Lab Members
Scroll down to see some happy faces. Here's a snapshot of the outcomes of my past trainees:
Undergrads (2002-24; n= 69): 40 (med/dental school), 11 (grad school), 2 (dual-degree MD/PhD and DVM/PhD), 2 (technical position), 4 (workforce, teaching, consulting), 4 (whereabouts unknown), 6 (currently enrolled as UGA students). ~50% of undergraduates have helped co-author peer-reviewed publications from the lab.  Â
Graduate Students (2002-24; n= 12):Â 9 completed a program of study then pursued paths in academia (3), industry/biotech/clinical research (5), or medicine (1). 3 pursued paths in teaching (2) and biotech (1) before completing their program of study.
PostDocs and Staff (2002-23; n=5): 2 PostDocs completed training and are now employed in academia (1) and industry (1). 2 staff members advanced to new positions in academia (1) and teaching (1). 1 current staff member.
Current Members of the Schmidt Lab
Emily Hildebrandt, PhD
Research Coordinator
Lab: 2004-present
RESEARCH:
CaaX protein function;
Ydj1 biology
Emily Mai
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2022-present
RESEARCH:
GGTase-I specificity
Nicholas Pope
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2024-present
RESEARCH:
Rcy1 biology
Maya Manivannan
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2024-present
RESEARCH:
FTase specificity
COMING SOON!
Ashlyn Campbell
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2025-present
RESEARCH:
TBD
COMING SOON!
Spencer Krone
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2025-present
RESEARCH:
TBD
COMING SOON!
Asher Weisman
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2025-present
RESEARCH:
TBD
This Could be YOU!
Undergrad & Grad positions available
Former Lab Members of the Schmidt Lab:
Former Grad Students, Post-Docs and Staff (chronologically ordered)
Victoria Rogers
MS
Lab: 2002-2004
Research Tech III
Seonil (Sunny) Kim
BS, Chung-Ang Univ.
Lab: 2004-2005
MSc (CBIO)
• NYU Grad School
• NYU Post-doc
• Colorado St. Faculty
John Deaton
PhD, Texas A& M
Lab: 2005-2007
Post-Doctoral Fellow
• Deerland Enzymes, VP Technology
Andrea Lapham
BS, Buena Vista Univ.
Lab: 2002-2007
Research Tech III
• GSU Instructor
• Health Promotion Coord., Ames, IA
Stephen Porter
BS, Mississippi St.
Lab: 2004-2007
• Univ. Miss. Pharmacy School
Ben Alper
BA/BS, Clemson Univ.
Lab: 2005-2009
PhD (BCMB)
• St. Judes, Postdoc
• Sacred Heart Univ. Faculty
Ranjith Krishnankutty
Med Coll Trivandrum, India
Lab: 2007-2009
MSc (BCMB)
• Univ. Penn Med
• NYMC Metropolitan Hosp., resident
Surya Manandhar
PhD, Kharkov St. Univ., Russia
Lab: 2006-2010
Post-Doctoral Fellow
• Cal St. Long Beach: Post-doc, Lecturer
David Mokry
BS, Univ. of Wisconsin
Lab: 2005-2010
PhD (BCMB)
• UNICAMP-Brazil, Postdoc
• Xylome, Sr. Scientist
• Promega, Sr. Scientist
Sayali Kukday
MS, Instit. of Science, India
Lab: 2008-2012
PhD (BCMB)
• UGA Biology, Instr.
• Iowa St., Teaching Professor
Derek Smith
MSc, Mercer Univ.
Lab: 2016-2017
• Gwinnett Technical College, Instructor
Zahilys Soto-Arocho
BS, U Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Lab: 2017-2019
• RayBiotech Life, Inc., Marketing & Technical Support Specialist
Brittany Berger
BS, Eastern Michigan University
Lab: 2017-2021
PhD (BCMB)
• Medpace, Medical Writer
•Clinical Trial Manager
Ranjani Ravishankar
BEng, R.V. College of Engineering
Lab: 2017-2022
PhD (BCMB)
• BridGene, Research Scientist
June Kim
BS, University of Georgia
Lab: 2018-2023
PhD (BCMB)
• New mom!
