Principal Investigator

I was born in Nebraska, but mostly grew up in upstate New York. I completed my BS in Biochemistry at the University of Vermont in 2011, PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UCSF in 2016, and postdoctoral fellowship at UT Austin in 2022. I am currently passionate about studying the adult cycling uterus, and how uterine cells and tissues change their shape and behavior across the estrous cycle in rodents, and the menstrual cycle in humans. I've been privileged to have incredible mentors throughout my career, and the most critical part of my current role is to pass that mentorship forward to the best of my ability.

Outside of the lab, I love baking, cooking, reading, and teaching my two dogs and cat new tricks.

Research Assistant

Elizabeth was born in Texas and raised in Colorado. In 2023, she earned her B.A. from the University of Colorado Boulder with magna cum laude honors in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, along with a minor in Chinese. During her time at CU Boulder, she worked in Dr. Alexandra Whiteley’s lab, where her honors thesis focused on the role of Ubiquilin 2 in ALS mouse models and cortical neuron stress response. Elizabeth is excited to be working in the Roberson Lab learning more about uterine remodeling - she is currently investigating uterine phenotypes in conditional knockout mice. Elizabeth’s hobbies include reading, solving jigsaw puzzles, doing anything crafty, and snowboarding.

Elizabeth’s future goals include pursuing a Ph.D. She’s enthusiastic about cell biology and mechanisms of disease!

elizabeth.ung@cuanschutz.edu

Research Assistant

LeCaine grew up in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where her curiosity at a young age sparked an interest in natural sciences. She pursued a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Cornell College, graduating with honors. LeCaine explored various research topics in The Volle Lab at Cornell, including characterizing bacterial cell life and death and the biochemical pathways that drive antibiotic resistance. Currently, LeCaine is characterizing the three-dimensional structure of uterine gland remodeling and regeneration throughout the estrous cycle, focusing on how intercellular signaling pathways regulate branching morphogenesis and tissue regeneration.

LeCaine’s future goals include pursuing a Ph.D. with a focus on regenerative sciences, as well as empowering underprivileged youth to pursue and thrive in STEM education

lecaine.barker@cuanschutz.edu

Postdoctoral Researcher

After my five-year service in the United States Marine Corps as a cryogenic technician, I attended Iowa State University to obtain my bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. During my time at Iowa State University, I assisted a graduate student, Tibebe A Teklemariam, in Dr. Scott Nelson's lab identifying notable inhibition sites of the Mre11/Rad50 (MR) complex (DNA repair enzyme).

During my graduate studies at Washington State University and the University of Missouri-Columbia I became adept in systems biology, with a specific focus on the oviduct during pre-implantation development. Dr. Wipawee Winuthayanon and I integrated 3 independent bioinformatic techniques (bulk-RNA sequencing, single-cell sequencing, proteomics (LC-MS/MS)) to establish a large public database elucidating adaptive responses in the oviduct during fertilization and pre-implantation development over 4 sequential days.

I am excited for my next opportunity as a Postdoctoral researcher to study uterine remodeling with Dr. Elle Roberson!

Outside of the lab I enjoy gaming, reading, scheming science, listening to music and exercise. 

ryan.finnerty@cuanschutz.edu

First-year IPHY Rotation Student, Fall 2024

Natalia was born and raised in Minnesota. She attended the University of Iowa for her undergraduate studies and completed her B.S. in Human Physiology in 2023. During her time, she joined Dr. Erin Talbert’s lab and completed an honors thesis highlighting sexual dimorphisms in pancreatic cancer-induced cachexia. After graduating, she joined Dr. Andrea Bonetto’s lab as a PRA at CU Anschutz, continuing to learn about cancer cachexia. There, she characterized an ovarian cancer model and studied the role of tumor-derived RANKL on muscle and bone loss in vitro and in vivo. She also briefly studied the metabolic implications of colorectal cancer on glucose and insulin sensitivity. She is currently an Integrated Physiology graduate student at CU Anschutz with interests in reproductive health, endocrinology, metabolism, and cancer. Outside of lab, Natalia loves to hike, run, and rock climb.