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