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Lab Members

Meet the Duncan Lab team members. We welcome requests for information about our work and collaboration opportunities. To learn more about our PI's work, visit Dr. Duncan's faculty profile.

Principal Investigator

Francesca  E. Duncan

Francesca E. Duncan, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Thomas J. Watkins Memorial Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Reproductive Science and Medicine); Co-Director, Center for Reproductive Science

f-duncan( at )northwestern.edu
312-503-2172

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.

Read Francesca's Bio

Research Professor

Aubrey Converse

Aubrey Converse, PhD

Research Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Reproductive Science in Medicine)

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.

Read Aubrey's Bio
Hoi Chang Lee

Hoi Chang Lee, PhD

Research Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Reproductive Science in Medicine)

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.

Read Hoi Chang's Bio

Senior Scientist

Jeff  Pea, PhD

Jeff Pea, PhD

Scientific Lead for the Ovarian Contraceptive Discovery Initiative (OCDI)

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).

Read Jeff's Bio

Postdoctoral Fellow

Farners Amargant

Farners Amargant, PhD

Dr. Amargant has earned a Masters in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biomedicine from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and her industrial doctorate in Biomedicine from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Her PhD research focused on the characterization of the human sperm centrosome and its role in (in)fertility that she carried out at the Center for Genomic Regulation (Dr. Isabelle Vernos) and at Clinica Eugin (fertility clinic – Dr. Rita Vassena). Farners joined the Duncan Lab in 2018 as a post-doctoral scholar. In the Duncan lab her research focuses on understanding several mechanisms underlying reproductive aging, specifically in the stroma and in the oocyte.

Read Farners's Bio
Hannes Campo

Hannes Campo, PhD

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.

Read Hannes's Bio
Jing Li

Jing Li, MD, PhD

Multi-institutional Postdoctoral Fellow

Jing obtained her MD and PhD from China. Her PhD research training combined clinical practice research at Guo’s lab, Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, and basic biomedical research at Laird’s lab, Department of Obstetrics Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, UC San Francisco. In Guo’s lab, Jing’s research training mainly focused on the pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and age-related fertility decline and miscarriage, exploring their treatment outcomes after Fresh Embryo Transfer or Embryo cryopreservation and transfer; In Laird's lab, Jing explored the ovarian aging phenotypes and underlying pathogenesis associated with the Lamin A/C (LMNA) mutations in a premature aging disorder, Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS). In the Duncan lab, Jing works on a multi-institutional postdoc project funded by Cornell University. Her current research is to determine the associations between the expression of naked mole-rat HMW-HA (nmrHas2) in mice and ovarian inflammation and fibrosis. Jing is passionate about basic and translational medicine research in individualizing fertility preservation and treatment associated with aging.

Read Jing's Bio

Graduate Students

Shweta Dipali

Shweta Dipali, BA

DGP Student

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.

Read Shweta's Bio
Prianka H. Hashim

Prianka H. Hashim, BS/BA

DGP/MPH student

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.

Read Prianka's Bio
Caroline Kratka

Caroline Kratka, BA

MSTP Student

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.

Read Caroline's Bio
Emily Zaniker

Emily Zaniker, BA

MSTP Student

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.

Read Emily's Bio

Masters Students

Mariam Charles

Mariam Charles

MS-RSM student, class of 2024

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.

Read Mariam's Bio
Pooja Devrukhkar

Pooja Devrukhkar, MBBS

MS-RSM Student, class of 2023

Pooja received her MBBS degree from Government Medical College, Akola, in India. She then worked as a Medical Officer, mainly in the areas of Emergency Medicine and Maternal and Child health. She is currently a graduate student in the Master of Science in Reproductive Science and Medicine (MS-RSM) program at Northwestern University. In the Duncan Lab, Pooja is working on investigating and mapping the markers of cellular senescence in the human ovary.

Read Pooja's Bio

Undergraduate Students

Rhea Sharma

Rhea Sharma

Undergraduate Researcher

Rhea is currently a senior at Northwestern University, matriculating to Feinberg School of Medicine. She is finishing a BA in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Human Health and Disease, and a minor in Art History. Rhea has worked on Duncan Lab projects such as investigating the age-related and caloric restriction effects on ovarian follicle counts and investigating the age-related effects of the mouse fallopian tube. She is currently working with Caroline Kratka on investigating spatial transcriptomic gene visualization of ovaries.

Read Rhea's Bio
Carol Vieira de Magalhaes

Carol Vieira de Magalhaes

Undergraduate Researcher

Carol is a Junior at Northwestern University majoring in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Molecular and Developmental Biology. Previously, she did research at the Church Lab at Harvard Medical School studying brain and skin aging. Specifically, she studied how reprogramming affects cellular age, and assisted in a genome-wide neuron genetic screen to find age-associated genes. Before this experience, Carol also spent a year engineering enzymes to catalyze FDA-approved drugs with cell-free protein synthesis at the Jewett Lab at Northwestern. She is passionate about extending reproductive longevity and contributing to research that she believes will increase female healthspan and give women greater reproductive choice. Carol is working with Dr. Amargant to study ovarian fibrosis and how to prevent it.

Read Carol's Bio

Research Staff

Hannah Anvari

Hannah Anvari, MS

Research technologist

Hannah graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BS in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She graduated from the Masters for Reproductive Science and Medicine program at Northwestern in 2021. Her thesis research focused on investigating racial disparities in ovarian aging.

