People

Principal Investigator

Natalie Ahn

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Natalie carried out her Ph.D. studies in mechanistic enzymology with Judith P. Klinman in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. She then worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington, Seattle, first with Christoph de Haën in the Department of Medicine, and then with Edwin G. Krebs in the Department of Pharmacology. In the Krebs lab, she was one of the first scientists to describe extracellular signal-activated protein kinases (ERKs) and MAP kinase kinases (MKKs, aka MEKs).

Natalie started as assistant professor at the 91Թ in 1992, and was promoted to full professor in 2003 and Distinguished Professor in 2018. She is a former investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Her leadership positions in the scientific community include president of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and president of the U.S. Human Proteome Organization.

Postdoctoral Associates

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Suganya Sekaran

Suganyareceived her Ph.D. in 2017 with Biomedical Sciences-Endocrinology from the University of Madras India. Sheworked as apostdoctoral research associate inthe lab ofSoyeon Parkin the MCDB Department at 91Թ, where her research work focusedon Nas2 chaperone functions and mechanisms usingin vitroandin vivoproteasome assembly systems. In 2022 shejoinedtheAhn Labwhereher research focuses on mechanismsby which MAPK signaling thresholds promote cell death.

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Andie Doak

Andie received her PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Washington. During graduate school, she worked with Dr. Kevin Cheung at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, where her thesis research was focused on understanding cellular plasticity during breast cancer invasion and metastasis. In previous research work at CU Anschutz, she studied kinase mutations and drug resistance in the context of lung cancer. Andie joined the Ahn lab in 2024 and is working on the development of a live ERK phosphorylation and localization reporter. Outside of work, Andie likes gardening, hiking, and trying new restaurants.

Graduate Students

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Kristyn Hayashi

Kristyn graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2012 with a B.S. in Molecular & Cellular Biology. Her undergraduate research in Blake Hill’s lab focused on mitochondrial fission proteins. Before joining the Biochemistry department at 91Թ, Kristyn worked at the biotech company AbbVie (formerly Stemcentrx) developing antibody drug conjugates for cancer therapy. In the Ahn lab, Kristyn studies MAPK signaling thresholds using phosphoproteomics and mass spectrometry. Outside of the lab, she loves snowboarding in the winter and hiking in the summer.

David Vaisar

David completed his undergraduate degree in biochemistry and a minor in applied mathematics at the University of Washington, where he worked with Liangcai Gu at the Institute for Protein Design, screening and identifying nanobodies for photoswitchable protein dimerization. He then investigated integrin linked kinase (ILK) in pancreatic islet cells, and the effect of its deletion on cell communication, secretion, and potential diabetes phenotypes. He currently studies the mechanism of selection and in parallel on the possible identification ofa unique cellular response to conformationselective ERKinhibitors using NMR, HDXS, binding assays, proteomics, and cell biology.

Professional Research Assistants

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David McCall

David graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.A. in Chemistry and taught highschool and AP Chemistry, Physics and Energy courses for almost a decade. David also has a degree in Sound Audio Engineering from SAE Institute in Nashville, Tennessee where he worked as a Live Sound Engineer. Before joining the Ahn Lab in January of 2023, David worked for Stranaska Scientific in Fort Collins, Colorado. The company's focus is toadvance the scientific field of analytical metrology worldwide through its strategic initiatives in applied research, development and educational outreach. At Stranaska, David worked under the mentorship ofDr. Jerry Messman, former leader of the prestigious high-accuracy chemical spectrophotometry program for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland.Currently, David is utilizing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to examine interactions between ERK2 and inhibitors. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family, listening to and playing music, snowboarding, mountainbiking, and spending ample time outdoors.

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Daniel Thomas

Daniel graduated from 91Թ in Spring 2023 with a B.A. in Biochemistry and Philosophy. After joining the Ahnlab in Fall 2023, he works on projects involving the subcellular localization of ERK and how various inhibitors affect ERK's localization. Outside of the lab, Daniel enjoys anything sporty, attemptingto cook new foods, and playing fingerstyle guitar.

