Current Lab Members
Jared was born and raised in rainy Seattle, Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington in 2019 with a degree in microbiology. Jared began his research career in high school at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, where he studied immune reconstitution in animals. He continued research throughout his undergraduate studies by investigating pathways that regulate aging. Upon graduating, Jared worked as a research scientist for Dr. Stephen Salipante, in which he implemented next-generation DNA sequencing technologies to develop treatment strategies against various pathogenic bacteria. As a graduate student in the Holmen lab, Jared is excited to improve the outcomes of cancer therapies by investigating the mechanisms of tumor development, progression, and resistance. Outside the lab, Jared enjoys hiking, taking long walks in parks, exploring coffee shops, and trying different cuisines.
Caroline is a senior at The Waterford School. She is interested in molecular biology and biochemistry and plans to pursue these fields in college and beyond. She hopes to get a PhD and lead her own laboratory focused on biomedical research. When not at school or doing school work, Caroline can often be found in the dance studio where she trains in classical ballet. She also enjoys hiking, baking, volunteering, and spending time with her friends.
MiKaela is an undergraduate student in the Honors college at the University of Utah, double majoring in Biology and Psychology. Her campus involvement currently includes being an active member of the Bennion Center in various organizations, such as Primary Children’s and Special Olympics Utah. She is also working to start a giving tree program in the Salt Lake City area for underrepresented populations. After completing her undergraduate degrees, MiKaela plans to attend medical school, with an interest in pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation. In the Holmen lab, she hopes to get a better understanding of the research process while learning more about the causes of metastatic and primary brain tumors. When not doing schoolwork or extracurriculars, MiKaela loves to spend her time getting involved in campus life and giving back to her community.
David graduated from the University of Utah in 2013 with a degree in biology and joined the Holmen lab in May 2014. He successfully defended his thesis in May 2019 and has continued on in the lab as a postdoctoral fellow. He has a background in law enforcement as a police officer, a position that he resigned to pursue a PhD in cancer biology. His interests include astronomy, chess, sports, and traveling with his wife and daughters. David aspires to one day run a laboratory of his own or work in the industry as a research scientist studying signaling pathways in cancer.
Paulina is from Baja California, Mexico. She is an undergraduate student at Brigham Young University majoring in neuroscience with a minor in chemistry. After graduating, Paulina hopes to get a doctorate degree in pharmacology to be part of the quest of finding and designing suitable and effective drug treatments for different diseases that affect the human brain. She joined the Holmen lab to gain a better understanding of gliomas and the current research in brain cancer. Paulina spends her leisure time dancing, reading novels, watching movies, and doing outdoor activities.
Garrett moved to Salt Lake City in spring 2022 from Philadelphia, where he spent 4 years as a research technician in Naiara-Aquizu-Lopez’s Lab at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, studying rare neurodegenerative disorders and utilizing CRISPR to create patient-specific mutation models in iPSCs. Garrett joined the Holmen lab as a senior lab specialist in September 2022, and hopes to pursue a PhD in molecular biology in the near future. His lab projects include an NF1 in vivo mouse model of glioma. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, rock climbing, skiing, and sharing zoomies with his miniature goldendoodle at Sugarhouse Park.
Savannah is an undergraduate student at the University of Utah. She is double majoring in psychology and biology with an emphasis in neurobiology. After completing her undergraduate degrees, she plans on applying to medical or physician's assistant school with an interest in neurology. In her free time, she likes hiking, reading, and being outside.
Mercedes recently graduated high school along with her associate in science degree from Weber State University. She will be attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall to pursue a degree in chemistry and biology. In the Holmen Lab, Mercedes is excited to explore the interaction between chemistry and biology in the field of cancer research. Outside of science, Mercedes enjoys reading and spending time with her two dogs outdoors.
Clara is from Boise, Idaho. She is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Utah majoring in kinesiology with a minor in chemistry. She is interested in orthopedics and hopes to go to medical school in the future. In her free time, she likes to hike, ski, watch sports, and hang out with friends.
