Blind Lab Pets
Milo Stivison​
Hamilton Pieces Blind
RIP, 5/19/2022
Kamja Chi
HoneyBear Blind
Mimi Blind
2020 Genetics Society of America Presidential Membership Award
2018 Vanderbilt Trans-Institutional Program Award
2018 Journal of Lipid Research Junior Investigator Award
2017 Vanderbilt Diabetes Discovery Award
2017 American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award
2017 Vanderbilt Diabetes RTC Award
2017 Jimmy-V Foundation V-Scholar Award
2016 Vanderbilt Young Ambassador Award
2016 Herb Tabor / JBC Young Investigator
Spouse: Zdravka Tzankova, Associate Professor, Vanderbilt Sociology
Hometown - Buffalo, NY
B.S. Molecular Genetics & Chemistry ... Fredonia State College (Fredonia, NY)
Ph.D. Molecular Pharmacology ............... NYU Medical Center (Michael Garabedian) Thesis PDF
PostDoc Pharmaceutical Chemistry ............. UC San Francisco (Tom Scanlan)
PostDoc Cell & Mol Pharmacology .............. UC San Francisco (Holly Ingraham and Robert Fletterick)
Asst Prof Medicine Vanderbilt Diabetes Research Center (Al Powers)
Asst Prof Biochemistry Vanderbilt Center for Structural Biology (Walter Chazin)
Asst Prof Pharmacology Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center (Jennifer Pietenpol)
Vanderbilt Institute for Chemical Biology (Gary Sulikowski)
See Ray's Publications on PubMed
See Ray's Academic Family Tree
​Pratima Chapagain, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, T32 DK007563 Molecular Endocrinology Training Grant
Computational genomic analyses of nuclear inositide signaling.
Hometown - Kathmandu, Nepal
B.S. Microbiology Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
M.S. Microbiology Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Ph.D. Molecular Genomics Middle Tennessee State University (Mohamed Salem)
PostDoc Computational Genomics Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
See Pratima's Publications on PubMed
​James C. Poland, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, T32 DK101003 Integrated Training in Engineering and Diabetes
Bile acid and lipid regulation of nuclear receptor LRH-1 structure and function.
Hometown - Pennsauken, NJ
B.S. Chemistry Delaware State University, Dover, DE (Peter DiMaria & H. Preston Hayward)
M.A. Chemistry Fisk University, Nashville, TN (Natalie Arnett)
Ph.D. Chemistry Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (John McLean)
PostDoc Mass Spectrometry Vanderbilt University Medical Center (C. Robb Flynn)
PostDoc Integrative Structural Biology Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
See James' Publications on PubMed
​Ana Chang-Gonzalez, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, T32 DK007061 Research in Diabetes & Endocrinology
Computational modeling of small molecule regulation of LRH-1
Hometown - Lima, Peru
B.S. Biomedical Engineering Texas A&M, College Station, TX.
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering Texas A&M, College Station, TX., (Wonmuk Hwang)
PostDoc Structural Biology Vanderbilt University (Jens Meiler & Ray Blind)
See Ana's Publications on PubMed
Aleshia N. Seaton-Terry, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, T32 DK007061 Research in Diabetes & Endocrinology
Novel nuclear phosphoinositide-mediated mechanisms of SF-1 regulation.
Hometown - Tyler, Texas
B.S. Biological Science Philander Smith College, Little Rock, AR.
M.S. Biological Sciences Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
Ph.D. Biological Sciences Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN (Margaret Whalen)
PostDoc Biochemistry & Cell Biology Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
See Aleshia's Publications on PubMed
Alexander J. Cutright, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow
Biophysical, thermodynamic & structural analyses of novel nuclear receptor activation mechanisms.
Hometown - Glenwood Springs, CO
B.S. Biochemistry (ACS) Monmouth College, Monmouth, Il (Audra L. Goach)
Ph.D. Chemistry Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS (Joseph P. Emerson)
PostDoc Biophysics, Structural Biology Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
See Alex's Publications on PubMed
Alexis N. Campbell - Biochemistry PhD Student
NIH Predoctoral Fellow, T32 GM008320 Molecular Biophysics Training at Vanderbilt
Biophysical and structural analyses of NR5A activation by lipids.
