LAB MEMBERS

KARI LENHART

Principle Investigator

Kari completed her undergraduate degree at Ursinus College and went on to complete her Ph.D. at Princeton University. Following her Ph.D., Kari did a Postdoc in Steve Dinardo's lab at The University of Pennsylvania prior to starting her own lab at Drexel University in 2019.

RAJIV SAINATH, PhD

Staff Scientist

Rajiv Sainath completed his undergraduate degrees at UCLA and continued on to complete his PhD in Michael Granato's lab at the University of Pennsylvania studying motor axon guidance and branching. Following this, he did a postdoc and continued on as staff scientist at Temple University in Gianluca Gallo's lab studying the bioenergetics and cytoskeletal dynamics of axon growth and branching. Rajiv recently joined the Lenhart Lab in 2024 and is a jack of all trades and Imaris whisperer.

TIFFANY ROACH

Graduate Student

Tiffany graduated from Stockton University in 2019 with a B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology. While at Stockton, Tiffany did research in Dr. Steven Kalman's lab focusing on synthesis of organometallic complexes. She joined the Lenhart lab as a first-year Ph.D. student in 2020. Tiffany currently studies soma-germline interactions and maintenance of homeostasis in the testis.

BETH KERN

Graduate Student

Beth graduated from West Chester University in 2020 with a B.S. in biology and a minor in chemistry. She joined the lab as a first-year Ph.D. student in 2021. Beth currently studies tumorigenesis in the Drosophila germline.

CHRISTIE CAMPBELL

Graduate Student

Christie graduated from The University of Pennsylvania in 2022 with a B.A. in Biology. During her undergrad, she did research in the Zebrafish Core and Falk lab at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She joined the Lenhart lab as a first-year PhD student in 2023. Christie currently studies the compensation mechanisms driving tissue regeneration.

LAURA MILLER

Graduate Student

(Co-mentee, O'Donnell Lab)

Laura completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Scranton, where she completed an honors thesis investigating the role of bacteriophages in the social immunity of carpenter ants. She is being co-mentored by Dr. Lenhart and Dr. Sean O'Donnell. Laura is currently studying the cellular pathways behind caste-determined reproductive variation in eusocial paper wasps.

HAO LIN

Graduate Student

Hao graduated from Iowa State University in 2020 with a B.S. in Biology, followed by the completion of an M.S. program at Northeastern University in 2023. During his M.S. program, he conducted research on metabolic byproduct-induced neurotoxicity in human neural cell lines at Boan Biotech Company. He joined the lab as a first-year Ph.D. student in 2024. Hao currently studies somatic cell dynamics under stress conditions.

APREM ZAYA

Graduate Student

Aprem earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Washington & Jefferson College in 2019. After graduating, he worked as a research technician in Dr. Maggie Pearce’s lab at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia studying the role of Rab GTPases in mutant huntingtin protein transmission and seeding. He Joined the Lenhart lab as a 3rd-year Ph.D. candidate in 2024. Aprem’s project focuses on investigating mechanisms involved in maintenance of sexual identity in dimorphic tissue.

JESSICA HOFMANN

Research Technician

Jess graduated from Drexel University in 2022 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a minor in neuroscience. She spent time in the Garcia lab before getting an M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Jess is starting Drexel's accelerated nursing program in the Spring with hopes of becoming a CRNA.

RINA NOTANI

Undergraduate Student

Rina Notani is a second year Biology Major at Drexel University. Rina joined the lab for the Students Tackling Advanced Research (STAR) Program in June, and has continued her participation in lab afterwards. Rina has worked on elucidating the mechanisms that are required for dedifferentiation in germline stem cells; mainly investigating FGF signaling. Rina hopes to continue to pursue research during her time at Drexel.

SAM PRICE

Research Co-op

Sam is currently a fifth-year undergraduate studying Biomedical Engineering. Sam joined the Lenhart lab in January of 2024 following time spent in the Bethea Lab. He worked in the lab through Drexel's Co-op program and studied the mechanisms connecting tumorigenesis and de-differentiation.

Sam is continuing as an undergraduate volunteer and hopes to continue on to medical school.

ZACHARY BERKLEY

Undergraduate Student

Zach is a fifth-year undergraduate studying Biological Sciences and minoring in Biochemistry. Zach joined the Lenhart lab in June of 2024 after spending time at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Orthopedics Division as a research assistant. He currently studies soma-germline interactions and maintenance of homeostasis in the testis.
Zach is currently an undergraduate volunteer with plans to pursue medical school in the future.

ALUMNI

CARLOS BILLINI

M.S. 2022

Carlos is currenly a Research Associate at Integral Molecular.

JAMIE WARRICK

Technician

Jamie is currently a Research Technician at The University of Pennsylvania in the Mullins lab.

BRANDON WARD

Technician

Brandon is currenly a Medical Student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

SHARON DANIEL

Technician

Sharon is currently a graduate student at the University of Florida.

LAKSHMI PARVATHINATHAN

Undergraduate Researcher

Lakshmi is currently completing her B.S. at Drexel. Post-graduation, she will be working at CHOP as a Clinical Research Coordinator with hopes of attending medical school.

MAX OLSTAD

STAR Scholar, Summer 2021

Max is currently completing his B.S. at Drexel with hopes of attending medical school.

CARLIE RELYEA

Technician

Carlie graduated with a B.S in Biological Sciences. She hopes to continue on to a DPT program.

Alumni Student Testimonies

When asked about his experience in the Lenhart lab, Max Olstad said "Kari and my lab members, Tiffany, Beth, and Carlos, were instrumental in shaping my experimental mindset and understanding and love for biology." Max is currently applying to medical school for matriculation in 2025, and is excited for the applications of research to improving other's lives.