Team
Ìý
Lab members from left to right. Top row: Joe Muckle, Madison Szewczak, Mark Opp, Alivia Berg, Axel Garcia, Storm Armstrong, Hayden Stephens. Middle row: Lindsey Beaurgard, Alyson Stewart, Kellie Ha, Rachel Rowe, Francois Labadie, Matias Mendez, Nikolaas Steele, Conner Wingfield. Bottom row: Mallory Johnson, Ella Nagaraj, Andrea Lugo, Jennifer Lawrence, Gabriel Nah, Avyukta Chiluka
Principle Investigator
Associate Professor , Principle Invesitgator
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Professor EmeritusÌý
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Research Assistants
Professional Research Assistant, Lab Manager
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Professional Research Assistant, Lab Manager
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Postdoctoral Scholar
Postdoctoral Scholar
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Graduate Students
PhD Student
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Alyson is a PhD student co-advised by Dr. Rowe and Dr. Link. Her project is largely focused on viral reactivation and dsRNA pathology following traumatic brain injury. She received her B.S in Neuroscience from Colorado State University in 2023 where she conducted research in Dr. Tobet’s lab analyzing microglia morphology after acute stress. Outside of lab, she enjoys mountain biking, training for triathlons and reading.
PhD Student
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
| Andrea is a PhD student who uses computational modeling and large-scale imaging data to investigate how traumatic brain injury progresses from microscopic cellular damage to systems-level brain dysfunction. She develops quantitative tools to map injury-induced changes across neural circuits and sleep pathways, aiming to understand how local pathology drives global outcomes. Supported by an NIH T32 training grant, she brings a strong foundation in neurotrauma and computational methods. Andrea earned her B.S. in Kinesiology (Pre-Health) from Cal Poly Humboldt. Outside the lab, she enjoys discovering local coffee shops, visiting museums, and traveling. |
PhD Student
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
| Jennifer is a PhD student co-advised by Dr. Rowe and Dr. Hoeffer. Her interests are largely focused on astrocyte morphology and gene expression changes in response to inflammation in injury or disease. Jennifer received her B.A. in Neuroscience from the ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß where she worked with Dr. Mark Opp investigating sleep architecture in a preclinical mouse model of Alzheimer’s Disease. Outside of the lab, Jennifer enjoys playing tennis, running, and reading. |
Masters Student, Bachelors Accelerated Masters Program
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
| Nik is a fifth-year BAM (Bachelor’s–Accelerated Master’s) student at the University of Colorado, having graduated with honors last spring with a B.A. in Integrative Physiology. His work and interests center on microglia, thermoregulation, sleep, and traumatic brain injury. He is currently completing his master’s degree, applying to medical schools, and writing manuscripts for publication. Outside the lab, Nik enjoys playing and watching soccer, football, and basketball, as well as cooking and playing FIFA. |
Masters Student
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Masters Student
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Masters Student
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate Research Assistant
MOLECULAR, CELLULAR, AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
| Kellie is a senior undergraduate on the pre-dental track studying Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology with a minor in Leadership. She has received a UROP grant to support her project that investigates the inflammatory mechanisms behind how pre-injury sleep disruption effects alcohol consumption and microglial activation. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, karaoke, and crocheting. |
Ìý
Undergraduate Research Assistant
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Hannah Yared is a fourth-year undergraduate student double majoring in Integrative Physiology and Public Health at the ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß. As an undergraduate research intern in the Sleep, Inflammation & Neuropathology Lab, she contributes to tissue-processing procedures like cutting, mounting brain tissue for experimental analysis, and working alongside on projects with lab colleagues. She hopes to pursue a career in medicine specifically as a physician.Ìý
Undergraduate Research Assistant
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
| François is a senior undergraduate on the pre-medical track studying Integrative Physiology with a minor in Biochemistry. He received a UROP grant, which he is using to support his research project examining inflammatory gene expression following traumatic brain injury and sleep disruption. Outside of the lab and the classroom, he enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with friends.Ìý |
ÌýIncluding undergraduates in our research is critical to how we conduct research as a lab. We take on undergraduates looking for research experience, those who are interested in UROP, or Undergraduate Honors Thesis students. If you are interested, please check the Join Us page to see if we are taking on new undergraduate students.
Post-Baccalaureate
Post-bac Research Assistant
MOLECULAR, CELLULAR, & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
Post-Bac Research Assistant
INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Post-bac Research Assistant
Former Trainees
Current Position: PhD Student
Stanford School of Medicine
Current Position: Spatial Omics Manager
The University of Glasgow
Current Position: Research Associate Football Players Health Study/ Department of Environmental Health & Associate Director, Institute for Brain Research & Innovation, TeachAids
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Ìý