Johanna Holman, B.S.
Master’s of Science, Human Nutrition and Food Sciences
Johanna joined the lab in fall 2020 to investigate the effects of diet on the gut microbiome, and on host-microbial interactions. For the past several years, she has been working with Drs. Tao Zhang and Yanyan Li at Husson University, and her project will combine her previous work on the nutritional biochemistry of broccoli with effects on gut microbes.
2020-2021 University of Maine Graduate Student Employee of the Year
Sarah Hosler, B.S.
Master’s of Science, Animal Science
Sarah is from Newton, NJ and has lived in NJ her whole life until she started college at Albright College in PN. Her undergraduate research was on protein classification. Sarah joined the lab in fall 2020 to create new methods for studying host-microbial interactions.
“I am excited to see how much I grow through my graduate experience at the University of Maine. I’m also a little bit nervous about the cold, but I’m sure I will get used to it.”
Sarah, Apr 2020
Joe Balkan
Undergraduate Researcher, Biology, Tufts University
Joe Balkan is from South Burlington, Vermont and is majoring in biology at Tufts University. He enjoys research related to human health, and is especially interested in the microbiome. Joe is researching protocols for the lab’s investigation of broccoli bioactive metabolism in the gut.
Dorien Baudewyns
Undergraduate researcher, Nutrition, Husson University
Dorien is an undergraduate researcher at Husson University, who is working with the Ishaq lab and with Drs. Tao Zhang and Yanyan Li at Husson University. She is assisting with projects related to bioactive compounds in broccoli, gut microbes, and health.
Jade Chin
Undergraduate Researcher, Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Biology
Jade is an Animal and Veterinary Sciences major with a pre-veterinary concentration, originally from Connecticut. She joined the lab in summer 2020 to study leaf silage microbes for her Honors thesis. She plans to study abroad at the University of Glasgow during her senior year and attend their veterinary school after her undergraduate degree.
Louisa Colucci
Undergraduate researcher, Health Science, Husson University
Louisa is a Health Science major, originally from Saco, Maine. She is conducting undergraduate research for her Senior Capstone project at Husson University with Drs. Tao Zhang and Yanyan Li. She joined the Ishaq team in 2021 and is currently exploring the effects of broccoli phytonutrients on anaerobic gut microbes.
Rebecca French
Undergraduate Researcher, Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Rebecca is an animal and veterinary science student with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine. She joined the Ishaq lab team in 2021 as a part of her capstone project, which is focused on flying squirrels and mice that are carrying zoonotic pathogens into Maine.
2021 J. Franklin Witter Undergraduate Research Endowment Fund
Nick Hershbine
Undergraduate Researcher, Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Nick is exploring the microbial communities associated with wild Maine blueberry soils in a joint project between Drs. Lily Calderwood and Ishaq.
2020-2021 University of Maine Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year
Grace Lee
Undergraduate Researcher, Neuroscience, Bowdoin College
Grace was accepted to the University of Maine REU program for summer 2020, which was postponed due to pandemic concerns. She’ll joined the Ishaq lab remotely to learn data analysis for a project on microbes and animal health. She hopes to continue her love for science and service in a future career in the medical field as a clinical physician. Her passions outside of school work include playing the viola and spreading awareness of different ethnic backgrounds and cultures.
Emily Pierce
Undergraduate researcher, Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Emily is an Animal and Veterinary Sciences major with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine and a minor in microbiology from central Vermont. She joined the lab in spring 2020 to study work on culturing rumen cells and the immune factor production after coculturing with microbes. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she will be attending school for Veterinary Medicine.
Catie Sullivan
Undergraduate researcher, Animal and Veterinary Sciences
I am studying Animal Veterinary Science (pre-vet) and graduating in 2023. I love animals and want to work with them for the rest of my life. I am a triplet from New York that came to Maine in search of adventure and new opportunities and found UMO in the process.
Omar Tavio
Research Assistant, Husson University
Alessia Pellegrini
Research Assistant, Westlake High School
My name is Alessia Pellegrini and I am a senior at Westlake High School. I am an inducted member of my school’s Science National Honor Society, which I was able to achieve through my work for Dr. Sue Ishaq. My work consisted of researching and creating a resource list about scientists from underrepresented groups in the microbiology and technology fields. Continually, I added alternative text to many of the posts on the Ishaq Lab’s website in order to make it more accessible to visually impaired visitors. I plan to study Biology when I begin college this upcoming fall. Most of all, I am excited and honored to be a part of the Ishaq Lab Team!
Lab Affiliates
Adwoa Dankwa, M.S.
Doctorate of Philosophy, Human Nutrition and Food Sciences, Adviser: Dr. Jennifer Perry
Adwoa is a graduate student in Food Science and Human Nutrition department. Adwoa’s work in the Perry lab is focused on understanding the microbial and chemical composition of fermented non-dairy low alcohol beverages and how these influence consumer acceptability over time. Dr. Ishaq serves on Adwoa’s committee to provide expert advice on microbial ecology, DNA sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis. Aside from formal mentorship, Dr. Ishaq provides insight, support, and encouragement in all areas that are deemed helpful in making Adwoa succeed in her program. Adwoa originally hails from Ghana and is loving all the seasons Maine has to offer.
Alice Hotopp, M.S.
Doctorate of Philosophy candidate, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Advisors: Drs. Kristina Cammen and Brian Olsen.
Alice is a PhD candidate in Ecology and Environmental Sciences, co-advised by Drs. Kristina Cammen and Brian Olsen. Alice is part of the Genomic Ecology of Coastal Organisms (GECO) research group, which studies the genomic basis of adaptation in sparrow species inhabiting tidal salt marshes along the Atlantic coast of North America. Alice’s research focuses on understanding potential evolutionary drivers of plumage coloration, such as plumage microbial communities, in tidal marsh sparrows.
Marjorie Killerby, B.S.
Master’s of Science, Animal Science, Adviser: Dr. Juan Romero
Marjorie is a Bachelor in Veterinary Medicine originally from Lima, Peru and is currently studying to earn a Masters in Animal Science in the University of Maine, Orono. She is researching the effects of novel preservatives on nutritional quality and microbial communities in silage and hay for the dairy industry. I am mentoring Marjorie as a graduate committee member in microbial ecology, DNA sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis.
Tindall Ouverson, B.S.
Master’s of Science, Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University. Adviser: Drs. Fabian Menalled and Tim Seipel
Tindall graduated in May 2018 with a B.S. in Sustainability Science, summa cum laude, from Furman University in Greenville, SC. Currently, she is conducting research in the Weed and Invasive Plant Ecology and Management Group with Drs. Fabian Menalled and Tim Seipel. Specifically, her research focuses on the response of soil microbial communities to cropping systems and climate change in semiarid agriculture. I am mentoring Tindall as a graduate committee member in microbial ecology, DNA sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis.
Join the lab
Interested in our work? Please read the information provided to determine if the Ishaq lab might be right for you before inquiring. Still interested? Send your CV and a brief explanation of what you want to study and why you want to join a research lab.
