Matthias C Truttmann, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator (P.I.)

mtruttma@umich.edu

I was born and raised in a small village surrounded by the Swiss alps in the heart of continental Europe. I obtained my Ph.D. in Microbiology & Systems Biology from the University of Basel, Switzerland in 2010.  After a 2-year stint as asset and liability manager for a Swiss consulting company, I joined the lab of Hidde Ploegh at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research / MIT as a postdoctoral fellow. In July 2018, I joined the Medical School at University of Michigan to start my own lab. Ever since, I enjoy working with my lab members on various projects related to proteostasis regulation.

Outside of the lab, I enjoy hanging out with my family, exercising, playing and coaching ice hockey, cooking, and baking.

Billy Giblin, Ph.D.

Research Investigator

wgiblin@umich.edu

I was born and raised in the smallest state of Rhode Island.  I didn’t travel very far north when I attended Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA.  After graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry, I moved to Ann Arbor, MI, working as a research technician at the University of Michigan.  Shortly thereafter, I decided to remain at UM to pursue a Ph.D. in the Department of Human Genetics. I graduated in 2017 and am currently a Research Investigator in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology.

Outside of the lab I enjoy running, nature documentaries, Ann Arbor’s vibrant restaurant scene, and watching football and basketball (Go Blue!)

Benedict Abdon, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

babdon@.mich.edu

I am originally from a small city in the Bay Area (Oakley, California) and attended San Francisco State University where I majored in Cell and Molecular Biology. After working as a pathology assistant at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco for a few years (and not liking it), I transitioned into academic research for a M.S. in Physiology and Behavior at SFSU. I then moved to Ann Arbor to pursue my doctorate at the University of Michigan, where I received my PhD in Molecular and Integrative Physiology in 2023.

Currently, all my free time has been dedicated to my daughter, Phoebe (3 months old at the time this was written). Outside of Phoebe, I enjoy playing and watching soccer, being outdoors, amateur photography, and sleeping.

Shannon Lacy, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

lacysh@umich.edu

I grew up in San Mateo, California (Bay Area) and then switched coasts to attend Colgate University in upstate New York where I majored in Molecular Biology and minored in German. After graduating in 2016, I worked at the National Institutes of Health for two years as a post-bac and developed my research interests in proteostasis-related diseases. I earned my PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Michigan in 2024 and am excited to continue pursuing research topics in the proteostasis field with an emphasis on cardiovascular disease. When not in lab, I enjoy running, drinking too much coffee, and taking pictures of my wonderful cats, Mocha and Obi!

Nicholas Urban

Graduate student (Molecular & Integrative Physiology)

urbanni@umich.edu

I grew up in the just southwest of Chicago in a town called Lemont, Illinois. I was an NCAA student-athlete at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I majored in Biomedical Science with a minor in Chemistry and graduated in 2019. I suppose my decision to attend graduate school at the University of Michigan must make me an honorary Michigander! I am a senior graduate student and plan to defend my thesis in summer 2025. 

In my free time I enjoy playing sports with friends, listening to vinyl records, playing video games, and exploring nature. 

Kate M. Van Pelt

Graduate student (Cellular & Molecular Biology)

kvanpelt@umich.edu

I was born in Chicago, IL and grew up in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI. I then headed to Ohio to attend Oberlin College, where I developed research interests in neurodegeneration and protein aggregation. I graduated in May 2018 with a B.A. in Neuroscience and minors in Chemistry and Philosophy. After graduation, I returned to the "mitten"  to pursue my doctoral degree here at Michigan. I am currently a 6th year PhD Candidate in the Cellular and Molecular Biology Program (CMB). 

Outside of the lab, I enjoy rock climbing, skiing, and knitting.

Mirella A. Hernández-Lima

Graduate student (Neuroscience)

hernm@umich.edu

 I am a graduate student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Biopsychology at California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB). My goal is to advance the field of sensory neuroscience through innovative research while fostering an inclusive environment that empowers emerging scientists from diverse backgrounds.

Corey Stewart

Graduate student (Neuroscience)

stewcj@umich.edu

I was born and raised in a very small Appalachian town in Virginia called Pennington Gap. I hopped just across the VA/TN state line to do my Bachelor’s in General Biology (with a minor in programming) at East Tennessee State University. After graduating in 2019, I worked as an IT specialist and computer instructor at The Crumley House Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center in Limestone, TN. I moved to Ann Arbor in 2021 to complete a Master’s in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. After finishing that in 2023, I decided to stay in Ann Arbor to join the Neuroscience Graduate Program to pursue my PhD. 

In my free time, I enjoy powerlifting as a part of the University of Michigan Powerlifting Club, playing video games, going to metal concerts, watching football, and dressing up as a Viking for Renaissance Faires.

Eric Primack

Graduate student (Molecular & Integrative Physiology)

ericprim@umich.edu

 I was born and raised in Oak Park, California, and graduated from the University of Arizona in the Spring of 2023. At the U of A, I obtained a B.S. in Biochemistry with a minor in Mathematics. Currently, I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Molecular and Integrative Physiology Ph.D. program where I get to do what I love: analyze and learn more about the molecular mechanisms of the human body. In the Truttmann lab I study how post-translational modifications of molecular chaperones are altered through aging in C. elegans, potential AMPylases in mammals and nematodes, and the functional similarity between cytosolic Hsp70 chaperones . 

My hobbies include playing guitar, learning new songs and writing some of my own; travelling, learning and experiencing all the world has to offer; and playing board games and video games with friends.

Sarah Tabler

Research Technician

tablersa@med.umich.edu

I grew up in Midland, Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University in 2020 with a major in Genomics and Molecular Genetics and a minor in Anthropology. In 2021, I joined the Truttmann lab as a research assistant. In my free time, I enjoy knitting, drinking tea, and meeting other people’s dogs.

Elijah Wiseman

Undergraduate Researcher

ewiseman@umich.edu

I was born and raised in White Plains, New York, and am a junior in LSA majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and minoring in Middle Eastern Studies. I joined the Truttman lab in 2023 and before that was a research assistant in the MCDB Wang lab since 2022. As a pre-medical student, I love learning about molecular processes, particularly cell membrane processes and transport. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, running, mountain biking, and woodcarving.

Adam Klaiss

Undergraduate Researcher

akleiss.umich.edu

My name is Adam Klaiss, and I’m an undergraduate student studying Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at Michigan. I’m originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is about two hours west of Ann Arbor. In the future I hope to pursue a PhD in the molecular basis of disease. I think C. elegans are fascinating organisms and enjoy doing experiments that utilize their unique biology. Outside of the lab I’m a member of the University of Michigan Cheer team and have won 2 national championships as a part of the team. I also enjoy weightlifting, baking and philosophy.