Team
Basic Science Research Team
Bahiyyah 'Mia' Jefferson
Cell/Molecular Expert
Yifan 'Paul' Zhou
Research Specialist
Paul’s primary project uses wireless optogenetics to understand explore pain in a model of neurogenic pancreatitis.
Christopher 'Chris' Sullivan
Mouse Colony Manager
Clinical Pancreas Research Team
Kristen Hall
Clinical Coordinator
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 neural-immune mechanisms regulating pancreas cancer development and progression.
Metrah Mohammed Nader
MS3, Class of 2023
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. In her free time she likes to cook, bake, and learn new languages (she speaks Russian, Farsi, and Uzbek fluently).
Former Lab Members
Julien Maliha
Biomedical Master’s Program ’20
Neeharika Nallapati
Undergraduate Researcher