Current Lab Members
Ben McNair, MS
Ben graduated in 2018 from Linfield University with a B.S in Exercise Science, then moved to Wyoming to begin working in the HEART Lab. He completed his MS in Kinesiology and Health in Spring 2020. He is now a PhD candidate in the BMS program, working on several projects including:
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High altitude and pulmonary hypertension
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Fibrosis in right sided heart failure
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Mechanisms of RV aging
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Right ventricular reverse remodeling
Ben's interests include:
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Pickleball
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Bachelor in Paradise & Love is Blind
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Photography
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Cooking
Sam Shorthill
Sam graduated from UW with a B.S. in Physiology and is now a 2nd year graduate student in the Kinesiology & Health Masters program. Her project studies:
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Sex differences in cardiac aging, investigating the role of the PAD gene and citrullination.
Sam's interests include:
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Traveling
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Tennis
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Pickleball
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Spending time outdoors
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Emma Mehl
Emma grew up in El Dorado Hills, California and graduated with her B.S. from the University of Wyoming in May 2023 in physiology and biology. After being an undergraduate researcher in the HEART lab, she is now pursuing her masters. Emma's research interest focus on:
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Effects of hypoxia on the right ventricle and other striated muscle
Emma's interests include:
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Swimming
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Skiing
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Baking
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Liz finished her BS in Physiology in 2022 before starting the MS program. Serving as a medic in the WY Army National Guard is where she found her passion for medicine. She hopes to attend medical school following completion of her MS. Liz's project is focused on
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Pulmonary artery banding (PAB) as a surgical model of right heart failure
Liz's interests include:
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Hiking
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Horseback riding
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Weightlifting
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Liz Straight
Julian Matthews
Julian is everyone's favorite HEART Lab member because he keeps all the mice alive and happy. After working in the lab as an undergraduate, he became our Animal Coordinator. He's responsible for breeding, genotyping, and all kinds of other important things.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Vaishnavi Bhavsar Sahar Faqeeri Josh Thornburg Marjie Schmitt Finley Klinger Kevin Fontana Alexis Ker Emma Fodor
HEART Lab Alumni
Ian Ostler- Arizona College of Optometry
Courtney Hughes- Cardiovascular Institute of Scottsdale
MacKenzie DeHoff- University of Nebraska Medical Center DPT
Ross Cook- WWAMI Medical Education (Wyoming)
Jacob Zumo -WWAMI Medical Education (Wyoming)
Kenton Stephens- WWAMI Medical Education (Alaska)
Zack Fullerton- Emergency Medical Technician, Grand Avenue Urgent Care
Aykhan Yusifov, PhD- UCSF Postdoctoral Fellow
Dorcas Odogwu- Research Assistant, University of Texas
Sydney Polson- Medical Assistant; Laramie Reproductive Health
Megan Borders- Emergency Room Technician, Ivinson Memorial Hospital
Mushu Yusifova- Lab Manager, UCSF
