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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  

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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

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

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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

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Lab Alumni

Geena Fritzmann, MS

Position: Lab Manager

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Currently: Grants Manager at Dystonia Medical Research Foundation

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Hope Burnham, MS

Position: Master's Graduate Student

Hometown: Germantown, WI

Currently: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine MD/PhD Program

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Alexandra Pena

Position: Research Assistant II

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Currently: Loyola University Chicago, Molecular Pharmacology & Neuroscience

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Lucas Wittenkeller

Research Assistant II
Hometown: Minooka, IL

Currently: University of Cincinnati PhD Program

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