Team

TEAM

Assistant Professor (Jun 2021- present)

Curious about all things stress and ribosome, trying to figure out selective mRNA translation, love a good signaling pathway, easily distracted by data, known cat lady.

deepika.vasudevan@pitt.edu

www.deepikavasudevan.info

Shyama Nandakumar, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow (Feb 2023-present)

Obsessed with polyploid cells, where they come from and what they do. Endeavoring to understand funky mRNA 5' leaders. Lover of microscopes and coffee. Legendary pun maker.

shyama.n@pitt.edu

Tetyana Lukash, Ph.D.

Research scientist (Jul 2025- present)

Fascinated by stress responses and the regulation of mRNA translation. Love the stories hidden in polysome profiles and traveling.

tel48@pitt.edu

Manuel Michaca

IGBP Graduate student (Nov 2022-present)

Trying to figure out the relationship between stress:steroid hormone signaling in the context of lipid metabolism. Adore foxes and long walks.

manuel.michaca@pitt.edu

Katherine Querry

Postbac research associate (Jan 2024-present)

Focused on the role of translation termination factors in the retina during stress conditions. Always down for a cool cell culture experiment, a good book, and a new recipe to try out!

KEQ4@pitt.edu

Aditya Arkalgud

Undergraduate Trainee (Sophomore) (Sep 2023- present)

Image analysis enthusiast trying to figure out why stress response signaling is required in fat tissue homeostasis. Tennis player, polyglot, Felix Auger-Aliasimme fan, always up for a volunteer opportunity.

ada143@pitt.edu

PAST MEMBERS

Dr. Lydia Grmai

Postdoctoral trainee (Sep 2021-Dec 2024)