Lorelei is an undergraduate student at the University of Utah, majoring in chemistry with an emphasis in biology. Her campus involvement includes being the director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity, as well as a volunteer with TRAILS, an outdoor recreation program for individuals with spinal cord injuries or disease. She also works as a patient care technician for DaVita Kidney Care, providing dialysis treatment for patients suffering from end-stage renal disease. Upon completion of her BS in chemistry, Lorelei plans to attend medical school with an interest in anesthesiology. As a part of the Holmen lab, she hopes to further recognize patterns in melanoma formation and gain a deeper understanding of how chemistry can be used to combat its growth. In her free time, Lorelei enjoys rock climbing, hiking, skiing, soccer, and running, and is training to complete a marathon in the near future.
Karly graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2021 with degrees in Biology and Chemistry. During her undergraduate career she worked at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy studying the effects of an epigenetic regulator on oncogenic senescence. Now in the Holmen lab, she is excited to continue researching cancer biology to improve therapeutic strategies against the disease. When not in the lab, you can find Karly at a concert, hiking with friends, or watching Carolina basketball.
Steven recently graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in neuroscience. Working extensively with the homeless, underprivileged, and mental ill has fueled his passion for helping others and desire to pursue medical school. He joined the Holmen lab to better understand the collaborative effort required in research and medicine, and to improve therapeutic interventions for patients. In his free time, Steven enjoys a wide range of activities: cooking, baking bread, skimboarding, volleyball, pickleball, hiking, gardening, guitar, board games, and paddle boarding.
Initially from southern Missouri, Chris moved to Salt Lake City in 2017 to study biomedical engineering at the University of Utah. Upon completing his undergraduate degree, he hopes to continue his studies in a PhD program and contribute to research in cancer biology, with an emphasis on using bioinformatics and computational research methods. He loves attending and watching all kinds of sporting events (especially those involving his beloved Minnesota Vikings), watching movies, reading and writing, and spending time with his friends and family.
Matt is a student-athlete at the University of Utah studying biochemistry with a minor in biomedical engineering. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2019 and being treated at Huntsman Cancer Institute and Stanford Cancer Institute, Matt became interested in medicine, specifically oncology and cancer research. His current campus involvement includes being an active member and leader, in the University of Utah swim team, and a position as an ambassador for the College of Science. After completing his undergraduate studies, he plans to apply to medical school to pursue a career in oncology. When he is not swimming, in school, or working, he likes to hike, play guitar, volunteer, and meet new people.
Former Lab Members
Kelson Adcock
Kelson recently moved to Salt Lake City from Cambridge MA, where he received his undergraduate degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Harvard University. In September of 2019, he joined the Holmen lab as a lab technician to learn more about cancer research with a special interest in glioma. He hopes to continue his education in medical school and contribute to research and patient care. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife, skiing, and biking.
Stephanie Angel
Stephanie joined the Holmen lab in December 2015. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and has years of experience working with animals in field research, zoological, and laboratory settings. Stephanie calls San Antonio, TX her home, but is excited to pursue her outdoor hobbies in the beautiful state of Utah, which include birding, herping, hiking, and running. She is currently working at ARUP laboratories.
Rowan Arave
Rowan was an undergraduate student at the University of Utah pursuing an honors degree in Biological Chemistry. She began working in the Holmen Laboratory in August of 2012 researching prevalent oncogenes in melanoma. Previously, she has worked on neurobiological research in the Birman lab at ESPCI ParisTech in Paris, France. She is currently a medical student at the University of Melbourne Medical School in Australia.
Cooper Ball
Cooper was an undergraduate student at Brigham Young University (BYU) majoring in neuroscience. He was on the student run board for BYU's Cancer Research Center, Simmon's Center. With the Holmen lab, Cooper was interested in better understanding medicine from the research front, and hoped to find a passion for neurological research in order to better the health and well-being of those around the world. After graduating, he hopes to attend medical school to train to be an orthopedic surgeon. Cooper previously attended UC Berkeley as a varsity oarsman for the Bears helping them win Pac-12's in 2018. Following that, he served a two-year service mission in Mongolia. He enjoys pickleball, rowing, hiking, and being outside.
