Meet the team

Dr Mike Cowley
Associate Professor

Mike obtained his PhD in Developmental Genetics from the University of Bath, UK, and studied epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene transcription as a postdoc at King's College London, UK. He was the recipient of The London Law Trust Medal Fellowship in 2012 and established his group at NC State University in 2014.

Dr Rebecca Lichtler
Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Beca earned her BS in Public Health and PhD in Environmental Health Sciences from Tulane University. She joined the Cowley Lab in 2021. Beca is investigating how cadmium exposure perturbs body patterning during development through the disruption of key growth factor gradients.

Mark Simmers
PhD Student (Toxicology Program)

Mark completed his BS in Human Biology at NC State University and joined the Cowley Lab in 2017. He is studying the epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms that lead to impaired placental function in response to developmental cadmium exposure.

Sierra Riegl
PhD Student (Toxicology Program)

Sierra obtained her BS in Biology and BA in Chemistry at Meredith College, NC. Since joining the Cowley Lab in 2018, she has been studying the role of imprinted genes in driving non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a consequence of developmental exposure to cadmium.

Logan Dameris
PhD Student (Toxicology Program)

Logan graduated from Greenville University, IL, with a BA in Biology and Chemistry. He joined the Cowley Lab in 2020 and is investigating the importance of imprinted lncRNAs in cadmium-induced liver disease.

Vicmarie Marrero-Colon
PhD Student (Toxicology Program)

Vicmarie received her BSc in Chemistry from Universidad Ana G. Mendez in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She joined the Cowley Lab in 2020 to study the epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms through which developmental exposure to toxicants programs NAFLD.

Mariam Amin
Undergraduate Research Student (BS, Biological Sciences - Human Biology concentration)

Mariam joined the lab in 2021 to study the impacts of cadmium exposure on gene expression programs underlying growth and development. She is supported by the Provost's Professional Experience Program.

​Find out what our alumni did next!

Postdoctoral research scholars

Dr Marine Baptissart (2015-2020)

• Winner of Best Poster Award at the UNC CGIBD Annual Symposium
• Co-investigator on an NIDDK-sponsored pilot project
  
• Current position: Research Fellow, Male Reproduction and RNA Biology Group, NIEHS

Graduate students

Dr Katie Hudson (PhD, Genetics Program;  graduated May 2019)

• Winner of two Provost Research Awards
  
• Current position: NIH IRTA Postdoctoral Fellow, Mechanisms of Genome Dynamics Group, NIEHS

Undergraduate students

Cassie Starnes (BS, Zoology, and BS, Animal Science)

• Anticipated graduation May 2022

Brie Jones (BS, Biological Sciences - Integrative Physiology and Neurobiology concentration; graduated May 2020)

• Recipient of an Office of Undergraduate Research Grant
• Current position: Medical Assistant, Raleigh, NC

Sanya Mehta (BS, Nutrition Science; graduated May 2019)

• Subsequent position: Postbac IRTA, Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Group, NIEHS (news article in Environmental Factor)
  
• Current position: PhD in Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Jesse Tehrani (BS, Biological Sciences - Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology concentration; graduated May 2018)

• Recipient of an Office of Undergraduate Research Grant, and winner of an Outstanding Presentation Award at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
• Subsequent position: PhD in Genetics & Molecular Biology, Emory University
• Current position: Life Science Consultant, Durham, NC
  

Evan Walsh (BS, Biological Sciences - Human Biology concentration; graduated May 2018)

• Recipient of an Office of Undergraduate Research Grant, and winner of an Outstanding Presentation Award at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
  
• Current position: PhD in Bioinformatics, NC State

Emily Shiver (BS, Biological Sciences - Human Biology concentration; graduated May 2018)

• Current position: Pharmacy IV and Chemotherapy Technician, Jacksonville, NC
  

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Emma Marx (BS, Genetics, and BA, English; graduated May 2017)

• Current position: PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology, UNC Chapel Hill
  

Evan Lamb (BS, Biological Sciences - Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology concentration; graduated May 2017)

• Subsequent position: Masters in Biomanufacturing, NC State
  
• Current position: Senior Associate Scientist, Pfizer

Kelly Buddin (BS, Biological Sciences; graduated May 2017)

• Subsequent positions:
  • Research Technician, Albert Eye Research Institute, Duke University
  • Senior Research Technician, Locus Biosciences
• Current position: Associate Scientist, Bioventus
  

Research staff

Dr Christine Bradish,, Laboratory Manager

• Subsequent position: Plant Breeder, Avoca Inc., NC
• Current position: Extension Agent, University of Hawaii