Lab Members

Dr. Duncan earned her doctorate in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed two post-doctoral fellowships in reproductive science - one in the Department of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania and one in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University. Her first independent faculty appointment was as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She joined Northwestern University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in October 2017 and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2022. In addition to running an independent research laboratory, Dr. Duncan is the co-Director of the Center for Reproductive Science and Director of the Master of Science in Reproductive Science and Medicine program.

Dr. Converse earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from The University of Texas at Austin and her PhD in Marine Science from the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. Her PhD work utilized fish models to examine the role of the dual membrane androgen receptor and zinc transporter ZIP9 in the ovary, specifically in granulosa cell apoptosis and egg zinc dynamics. Dr. Converse joined the Duncan Lab in 2021 as a postdoctoral fellow. While in the Duncan Lab, she will investigate how age-associated changes in hormone and intracellular signals modulate ovarian aging. In October of 2022, Dr. Converse was promoted to Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Reproductive Science in Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Hoi Chang Lee earned his PhD from University of Massachusetts at Amherst in Animal Biotechnology & Biomedical Sciences. During his thesis study, his research focused on understanding the mechanisms of calcium signaling and channel pathway during fertilization. He completed post-doctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Teresa K. Woodruff in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University where he has broadened his research interests and expertise to include mammalian ovarian follicle biology, zinc biochemistry, and Oncofertility. In 2020, he was promoted to Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University. He joined the laboratory of Dr. Francesca E. Duncan in 2020 and his current projects focus on reproductive aging and discovering novel targets for contraceptive development using the oocyte.

Dr. Jeff Pea earned his PhD in Biomedical & Biological Sciences from Cornell University. His doctoral work focused on ovarian morphology features in ultrasonography in the detection and evaluation of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) under the supervision of Dr. Marla Lujan. Before his thesis research, Jeff worked with Dr. Paula Cohen to investigate the role of meiotic repair proteins in spermatogenesis. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of British Columbia, where his undergraduate work with Dr. Geoffrey Hammond focused on genetic and hormonal regulation of steroid hormone-binding proteins. Jeff joined the Duncan lab in 2023 as the Scientific Lead for the Ovarian Contraceptive Discovery Initiative (OCDI).

Dr. Campo graduated as a bioengineer from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, earning a bachelor of Bioscience Engineering and a master in Biomolecular Engineering. He received his PhD at the Universitat de València where he used tissue-engineering techniques to create natural biomaterials from whole uteri and endometrial tissue to improve standard culture methods used in reproductive science. His research interest focuses on using bioengineering and microfluidics to create physiological relevant in vitro models of the female reproductive tract. He joined to Duncan lab to elucidate the broad effects of non-hormonal anti-conceptive compounds on an in-house developed female-reproductive-tract-on-a-chip.

Dr. Alisha Ramos earned her PhD in Molecular Biology from the National University of Singapore, where she conducted pioneering research on the transcriptional regulation of the oncogene WBP2 in breast cancer. Her work provided vital insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying breast cancer development. Dr. Ramos combines her expertise in molecular biology with a passion for scientific communication, striving to effectively disseminate complex scientific knowledge to a broad audience. She is currently a member of the Ovarian Contraceptive Discovery Initiative (OCDI) at the Duncan Lab, focusing on the development of non-hormonal contraceptives.

Shweta earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Rutgers University, where she double-majored in Genetics and Comparative Literature and minored in Spanish. During her undergraduate education she worked in the laboratory of Dr. Karen Schindler where she studied the molecular basis for differences in the binding affinity between human and mouse Aurora kinase B in oocytes. She is currently a graduate student in the Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences and is investigating how ovarian inflammaging promotes ovarian cancer tumor initiation and expansion.

Prianka graduated from Muhlenberg College with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and a Bachelor of Arts in Gender and Sexuality Studies. During her undergraduate career she worked in the laboratory of Dr. Jeremy Teissere studying the modulating effects of herbal anxiolytics on the GABAA Receptor. She also worked with Dr. Kate Richmond looking at the ethics of transnational surrogacy arrangements. She is currently a PhD/MPH student in the Driskill Graduate Program and is investigating the role of the cGAS-STING pathway in ovarian inflammaging.

