Darby Agovino

About me:I’m originally from St. Louis, MO, and earned my undergraduate degree at North Park University in Chicago. Outside of the lab, you can usually find me outdoors—often at the Point—reading a book, or organizing with Graduate Students United.


I study how hypoxia shapes cancer cell metabolism, with a current focus on hypoxia-induced dependencies on riboflavin metabolism in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). More broadly, I’m interested in how biological redundancy and metabolic recycling influence cancer progression and therapy response.

Contact: agovino [] uchicago.edu

Guillaume Cognet, PhD

About me: Hey everyone! I’m originally from Lyon, France and I did my PhD in Toulouse on acute myeloid leukemia. You’ll know I’m in the lab if you can hear music in one of the rooms! I’m always looking for a place to hike and a mountain to climb, but when I’m in Chicago, I really enjoy grabbing a drink out in the sun and go to a concert! Science interests: I’m currently working on how nutrients can drive chemoresistance in PDAC but I’m interested in all interactions tumor cells can have with their environment and how their metabolism reflects that. Also, I’m interested in how tumor cells metastasize and what metabolic demands they have to meet in order to disseminate.

Contact: cognetg [] uchicago.edu

Patrick Jonker

Hey team! I’m a PhD student in the CCB, originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I did my undergraduate degree in biochemistry at Calvin College (now it’s a University… but I refuse to adapt). In my free time I like to play the cello and guitar, listen to music, read (a little!), run (less than Colin!), and spend time in nature. Some fun facts about me: I love dogs and cats equally; I have read Harry Potter three times (I’m a proud Hufflepuff); my cat’s name is Soup.

Science interests: I’m interested in the way immune populations are affected by tumor microenvironmental nutrient stress. I’m particularly interested in tumor associated macrophages in pancreatic cancer. What causes macrophages to trend towards helping cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment rather than killing them? I’m otherwise interested in how the various cell types in the tumor microenvironment talk to each other. How do they each support each other’s proliferation and survival?

Contact: pbjonker [] uchicago.edu

Elyse Schechter

About me: Hello! I am originally from Raleigh, North Carolina. I did my undergrad at UNC Chapel Hill (go heels!) and I’m currently a graduate student in the CCB program. Outside of lab I enjoy doing yoga, cooking, and spending time with my cat Paprika. Science interests: I am interested in tumor evolution and how the microenvironment facilitates tumor progression. Particularly, what drives cancer cells to metastasize and then survive in new environments.

Contact: egschechter [] uchicago.edu

Colin Sheehan

About me: Born in the Chicago suburbs & received my BS in biological sciences from Notre Dame. Currently, I’m a graduate student with the committee on cancer biology. In my free time, you’ll catch me running up & down the Chicago lakefront trail!

Science interests: I am most interested in understanding how solid tumor cells solve bioenergetic & other metabolic problems, created by stressors inherent in the tumor microenvironment. I’m also fascinated by intercellular communication, and how different cell types coordinate to support cancer cell proliferation.

 
Contact: csheehan3 [] uchicago.edu

Erin Szuromi

About me: I’m from Rochester New York (Go Bills) and got my undergrad from Swarthmore College in Biology and Physics.

I’m a post bacc in the lab working with the lipid team! I was a swimmer in college (and now an aspiring triathlete) and love open water swimming in Lake Michigan:) When I’m home the northeast I really like camping, hiking, and sailing! My scientific interests include using metabolomics to study how the tumor microenvironment shapes cancer cell metabolism, creating vulnerabilities that can be therapeutically targeted.

 
Contact: erinszuromi [] uchicago.edu