Anushka Sarkar
Integrated BS-MS, St. Xavier's College, Kolkata
Lab: 2019-2024
PhD (BCMB)
• Takeda Pharma., Regulatory Affairs
Former UGA 49xx Undergraduate Researchers (chronologically ordered)
Daniel Mandel
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2002-2003
(MCG PhD)
Thomas Wood
BCMB Undergrad
CURO Fellow
Lab: 2002-04
(MCG Med)
Tiffany Reed
BCMB Undergrad
CURO fellow
Lab: 2002
(UGA Vet Med; Purdue DVM; NIH CBSTP PhD)
Lisa Plummer
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2002-2004
(UNC)
Chris Freedman
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2003-2004
(CDC)
Tiffany Gartrell
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2004-2005
(Mercer Med)
Jay McCracken
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2004-2005
(MCG Med)
Amulya Nagarur
BCMB Undergrad
Foundation Fellow
Lab: 2004-2005
(Vanderbilt Med)
Tatyana Nienow
BCMB Undergrad
CURO Summer Fellow
CURO Distinction Award
Lab: 2004-2006
(Yale PhD; VSU MSc)
Sarah Breevoort
BCMB Undergrad
CURO Summer Fellow
Lab: 2005-2008
(UVA MD/PhD)
Shivan Bhatt
GENE Undergrad
CURO AP Scholar
Lab: 2005-2007
(MCG Med)
Helen King
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2005
(Mercer Med)
Jonathan Phillips
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2006-2007
(Rice Univ. PhD)
William "Billy" Jacobsen
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2006-2007
(MCG Med)
Amanda Castleberry
BIOL Undergrad
CURO AP Scholar
Lab: 2007-2008
(Case Western MSc)
Kristen Chicola
BIOL Undergrad
Lab: 2007-2009
(MCG Med)
Jarrad Rowse
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2007-2009
(MCG Med)
Anna Junco
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2008
(Mercer Med)
Marissa Ludley
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2008-2009
(MCG Dental)
Sara Pinosio
University of Udine, Italy
Lab: 2008
(Visiting Undergrad)
Summer Aldrugh
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2009-2011
(MCG Med)
Betsy Burris
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2009-2011
(MCG Med)
Edward Lilla
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2009-2011
(Duke PhD)
Nora Zeiden
BIOL Undergrad
Lab: 2009-2011
(MCG Med)
David Sorensen
BIOL Undergrad
Lab: 2011-2012
(Mercer Med)
Grant " Zach" Zachary
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2011-2012
(MCG Med)
Katie Hufstetler
BIOL Undergrad
Lab: 2012-2013
(MCG Med)
Robert MacDonell
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2012-2013
(MCG Med)
Nisha George
BIOL Undergrad
Lab: 2011-2012
Danny Hardgrove
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2013-2014
(MCG Med)
Dillon Davis
BIOL Undergrad
Lab: 2012-2014
(Genetic Counseling Program; Emory)
Will Saunders
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2012-2014, summer 2015
(MCG-UGA Med)
Colby Samuelson-Ruiz
CHEM Undergrad
CURO AP Scholar
Lab: 2011-2015
(UNC Med)
Jesse Hu
BIOL Undergrad
Lab: 2014-2015
(Wash U Med)
Kate McCarty
UGA Undergrad
Lab: 2013-2015
(MCG Med)
Cam Wagenbrenner
UGA Undergrad
Lab: 2015
(Mercer Med)
Alona Botnar
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2015-2015
(Grad School; UGA)
Michael Cheng
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2013-2016
(Emory Med)
June Kim
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2015-2017
(EITS @ UGA)
Jaye Cora
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2015-2016
Regina
Jaye's Service Dog
Lab: 2015-2016
Meet Patel
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2015-2017
(Mercer Med)
Michael Morgan
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2016
(MCG Med)
Hunter Croxton
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2016
(MCG Dental)
Ian Davis
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2016-17
(MCG Dental)
Christina Najjar
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2016-2017
(MUSC Med)
Rohit Munagala
MIBO/GENE Undergrad
CURO Summer Fellow
Lab: 2015-2018
(MCG Med)
Ryan Peppenhorst
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2017
(Accenture Consulting)