Ryan Boekholder
Ryan joined the Holmen lab in August of 2017 in order to learn more about the world of modern research and the innovative cancer research techniques currently being employed. He was a 2019 Edison Foundation Scholarship recipient and received his BS in biomedical engineering from the University of Utah in the Spring of 2020. He is currently the Operations Manager at ZIEN Medical Technologies. Ryan is originally from Vancouver, WA and enjoys to swim and ski in his free time.
Sydney Brooksby
Sydney is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Utah. She is majoring in biology–emphasis in genetics and a potential double major in anthropology–emphasis in cultures. Sydney is committed to her childhood dream of becoming a surgeon. She wishes to work with research institutions and hospitals to further understand various genetic mutations; specifically Turners syndrome and its increased presence of metastatic melanoma. Sydney believes that working in the Holmen lab will allow her to unravel the complexities and marvel of DNA. In her free time Sydney is involved in many University and community organizations such as being a member of the Science Research Initiative Presidency and VP of the American Nuclear Society. Sydney’s hobbies also include competing in USA Olympic Recurve Archery, skiing, and hiking.
Ashley Chadwick
Ashley is an undergraduate student at the University of Utah, majoring in kinesiology and minoring in modern dance and chemistry. Her campus involvements include being the associate director of Academic Affairs, teaching assistant for BIO1615, and volunteer for Feed U Pantry. After completing her BS in kinesiology, Ashley plans to attend medical school with an interest in dermatology. By participating in some of the research projects in the Holmen Lab, Ashley hopes to gain a better understanding of the different causes of skin cancer in order to build a foundation for the research projects she hopes to lead as a physician. When she is not doing schoolwork or extracurricular activities, Ashley enjoys hiking, biking, camping, rock climbing, dancing, snowboarding, and anything outdoors.
Joseph Cho
Having lived in Salt Lake City for the past 6 years, Joe proudly claims it as his home. He is originally from the East Coast and completed undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia. When he grows up, Joe hopes to pursue clinical research as a medical oncologist. His current interests range from spirituality to co-op living to road biking. Joe completed a residency in Clinical Pathology at the University of Chicago and a fellowship in transfusion medicine at the Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin. He is currently VP, Medical Affairs at Secure Transfusion Services in South San Francisco.
Katie Culver
Katie moved to Utah from Montana in 2018 to study biology at Westminster College. She received her BS in Biology in 2022 and hopes to attend medical school. Katie was on the volleyball team at Westminster, and enjoys spending time with her teammates and friends, and also enjoys reading and hiking in her spare time.
Javier De la Pena
Javier is currently a student at The University of Pennsylvania. He is majoring in Biology with a potential minor in Health Care Management. Among his many intentions for the future, Javier plans to attend medical school. In Dr. Holmen’s lab, aside from gaining research experience, Javier seeks to be of some use to people around the world. He strongly believes this particular lab will allow him to accomplish this, as it specifically seeks to unravel key instances of cancer development that can ultimately lead to the disease's treatment. This, and many of Javier’s other goals, stem from a saying his Dad used to tell him: We should try to be shovels in our lives, constantly giving to others, and not rakes, constantly pulling things to oneself.
Nicholas Duke
Nic is from Utah and enjoys classical music. He is majoring in psychology with a minor in chemistry. He loves chemistry, anatomy, and physiology. This love has stemmed from working in hospitals in a medical setting for over three years. During this time and experience he has participated in patient care, holding different positions that involve surgery, endoscopy, and ophthalmology. He loves to hike, catch bugs, and animals. He is grateful for the opportunity to work in the Holmen Lab and assist in research to benefit the lives of patients battling various melanoma and glioblastoma. Nic is currently attending Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona studying podiatry.