Central Analytical Mass Spectrometry Facility

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Chris Ebmeier, Director

Chris received a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Colorado-Boulder. In the Mass Spectrometry Facility, he enjoys collaborating with researchers throughout the University of Colorado system, the state of Colorado, and around the country. As an analytical biochemist, he especially enjoys the challenges of quantititive proteomics and phosphoproteomics, but he will tackle any project that comes his way. Outside of the lab, he enjoys spending time with his family and getting up into the mountains as often as possible.

Naifu Zhang,

Past Trainees

Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Associates

  • Rachel Mehaffey, Central Analytical Mass Spectrometry Facility, 2021- December 2023
  • Jake Anderson, Professional Research Assistant, January 2019 - August 2023
    • Current Position: DPhil in Biochemistry, Merton College, Lab of Paul Elliott, Departmentof Biochemistry, Universityof Oxford, UK
  • Laurel Pegram, April 2017-Nov 2022
    • Current Position: Scientific Lead, Biophysics, Loxo Oncology at Lilly, Louisville, CO
  • Thomas Lee, Apr 2009-Feb 2022
    • Director for Central Analytical Mass Spectrometry Facility
    • Current position: Director, Biophysics, Loxo Oncology at Lilly, Louisville, CO
  • Maria Hoh, July 2018-Dec 2021
    • Current Position: Research Investigator, OnKure Therapeutics
  • Eleonora Claessens, Professional Research Assistant, Sep 2019-Jun 2021
    • Current position: Platform Scientist at Enveda Biosciences, Boulder, CO
  • Pelle Simpson, Professional Research Assistant,July 2019-Jun 2021
    • Current position:Platform Scientist II at Enveda Biosciences, Boulder, CO
  • Danijel Djukovic, May 2017-Dec 2019
    • Assistant Director for Central Analytical Mass Spectrometry Facility
  • Scott Stuart, Jan 2010-Aug 2018
    • Recipient of ACS Postdoctoral Award during training (2011-2014).
    • Current position: M.D. student, University of Colorado School of Medicine
  • Mary Katherine Connacher, May 2012-May 2017
    • Current position: Associate Director, Mosaic Biosciences, Boulder, CO
    • Recipient of ACS Postdoctoral Award during training.
  • Jeremy Balsbaugh, Jul 2011-Mar 2017
    • Current position: Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility Director, U. Connecticut, Storrs, CN
  • Nan Wang, Nov 2011 – July 2014
    • Current position: Associate Professor, State Key Laboratory and Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
  • Jyothi Sethuraman, Mar 2009-Oct 2012
    • Current position: Research Associate, McGill University
  • Kutralanathan Renganathan, Oct 2007-Oct 2010
    • Current position: Scientist, ITSI Biosciences, Johnstown, PA
  • Stephane Houel, Jun 2007-Aug 2011
    • Current position: Scientist, Waters Corporation, Milford, MA
  • Eric S. Witze, Jan 2004- Oct 2010
    • Current position: Assistant Professor, Dept. of Cell Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA
    • Recipient of NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship during training.
  • John T. Prince, May 2008-Feb 2010
    • Assistant Professor, Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, UT
    • Current position: Senior Software Engineer, Doba.com, Lehi, UT
  • William M. Old, Jul 2003-Jan 2009
    • Current position: Assistant Professor, Dept. of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Univ. Colorado at Boulder
  • Zhengzhuang (Kevin) Shi, Jan 2006-Apr 2009
    • Current position: Assistant Professor, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
  • Megan W. Howard, May 2008-Mar 2009
    • Assistant Professor of Microbiology, University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK
    • Current position: Molecular Virologist and Biochemist, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH
  • Carrie Hughes Croy, Sep 2003-Feb 2009
    • Current position: Project Scientist, Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, IN
    • Recipient of ACS Postdoctoral Fellowship Award during training.
  • Brian Eichelberger, Jan 2005-Dec 2007
    • Assistant Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, John Brown University, Siloam Springs, AR
    • Current position: Sr. Technical Manager, Chemistry, Consumer Testing Laboratories, Fayetteville, AK.
  • Gretchen Argast, Oct 2002-Aug 2007
    • Current position: Associate Director, Translational Medicine, OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, San Francisco, CA
    • Recipient of NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship during training.
  • Rebecca E. Schweppe, Nov 2000-Mar 2006.
    • Current position: Associate Professor of Medicine and Pathology, Univ. Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO
    • Recipient of Life Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship during training.
  • Yukihito Kabuyama, Nov 2000-Sep 2005
    • Current position: Associate Professor, Division of Applied Biochemistry, Dept. of Bioproductive Science, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi 321-8505, Japan
  • Karen R. Jonscher, Nov 2000-Jan 2005
    • Current position: Associate Professor & Director of Proteomics, Mucosal Inflammation Program, University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, CO
  • Claire Haydon Eyers, May 2002-Jul 2004
    • Current position: Professor and Co-director of the Protein Function Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, UK
    • Recipient of American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship during training.
  • Karine R. Bernard, Feb 1999-Mar 2003
    • Current position: Instructor, Ecole de Nutrition Holistique, Geneva, Switzerland
  • David B. Friedman, Aug 1997-Feb 2000
    • Current position: Research Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Associate Director, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Proteomics Laboratory, Vanderbilt Univ.
  • Paul S. Shapiro, Mar 1995-Sep 1999
    • Current position: Associate Professor, Sch. of Pharmacy, Univ. Maryland, Baltimore, MD
    • Recipient of NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship during training.
  • Donna F. Louie, Sep 1994- Aug 1998
    • Current position: Lecturer, Baker-Environmental Research Academic Program, U. Colorado at Boulder
  • Anne M. Whalen, Sep 1994- Sep 1998
    • Current position: Principal Scientist, AtheroGenics Inc., Alpharetta, GA