Anna graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BS and MS in Physiology and neurobiology. During this time she completed thesis research in the lab of Dr. Akiko Nishiyama on the effect of pilocarpine induced seizure activity on NG2+ cells in the mouse hilum. She then went on to work as a Research assistant in the laboratory of Dr. Tony De Falco in the Division of Reproductive Sciences at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where she studied testicular development and function. She is currently a PhD student in the Driskill Graduate Program and is investigating cumulus cells across the reproductive lifespan with a focus on the pubertal transition and reproductive aging.

Caroline graduated from Rutgers University-New Brunswick with a BA in Genetics. As an undergraduate, she worked under the direction of Dr. Karen Schindler investigating the efficacy of an activator binding site inhibitor in disrupting Aurora kinase function at the chromosomal passenger complex in mouse oocytes. She is currently part of the Medical Scientist Training Program at Northwestern University and pursuing her PhD in the Duncan lab. Caroline is working within the Ovarian Contraceptive Discovery Initiative and explores the utility of oocyte-specific maturation pathways as potential non-hormonal contraceptive targets.

Emily graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University, where she double-majored in Biology and Science in Human Culture. During her undergraduate training, she worked in the laboratory of Dr. Teresa Woodruff where she worked on investigating the ovotoxicity of 3D-printed dental resins and developed an adipocyte organoid model. She is currently a MD/PhD student in the Medical Scientist Training Program and is investigating the spatial distribution of ovulatory pathways as part of the Ovarian Contraceptive Discovery Initiative.

Mariam graduated from Michigan State University where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Genomics and Molecular Genetics with a minor in Global Studies. During her undergraduate years, she worked in Dr. Gemma Reguera's lab to study the middle ear microbiome, and worked alongside Dr. Sue Grady to investigate global maternal mortality. She is currently a student in the Masters of Science in Reproductive Science and Medicine at Northwestern University. In the Duncan Lab, Mariam is working within the Ovarian Contraceptive Discovery Initiative to explore the relationship between follicle activation and ovulation.

Samantha graduated from Augustana College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in pre-medicine with a double major in Spanish for professional use and a minor in religion. She is currently a student in the Master of Science in Reproductive Science and Medicine program at Northwestern University.

Dr. Atazhanova has earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and minor in Communication from Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan in 2016. She then obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree from Nazarbayev University School of Medicine which is partnering with the University of Pittsburgh SOM. Dr. Atazhanova graduated from the University of Oxford with MSc in Clinical Embryology in 2021. During her thesis work she investigated how IVF practices were associated with recurrent pregnancy loss. Tomiris has strong interest in human reproductive health, infertility, translational and clinical research. She has been awarded with funding for the research internships in Australia and USA. In the Duncan lab, Tomiris is a Clinical Research Associate and is involved in several projects including Reproductive Tissue Library studies, SenNet project and GCRLE.

Pooja received her MBBS degree from Government Medical College, Akola, in India and has worked as a Medical Officer, mainly in the areas of Emergency Medicine and Maternal and Child health. She graduated from the Master of Science in Reproductive Science and Medicine (MS-RSM) program at Northwestern University in June 2023 for which she worked on investigating and mapping the markers of cellular senescence in the human ovary under the SenNet consortium in the Duncan Lab. She has now joined the lab as Research Technologist III and will be leading daily laboratory operations as well as SenNet project management.

Yuna graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BS in Animal Science. As an undergraduate, she worked in the lab of Dr. Jodi Flaws and studied the effects of DEHP on folliculogenesis and steroid hormone levels. She graduated from the Master's in Reproductive Science and Medicine at Northwestern University. In the Duncan Lab, she works as a research technologist in the SenNet team and leads the laboratory histology core.

Victoria graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology. Upon graduation, she worked as a clinical researcher to conduct experiments for preimplantation genetic testing for monogenetic disorders (PGT-M). Victoria then earned her Master of Science degree in Reproductive Science and Medicine from Northwestern University before joining the Duncan Lab. During her time in the graduate program, Victoria completed her non-thesis research with Dr. Hoi Chang Lee on elucidating the changes in zinc dynamics in post-ovulatory aged oocytes.