Hometown - Concord, North Carolina
B.S. Chemistry & Biochemistry University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (Saskia Neher)
Intern. Protein Biophysics Merck Pharmaceuticals, Kenilworth, NJ
Ph.D. Biochemistry Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (Ray Blind)
​
See Alexis' Publications on PubMed
Kimora Hudson - Post-Bac Researcher
Inositol phosphate signaling through mTOR
Hometown - Atlanta, GA
B.S. Biology University of West Georgia, Carrolton, GA
M.S. Biochemistry Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
​
PS - Kimora started college at 13, the youngest person at University of West Georgia!
Jay Bhatia - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2025)
Glucose and inositol signaling crosstalk in metabolism and gene regulation.​
Hometown - Greenville, SC
Major in Molecular and Cellular Biology
Major in Medicine Health & Society
Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Jake Kubina - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2025)
Proteomic mass spectrometry applications in structural biology
Hometown - Dobbs Ferry, NY
Major in Neuroscience
Minor in Data Science
Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Claire Na Loi - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2026)
Biophysical analyses of protein structure
Hometown - Macao
Major Biochemistry
Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Adrian Quintana - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2025)
Protein biochemistry and structure
Hometown - Dexter, New Mexico
Major Neuroscience and Latino & Latina Studies
Minor: Spanish
Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Joe Gilligan - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2026)
Structural analyses of full-length LRH-1
Hometown - Basking Ridge, NJ
Major: Neuroscience
Major: Medicine, Health and Society
Vanderbilt University College of Arts and Sciences
Hundaol Huluka - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2027)
Functional genomics of IPMK regulated gene expression.
Hometown - Alemgena, Ethiopia
Major Biomedical Engineering
Vanderbilt University School of Engineering
Jessica Martin - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2028)
Control of nuclear PIP2 synthesis
Hometown - St. Louis, MO
Major Medicine Health and Society
Minor Spanish
Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Arwa Keda - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2028)
Biochemical analyses of nuclear receptors SF-1 and LRH-1
Hometown - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Major Medicine Health and Society
Minor Business
Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Owen Staples - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2029)
Gene expression analyses of novel small molecule ligands for the nuclear receptor SF-1.
Hometown - Deer Isle, ME
Major Undeclared
Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Former Blind Lab Members:
​Elizabeth A. Stivison, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, T32 DK007563 Molecular Endocrinology Training Grant
Rapid genomic regulation mediated by IPMK.
Hometown - Montclair, NJ
B.A. Molecular Biology & Biochemistry Wesleyan University, CT
B.A. Biology Wesleyan University, CT
M.A. Genetics Columbia University, NY
M.Phil Genetics Columbia University, NY
Ph.D. Genetics Columbia University (Lorraine Symington)
PostDoc Chemical Genetics Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
Harry Choi - Research Associate
Structure-function analyses of NR5A ligand binding domains.
Hometown - Seoul, South Korea
Major English Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Major Molecular & Cellular Biology Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Minors Spanish and Chemistry Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
COVID Protein Chemistry University of Vienna Max Perutz Labs, (Thomas Leonard)
RA Structural Biology and Chemical Genetics Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Ray Blind)
​
See Harry's Publications on PubMed
Ethan Chi - Unergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2023)
SF-1 induction of nuclear PIP2 synthesis.
Hometown - Pittsburgh, PA
Major in Molecular Biology
Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
See Ethan's Publications on PubMed
Marisa Thompson - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2026)
Biochemical analyses of protein structure
Hometown - White Plains, NY
Major Neuroscience
Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
​Lucia Rameh-Plant, PhD - Principal Investigator and Research Associate Professor
Inositide crosstalk in mTor signaling and glucose metabolism.
