Research Scientists
Julia Bartel, M.S. Email:[email protected]
Projects involved with: CRISPR, FRDA, Spheroids, Toxicology
I am originally from Bowie, MD, and have lived in North Central Florida since 2012. I did three varsity sports in undergrad (tennis, equestrian, and softball). I enjoy equestrian sports and raise and train top-bred warmbloods on my farm in Archer, FL. I enjoy outdoor activities and love scuba diving. I have a passion for sharks, dolphins, whales, etc. My professional background has been in industry and academia, focusing on molecular and microbiology assays. Additionally, I have years of experience in lab management and contamination control. I enjoy working with and training undergraduate and graduate students while watching them achieve their goals.
My early career involved mice and rat stroke model studies with the anesthesiology and critical care medicine department at Johns Hopkins University. I held a secret security clearance working with Anthrax, Botulism, Ricin, and Yersinia pestis with the Pentagon, FBI, etc. I worked with Dr. Jones and Dr. Karsts at the University of Florida with norovirus associated with commensal bacteria. I joined Dr. Vulpe’s lab on Jan 30, 2023, working with graduate student Christian Maugee, focusing on human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) from Friedreich Ataxia (FRDA) patient samples that we differentiate into cardiomyocytes . We use CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, RNA bulk sequencing, padlock sequencing, cell painting, flow cytometry, PARSE single-cell sequencing, and HiPerGator (bioinformatics). Finally, I am learning zebrafish embryo microinjections using CRISPR constructs.
B.S. Pre-Vet (Biology), minor in Chemistry: Greensburg, PA- Seton Hill University (1997-2001)
M.S. Neurobiology: Dover, DE- Delaware State University (2008-2010); Medical Microbiology and Cell Science: Gainesville, FL- University of Florida (2020-2022)
Ph.D. TBD Interested in Data Science
I am originally from Bowie, MD, and have lived in North Central Florida since 2012. I did three varsity sports in undergrad (tennis, equestrian, and softball). I enjoy equestrian sports and raise and train top-bred warmbloods on my farm in Archer, FL. I enjoy outdoor activities and love scuba diving. I have a passion for sharks, dolphins, whales, etc. My professional background has been in industry and academia, focusing on molecular and microbiology assays. Additionally, I have years of experience in lab management and contamination control. I enjoy working with and training undergraduate and graduate students while watching them achieve their goals.
My early career involved mice and rat stroke model studies with the anesthesiology and critical care medicine department at Johns Hopkins University. I held a secret security clearance working with Anthrax, Botulism, Ricin, and Yersinia pestis with the Pentagon, FBI, etc. I worked with Dr. Jones and Dr. Karsts at the University of Florida with norovirus associated with commensal bacteria. I joined Dr. Vulpe’s lab on Jan 30, 2023, working with graduate student Christian Maugee, focusing on human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) from Friedreich Ataxia (FRDA) patient samples that we differentiate into cardiomyocytes . We use CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, RNA bulk sequencing, padlock sequencing, cell painting, flow cytometry, PARSE single-cell sequencing, and HiPerGator (bioinformatics). Finally, I am learning zebrafish embryo microinjections using CRISPR constructs.
B.S. Pre-Vet (Biology), minor in Chemistry: Greensburg, PA- Seton Hill University (1997-2001)
M.S. Neurobiology: Dover, DE- Delaware State University (2008-2010); Medical Microbiology and Cell Science: Gainesville, FL- University of Florida (2020-2022)
Ph.D. TBD Interested in Data Science
Abderrahmane Tagmount
Postdoctoral Researchers
Junli Zhang Email: [email protected]
Projects involved with: Animal Studies, Toxicology
I was born and grew up in the north part of China and graduated from Hebei University in China (2002-2006) with a B.S. degree in Bioengineering. I went to graduate school at Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and obtained a Master of Science degree in plant molecular biology (2006-2009). I continued my graduate study in Kansas State University in plant pathogen and graduated with a Ph.D degree (2009-2015).
I have been wanted to become a biological scientist since I was little, which made me choose bioengineering as my college major. My professional focus has been molecular biology, genomics and lab management. I have a diversified research background, and have been studying small microorganisms such as virus, bacteria and fungus, and also big objects such as plants and animals. Currently my job will mainly focus on toxicologic pathology studies in rodents and humans.
In my spare time, I like reading and watching movies. Most of the time, I like hanging out with friends, family trips are my way of relaxing. And I also service in children ministry in my church.
I was born and grew up in the north part of China and graduated from Hebei University in China (2002-2006) with a B.S. degree in Bioengineering. I went to graduate school at Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and obtained a Master of Science degree in plant molecular biology (2006-2009). I continued my graduate study in Kansas State University in plant pathogen and graduated with a Ph.D degree (2009-2015).
I have been wanted to become a biological scientist since I was little, which made me choose bioengineering as my college major. My professional focus has been molecular biology, genomics and lab management. I have a diversified research background, and have been studying small microorganisms such as virus, bacteria and fungus, and also big objects such as plants and animals. Currently my job will mainly focus on toxicologic pathology studies in rodents and humans.
In my spare time, I like reading and watching movies. Most of the time, I like hanging out with friends, family trips are my way of relaxing. And I also service in children ministry in my church.
Chan Hee Kim Email: [email protected]
Projects involved: CRISPR, scRNA-seq, Spheroids
I am a Post-Doc Associate of Dr. Vulpe's lab and have broad interests in functional toxicology using either human cell lines or ecologically relevant cell models such as fish. I have currently been working on establishing a Perturb-seq (CRISPR screen coupled with single-cell RNA-seq) system in 3D spheroid cell models to investigate cellular stress response to environmentally relevant toxicants at high phenotypic resolution.
B.S. Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Korea University (2014)
M.S. Pharmacology, Seoul National University (2016)
Ph.D. Animal Biology, University of California, Davis (2022)
I am a Post-Doc Associate of Dr. Vulpe's lab and have broad interests in functional toxicology using either human cell lines or ecologically relevant cell models such as fish. I have currently been working on establishing a Perturb-seq (CRISPR screen coupled with single-cell RNA-seq) system in 3D spheroid cell models to investigate cellular stress response to environmentally relevant toxicants at high phenotypic resolution.
B.S. Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Korea University (2014)
M.S. Pharmacology, Seoul National University (2016)
Ph.D. Animal Biology, University of California, Davis (2022)
Jie Zhou Email: j[email protected]
Projects involved: CKDu, Iron Metabolism, Exosome, NGS, Neurodegenerative disease
I’m a Postdoctoral Associate and a former Ph.D. student in Dr. Vulpe’s lab. I’m working on multiple projects, 1) discover pesticides and heat stress-induced kidney damage biomarkers in both human and rodent model system to understand the mechanism of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu); 2) assess brain iron accumulation in aged Hephaestin knockout mouse via MRI; 3) study the mechanism behind iron deficiency-induced hair loss in pups fed by Hephaestin knockout dams (“Mask” phenotype). Recently, I start a new project focus on environmental toxin-induced tau aggregation with a collaboration lab. From my research experience, I naturally developed a long-term interest in biomarker discovery and mechanism study of diseases. In the lab, I supervise undergraduate and visiting graduate students, as well as be in charge of animal colony management and IACUC protocol writing. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling and hosting dinner parties for friends!
Ph.D. Nutritional Sciences, University of Florida (2020)
M.S. Nutrition, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2013)
B.Eng. Food Science and Engineering, Nanchang University (2011)
