Our People

Meet Our Team Behind every discovery is a community of minds working together. Get to know the people whose passion and commitment shape the work of our lab.

Name: Dr. Natasha Jaiswal
Position in the lab: Assistant Professor
Fun Fact: Outside the lab, I’m a trained classical dancer and award-winning artist, with artwork featured at University of Pennsylvania’s hospital (HUP) art wall. I love blending art and science in creative ways. My passion is helping young scientists see the art hidden in science.

Name: Amaan Tariq
Year and program of study: 2nd year PhD student, Department of Health and Kinesiology
Position in the lab: PhD student and Graduate Research Assistant
Project(s) you are working on: Role of skeletal muscle specific AKT signalling in the maintenance of the neuromuscular junction 
Fun Fact: Have written and directed award-winning short films.

Name: John Isaac Maibauer 
Year and program of study: 1st year PhD student, Department of Health and Kinesiology
Position in the lab: PhD student, RA
Project(s) you are working on: TBD (we are planning to start a GLP-1 study on muscle physiology) 
Fun Fact: I lived in South Korea for almost a year.

Name: Afsoun Abdullahi
Year and program of study:
Position in the lab:
Project(s) you are working on:
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Name: Amanda Spanier
Year and program of study: Junior in kinesiology
Position in the lab: Undergraduate research assistant
Project(s) you are working on: Heat therapy
Fun Fact: I love distance running and am training for my first marathon.

Name: Andrew Yoon Young Cheong
Year and major: Junior; Biomedical Health Sciences, Pre-Medicine 
Position: Undergraduate Researcher
Projects: NMJ Project; NASA & Single-Cell Project
Fun Fact: I have the cutest labrador retriever named Lina.

Name: Colton Frank Lehnen
Year and major: Senior; Kinesiology (Pre-med)
Position:
Projects: Microbiome Project
Fun Fact:

Name: Ishmine Kaur Heera
Year and major: Junior, Biology (Pre-PA)
Position: Undergraduate 
Projects: Heat Therapy
Fun Fact: I am left-handed

Name: Myra Rawar Khare
Year and major: Junior; Biomedical Engineering
Position:
Projects:
Fun Fact:

Name: Nathan Roger Lin
Year and major: Senior; Biomedical Health Sciences (Pre-dental)
Position: Undergraduate Researcher
Projects: NMJ Project
Fun Fact:  I play on the travel team for Purdue Club Tennis.

Name: Shivani Sivakumar
Position: Undergraduate Researcher
Year and Major: Sophomore in Biomedical Health Sciences (Pre-med, Honors)
Projects: NMJ Project and Role of Nutrition Modification & gut microbiome on muscle health
Fun fact: I can say “hello” in 10 languages and I helped build this website!

Name: Alisha Marakani
Year and major: Sophomore;
Position:
Projects:
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Name: Hank James Lin
Year and major: Sophomore;
Position:
Projects:
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Name: Neha A Kalyankar
Year and major: Sophomore;
Position:
Projects:
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Alumini

  • Dr. Sung-Jin Kim: Lab Manager (2025-2026)