Hometown - São Paulo, Brazil
B.S. Biological Sciences ........................ Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Ph.D. Biochemistry ................................... Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
PostDoc Cellular Physiology ......................... Tufts University (Lewis Cantley)
PostDoc Signal Transduction ........................ Harvard Medical School (Lewis Cantley)
Principal Scientist Signal Transduction ........................ Boston Biomedical Research Institute
Res Asst Prof Medicine .......................................... Boston University School of Medicine
Res Assc Prof Biochemistry .................................... Vanderbilt University (John York)
Res Assc Prof Medicine and Biochemistry ............. Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Vanderbilt Diabetes Research Center (Al Powers)
See Lucia's Publications on PubMed
​Zeinab Haratipour, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, T32 HG008341 Genomic Medicine Training Program
Computational modeling of nuclear receptor structure.
Hometown - Mashhad, Persia (Iran)
B.S. Chemistry Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
M.S. Physical Chemistry Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
Ph.D. Biochemistry Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia (Lesley Greene)
PostDoc Computational Chemistry Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
​Abby R. Orun, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, T32 DK007061 Research in Diabetes & Endocrinology
X-ray crystallographic analyses of full-length nuclear receptor structure bound to DNA.
Hometown - Edmond, OK
B.S. Chemistry, minor Biology University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK.
Ph.D. Chemistry Colorado State University, (Christopher Snow)
PostDoc Structural Biology Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
See Abby's Publications on PubMed
Zakiya Mensah - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2024)
Biochemical analyses of IPMK function in glioblastoma cell lines.
Hometown - Chicago, IL
Major in Neuroscience
Major in Medicine, Health & Society
Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
​M. Merced Malabanan, PhD - Senior Research Specialist
Structure, function and small molecule regulation of nuclear receptors.
Hometown - Batangas, Philippines
B.S. Chemistry University of the Philippines (Diliman)
B.S. Food Technology University of the Philippines (Diliman)
Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry University at Buffalo (John Richard)
PostDoc Biochemistry Vanderbilt University (Richard Armstrong)
PostDoc Pharmacology Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
Shalini Thinakaran - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2025)
Biochemical analyses of IPMK function in glioblastoma cell lines.
​
Hometown - Dallas, TX
Major in Biological Sciences
Minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies
Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Andrea Gutierrez - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2024)
Enzyme kinetics and structural biology of IPMK mutants.​
Hometown - Miami, FL
Major in Biological Sciences
Major in Anthropology
Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
​Alexis N. Williams, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, T32 DK007673 Training Program in Gastroenterology
Structural analyses of full-length nuclear receptors by lipids, compounds and PTMs.
Hometown - Kingston, TN
​
B.S. Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Post-Bac Structural Biology Oak Ridge National Research Lab, TN (Hugh O'Neil)
RA Physiology & Biophysics University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (James Hall)
Ph.D. Biomedical Sciences / Biophysics University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (Thomas Smith)
PostDoc Integrative Structural Biology Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
See Alexis' Publications on PubMed
Sophia Danzeisen - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2022)
Functional analyses of IPMK in human glioblastoma cell lines.
Hometown - Napa, CA
Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Major in Neuroscience
Major in Medicine, Health and Society
Katrina Poon - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2022)
Computational structure-function analyses of NR5A ligand binding domains.
Hometown - Poughquaq, NY
Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Major in Molecular Biology
Minor in Chinese
​
Daniel Hess - Laboratory Technician
Expression, purification and biophysical analyses of nuclear receptor ligand binding domains.
Hometown - Franklin, TN
B.S. Psychology University of Tennessee Knoxville
Minor Biology
​
​Masoud Ghamari-Langroudi, MD, PhD - Research Assistant Professor
IPMK pharmacology in SF-1 expressing neuroendocrine cell lines.
M.D. Internal Medicine Iran Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Shiraz, Iran)
M.Sc. Physiology Mcgill University, Montreal (Mladen Glavinovic)
Ph.D. Physiology Mcgill University, Montreal (Charles Bourque)
Fellowship Neurology University of Alberta (Jack Jhamandas & Ashfaq Shuaib)
PostDoc Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Vanderbilt University (Roger Cone)
RAP Diabetes, Endo & Metabolism Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
See Masoud's Publications on PubMed
Meredith Mattlin - Masters in Medicine Health and Society, Vanderbilt University
Correlating intravenous drug abuse with hepatocellular carcinoma in electronic medical records.