Holly Presley
BIOL Undergrad
Lab: 2017
(UGA Grad)
Nicole Croxton
BIOL Undergrad
Lab: 2017-2018
(MCG Dental)
Courtney Bishop
CAES BIOL Undergrad
Lab: 2018-2019
(U Louisville Dental)
Jacob Greenway
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2018-2019
(UAB Med)
Nick Sorensen
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2018-2019
Joyce Bui
CHEM Undergrad
Lab: 2018-20
(Pinecrest Academy; GSU Grad)
Elizabeth Mayo
BIOL Undergrad
Lab: 2019
Grace Greenway
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2019-2020
(UAB Med)
Michelle Patel
CBIO Undergrad
Lab: 2020
(MCG Med Harrison Scholar)
Arnav Goyal
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2018-2021
(MCG Med Harrison Scholar)
Valery Prada
CBIO Undergrad
Lab: 2020-21
La Ryel Waldon
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2021-23
Sumil Shah
CBIO Undergrad
Lab: 2020-23
(Mercer Med)
Jenny Swope
BSCI Undergrad
Lab: 2023-present
(Tulane Med)
Khushi Patel
BCMB Undergrad
Lab: 2021-23
(Grad School; Vanderbilt)
Ethan Leoni
GENE Undergrad
Lab: 2022-present
(LSUHSC Med)
Kareena de Leon
MIBO Undergrad
Lab: 2023-present
(TBD)
Former Summer Interns (chronologically ordered)
Krzysztof Potempa
Summer intern
(via UGA)
Lab: 2002
Jasleen Singh
Summer intern
(via Northwestern)
Lab: 2002
Former Summer REU Students (chronologically ordered)
Pamela Freshley and
Chandra Moore
Summer REU Students
(via Albany St. and Clark Atlanta)
Lab: 2003
Ray Chen
Summer REU Student
(via Univ. Conn)
Lab: 2004
Phill Hardaway
Summer REU Student
(via Morehouse)
Lab: 2005
Regina Salvat
Summer REU Student
(via Cornell)
Lab: 2006
Nortorious Coleman
Summer REU Student
(via Clark Atlanta)
Lab: 2008
Ticia Watson
Summer REU Student
(via Clark Atlanta)
Lab: 2009
Group Photos (most recent are first):
May 2024
Graduations
(Athens)
April 2024
Decisions, decisions...
(Athens)
April 2024
CURO
(Athens)
December 2023
Lab Lunch
(Athens)
May 2023
Dr. Kim Returns (Athens)
May 2023
Lab Lunch
(Athens)
May 2023
Dr. June Kim! (Athens)
April 2023
CURO Symposium
December 2022
Dr. Ravishankar! (Athens)
August 2022
More Dr. Ravishankar! (Athens)
August 2022
Goodbye Rajani! (Athens)
August 2022
Dr. Ravishankar! (Athens)
May 2022
Lab Lunch
(Athens)
April 2022
CURO Symposium
(Athens)
December 2021
Dr. Berger!
(Athens)
May 2021
post-vaccination lunch
(Athens)
Feb 2020
Snow during ILS site visit
(Athens)
Dec 2019
Lunch at Maepole (Athens)
June 2019
Beer and axes with Will! (Athens)
June 2019
Mini-lab reunion
Dillon and Lina's Wedding (Atlanta)
May 2019
Lab Lunch (Mama's Boy)
April 2018
CURO Symposium
December 2017
Lab Lunch (Grindhouse)
June 2017
Suprise visit by Dr. Kim
June 2017
Lab Camping Trip (N. GA)
June 2017
Lab Camping Trip (N. GA)
June 2017
Lab Camping Trip (N. GA)
March 2017
NYUAD trip (UAE)
December 2016
Lab Lunch (Taqueria del Sol)
October 2016
SACNAS side trip to visit Surya
March 2016
SERYM - 'Bama ; Awards Ceremony
March 2016
SERYM - 'Bama
December 2015
Lab Lunch (Post Lab Cleanup)
April 2013
CURO Symposium; I missed it :-(
March 2013
SERYM - Birmingham
August 2012
Sayali Graduates!
May 2012
Lab Lunch
December 2011
Ben and Dil's "Wedding"
August 2010
Graduation of Dr. Mokry!
March 2010
CURO Symposium
December 29, 2009
Sunny Jr (Colin)
October 2009
Ken Teter visits from UCF
November 2009
Lab Lunch
May 2009
Going Away Party
May 2009
Ben's PhD Graduation
April 2009
Pie a PI (or Isaac since dad was sick)
March 2009
SERYM - Vanderbilt
March 2009
SERYM - Vanderbilt
March 2009
Let it snow... 8+ inches!!
July 2008
GRC - GTPases
July 2008
GRC - GTPases
1st time golfing
March 2008
SERYM - UT Knoxville
September 2007
Sandy Creek picnic
September 2007
Sandy Creek picnic
July 2007
Oh crap, she's really leaving ?!?
April 2007
CURO Symposium
May 2006
Black Rock camping trip
The STORM!!
May 2006
Lab lunch
May 2005
Watson Mill Bridge picnic
April 2005
CURO Symposium
July 2004
Lab siliness
June 2004
Walter is at a meeting
January 2004
Lab lunch
Summer 2003
obligatory lab photo
Summer 2002
obligatory lab photo