Lauren Tauer, M.S. – Lab Manager and Associate Director of Metabolic Disease Research Center
Lauren Tauer earned her Master’s degree at Colorado State University in Fort Collins focusing on Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. She then returned home to Massachusetts to work in the pharmaceutical testing industry for 4 years until joining Dr. Kim's laboratory in 2018. Lauren is currently the Associate Director of the Metabolic Disease Research Center and a lab manager with expertise in mouse metabolism, analytical biochemistry, and diabetes research. With her caring personality, she also enjoys her role in mentoring students. Outside the laboratory, she loves hiking year-round and spending time with her Norwegian Elkhounds.
Muhammad Sajid, M.S., Ph.D. – Postdoctoral Associate
Dr. Muhammad Sajid received his Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Master of Philosophy in Microbiology from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in Pakistan in 2016. He then completed his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Wuhan University in China in 2021, where he studied the role of Interferon-stimulated gene 6 on HBV gene expression and replication at the State Key Laboratory of Virology. He also worked on SARS-CoV2 in Wuhan during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 and optimized ddPCR to detect the SARS-CoV2 virus. After completing his postdoctoral training in Dr. Wenwen Fang's laboratory, he joined Dr. Kim’s lab to study type 2 diabetes, metabolic liver disease, and obesity. Muhammad is currently investigating the effects of diets on metabolic liver disease using transgenic mice with altered macrophage signaling that were recently generated in our laboratory. His multifaceted projects also focus on molecular analysis of hepatocytes, macrophages, and other immune cells in the liver while delineating the role of intercellular crosstalk in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. In his free time, He likes to play badminton and enjoy a fun time with his family.
Asha Daryanani, B.S. – Graduate Student
Asha Daryanani obtained her Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology from the University of Maryland, College Park. Following her undergraduate education, she spent two years as a postbaccalaureate researcher, working on prostate cancer at the National Cancer Institute. She helped establish mouse models that recapitulate metastatic phenotypes and explored novel drug treatments. She began her graduate study at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School in 2023 and is now in her second year as a Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Kim’s laboratory. She joined Dr. Kim’s lab to help find a cure for diabetes. Asha is currently investigating the molecular mechanism by which a pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-12 (IL-12) modulates insulin action and glucose metabolism in the liver using various molecular approaches, including adeno-associated virus and siRNA. Her exciting projects further examine the effects of gain-of-function and loss-of-function in IL-12 action on insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis using transgenic mouse models. Outside the lab, she enjoys baking, reading, and taking long walks with friends.
Suryateja Rao, B.S. – Medical Student
Suryateja “Teja” Rao is a 4th-year medical student at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School and a research fellow in Dr. Kim’s laboratory. He has a Bachelor of Science in Molecular & Cellular Biology and Economics from Johns Hopkins University and was a founding executive at a biotechnology startup company in San Francisco before joining our medical school. His deep interest in understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying obesity and its whole-body sequelae, and in applying these insights to better care for these conditions as a physician, led him to pursue a research year in our lab. His project focused on metabolic liver disease and applied his clinical skills to using a state-of-the-art 4D ultrasound to noninvasively assess liver steatosis and fibrosis in mice. Teja was instrumental in our study, recently published in Nature Communications, identifying a novel role of interferon-gamma signaling in macrophages and their release of a pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-12 (IL-12), in regulating intercellular crosstalk in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. He is currently investigating the molecular mechanism by which Tirzepatide, an exciting new diabetes drug based on gut peptide (GLP-1) action, modulates insulin sensitivity using diet-induced obese mice. His exciting results were recently presented at the 2024 Endocrine Society Conference in Boston. Teja continues to work on our project to delineate the underlying mechanism by which IL-12 regulates insulin action and glucose metabolism in the liver using transgenic mice with interferon-gamma signaling deficient macrophages. He also presented his findings at the 2024 Endocrine Society Conference. For his 4th research project, Teja studied the effects of acute exercise on spontaneous physical activity in mice, which led to his presentation at the 2024 American College of Sports Medicine Conference in Boston. Teja continues to follow up on his ongoing research projects and is currently preparing manuscripts for submission while finishing his last year of medical school. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing and watching sports (especially basketball and football), reading, running, and spending time with family and friends. As an aspiring surgeon-scientist, Teja looks forward to continuing his research endeavor and his journey in clinical practice and biomedical innovation!
Hanna Choi, B.S. – Medical Student
Hanna Choi is a 2nd year medical student at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. Hanna obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology with Spanish and Linguistics Minors and Commonwealth Honors College Greatest Distinction from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2021. She has previously worked as a research coordinator at the Massachusetts General Eye and Ear and Harvard Retinal Imaging Lab. She has research experience in transcriptomic changes in soil virology as an undergraduate at UMass Amherst and clinical research experience on the diagnostic characteristics of retinal diseases including Age-related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy. Her academic involvements include leading the Diabetes Optional Enrichment Elective at UMass Chan. Hanna is currently investigating metabolic liver disease using transgenic mice with altered macrophage signaling and 4D-ultrasound analysis. She is also studying the sex-specific effects of diets on liver steatosis and fibrosis and recently presented her preliminary findings at our school's summer project poster sessions. As an aspiring physician, Hanna looks forward to treating and advocating for the Diabetes community.