Tori Earl
Tori is an undergraduate student at the University of Utah majoring in biology with a microbiology emphasis and a minor in health. She is also involved as an ambassador for the College of Science at the university. Tori is currently working in the Shapiro lab studying the genetic and developmental basis of evolutionary change. After graduating with her bachelor's degree in 2023, she has interests in pursuing further education towards a career in epidemiology or related areas of disease research. Besides science, Tori's other passions are cooking and exploring nature.
Riley Elmer
Riley grew up in South Jordan, Utah and recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Utah State University with a major in Psychology and a minor in Biology. She loves research, and hopes to go to graduate school to study neuroscience. She has previously worked with graduate students and professors in neurobehavior, electrophysiology, and (currently) biomedical science labs. In her free time, Riley enjoys hiking, volleyball, and rock climbing. She entered the PhD program in neuroscience at USC in 2022.
Ryan Flaherty
Ryan graduated from Hillsdale College in 2021 with majors in Biochemistry and Mathematics. Following graduation, he travelled to Salt Lake City, Utah to gain research experience in the Holmen lab. He is currently attending medical school at Central Michigan University and has interests in anesthesiology and oncology. His hobbies include hiking, cooking, and watching the NFL and NBA.
Christian Flynn
Christian received his BS from the University of Utah double majoring in Molecular Biology and Neuro-Psychology, with minors in Chemistry, Human Evolution, and Cognitive Science. He is a trained dental assistant, chemical laboratory technician, and CNA. He is currently a medical student at the University of Louisville and aspires to become a neurosurgeon. He is interested in the ontological study of Glioblastoma. In his free time, he loves to hike and travel with his wife and puppy, as well as snowboard, rock climb, and waterski.
Russell Green
Russell is a Virginia native and graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA in 2013 with a degree in biotechnology. After moving to Utah to begin his PhD training, he joined the Holmen lab to pursue his interest in cancer biology. His main research interests is connecting basic biological processes and how they are involved in human health and disease. Outside of lab he can be found mountain biking, skiing, camping and enjoying Utah’s outdoor offerings. Russell currently works at BioFire in Salt Lake City.
Anagha Gurjar, PhD
Anagha moved to Salt Lake City from Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey. She joined Penn State in June 2018 as a postdoctoral scholar with Dr John Elfar. Her area of research at Penn State was to study the neuromuscular effect of peripheral nerve injury and evaluate the protective effects of 4 Aminopyridine. Before moving to the United States, Anagha completed her PhD in the lab of Dr Sabyasachi Sanyal at Central Drug Research Institute in India where she studied the myogenic and anti-atrophy effect of liraglutide in preventing skeletal muscle atrophy in rodents. Anagha joined the Holmen Lab in Jan 2020 where she assessed the effectiveness of mutant IDH1 inhibitors in preventing the growth of glioma cell and in the development of glioblastoma. Her interests include music, Indian classical dance, travelling and cooking vegan culinary delicacies during her free time.
Matthew Guthrie
Matt was an undergraduate student at the University of Utah studying Biology and French. He joined the Holmen lab in May 2012 working on characterizing the role of mutant IDH in glioma. Matt currently works at Recursion Pharmaceuticals in Salt Lake City.
Stephanie Hardy
Stephanie graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science and a minor in Chemistry. She has many years of experience working with animals in clinical as well as laboratory settings. She is a certified Laboratory Animal Technician through the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science. In her spare time she enjoys competing in rodeo in events such as team roping, barrel racing and breakaway. She also enjoys hiking with her dog, snowboarding, wakeboarding and riding her Harley motorcycle.
Richard Heinz, PhD
Rick completed his PhD in the lab of Jennifer Richer at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in 2016. He did postdoctoral training with Ben Spike, where he studied fetal oncogenes that are normally expressed during prenatal mammary gland development but are oncogenic in breast cancer. His second postdoc in the Holmen lab focused on evaluating the role of genetic alterations found in human gliomas and developing mouse models that can be used to test novel treatment strategies for these malignancies. Rick is currently working at SDP Oncology. Rick hails from the Chicago area and enjoys skiing, hiking with his dog, and cooking/baking.
