Jen Gutzman, Ph.D. Associate Professor
Jen’s scientific career has migrated back and forth between Massachusetts and Wisconsin. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst where she was also a Division I field hockey player (Roll UMass). She then received her PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Molecular and Environmental Toxicology. Following graduate school, she moved to Boston where she worked as a postdoc at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical research. It was during her postdoc that she fell in love with development and the zebrafish model system. When not in the lab or teaching, you can try to keep up with her as she chases her three boys from one soccer game to the next.
Graduate Students
Laura Rolfs, Ph.D. Candidate
Laura grew up in Mequon, Wisconsin. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Saint Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin. Laura is currently interested in the lab’s projects related to MYH9-Related Disease and understanding the role of non-muscle myosin IIA in development. In her free time she loves to spend time outdoors hiking or camping with friends.
Gabriella (Gabby) Voit, Ph.D. Candidate
Gabby grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She received her degree in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Following graduation, she completed a yearlong internship at the Pelegri lab through UW-Madison where she researched maternal-effect genes and developed a crispant screen allowing for rapid identification of those genes. Gabby is currently interested in understanding how tissue stress can drive brain morphogenesis and the different factors that may affect it. When not in lab, she enjoys playing sports or spending time outside.
Lab Alumni
Former Graduate Students
Elizabeth (Libby) Falat, Ph.D.
Ryan Garde, M.S.
Michelle Kasdorf, M.S.
Mike Visetsouk, Ph.D.
Nathan Meinhardt, M.S.
Srishti Sahu, M.S.
Luke Spychalla, M.S.
Former Undergraduate Researchers
Claire Burkard, B.S.
Jennifer Wendlick, B.S.
Westin Knigge, B.S.
Thomas Stancato, B.S.
Ana-Maria Raicu, B.S.
Leah Hennes, B.S.
Former Research Associates
Molly Nellen, B.S.
Samuel Thompson, B.S.
Constance Kwas, M.S.