Hometown - Manhattan, NY
Major in Medicine, Health and Society
Major in Sociology
Minor in Film
Pre-Medical student, Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Corey D. Seacrist - PhD Student, Vanderbilt Quantitative Chemical Biology Program
NIH Predoctoral Fellow, T32 DK007563 Molecular Endocrinology Training Grant
NIDDK National Research Service Award, F31DK120214-01
Integrated structural approaches to understanding nuclear receptors, and chemical biology of IPMK.
Hometown - Charleston, SC
B.S. Biochemistry College of Charleston, SC
B.S. Molecular Biology College of Charleston, SC
B.A. Chemistry, Minor in Math College of Charleston, SC
MBA Master of Business Admin College of Charleston, SC
Intern Technology Transfer Medical University of South Carolina
Ph.D. Pharmacology Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
Anushka Choudhary - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2019)
​
The effects of dietary and environmental chemicals on liver cancer gene expression.
Hometown - Houston,TX
Major in Neuroscience
Major in Child Development
Pre-Medical student, Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
​Monica Bhanot, MD, PhD - Vanderbilt Endocrine Clinical Fellow
Molecular mechanism of LRH-1 activation by small molecules in the liver.
Hometown - New York, NY
B.A. Classical Civilization New York University, New York, NY
M.D. General Medicine State University of New York, Buffalo, NY
Ph.D. Biomedical Sciences Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY
PostDoc Pathology New York University Medical Center
Resident Internal Medicine State University of New York, Buffalo, NY
Fellow Diabetes & Endocrinology Vanderbilt University Medical Center
See Monica's Publications on PubMed
​Gregory A. Sowd, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow
Discovery and characterization of IPMK-regulated transcriptional units.
Hometown - North Canton, OH
B.S. Biochemistry Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
Minor Math
Minor Chemistry
Specialist Environmental Health University of Pittsburgh, PA (Patricia Opresko)
Ph.D. Biological Sciences Vanderbilt University (Ellen Fanning)
PostDoc Dana Farber Cancer Institute Harvard University (Alan Engelman)
PostDoc Biochemistry & Pharmacology Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
Phoebe Ahn - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2020)
Structural analyses of novel nuclear receptor/phospholipid complexes.
Hometown - Chicago, IL
Major in Chemistry
Major in Medicine Health and Society
Major in Spanish
Pre-Medical student, Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Grayson Thompson - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2018)
Correlating intravenous drug abuse with hepatocellular carcinoma in electronic medical records.
Hometown - Greensboro, NC
Major in Medicine, Health and Society
Pre-Medical student, Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Jamal M. Bryant - PhD Student, Vanderbilt Interdisciplinary Graduate Program
Nuclear Phospholipid regulation of NR5A Nuclear Receptors.
Hometown - St. Petersburg, FL
B.S. Biochemistry Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL)
Ph.D. Pharmacology Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
See Jamal's Publications on PubMed
Mark K. Crowder - PhD Student, Vanderbilt Interdisciplinary Graduate Program
Mechanisms of nuclear PIP3 gene regulation in liver cells.
Hometown - Nashville, TN
B.A. Biology Fisk University (Nashville, TN)
B.S. Dinner Conversation Nashville Culinary Institute (Nashville, TN)
Ph.D. Pharmacology Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Urvashi Mathur - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2018)
​
The effects of dietary and environmental chemicals on liver cancer gene expression.
Hometown - Houston, TX
Major in Neuroscience
Major in Medicine Health and Society
Minor in Spanish
Pre-Medical student, Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences
Daniel Press - Undergraduate Researcher (Vandy Class of 2019)
​
Mechanisms of nuclear PIP3 gene regulation in liver cells.
