Principal Investigator
Laura G. Schuettpelz, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Hematology & Oncology
Laura Schuettpelz was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. After graduating from Creighton University, she completed a PhD in molecular biology from Northwestern University. With a desire to combine her passion for science and an interest in clinical medicine, she then pursued an MD at Northwestern University as well. Schuettpelz came to Washington University in 2005 for her pediatrics residency and fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology. She completed her postdoctoral work with Daniel Link, MD, in 2013 and opened her own laboratory at Washington University.
Personnel
Qian Dong
Staff Scientist
Qian Dong joined the Schuettpelz lab in June 2019 as a research technician. She received her Master’s degree from the Huazhong Agricultural University in China.
Ashley Jones, BS, MS
Research Technician II
Ashley joined the Schuettpelz lab in March of 2023 as a Research Technician. In 2021, Ashley graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana. She then received a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from Webster University in 2022. In her free time, she enjoys learning new recipes, volunteering, shopping, and spending time with her family.
Copper Petermeier, BA
Research Technician II
Copper hails from Duluth, MN before moving to St. Louis to get his BFA in Acting from the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University, as well as his BA in Biology. Aside from being a laboratory technician, Copper works night shifts in the emergency department as a medical scribe and works evenings as an unpaid mime, Glassy, who stubs his toe a lot. He is an avid lover of Terror Tacos and adores tattoos in almost all forms.
Luana Chiquetto Paracatu, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Luana received her master’s degree in Hematology in 2012, and completed a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from São Paulo State University in 2016. Her research was focused on neutrophils and NADPH oxidase drug discovery. She joined the Schuettpelz research group in 2019 to pursue hematopoietic stem cell research focused on the role of TLR signaling in HSCs and clonal hematopoiesis. In her free time, she likes to watch TV shows, volunteer, write short stories, and spend time with her two cats and friends.
Mousumi Chakraborty, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Mousumi Chakraborty was born and grew up in West Bengal, India. She received her doctoral degree in Physiology from the Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta in Kolkata, India. She reached Saint Louis in 2016 and started working as a post-doctoral fellow in Saint Louis University in the area of inflammation and immunity. She joined Schuettpelz Lab in February, 2022. Her current research focuses on the role of inflammation in the regulation of hematopoietic stem cell function. Her work will elucidate the role of toll like receptor signaling in mouse model of Myelodysplastic syndromes. In her free time she loves to make craft-work, gardening and travel around new places.
Mithra Lakshmi Narasimhan
Clinical Fellow
Mithra is a clinical fellow in pediatric hematology/oncology here at Wash U/SLCH. She joined the lab in 2023. She completed her MD from Meenakshi Medical College and Research Institute, India, and did her pediatrics residency at Texas Tech University Health Science Center. She started fellowship in 2022. Mithra is interested in developing new therapies for hematologic malignancies.
Patrick Hunt, BS
Post-baccalaureate student
Patrick graduated from Saint Louis University and received a degree in neuroscience. He joined the lab in 2023 as a member of the Wash U Post-Baccalaureate Program in Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine. In his free time, he enjoys improv and practicing public speaking with Toastmasters International.
Jie Wang
Undergraduate Student
Jie is a junior at Washington University in St. Louis. She is from Memphis, TN, and studies biology and music. She joined the lab in 2021.
Mia Warmka, BS
Post-baccalaureate student
Mia grew up in Shakopee, Minnesota and came to Saint Louis to pursue her undergraduate degree in Biology at Saint Louis University. She joined the Schuettpelz lab here at Wash U in 2022 and takes part in the Post-Baccalaureate Program in Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine. In her free time, she likes to explore new restaurants in St. Louis, bake, and play pickleball.
Past Personnel
Alicia Bach, MD
Clinical Fellow
Alicia is from Dallas, TX, and completed her undergraduate degree at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. She then did her MD at the University of Texas Medical School and residency in pediatrics from the University of Florida College of Medicine. She joined the lab in 2019, and her research is focused on understanding the role of the tetraspanin CD53 in regulating malignant B lymphocyte development. Using human leukemia cells, she is exploring the potential role of this protein as a new therapeutic target in B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In her free time, Alicia enjoys spending time with her dog Monty, reading a good book, and binging Netflix.
Rachel Bartnett
Undergraduate Student
Lauren Bendesky
Undergraduate student
Lauren Bendesky is a sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis. She is a pre-medical student studying biology and anthropology. After graduating, she plans to continue on to medical school.
Sima Bhatt, MD
Clinical Fellow, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Sima Bhatt joined the Schuettpelz lab in July 2015 as a clinical research fellow. She received her MD from Rush Medical College. After completing her residency in pediatrics at the University of Chicago, she moved to St. Louis for her fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
Zev Greenberg, BS
Graduate Student
Hailing from Allentown, Pennsylvania, Zev Greenberg joined the Schuettpelz lab in December 2016 as the lab’s first graduate student! He is a student in the Developmental, Regenerative, and Stem Cell Biology program. He received his bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College in 2016, majoring in chemistry and biochemistry, where his thesis research focused on measuring carcinogens in coal-tar based asphalt sealant. His undergraduate research also included elucidating the function of the transcription factor Scalloped in Drosophila wing development. Currently, His graduate work involves investigating the role of the tetraspanin CD53 in hematopoiesis.
Angela Herman, MD
Clinical Fellow, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Angie joined the Schuettpelz lab in July 2013 as a clinical research fellow. She received her MD from the Chicago Medical School. After completing her residency in Pediatrics at the Mayo Clinic, she moved to St. Louis for her fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
Luke Keller, BS
Research Technician
Luke Keller joined the Schuettpelz lab in February 2016 as a research technician. He received his bachelors from the University of Missouri in Biology and History in 2015.
Katie Leonard
Research Technician
Darlene Monlish, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Darlene Monlish joined the lab in 2013 as a postdoctoral research associate. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005 and then worked at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute until 2008. She completed a PhD in Pharmacology/Toxicology from Duquesne University in 2013 before moving to St. Louis to pursue her interest in pediatric oncology research.
Dagmar Ralphs
Research Technician