Kaushal Kasina, – Undergraduate Research Intern (UMass Amherst)
Kaushal Kasina is a 3rd year student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, majoring in Biology. During his research internship in Dr. Kim's laboratory for 3 summers, he participated in several projects involving metabolic liver disease and obesity-mediated inflammation and insulin resistance. He was actively involved in our research projects focusing on the role of macrophage interferon-gamma signaling in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and as a result, he coauthored our recent publication in Nature Communications.
Jiho Lim, – Undergraduate Research Intern (University of Texas at Austin)
Jiho Lim is a 3rd year student at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Biology with a growing interest in medicine and becoming a physician-scientist. He has previously worked at the Cancer Center of the Texas Tech University Health Science Center where he studied neuroblastoma. For his research internship, Jiho investigated the molecular mechanism by which conditional loss of interferon-gamma signaling in Kupffer cells modulates insulin action and glucose metabolism in the liver using diet-induced obese mice. He presented the data at the annual Summer Undergraduate Research Program poster session. He hopes to gain more research experience and skills while engaging with people having different backgrounds and skills to widen his perspectives and deepen his understanding of biomedical research. Jiho immigrated with his family from South Korea.
Debie Bih – High School Research Intern
Debie Bih is a junior at Acton Boxborough Regional High School with a growing interest in pursuing a career in biomedical engineering. She was on the honor roll for the last 2 years and received a Silver Medal for outstanding community service and a French National Language Award. Debie is involved in the Science Club, school paper, and varsity track and field at her high school. During her research internship, Debie worked on research projects involving metabolic liver disease and type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Kim's Annual Summer Lab Picnic
2024 Kim Lab Summer Picnic at Dean Park
Gihyun Hur, M.S., Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Associate
Dr. Gihyun Hur received her Bachelor in Food & Nutrition from Kyung Hee University in South Korea in 2018. She then completed her Ph.D. in Biomodulation from Seoul National University in South Korea in 2024, where she investigated the therapeutic potential of natural products containing bioactive compounds for treating obesity and related metabolic diseases. Her Ph.D. project focused on the interplay between adipocytes and immune cells, enhancing thermogenesis and mitochondrial biogenesis, demonstrating anti-obesity efficacy. After completing her Ph.D., Dr. Hur joined Dr. Kim’s lab to study type 2 diabetes, metabolic liver disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Her research aims to investigate an important connection between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease using physiologic, molecular, and cell-based approaches. In her free time, Dr. Hur enjoys walking, visiting art exhibitions, and watching ballet.
William "Ned" Martenis, B.S. - Graduate Student
William “Ned” Martenis is a first-year graduate student at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School interested in the pathophysiological connections between neuroimmune dysregulation and whole-body inflammatory conditions such as diabetes or obesity. While Ned has yet to officially propose a thesis, he believes that investigating the marked correlation between metabolic disease and Alzheimer's disease could lead to valuable and clinically relevant insights into both of these devastating conditions. A neuroscientist by training thanks to a postgraduate stint at the Broad Institute, Ned has extensive experience in developing preclinical therapeutic models targeting anti-inflammatory microglia GPCRs for the proposed treatment of neurological disorders and AMPA receptor subsets on neurons for the potential treatment of schizophrenia. Ned earned his B.A. in Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Economics and his B.M. in Music Performance (flute) from Lawrence University in 2019. When not thinking about microglia, cytokines, or complement proteins, Ned enjoys live music, board games, reading, and taking pictures of his cat. His favorite lab instrument is the fluorescent plate reader.
Praneet Mann, M.D. - Physician Consultant
Dr. Praneet Mann earned his B.S. from the University of Western Ontario and M.D. from the Windsor University School of Medicine. He has since built a career that blends program management with clinical scientific research. He began his professional journey as a Scientific Writer with RADx, where he contributed to COVID device studies and assisted in the development of the COVID biorepository at UMass Chan Medical School and its affiliated institutions. He transitioned to a role as a Program Manager at the UMass Chan Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, overseeing the MD/PhD program. Dr. Mann served as a Physician Consultant in the PHARE study group (Pharmacy Health Services Aging Research Epidemiology), where he worked alongside Dr. Kate Lapane to explore the impact of opioids on fall risks and altered mental status in elderly nursing home residents. He is currently working with Dr. Kim's Lab, where he focuses on the role of peripheral insulin resistance and inflammation in Alzheimer's disease. In his free time, Dr. Mann enjoys spending quality time with his new daughter and staying fit in the gym.
Miya Gardner - High School Research Intern
Miya Gardner is a senior at Worcester Technical High School with a growing interest in diabetes and biotechnology. She excels academically, ranking in the top 3~7% of her class for the last 3 years. She has volunteered for the South East Asian Coalition and also worked as a stand-runner for the Rice MA mid-autumn festival. Miya has a strong work ethic, creativity, and reliability and works hard to gain research experience in Dr. Kim's lab.
Nooran Malallah - High School Research Intern
Nooran Malallah is a senior at Worcester Technical High School with a growing interest in diabetes and biotechnology. She has volunteered for the WTHS Recycle Club and Women's Empowerment Club. She has previously worked as a McDonald crew member, gaining experience in customer service and teamwork. She is bilingual, speaking Arabic and English, and played junior-varsity soccer for Worcester Technical High School. Nooran has a strong work ethic, creativity, and reliability and works hard to gain research experience in Dr. Kim's lab.