Hometown - Boca Raton, FL
Major in Biological Sciences
Minor in Chemistry
Pre-Medical student, Vanderbilt University College of Arts and Sciences
Sara Ramirez - PhD Student, Vanderbilt Interdisciplinary Graduate Program
Winter 2018 Rotation Student
Chemical biology of the nuclear lipid signaling kinase IPMK.
Hometown - Fort Collins, CO
B.S. Biochem, Cell & Mol Biology University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN)
Minor Chemistry University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN)
Ph.D. IGP Program Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Jonah Zarrow - PhD Student, Vanderbilt Quantitative Chemical Biology Program
Fall 2017 Rotation Student
Biophysical and structural analyses of nuclear PIP3 reader proteins.
Hometown - Los Angeles, CA
B.S. Biopsychology Tufts University (Boston, MA)
B.S. Chemistry Tufts University (Boston, MA)
Ph.D. QCB Program Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
See Jonah's Publications on PubMed
Sheryl Anne Vermudez - PhD Student, Vanderbilt Interdisciplinary Graduate Program
Spring 2016 Rotation Student
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation of nuclear signaling enzymes
Hometown - Pinili , Philippines
B.S. Biochemistry Chaminade University of Honolulu (Honolulu, HI)
B.S. Forensic Science Chaminade University of Honolulu (Honolulu, HI)
Ph.D. Vanderbilt IGP Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Kelvin Luong - PhD Student, Vanderbilt Interdisciplinary Graduate Program
Fall 2016 Rotation Student
Novel biochemical functions for PH domains.
Hometown - Winnetka, CA
B.S. Biochemistry California State University (Northridge, CA)
Ph.D. Vanderbilt IGP Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Danielle Worrell - Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology (VICB) Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates Student
Jun 2016 - Aug 2016
Using natural product kinase inhibitors to examine NR5A nuclear receptor target gene epxression.
Hometown - Harrisburg, PA
Biology Student, Tuskegee University
​Bree L. Hamann, PhD. - Postdoctoral Fellow
Dec 2015 - Jul 2016
IPMK regulation of nuclear lipid signaling in cancer cells.
Hometown - Dickinson, ND
B.A. Chemistry & Biology Minnesota State (Moorhead, MN)
B.A. East Asian Studies Minnesota State (Moorhead, MN)
Ph.D. Biochem, Biophysics, & Mol Bio University of Minnesota (Arkady Khodursky)
Analyst Biochemistry Vanderbilt University (Walter Chazin)
PostDoc Biochemistry & Pharmacology Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
​
​Nathaniel C. Gilbert, PhD. - Postdoctoral Fellow
Jan 2016 - May 2016
Structural analyses of the human orthologue of IPMK.
Hometown - West Monroe, LA
B.S. Biology Lousiana State University
Chemistry Minor
Ph.D. Biochemistry Lousiana State University (Marcia Newcomer)
PostDoc Biochemistry Vanderbilt University (Tina Iverson)
PostDoc Biochemistry Vanderbilt University (Ray Blind)
​
Daniel Chazin - Biochemistry Research Associate
Sep 2016 - Mar 2016
Biochemical protein expression, purification and characterization.
Hometown - Oakland, CA & Nashville, TN
B.A. Sociology Pitzer College, Claremont, CA
PostBac Protein Biochemistry Vanderbilt University
Center for Structural Biology
Don E. Davis - PhD Student, Vanderbilt Department of Chemistry
2016 Winter Rotation Student
Mammalian expression and purification of the human orthologue of IPMK.
Hometown - Greenville, MS
B.S. Chemistry Tougaloo College, Mississippi
Ph.D. Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University Department of Chemistry
Tyson Rietz - PhD Student, Vanderbilt Interdisciplinary Graduate Program
2015 Fall Rotation Student
High-density bioreactor overexpression of NR5A nuclear receptors.
Hometown - Granite Bay, CA
B.S. Chemistry Emmanuel College - Boston, MA
Biochemistry Emmanuel College - Boston, MA
Ph.D. Vanderbilt IGP Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
