Team
Basic Science Research Team
Bahiyyah 'Mia' Jefferson
Cell/Molecular Expert
Christopher 'Chris' Sullivan
Clinical Pancreas Research Team
Melanie 'Mel' Mays
Regulatory Specialist
Melanie Mays BS, CCRP is the Pancreas Research Team Clinical Research Manager. Melanie has over 20 years of experience in clinical and translational research. Her role is regulatory, drug safety reporting, SOPs, compliance, budgets, contracting and staffing for Pitt and multi-center clinical trials.Melanie Mays BS, CCRP is the Pancreas Research Team Clinical Research Manager. Melanie has over 20 years of experience in clinical and translational research. Her role is regulatory, drug safety reporting, SOPs, compliance, budgets, contracting and staffing for Pitt and multi-center clinical trials.
In her free time, Mel enjoys making jewelry.
Kimberly 'Kim' Stello
Clinical Lab Manager
Kim graduated from Community College with two Associates Degrees: Biology and Biotechnology, and has been working at the University of Pittsburgh for 15 years. Kim’s favorite band is Iron Maiden.
In her free time, Kim likes to go four-wheeling.
Trainees
Shilang 'Eason' Xiao
Visiting Scholar
Shilang studies medicine at the Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. His studies focus on the role of NRP1 in regulating pancreas cancer development and cancer pain.
Metrah Mohammed Nader
MS4, Class of 2023
Nader.Metrah@medstudent.pitt.edu
Metrah received her B.S from Portland State University where she studied science and sociology. She also received her MS in biomedical science from University of Pittsburgh. She is currently a medical student at University of Pittsburgh SOM. Metrah is working on studies to identifies biomarkers for chronic pancreatitis pain.
In her free time she likes to cook, bake, and learn new languages (she speaks Russian, Farsi, and Uzbek fluently).
Olivia Babyok
PhD student, Center for Neuroscience (CNUP) OLB42@pitt.edu
Olivia received her Bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University where she majored in biomedical sciences and performed research in the Kolber laboratory focused on amygdala contributions to bladder pain. She is currently investigating neural regulation of pancreatitis.
In her free time, Olivia enjoys horology.
Former Lab Members
Julien Maliha (Biomedical Masters Student, 2019-2020)
Neeharika Nallapati (Undergraduate Researcher, 2020-2022)
Yifan ‘Paul’ Zhou (Research Technician, 2022)