Principal Investigator

Martin obtained his PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from the University of Tübingen. During his Postdoc in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Washington in Seattle, Martin diversified into MS-Based Proteomics, Chemical Biology, and Cancer Cell Signaling. He utilizes his interdisciplinary background to identify the mechanisms of cancer plasticity and therapy resistance. In his free-time, Martin enjoys exploring new restaurants, hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking together with his wife Esther and friends.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Thankhoe is a Pharmacist from Lesotho. He obtained his MSc in Medicinal Chemistry from Auburn University in Alabama where he focused on LC-MS based metabolomics. He obtained his PhD in Pharmacology in 2023 in the field of infectious diseases from Wits University, South Africa. Thankhoe is interested in the molecular mechanisms that drive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) migration from the primary liver site and its invasion of distant organs. In his spare time, Thankhoe enjoys touring and going to movie nights and music shows.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Alex earned her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Her dissertation work focused on the design and synthesis of heterobifunctional compounds such as dual inhibitors and proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) as therapeutics for resistant hematological malignancies. Outside of the lab, Alex enjoys hiking and camping with her husband and dog, as well as reading, puzzles, and playing video games.

Laboratory Technician

Paige is from Springville, Utah and haslived in Utah her whole life. She recently graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry from Brigham Young University and hopes to pursue a PhD in the future. Her research interests include exploring the proteomic profiles of disease, especially in the context of cancer, and uncovering pathways that contribute to disease pathogenesis. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing tennis or racquetball, dancing and watching new movies.

Graduate Research Assistant

Lotfa Haque Lovely is a physician from Bangladesh, having completed an MBBS degree. She is also a registered Diabetologist and completed six months of post-graduation training in Internal Medicine. Passionate about understanding disease processes at the molecular level and exploring pharmacological approaches for better patient outcomes. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Utah. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending quality time with her family. Residing in the beautiful city of Salt Lake City, she is committed to advancing medical research and improving healthcare through her studies and experiences.

Graduate Research Assistant

DescripLi-Ron is originally from Israel and earned her B.A. in Biology from Yeshiva University. Following graduation, she worked at Vanderbilt University on a variety of research projects, where she gained hands-on experience in mass spectrometry and developed a strong interest in mass spectrometry–based research. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and is interested in cancer biology and pharmacology. Li-Ron aims to leverage her mass spectrometry experience to investigate the pathological pathways that contribute to cancer therapy resistance, with the goal of improving current treatment strategies. In her free time, Li-Ron enjoys snowboarding, exploring new places, and training Muay Thai.

Graduate Research Assistant

Katie earned her B.S. in Chemistry from Towson University. Before graduate school, she worked at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, where her research focused on developing LC-MS/MS methods for chemical threat agent detection and medical countermeasure development. Her current research interests center on understanding the mechanisms underlying disease pathology with the goal of identifying potential therapeutic targets. Outside of the lab, Katie enjoys hiking, traveling, going to concerts, and watching horror movies.