Read Hannah's Bio
Asma Giornazi

Asma Giornazi, MS

Research program coordinator

Asma received her Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from the University of Colorado Boulder where she investigated upstream open reading frames in mammalian ovarian aging under Joshua Johnson. She then pursued a Master's in Reproductive Science and Medicine from Northwestern University investigating zinc mechanisms in post-ovulatory aged oocytes under Hoi Chang Lee. Currently, she is working as a Research Program Coordinator under Dr. Francesca Duncan and Dr. Mary Ellen Pavone.

Read Asma's Bio
Yuna Lee

Yuna Lee

Part-time research technologist

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 is currently a graduate student in the Master's in Reproductive Science and Medicine at Northwestern University. In the Duncan Lab, she is working as a part-time technologist in the histology core.

Read Yuna's Bio
Victoria  Zhu

Victoria Zhu, MS

Research technologist

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.

Read Victoria's Bio

Visiting Scholar

Stella  Pollyanne de Oliveira, MS

Stella Pollyanne de Oliveira, MS

Stella is a biochemist graduated from the Federal University of São João del Rei. She gained her master's degree in Applied Biochemistry from the Federal University of Viçosa. Her PhD is in the graduate program in Bioengineering at the Federal University of São João del Rei under the supervision of Dr. Paulo Henrique de Almeida Campus-Junior. In the Duncan Lab, Stella will work to identify new regulators of follicle development as part of a grant sponsored by CAPES.

Read Stella's Bio

Alumni

 2023

Ariel Halle (2023) - Winter Rotation Graduate Student in the Driskill Graduate Program (Northwestern University)

Anna Heinrich (2023) - Winter Rotation Graduate Student in the Driskill Graduate Program (Northwestern University)

 2022

Prianka Hashim (2022) - Winter Rotation Graduate Student in the Driskill Graduate Program (Northwestern University)

Hannah McDowell (2022) - Spring Rotation Graduate Student in the Driskill Graduate Program (Northwestern University)

Teresa Chou (2022) - Summer Rotation MSTP Program (Northwestern University)

Sam Gauthier (2022) - Summer Undergraduate Student (Purdue University)

 2021

Kelsey Andersen, MS (2021-2023) - Research Technologist

Claire Chaikin (2021) - Summer Rotation Graduate Student in the Driskill Graduate Program (Northwestern University)

Adebukola Fetuga (2021) - Summer Undergraduate Student (Northwestern University)

Rebecca Gu (2021-2022) - Summer Post-baccalaureate Student (Northwestern University)

Preeta Kamat (2021) - Undergraduate Student (Northwestern University)

Emmett Kelly (2021-2022) - Summer High School Student (Oak Park River Forest High School)

Caroline Kratka (2021) - Summer Rotation Graduate Student in the Medical Scientist Training Program (Northwestern University)

Soraya Rahini (2021-2022) - High School Student (Horace Greeley High School)

Katy Trotter, MS (2021-2023) - Lab Manager

 2020

Elnur Babayev, MD (2020-2022) - Research Clinical Fellow (Northwestern University)

Grace Foley (2020) - Spring Rotation Graduate Student in the Driskill Graduate Program (Northwestern University)

Madison Gowett (2020-2022) - MS Reproductive Science and Medicine (Northwestern University)

Megan Larmore (2020) - Spring Rotation Graduate Student in the Driskill Graduate Program (Northwestern University)

Chanakarn Suebthawinkul, MD (2020-2022) - MS Reproductive Science and Medicine (Northwestern University)

Sarah Wagner (2020-2022) - Project Manager

 2019

Raveena Aggarwal (2019-2022) - Medical Student (Northwestern University)

Rebecca Ayiku (2019) - Summer Undergraduate Student (Northwestern University)

Camille Mulcahy (2019-2022) - Histology Technician

Naty Pascuali, PhD (2019) - Summer Visiting Scholar (Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Rakel Romar, PhD (2019) - Summer Visiting Scholar (University of Murcia, Spain)

Kalyn Thayer (2019) - Summer Rotation Graduate Student in the Medical Scientist Training Program (Northwestern University)

Karen Velez (2019-2022) - MS Reproductive Science and Medicine (Northwestern University), Lab Manager

Emily Zaniker (2019) - Summer Rotation Graduate Student in the Medical Scientist Training Program (Northwestern University)

 2018

 

Jamie Mara (2018 - 2020) - MS Reproductive Science and Medicine (Northwestern University)

Gillian Rubenstein (2018) – Histochemical Society Capstone Fellow and Marcia Storch Undergraduate Research Scholar (Northwestern University)

 2017

Shula Horton (2017) – Summer High School Student (Northwestern University)

Ronni Manuel, MD (2017-2019) – MS Reproductive Science and Medicine (Northwestern University)

Jordan Machlin (2017-2019) – MS Reproductive Science and Medicine (Northwestern University)

Leah Simon (2017-2019) – MS Reproductive Science and Medicine (Northwestern University)

Jenny Rowley (2017-2019) – MS Reproductive Science and Medicine (Northwestern University)

 2016

Austin Armstrong (2016) – Medical Student (University of Kansas Medical Center)

Allison Grover (2016-2018) – MS Reproductive Science and Medicine (Northwestern University)

Atsuko Kusuhara, MD (2016-2018) – MS Reproductive Science and Medicine (Northwestern University)

Natalie Quan (2016-2017) – MS Biotechnology Student (Northwestern University)

Luhan Tracy Zhou (2016-2022) - Former Lab Manager, Research Associate, Operations Lead for the Ovarian Contraceptive Discovery Initiative

 2015

Shawn Briley (2015-2016) – Research Technologist (University of Kansas Medical Center)

 2014

Susmita Jasti, PhD (2014-2016) – Senior Scientist (University of Kansas Medical Center)

John Kelsh (2014-2016) – Undergraduate Student (University of Kansas Medical Center)