Labs News & Updates (updated quarterly)

Summ 2023
  • New Lab Members! ​
    • We have one new undergraduate, Lizzie Brisnehan, who is working closely with Ashley Larson to quantify cell growth in two recently-completed hypoxia experiments. Welcome, Lizzie!
  • Lab Awards & Accomplishments
    • REU student Kai Brantley's summer project was voted "Best Poster" at the Final Research Symposium! Kai investigated how adaptation to hypoxia at high elevations has remodeled placental development by quantifying expansion and shape of maternal and fetal blood spaces in deer mouse labyrinth zones. Kai is finishing their undergraduate education at Fort Lewis College this fall, but we're looking forward to tying up some loose ends on this project for publication in 2024!
    • PhD student Meg Hemmerlein was awarded an NIH T32 fellowship through the qCMB program here at CSU. Congrats Meg!
    • MS student Chloe Butler completed all of her sample collection for her MS thesis project - phew! Just data analysis and writing to go now ...
  • Publications
    • Our first manuscript, "​Adaptive structural and functional evolution of the placenta protects fetal growth in high-elevation deer mice" is now published! Check it out here.

Spr 2023 - Lots of excitement and growth in the lab this spring!
  • New Lab Members! 
    • ​The lab welcomed three new graduate students this spring:
      • MS student, Chloe Butler, all the way from Texas
      • PhD student, Meg Hemmerlein (a former CMB rotation student)
      • PhD student (starting Fall 2023), Makenna Juergens from Ohio
    • ​The lab is hosting two summer undergraduates - Kai Brantley from Fort Lewis College, and Maxine Gore from the Front Range Community College. We're all looking forward to lots of research over the summer!
  • Lab Awards & Accomplishments
    • Undergraduate Mya Voigtsberger was awarded the "Rising Star" award at the MURALS undergraduate research conference at CSU. Mya's presentation on splenic remodeling and interactions between pregnancy and hypoxia in deer mice came in 4th out of over 80 presentations. Mya is graduating this spring - we're so proud of you Mya!
  • Publications