Principal investigator
Tracy G. Anthony, Ph.D.
I am a professor in the department of nutritional sciences at Rutgers University. I was born and raised near Chicago, then spent my teenage years in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington D.C. I received a B.S. in human nutrition and foods from Virginia Tech, and received the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in nutritional sciences from the University of Illinois. I completed postdoctoral training in cellular & molecular physiology at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, PA. My research program explores nutrient and exercise stress responses, and my lab utilizes animal models to explore mechanisms of proteostasis control with applications toward improving metabolism, reducing disease and increasing healthspan. My research is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the United States Department of Agriculture. In my free time I enjoy being mom to three daughters. I completed the Princeton HiTOPS Half-Marathon in the fall of 2019 and 2022.
Contact me at: tracy.anthony[at]rutgers.edu
Follow me on Twitter @Tracy_G_Anthony
https://linktr.ee/tracyanthony
Learn more about me and my research in the following interview by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon:
Staff
Esther Rodriguez
I graduated in 2013 from Montclair State University and received my B.S in Biology. Started my career as a research technician at the Veteran’s Hospital in the neurology department in 2014. I have been with Rutgers the last 5 years in the Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine department and recently joined the Anthony Lab. I have worked many years with both small and large laboratory animals and hope to bring my expertise to this lab. I love working with all kinds of animals and I hope to one day live on a farm. On my spare time I like to cook, try new recipes, and spend time with my two children. I also enjoy gardening and being a plant mom.
Emily Mirek
I graduated with a B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Rhode Island. I started out my career as an animal care technician and then moved over to the research side. I work a little bit on all of the projects in the lab and I love the variety that affords me. My interests include anything involving mice and my ultimate dream is to someday send our mice into space.
Graduate students
Jordan Levy
I completed my undergraduate degree in Nutrition here at Rutgers University. After having such a positive experience with both the faculty and the learning environment, I decided to continue my education at Rutgers to pursue a Doctorate in Nutritional Biochemistry and Physiology. Having been a competitive athlete, I have always had a deep interest in energy substrate utilization and body composition under different metabolic conditions. As a PhD candidate in the Anthony Lab, my work focuses on investigating the potential influence of amino acid status on circadian regulation within both the central and peripheral clocks. Outside the lab I enjoy spending my time outdoors, whether it be hiking or the beach. In addition, I am currently teaching myself how to play the guitar.
Brian Zalma, MS, CISSN
I am currently a PhD candidate in my fourth year of the Nutritional Biochemistry and Physiology program. My thesis work explores the mechanisms of asparaginase-associated hepatic dysfunction and steatosis. Prior to Rutgers, I completed by undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Miami. During my time there, I developed a passion for nutritional science. I then went on to earn my MS in Human Nutrition from Columbia University. I am also a certified sports nutritionist. I enjoy running, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and am an avid fan of the New York Jets and the University of Miami Hurricanes sports teams.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Lingyi Zhu
I am a junior undergraduate student majoring in biochemistry and nutritional sciences at Rutgers. I currently work on a project studying branched chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism. I’ve always been interested in nutrition because what we eat not only changes our body shape, but also prevents or treats diseases. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking and studying many kinds of dishes from different countries; also, I spend most of my spare time with my cat Tina!
Isha Kinjawadekar
I am a senior at the School of Arts and Science, majoring in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. I am currently completing an honors thesis in my major about the effects of Branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase kinase (Bckdk) ablation on the mouse brain. For my future plans, I want to pursue a graduate degree in molecular biology. I am also interested in art, especially creating abstract paintings.
Chintan Bhavsar
George H Cook Scholar, 2022-2023
Project: Mechanisms of asparaginase-associated liver toxicity
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FORMER MEMBERS
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RESEARCH ASSOCIATES
- Pengxiang She, Ph.D. (2012-2013)
- Yongping Wang, Ph.D. (2014-2018)
Postdocs