Chelsea Joliet
Chelsea joined HCI’s Research Administration in September 2017. She is originally from Louisville, Kentucky but has lived in Salt Lake City since 2011. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Westminster College and attended the University of Utah for a Masters in International Affairs and Global Enterprise. She enjoys reading, Lord of the Rings marathons, going to Krav Maga, and cooking.
Zia L'Ecuyer
Zia received her BS in Neuroscience from Westminster College in 2020. She joined the Holmen Lab in February 2020 as a Lab Aide with the hopes of broadening her research experience. Her study interests include biochemistry and neuroscience and their medical applications. She is currently a lab technician in the Vetter lab. She hopes to enter into a dual degree MD/PhD program. Her other interests include the outdoors as she is originally from BC Canada as well as spending time with family and friends.
Gabrielle Legaspi
Gabrielle came to the University of Utah as an undergraduate student in 2016 and received her BS in Math in 2019. She is currently a master’s student in the biostatistics program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her career and study interests are all fields where she can apply math to real-world problems. She is very excited to utilize her math skills to contribute to cancer research. Originally from Hawaii, Gabrielle loves the ocean and spending time at the beach.
Lindsey (Lloyd) Stiborek
Lindsey graduated from Hillcrest High School with honors in 2011. She studied Exercise Sport Science at the University of Utah with a career ambition to be a physical therapist, pharmacist, or dermatologist. In 2013, Lindsey was crowned Miss Sandy. Her platform was Education for the Eradication of Preventable Skin Cancer. She currently works as an enrollment counselor at Western Governors University in Salt Lake City.
Darren Lynn
Darren is a graduate of Brigham Young University where he majored in biology and researched novel drug compounds that could be used to therapeutically treat various cancers. At HCI he researched the effect of different drug combinations to treat patients with late stage melanoma. He started medical school in the fall of 2014 and received his MD from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. In his spare time, Darren enjoys playing the piano, tennis, and reading.
Colten McEwan
Colten is a recent PhD graduate from BYU where he studied under the direction of Dr. Josh L. Andersen. There he gained expertise in the field of autophagy where he identified essential trafficking mechanisms for a protein called ATG9A. He also studied 14-3-3 proteins and identified a novel 14-3-3 dependent mechanism that regulates a protein that is highly expressed in prostate cancer called PTOV1. Colten joined the Holmen lab in October 2022 to study the effect novel small molecule therapeutics have on preventing melanoma brain metastases. Before becoming a scientific researcher, Colten studied music at BYU-Idaho and played as the lead drummer in BYU-Idaho's top big band, Sound Alliance. In his free time, you'll find Colten enjoying time with his family, playing card and board games, playing the drums, or watching a Utah Jazz game.
Will Moore
After graduating high school, Will went on to study International Studies with an emphasis in global health at the University of Utah. After completing his undergraduate degree, he hopes to attend medical school and eventually specialize in either plastic surgery or neurosurgery. In his spare time, he coaches lacrosse, travels, hikes, and spends time with his family and friends.
Christine Nguyen
Christine was an undergraduate student at the University of Utah, majoring in cell and molecular biology. She hopes to attend graduate school and focus on cancer research. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog, hiking, swimming, and watching anime.
Yolancee Nguyen
Yolancee was an Honors College student majoring in Biology with an emphasis in Biological Chemistry and minoring in Chemistry. She earned an Associate’s Degree from Salt Lake Community College in General Studies and was certified as a Surgical Technologist during her high school years. She aspires to become a surgeon—specifically cardiothoracic or reconstructive surgery. She has a high interest in oncological studies and was glad to be a part of the Holmen Lab, which allowed her to further her interest in melanoma. She enjoys hiking and traveling. She has a high wanderlust level and enjoys exploring new cultures and new surroundings. She also has a passion to bake and cook. Yolancee is currently a medical student at Texas Christian University (TCU) and the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) School of Medicine in Fort Worth Texas.
