People

Meet our team

We are a multidisciplinary group of engineers, scientists, and clinicians (and future clinicians) with interests in musculoskeletal health and rehabilitation across the lifespan.

Megan Killian, PhD

Lab PI
Assistant Professor  in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Joint Faculty: Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Affiliate Faculty: Biomedical Engineering

Expertise: tendon and enthesis development and healing, writing things on white boards.

About me: I am originally from Erie, MI (close to Toledo) and love running, weight lifting, eating food that Adam makes, and watching sci fi shows and Bake Off. Our cat named Absaroka (Abbie) has taken over my instagram (@meganlkillian).  

Favorite thing about Ann Arbor: Sports! Go Blue! 

Email: mlkillia@med.umich.edu

Adam Abraham, PhD

Lab PI
Research Investigator in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Email: adaabrah@med.umich.edu 

Syeda Lamia 

PhD student in Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan

Expertise: Optogenetic stimulation, animal procedures, transcriptomics, histology, data analysis

About me: I grew up in Bangladesh, a small country in South Asia and moved to the US to pursue a Ph.D. I love being outdoors, driving, visiting new places, and trying (eating!) different cuisines. I also love ggplot in R (can spend hours in it)!

What is your favorite thing about Ann Arbor? Long sunny days in summer

Email: snlamia@umich.edu

LeeAnn (Hold) Flowers

PhD student in Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan

NSF GRFP Recipient

Email: flowersl@umich.edu

Steph Steltzer

PhD student in Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan

BS Applied Mathematics in Biological Systems, University of Wisconsin - Madison

BS Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin – Madison

 Expertise: in vitro disease modeling using iPSCs, iPSC-derived RPE, neurons, and cardiomyocytes, microscopy, and assay development for HTS

About me: I am originally from Milwaukee, WI, but have also lived in the Boston area for quite a few years. I spent three years in the Bay Area at Tenaya Therapeutics on the Drug Discovery/Precision Medicine team, and I met my dog Bodie in San Francisco. When I’m not in the lab, I can be found trying to find the mountains with Bodie, skiing, or playing soccer with friends!

Email: ssteltz@med.umich.edu

Paige Cordts

Post-bac research technician
Lab Manager

B.S. Mechanical Engineering  from Michigan State University
B.S. Human Biology from Michigan State University

Expertise: mouse husbandry, biomechanics, animal procedures

About me: I'm an Ann Arbor native with an undergrad degree from Michigan State University, so I live in a house divided. Outside of the lab I enjoy walks with my dog, Lucy, playing D&D with friends, and soaking in the sun when it makes an appearance!

Favorite thing about Ann Arbor: Tea Haus!

Brandon Henry

Gap year lab technician
4th year medical student at Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine

B.S. Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience from Michigan State University

Expertise: Bone morphology analysis using multimodal imaging techniques specifically nano/micro-computed tomography

About me: I am originally from the Metro-Detroit area. I played 2 years of D1-AA Football at Colgate University before hanging up my cleats and finishing my undergraduate degree at Michigan State (Go green!). When I am not in lab or studying, you can find me trying out new restaurants, watching sports, working out, or catching up on some sleep lol

Favorite thing about Ann Arbor: Variety of restaurants and food options.

Email: brandhen@med.umich.edu

Tessa Phillips

Post-bac research technician
Current MS1 at the University of Toledo School of Medicine

Email: ptessa@med.umich.edu 

Jenna Collins

UROP student, junior

Current Undergraduate
BS in Microbiology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts

Expertise: histology, RNA-related gene expression research (qPCR, tissue pulverization), statistical analysis 

About me: I am originally from Palm Springs, California - a lot different of a climate than Ann Arbor :)  In my free time, I love to go on walks around Ann Arbor, explore the Arb with friends, and Facetime my two adorable golden retrievers, Finley and Rusty! One interesting thing about me is that I have moved 10 times in my life, including to Japan! 

Favorite thing about Ann Arbor: My favorite thing about Ann Arbor are the restaurants. Whatever I am in the mood for, I know I will find in Ann Arbor (especially breakfast :)

Email: jenmcol@umich.edu 

Nicole (Nikki) Vergara

UROP student, sophomore

Current Undergraduate
BS in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Expertise: cell culture, histology 

About me: I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. I love hiking/backpacking and I also enjoy taking film photos whenever I travel. 

Favorite thing about Ann Arbor: The Kerrytown Farmer's Market 

Email: nvergara@umich.edu 

Baylee Carlisle

Sophomore

Current Undergraduate
BS in Biology, Health, and Society

About me: I am from Jackson, Michigan- just 40 minutes from A2. In my free time, I like to travel (especially to warm places), but if I am home, I will most likely be with my dog, Captain :)

Favorite thing about Ann Arbor: Game days!!

Email: carbay@umich.edu 

Killian lab alumni:

Gregoire Caubel
MS1 at Temple University

Elahe Ganji, PhD
Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellow in the Kersh Lab at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Connor Leek, PhD
Research Assistant II in the Lingappan Lab at CHOP (Philadelphia)

Ryan Locke, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Mauck Lab at UPENN

Jaclyn Soulas
Currently a VMD student at UPENN

Anna Lia Sullivan
DVM student at Cornell 

Iman Bhattacharya
Currently at IDT

Rachel Klink
PhD student at the University of Utah

Kendra Wernlé
Currently a graduate student at the University of Zürich

Aracely Marroquin

UROP student in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Grand Rapids Community College


Elijah Paparella

Co-mentored by Dr. Adam Abraham 

Michael Sonnenfelt
Currently a project manager at QPS Holdings

Elisabeth (Beth) Lemmon
Currently a VMD/PhD student at UPENN in the Mauck Lab

Emily Hudson
PhD student at the University of Buffalo;
Former project manager at Arkion Life Sciences

Megan Smith
Currently a research technician at PITT

Nicholas Ruggiero
Currently a research technician at Thomas Jefferson University in the Tomlinson lab

Ellen Dudzinski
Currently an associate product manager at Globus Medical

Adrianna (Ania) Szostek
Currently a DVM student at UGeorgia

Patrick Canning
Currently an Associate scientist at Merck

Angela Livingston

Kierstyn Hendricks

Bhavana Aitha
Currently a medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Julianna Wayne

William (Bill) Duncan
MS/MBA student at PITT

Geoff Ming

Joseph Korn

Brandon Okeyo

Keira Morgan

Julia Zimmer