Principal Investigator
Patrick W. Oakes
Associate ProfessorDepartment of Cell & Molecular Physiology
Ph.D. Physics, 2009
Brown University
Brown University
poakes@luc.edu
Postdoctoral Scholars
Alexia Caillier
Postdoctoral Scholar
Ph.D. Cellular & Molecular Biology, 2021
Laval University (Canada)
Laval University (Canada)
acaillier@luc.edu
Graduate Students
Cara Barnett
Joint with Beach LabPh.D. Student - Cell & Molecular Physiology
M.Sc. Genetic Counseling, 2020
The Ohio State University
B.S. Biology, 2018
Centre College
The Ohio State University
B.S. Biology, 2018
Centre College
cbarnett4@luc.edu
Sasha Demeulenaere
Joint with Beach LabM.D./Ph.D. Student - Cell & Molecular Physiology
NIH F30 Fellowship
B.S. Bioengineering, 2020
University California, Berkeley
University California, Berkeley
sdemeulenaere@luc.edu
Joey Tidei
Joint with Beach LabPh.D. Student - Cell & Molecular Physiology
B.S. Neurobiology 2014
University of Wisconsin - Madison
University of Wisconsin - Madison
jtidei@luc.edu
Maggie Utgaard
Joint with Beach LabPh.D. Student - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
M.S. Neuroscience, 2021
Loyola University Chicago
B.S. Biology & Neuroscience, 2019
Augustana College
Loyola University Chicago
B.S. Biology & Neuroscience, 2019
Augustana College
mutgaard@luc.edu
Alumni
Shreya Chandrasekar
2019-2025 PhD Student
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Next Position:
Postdoc at Eli Lilly
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Next Position:
Postdoc at Eli Lilly
Stefano Sala, PhD
[1] Sala et al. bioRχiv (2025)
[2] Sala & Caillier et al. J Cell Sci, 137(18):jcs261338 (2024)
[3] Schmitt et al. Cell 187(2):481-494 (2024)
[4] Wagner et al. eLife, 12:e72681 (2023)
[5] Sala & Oakes. Curr Biol, 33(9):R339-341 (2023)
[6] Seetharaman & Sala et al. Meth Mol Biol, 2600:169-182 (2023)
[7] Bennet et al. bioRχiv (2022)
[8] Sala & Oakes. Mol Biol Cell, 32(18):1758-1771 (2021)
[2] Sala & Caillier et al. J Cell Sci, 137(18):jcs261338 (2024)
[3] Schmitt et al. Cell 187(2):481-494 (2024)
[4] Wagner et al. eLife, 12:e72681 (2023)
[5] Sala & Oakes. Curr Biol, 33(9):R339-341 (2023)
[6] Seetharaman & Sala et al. Meth Mol Biol, 2600:169-182 (2023)
[7] Bennet et al. bioRχiv (2022)
[8] Sala & Oakes. Mol Biol Cell, 32(18):1758-1771 (2021)
Owen Cramer
2025 Summer Undergraduate Student
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Lee Troughton, PhD
Asia Paguntalan
2021-2023 Masters Student
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Next Position:
Research Specialist, Naba Lab @UIC
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Next Position:
Research Specialist, Naba Lab @UIC
Nick Reilly
2016-2019 PhD Student
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Next Position:
PhD Student in Pipher group at Rochester
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Next Position:
PhD Student in Pipher group at Rochester
Austin Skeeters
2016-2019 Masters Student
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Next Position:
Software Engineer at Vertex Solutions
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Next Position:
Software Engineer at Vertex Solutions
Lydia Petricca
2019 Undergraduate Researcher & REU Summer Student
University of Rochester
Next Position:
PhD Student at UVA
University of Rochester
Next Position:
PhD Student at UVA
Maham Zia
2019 REU Summer Student
Reed College
Reed College
Denis A. Ortega Ioni
2018 REU Summer Student
Florida International University
Florida International University
@pwoakes
PubMed
ORCiD
Google Scholar