Gennie Parkman
Gennie moved to Salt Lake City from Missouri in 2014 and completed her undergraduate degree in Cell & Molecular Biology at the University of Utah. She joined the Holmen lab as a lab technician in December 2015 before applying to graduate school. She defended her PhD in 2022 and joined the lab as a postdoc in June 2022. Her project focused on the role of the PI3K lipid effectors in melanomagenesis and particularly AKT’s role in melanoma initiation and survival. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children, hiking, biking, traveling, and cooking.
Beatrice Philip, PhD
Beatrice hails from Bangalore, India. After completing her master’s degree in Biotechnology, she moved to Australia to pursue her PhD. During her doctoral studies, she investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxia signaling in neural crest derived tumors. Following the completion of her PhD in Dec 2014, she joined the Holmen Lab as a postdoctoral fellow. Her research focused on studying the role of IDH mutation in gliomagenesis, progression and therapeutic response. Beatrice is also interested in understanding the effect of 2-HG on HIF regulation in gliomas. Besides research, she enjoys travelling, music, reading, and cooking. Beatrice is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institut Curie Research Center, Orsay, France.
Gabi Piril
Gabi joined the Holmen lab June 2019, to continue her career in science. She was our mouse tech, a general lab tech, and our catch all helper to make sure the lab keeps running smoothly. Gabi is originally from Portland Oregon. She is currently working on completing her BS degree.
Gemma Robinson, PhD
Gemma is from Manchester, England. She joined the Holmen laboratory in early 2012 as a postdoctoral fellow having completed her PhD thesis, entitled “The identification and characterization of novel proteins and metabolic signaling pathways that regulate TRAIL-induced apoptosis”, in late 2011. Her current research interests lie in the development of pre-clinical brain tumor mouse models to characterize genes involved in the initiation, progression and/or maintenance of gliomas. Gemma is also interested in developing her teaching skills with the goal of developing online courses for distance learning in the STEM disciplines. In her spare time, Gemma enjoys skiing and hiking. She is currently a Senior Lecturer at the University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.
James Robinson, PhD
James is from Derbyshire, England. He joined the Holmen laboratory in 2008 having completed his Ph.D. at the University of London. James helped develop our mouse model of melanoma and validate the roles of BRAF and MEK singling in glioma. He is a recent recipient of a National Cancer Institute Pathway to Independence Award to study the role of tumor microenvironment interactions in colon cancer. His long-term goal is to develop a systematic approach for the identification and validation of stromal signaling pathways responsible for the promotion, maintenance, metastasis, and chemoresistance of cancer. His other interests include hiking, climbing, history and philosophy. James is currently an Assistant Professor at the Hormel Institute in Austin, MN.
Jaclyn Shahan
Jaclyn graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Exercise and Sports Science. She has a deep passion for physiology and biology but changed her career path to fashion design in 2017. Jaclyn is currently a fashion design graduate student at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California and anticipates graduating in Spring 2021.
Clifford Shin
Clifford joined the Holmen Lab in fall of 2013 as an MD/PhD student. He aspires to become a physician scientist in the field of neurology/oncology. Clifford calls Los Angeles home and received a degree in Neuroscience and Molecular Biology from Columbia University as a John Jay Scholar. His interests include gastronomy and fine art. Clifford is currently a resident in Radiology at Yale University.
Mark Silvis, PhD
Originally from Pennsylvania, Mark completed his PhD at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2009. Prior to joining the Holmen lab in early 2016 as a postdoctoral research associate, he did his postdoctoral training in the lab of Valeri Vasioukhin at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center where he studied the signaling mechanisms involved in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma formation. His current research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of melanoma formation and metastasis. In his free time Mark likes to ski, backpack, hike, rock climb, and cook. Mark is currently a Research Scientist working with Dr. Conan Kinsey at the University of Utah.
