Our Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Research Trainees

Samuel J. Cochran, PhD 

Lab: Gowdy Lab

Grad Student or Postdoc: Postdoc
Undergrad: The Ohio State University
Grad school: The Ohio State University

About me: Dr. Sam Cochran completed his PhD in Environmental Science at OSU in 2022. His doctoral research investigated epidemiological associations between indoor microbial exposures and asthma outcomes, but his primary interest is the pathophysiology of pulmonary diseases related to ambient air pollutants. He is currently researching the effect of ozone inhalation on pulmonary iron homeostasis and allergic disease sensitization. He is a postdoctoral fellow being mentored by Dr. Kymberly Gowdy and Dr. Rodney Britt in the Integrative Research Training in Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Disease T32 Fellowship hosted by the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University. He is also the 2023-2024 Secretary for the Society of Toxicology Post-Doctoral Assembly Executive Board, an OK-PROS grant recipient, and a Destination OSU program mentor. In his future career, he hopes to combine his research progress and passion for mentorship as an independent investigator at an academic institution.

Outside of work, he enjoys visiting National Parks, painting, playing volleyball, and spending time with his husband and two cats. 

Vandana Anang 

Lab: Mebratu Lab

Undergrad: University of Delhi, Delhi, India
Grad school: University of Delhi, Delhi, India

About me: Currently, I am focusing on the identification of novel mechanisms how influenza A virus (IAV) hijacks and subverts host cellular processes to facilitate viral replication. I’m a highly motivated biologist with 8+ years of experience in molecular biology and immunology. I have rich experience of primary cell culture such as Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), T cells , PBMCs and different types of cell lines and relevant molecular techniques. I carried out invitro and in vivo studies using various cellular and molecular techniques such as western blotting, ELISA techniques, Immunocytochemical, Histochemical, DNA, RNA extraction (Including miRNA and lncRNA), flow cytometry, MACS, confocal microscopy and qRT-PCR techniques, BCG culture, live M. tb culture and so on.

My future research interest is broadly in the immune regulation of various diseases and their therapeutic development.

Ilknur Yurtsever 

Lab: Mallampalli Lab

Undergrad: Eskisehir Osmangazi University
Grad school: Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey

About me: I have spent the past 15+ years studying across different areas of biochemistry, protein biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics, molecular mechanism of diseases (Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Diseases). My current role is understanding the ubiqutination mechanism in Acute Lung Diseases. These days my time is spent researching, trying to keep up with OSU culture, expanding my network and focusing my goals.

Out of the office you will find me hiking, exploring the hidden gems of Ohio and USA and petting the my cute, tiny, beautiful, calm and cool son (cat).

Anteneh M Tizazu, PhD 

Lab: Mebratu Lab

Undergrad: Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Grad school: National University of Singapore, Singapore

About me: I received my BSc in Medical Laboratory Technology and my MS in Medical Microbiology from Addis Ababa University. I then completed my PhD in Immunology at the National University of Singapore. My doctoral research focused on the impact of aging on the immune system. Using in vitro and in vivo models, I demonstrated that aging is associated with chronic inflammation and leads to dysfunctionality across multiple immune cell subsets. I also showed that clinically approved drugs, such as metformin, can exert immunomodulatory effects that partially reverse key features of immune aging. Through this work, I developed strong expertise in immunological and molecular biology techniques and gained extensive experience analyzing large, complex datasets. Currently, my research focuses on defining the role of specific host cellular proteins in the pathogenesis of respiratory viral diseases and on identifying pathways that can be leveraged for therapeutic development.

Jon Fritz

Lab: Englert Lab

Undergrad: Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA
Graduate Student (Biophysics)

About me: Jon is a third-year biophysics PhD candidate in the labs of Dr. Joshua Englert & Dr. Samir Ghadiali (Biomedical Engineering). He studies the molecular mechanisms of and diagnostic engineering devices for ventilator-induced lung injury. In his free time, Jon enjoys playing board & video games with friends as well as exchanging piping-hot gossip. Say hi if you see him around campus, usually in DHLRI, Fontana Laboratories, or the Union! 

Evie Schott 

Lab: Gowdy Lab

Undergrad: The North Carolina State University
Graduate Student (Immunology and Immunotherapeutics)

About me: I am currently researching how ozone exposure increases the susceptibility to lower respiratory infections through altering the pulmonary microenvironment. I am hoping by the end of my PhD here at OSU, to enter back into the agricultural field specializing in infectious diseases.

When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy exploring Columbus with my friends and trying out new restaurants and breweries.

Zachary Miller 

Lab: Mora/Rojas Lab

Undergrad: The Ohio State University
Graduate Student The Immunology and Immunotherapeutics Graduate Program (I2GP) at The Ohio State University

About me: I am currently working on analyzing changes in immune cell populations and immune responses in the IPF and COPD lung, with a special focus on NK cells. I hope to provide a systemic view of how immune cell populations change within patients with these conditions and identify novel and actionable pathways of disease progression. After completion of my PhD, I hope to transition into a role at a government institution to continue my research on the intersection of lung immunology and disease pathogenicity.

In my free time I enjoy working on 3D printing projects, spending time with friends, and playing the viola.