Graduate Students

  • Dylan Iverson, 2015-2021, Ph.D., Biochemistry
    • Current Position: Scientist I, Vaxcyte, San Carlos, CA
  • Andrew Kavrin, 2016-2021, Ph.D., Biochemistry
    • "Intermittent Drug Treatment of BRAFV600E Melanoma Cells Delays Resistance by Adaptive Resensitization to Drug Rechallenge"
    • Current Position:Postdoctoral Fellow at Bristol Myers Squibb, Cambridge, MA
  • Pelle Simpson, 2017-2018, M.Sc. thesis research, University of Amsterdam
    • “Quantification of Dose-response Effects of BRAF-V600E Inhibitor on Downstream Targets of ERK1/2 Using Tandem Mass Tags”
    • Current position: Platform Scientist II, Enveda Biosciences, Boulder, CO
  • Jennifer Liddle, 2012-2017, Ph.D., Biochemistry
    • “Biophysical Characterization of MAP Kinase Activation and Regulation”
    • Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Univ. Pennsylvania, Lab of Ben Garcia
  • Joel Basken, 2011-2017, Ph.D., MCD Biology
    • “Specificity of molecular responses to ERK1/2 and MKK1/2 inhibitors in melanoma cells”
    • Current position: Director of Platform Operations at Enveda Biosciences, Boulder CO
  • Tianjing Hu, 2009-2015, Ph.D., Biochemistry
    • “Control of Cell Invasion in Melanoma by a New Gene, FAM129B”
    • Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, U. Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Lab of Timothy McKinsey
  • Yao Xiao, 2010-2015, Ph.D., Biochemistry
    • “Conformational Dynamics in the Regulation of MAP Kinase, ERK2”
    • Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, CalTech, Lab of Linda Hsieh-Wilson
  • Kevin Sours, 2005-2011, Ph.D., Biochemistry
    • “Regulation of MAP Kinase Activation Studied by HX-MS”
    • Postdoctoral Fellow, Universität des Saarlandes, Lab of Rolf Müller
    • Current position: Senior S