Ava Udvadia, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Though I grew up across the pond in Michigan, my first childhood visit to the Wisconsin Dells and my love of cheese made me wistful for America’s Dairyland. I received my BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan, where I was also a long distance runner on the varsity Track and Cross Country teams. I then moved south to see what life without snow was like and to pursue my doctoral training at Duke University where I studied transcriptional regulation by the Retinoblastoma protein (RB) in various cancer cell lines. As a postdoctoral Fellow, I switched gears to study transcriptional mechanisms regulating axon growth and regeneration in rodent models in the Neurobiology Department at Duke, and subsequently developed transgenic zebrafish models to focus specifically on gene regulatory mechanisms regulating successful CNS axon regeneration. Heeding the siren call of Lake Michigan and the storied winters of Wisconsin, I migrated back north to start my own lab at UWM. While the Great Lakes, snow, cheese and brats lured me back to the midwest, it is the fabulous students who I have had the good fortune to work with in my lab who have made me stay and have made Milwaukee my home.
Graduate Students
Heather Leskinen, Ph.D. Candidate
I was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. I received my bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry from UW-Madison. Following graduation, I worked as an analytical chemist for a few years before I realized I wanted to apply chemistry to biology. Currently pursuing a doctorate in Neuroscience and Cell & Molecular Biology, I am interested in how dynamic changes in protein-protein interactions regulate gene expression during axon regeneration in the central nervous system. When not in lab, I enjoy reading, traveling, impressionist art, and spending time with my dogs and family.
Sarah Sarich, Ph.D. Candidate
I am from Franklin, Wisconsin and received my bachelor’s degree in biology from UW-Milwaukee. I started in the Udvadia Lab as an undergraduate researcher after leaving my career as a banker. Truly living the phrase “never say never” I chose to enroll in the Master’s – Thesis program and ultimately switched to the Ph.D. program despite years of saying I wouldn’t pursue graduate school. Knowing I made the right choice, I am currently studying the role of the transcription factor Jun on optic nerve regeneration in zebrafish. When I’m not working on my research, I enjoy getting outdoors with my fiancé Daniel and the best dog ever, Lola.
Jason Bacon, M.S. Student (Thesis track)
I was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. I earned a BS (1989) and MS (1992) in computer science from UW – Milwaukee. I’ve had a long and rewarding career in I.T., mostly fMRI research support at the Medical College of Wisconsin and High-Performance Computing at UWM. I’ve also worked in software development and taught a wide variety of courses for the UWM computer science department. I discovered my interest in biology during the 1990s, but was unable to continue at that time due to family responsibilities. I left the I.T. world in 2019 to resume my biology studies and transition into the rapidly developing field of bioinformatics, where I can creatively utilize my extensive computer skills while pursuing my passion for biology research. I am currently working with Dr. Ava Udvadia in Biological Sciences and Dr. Paul Auer in the Zilber School of Public Health.
Graduated Volunteer
Kez Knibbs
I am a recent graduate of the UWM. I majored in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Cellular and Molecular Biology. I started working in the Udvadia lab in January 2021 while still a student and continued in the lab as a research technologist during the summer. I am currently employed as a molecular technologist by Summit Clinical Laboratories where I focus on testing nasal swab specimens for Covid-19 by performing DNA extraction and RT-PCR procedures. I still moonlight in the Udvadia lab continuing to work on projects to develop new strains of transgenic zebrafish to study molecular mechanisms driving optic nerve regeneration. I am also busy preparing applications to Medical School to pursue a dual MD-PhD degree.
Undergraduate Students
Lyiba Malik
I am a Biological Sciences Major specializing in Cellular and Molecular Biology, and also pursuing a double major in Neuroscience and a minor in Chemistry. I started working in the lab in the summer of 2021 and I am a SURF (Support for Undergraduate Research Fellows) awardee for the 2021-22 academic year. My project is entitled, “Cross species comparison of FOSL1 expression during optic nerve regeneration”. My post-graduation plans are to attend Medical School.
Ayana Staples
I am a Biological Sciences Major specializing in Cellular and Molecular Biology. I started working in the lab in the summer of 2021 and I am a SURF (Support for Undergraduate Research Fellows) awardee for the 2021-22 academic year. My project is entitled, “Cross species comparison of WT1 expression during optic nerve regeneration”. My post-graduation plans are to continue my Cellular and Molecular Biology research training in graduate school and ultimately pursue a career as a PhD Biomedical Scientist.