Lab Team
David Barefield, PhD
Assistant Professor
Hometown: Oak Park, IL
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Postdoctoral Fellowship, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
McNally Lab. 2014-2020
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PhD, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL.
​Sadayappan Lab. 2009-2014
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BA, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL. 2005-2009
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Hobby: Cooking, baking, painting, gardening
Research interest: Cardiac contractile dysfunction, cardiomyopathy, HCM, DCM, arrhythmia, atrial function, atrial fibrillation, myosin binding proteins
Project: Mostly emails. Occasionally investigates the genetic causes of cardiomyopathies.
Quote: “We recruit for attitude and train for skill,” - Atul Gawande
Hope Burnham
Master’s Student
Hometown: Germantown, WI
BS in Chemistry, The University of Alabama, 2019
Hobby: Cooking, Painting/drawing, hiking
Research interest: Genetic determinants of heart disease
Project: Determining the Role of Myosin Binding Protein H-like in Development and in Ventricular Conduction System Dysfunction
Quote: "Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you." - Aldous Huxley
Hannah Cizauskas and Jake
IPBS PhD Student
Hometown: Westland, MI
BS in Biology with a Concentration in Genetics, 2021
Hobby: Spending quality time with my dog and my family, reading, camping, hiking, and swimming
Research interest: Genetics
Project: The role of contraction in Atrial Fibrillation
Quote: "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them" - Walt Disney
Alexandra Pena
Position: Research Assistant II
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Bachelors of Science (BS) in Biology at Bradley University.
Hobby: Reading and watching new shows
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Alejandro Alvarez-Arce, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Assitant
Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
Postdoctoral position. INR, Mexico City, 2021.
Ph.D. Biomedical Science. UNAM, Mexico City, 2020.
B.S. Biologist. UNAM, Mexico City, 2012.
Hobby: To sing, play guitar and piano and footbol soccer
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Research interest: GPCR's and cardiac diseases
Project: Role of MyBPHL in sarcomere dynamics and function
Quote: “We are all mortal until the first kiss and the second glass of wine.”
- Eduardo Galeano
Geena Fritzmann, MS
Research Assistant III/Lab Manager
Hometown: Chicago, IL
B.S. Michigan State University 2016.
M.S. DePaul University, 2020.
Hobby: Playing with my corgi Olive, going to concerts, and hiking
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Research interest: A little bit of everything in the Barefield Lab
Project: Queen lab
Quote: "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
-John Muir
Kelly Araujo, MS
Ph.D. Candidate
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
M.S. Biochemistry, California State University, Long Beach, 2022.
B.S. Biochemistry, Mount St. Mary's University, Los Angeles, 2017.
Hobby: Shopping and watching The Office
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Research interest: Cardiovascular Physiology
Project: Altering the stoichiometry of MyBP-HL and cMyBP-C affects cardiac atrial contractility
Quote: “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” -Marie Curie
Lucas Wittenkeller
Research Assistant II
Hometown: Minooka, IL
BS in Neuroscience and Psychology; North Central College; Naperville, Illinois​​, 2020.
Hobby: Basketball + Reading
Research interest: Environmental impacts on disease; substance abuse
Project: Conserved mechanisms of motility and actomyosin activity of MYBP-HL
Quote: "We make a living by what we get; We make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill
