcher First Experience in Research Program |
| Akeem Williams | Undergraduate Researcher |
| Zana-Mae Ross | Post-Baccalaureate Researcher |
Pre-Doctoral Graduate School Students (MD or PhD Candidates)
| Name | Position Within Kershaw Lab |
| Linda Verhagen, PhD | MS Candidate |
| Petra Kienesberger, PhD | PhD Candidate |
| Laura Pajedova, MS | MS Candidate |
| Petra Frager, MS | MS Candidate |
| Olayemi Grace Akinyele | PhD Candidate Rotation Student |
Pre-Doctoral Medical School Students (MD Candidates)
| Name | Position Within Kershaw Lab |
| Ye (Cathy) Chen | Visiting/Rotating Student |
| Qingqing Meng | Visiting/Rotating Student |
| Guanyi Yang | Visiting/Rotating Student |
| Mariam Bramah-Lawani, MD | Medical Student Researcher |
| Joy (Siting) Zhao Trybula, MD | Medical Student Researcher (T35) |
| Aneta Kowalski | Medical Student Researcher |
| Matthew Swatski, MD | Medical Student Researcher |
| Anjana Murali | Medical Student Researcher |
| Confidence Njoku-Austin | Medical Student Researcher |
Postdoctoral (PhD Postdoctoral Scholars or Postdoctoral Fellows)
| Name | Position Within Kershaw Lab |
| Ashish Kalra, PhD | Postdoctoral Fellow |
| Lingzhi Cai, MD, PhD | Postdoctoral Fellow |
| Mahesh K. Basantani, PhD | Postdoctoral Fellow |
| Mitchell T. Sitnick, PhD | Postdoctoral Scholar (T32) |
| Gabriele Schoiswohl, PhD | Postdoctoral Fellow |
| Valerie Reeves, PhD | Postdoctoral Scholar (T32) |
| Beth Surlow, PhD | Postdoctoral Scholar (T32) |
| Krystle Frahm, PhD | Postdoctoral Scholar |
| Jitendra Kanshana, PhD | Postdoctoral Fellow |
Postdoctoral (MD Clinical Resident Researcher)
| Name | Position Within Kershaw Lab |
| Jen Corbelli, MD | Resident Researcher |
| Tahereh Ghorbani, MD | Resident Researcher |
| Kristin Criner, MD | Resident Researcher |
| Roula Zahr, MD | Resident Researcher |
| Catherine Tang, MD | Resident Researcher |
| Elizabeth Oczypok, MD, PhD | Resident Researcher |
Postdoctoral (MD Clinical Fellow Researcher)
| Name | Position Within Kershaw Lab |
| Sanjay Dixit, MD | Endocrine Fellow Researcher |
| Cynthia Yazbeck, MD | Endocrine Fellow Researcher |
| Jules Aljammal, MD | Endocrine Fellow Researcher |
| Munira Abbasi, MD | Endocrine Fellow Researcher |
| Vikrant Rachakonda, MD | Postdoctoral Scholar (T32) |
| Karen Selk, DO | Endocrine Fellow Researcher |
| Hira Ali, MD | Endocrine Fellow Researcher |
| Vrushali Shah, MD | Endocrine Fellow Researcher |