- Piyawan Bunpo, Ph.D. (2006-2009): now Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medical Technology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. **2007 American Association of University Women International Fellowship and 2007 American Society for Nutrition Diet and Cancer Research Interest Section Poster Award**.Visit her at: https://www.cmu.ac.th/en/faculty/associated_medical_sciences/teacher/db37835a-64f3-423d-b7a6-d0f0afa83838
- Gabriel Wilson, Ph.D. (2012-2013): now Vice President, R&D and Innovation at Maximum Human Performance (NJ, USA). Visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-wilson-phd-a3b60635
- Ashley Pettit, Ph.D. (2014-2017): now faculty at Seton Hall University (NJ, USA). Visit: https://www.shu.edu/profiles/petittas.cfm
- Inna Nikonorova, Ph.D. (2014-2019): now in the laboratory of Maureen Barr at Rutgers University (NJ, USA). **Winner of ASBMB Poster Award at Experimental Biology 2016; awarded the Carman Prize in Lipid Research in 2018**; Read a profile about her here: https://www.jbc.org/content/294/38/13864/suppl/DCAuthor_profile
Graduate students
- William Jonsson, Ph.D. (2017-2022): now a Life Sciences Strategy Consultant at ClearView HealthCare Partners. Visit him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-jonsson-20a41684
- Jeffrey Burns, M.S.(2018-2021): now an Associate Scientist at Bristol Meyers Squibb in Princeton, NJ. Visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-burns-m-s-71aa05189
- Nicholas Margolies, M.S. (2016-2018): now a Research Assistant at Oregon Health & Science University
- Dylan Klein, Ph.D. (2014-2018): now Assistant Professor at Rowan University (NJ, USA). Visit: https://shp.rowan.edu/departments/hes/facultyStaff/hes_full_part/klein.html
- Rana Al-Baghdadi, Ph.D. (2013-2016): now faculty at Al-Qadisiyah University (Iraq). Visit: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rana_Al-Baghdadi
- Lindsey Phillipson-Weiner, M.S. (2013-2015): now a Physician Assistant at Mayo Clinic (MN, USA). Visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-phillipson-weiner-1529b632/
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
- Rebecca Kalmeijer, Biotechnology program, Independent Research 2021-2022
- Michael Langevin, G.H. Cook Honors Program, 2019-2020
- Amanda Lee, G.H. Cook Honors Program, 2019-2020
- Lydia Stephney, RiSE at Rutgers, summer 2019
- Olivia Dineen, SAS honors research, 2018-2019
- Christina Signore, Rutgers Honors College, Aresty Scholars Program, 2016-2019
- Shereen Bartholomew, RiSE at Rutgers, summer 2018
- Eugenia Saiegh, G.H. Cook Honors Program, 2017-2018
- Megan Hupp, RiSE at Rutgers, summer 2017
- Cora Kerber, RiSE at Rutgers, summer 2016
- Michael Goudie, Aresty Scholars Program, 2015-2016
- Ericka Steele, NIDDK STEP-UP Fellow, summer 2015
- Kidus Feleke, RiSE at Rutgers, summer 2015
- Albert Bargoud, Aresty Scholars Program, Molecular Biosciences Honors Thesis (2013-2015), **Thesis received Highest Honors; Henry Rutgers Scholar Award 2015 **
- Toni Coleman, RiSE at Rutgers, summer 2014
- Berish Wetstein, US Air Force, 2014-2016
- Matthew Solowsky, US Navy, 2014-2016
- Tamar Denby, G.H. Cook Scholars Program, 2014-2015
- William Jonsson, Rutgers-Karolinska Student Exchange program, Spring 2014, **Senior Thesis received highest honors at Karolinska Institute**
- Wesley Hodges, RiSE at Rutgers, summer 2013, **Winner of Poster Competition at ABRCMS National Meeting 2013**
- Brittany Lennox, Rutgers U Research Problems in Biochemistry, 2013
- Allison McDaniel, IUSM-Evansville, May 2011 to April 2012
- Phillip Behrens, IUSM-Evansville, May 2011 to April 2012
- Whitney Wood, IUSM-Evansville, Summer 2011
- Meral El Ramahi, IUSM-Evansville, Spring 2010
- Olusina Akunde, IUSM summer REU program, 2008
- Ross Deppe, IUSM summer REU program, 2008
- Aaron Stoltz, IUSM summer REU program, 2008
- Kendall Stocke, IUSM summer REU program, 2007
- Allison Dudley, IUSM summer REU program, 2007
- Lauren Ellspermann, IUSM-Evansville summer research 2007
- Betty Murray, IUSM summer REU program, 2006
- Todd Capes, IUSM-Evansville, Fall 2006
- Kyle Harry, IUSM summer REU program, 2005
- Lauren Fultz, IUSM summer REU program, 2005
- Amanda Stevens, IUSM-Evansville, 2005-2006
- Sheiphali Ghandi, IUSM-Evansville, fall 2004 to spring 2006
- Megan Wiley, IUSM-Evansville, spring 2004 to fall 2005
- Ria DeCamp, IUSM-Evansville, fall 2004
- L. Morgan Oberle, IUSM summer REU program, 2004
- Peter Knoll, IUSM-Evansville summer research, 2003 & 2004
- Janice Esker, IUSM-Evansville, spring 2003
- Rachel Byerley, IUSM-Evansville 2002-2005 and IUSM summer REU program, 2003. **Finalist in APS David L. Bruce Undergraduate Research Competition at Experimental Biology 2004**
- David Utley, IUSM summer REU program, 2002
- Carson Penkava, IUSM summer REU program, 2002
HIgh school Students
- Caleb Prempeh, NIDDK STEP-UP Fellow, 2020
- Annie Ikemoto, NIDDK STEP-UP Fellow, summer 2017
- Shawn Ohazuruike, NIDDK STEP-UP Fellow, summer 2016
- Claire Kim, Siemens, Science Competition, summer 2013, **Regional Finalist**
- Umay Mughal, NIDDK STEP-UP Fellow, Summer 2013
- Jason Heo, IUSM-Evansville, Summer 2009 and 2010
- Abhi Seetharamaiah, IUSM-Evansville, Summer 2009
- Emma Brizius, IUSM-Evansville, Summer 2006
The Anthony lab 