Danika Sommer
Danika (duhneekuh) was an undergraduate student at the University of Utah pursuing a degree in Cell and Molecular Biology and a minor in chemistry. She worked as a medical assistant through college but her true interests lie in medical research. She is currently a lab technician at the Irving Medical Center at Columbia University in New York City. In her spare time, Danika loves to hang out with friends/family and travel to new places.
Sean Strain
Sean was an undergraduate student studying chemistry with a biology emphasis at the University of Utah. Sean is from Eagle, Idaho and enjoys bouldering and reading in his spare time. He is currently employed at BioFire in Salt Lake City.
Kirby Trombetti
Originally from southern Utah, Kirby moved to Salt Lake City in 2012 to attend the University of Utah where he studied sociology. Although he has an unconventional major from a laboratory standpoint, Kirby is continuing his education at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in Phoenix. In his spare time he enjoys sports, spending time with his friends and family, and basically anything outdoors.
Joycelyn Tross
Joycelyn is from Virginia Beach, VA. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA. She is the youngest of three, with one older brother and sister. Prior to working at the HCI, she worked in an infectious disease research lab with a focus on HCV. Joycelyn relocated to Utah in 2012, with her husband, and joined Dr. Holmen's lab in May of the same year. She enjoys gardening and loves animals, especially her cats! She enjoys playing field hockey and lacrosse, and training for and competing in triathlons and various running events. She volunteers with the youth group at her church and is involved in the community. She is a member of the Desert Sharks Triathlon team and is the coordinator for the Tiger Sharks Junior Triathlon Team in Utah. Jocelyn currently works in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Utah.
Tursun Turapov
Tursun received his BS in biology from the University of Utah in spring 2021 and joined the Holmen lab in May of the same year. Previously, he worked in a metabolic dysfunction lab studying aberrant lipid accumulation in peripheral tissue. In the Holmen lab, he focused on therapeutic interventions used for glioma and melanoma and the basis for their mechanistic effects.
Jon Gary Urry
Jon comes from the small town of Oakley, Utah, and has lived in Utah for most of his life, but he has also called Idaho, Maine, and Vermont home. Jon is an outdoor enthusiast and loves spending time with family and friends. He thoroughly enjoys living in Utah with its many opportunities for year-round recreation in the nearby mountains (and with so many Mexican Restaurants close to home). He is also a soccer and basketball fan and can often be found relaxing by watching Jazz games with his family, or soccer games with friends.
Mikey Vetter
Mikey received his BS in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Utah in 2020. He joined the Holmen lab in August of 2018 to pursue a thesis in melanoma research. He is currently a Quality Engineer at ZIEN Medical Technologies. Mikey grew up in Salt Lake City and enjoys to cycle, hike, and ski in his free time.
Hannah Wilson
Hannah is an undergraduate student who attends the University of Utah as a chemistry major with an emphasis in biology. She would like to earn a medical degree in order to work in clinical care with children. Hannah loves being outside and in the mountains. She also enjoys being active and traveling to various destinations with her family and friends.
Tara Winter
She received her Associate's Degree from Southern Utah University in 2012 and received her Bachelor's degree in Biology at the University of Utah. She enjoys running, skiing, and yoga in her spare time.
Adam Welker
Adam was an undergraduate student at the University of Utah studying Biology. He is planning on pursuing a PharmD/Doctor of Pharmacy degree a the University of Utah. In his spare time he likes to ski, rock climb, mountain bike, and cook.
Diana Yu, PhD
Diana completed her PhD in Bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego in 2008. She did her postdoctoral training in the field of Stem Cell Biology and Neuroscience at the Salk Institute where she worked on the differentiation of hippocampal granule neurons from human pluripotent stem cells. Diana joined the Holmen lab as a postdoctoral research associate in the spring of 2016 and moved to Stanford in the fall of 2019.
Sheri L. Holmen, PhD
Huntsman Cancer Institute
2000 Circle of Hope, Rm 5263
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Office: 801-213-4237
Sheri.Holmen@hci.utah.edu