meet the team

Get to know a little about the people behind the research.

Chris COntag - Principal Investigator

A pioneer in molecular imaging, Dr. Contag also serves as the Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. His research at MSU will change the way the world thinks about biomedicine through developing new technologies and approaches for precision health and medicine to change how healthcare can be delivered to patients. Dr. Contag graduated from the University of Minnesota with both an undergraduate degree in biology and a Ph.D. in microbiology.

yuki harada - Research Associate

Yuki is a research associate in the Contag lab. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from National Institute of Technology, Ibaraki College and holds a master’s degree in Molecular Microbiology from Ibaraki University. He is an expert on amplification-based nucleic acid detection for molecular diagnostics with years of experience both in industry and academic institutions in Japan and USA. His current project focuses on identifying a cause of giraffe skin disease using skin microbiome analysis. He enjoys indoor/outdoor bouldering and cooking when not in the lab..

bige unluturk - assistant professor

Seock Jin CHung - post doc

Seock-Jin is a postdoctoral research in the Institute for Quantitative Health Sciences and Engineering at Michigan State. He has a Bachelor’s in Biology from Hanyang University and a PhD in Medicine from Seoul National University. In the lab, Seock-Jin works on Micro-endoscopy for early detection of colon cancer and Implantable microscope for study epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). Outside of work he enjoys watching sports, and playing video games.

evran ural - grad student

Evran is researching the effect of chronic inflammation in carcinogenesis, otherwise known as immunocarcinogenesis. Specifically, she is focusing on how inflammatory bowel disease causes colorectal carcinoma, starting with in vitro models and eventually moving into mice and pigs. We aim to characterize and detect early nanoarchitectural changes in tissue undergoing chronic inflammatory conditions so we can reverse or prevent early stages of field carcinogenesis. When Evran is not in the lab she enjoys yoga, climbing, and meeting new people.

ehsanul Hoque apu - Post DOc

Ehsanul works as a postdoctoral researcher in the Institute for Quantitative Health Sciences and Engineering at Michigan State. He will be working on various projects related to early cancer detection, tissue generation and the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) on cancer. Before joining MSU, Ehsanul gained a PhD in Dental Medicine from the University of Oulu, Finland. He has a Masters of Science in Experimental Oral Pathology from the Queen Mary University of London, and holds a Bachelor's in Dentistry from the University of Dhaka. Outside the lab, Ehsanul loves to take macroscopic pictures and traveling with his family and friends.

emily greeson - grad student

Emily is a second year PhD student in the department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Michigan State University. She also has a Bachelor’s of Science in Biochemistry from Saginaw Valley State University. In the lab, Emily works on a variety of projects including chemical and magnetic control of a novel operon, ribothermometers, magnetotactic bacteria, and a Nevada black bear population project. Outside of work she enjoys stained glass, watching soccer, and learning to sail on Lake Lansing.

lukose thampy - MEd student

Lukose is a first year medical student at Michigan State interested in oncology. He earned his Bachelor's in Biomolecular Science at the University of Michigan, an M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics from Georgetown University in 2016, and then trained as a Research Assistant in Immunology & Infectious Diseases for 2 years under Richard Hotchkiss, M.D., at Washington University School of Medicine.. Lukose has a particular interest in cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. In the lab, he will be working on the link between chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis with a focus on defining factors which initiate and/or precede transformation of normal epithelial cells. Other interests include listening to jazz, mountain climbing, and learning new skills.

Melissa Schott - Undergrad Student

Melissa is a senior undergraduate student at Michigan State working towards her degree in Genetics from Lyman Briggs College. She hopes to attend medical school after graduating. In the lab she works with Ashley Makela and is generating a mutant library of magnetotactic bacteria. Her interests outside of the lab include competing on the MSU Equestrian team and running.

Heather hazzard - administrative associate

michael bachmann - associate professor

Ashley Makela - post doc

Ashley just joined the Institute for Quantitative Health Sciences and Engineering at Michigan State as a Postdoctoral Researcher. She completed her PhD in Medical Biophysics with a specialty in Molecular Imaging at Western University in London, Canada. At Michigan State she plans to use the new magnetic particle imaging system and work with magnetotactic bacteria. The goal is to combine the two areas of study for imaging and eventually, non invasive cellular control. Outside of the lab, Ashley has two beautiful dogs and likes to travel when she can. 

ahmed zarea - grad student

xuan xie - grad student

Emily neeb - undergrad student

past members

Brenda Lippincott - Executive Staff Assistant

Brenda is an experienced Executive Staff Assistant with over 20 years experience with all administrative tasks, including high demand calendaring. Having held positions in the business and medical fields, Brenda is able to tailor her skills to meet the needs of MSU faculty and staff. She has attended many professional development programs as well as planned several conferences and events. Brenda graduated from Davenport University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.

COdy madsen - grad student

Cody is in his first year of his PhD in Biomedical Engineering. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Michigan State in 2018. Cody is working on developing a new organism by using a free-living bacterium genome as a model. This new organism could be used to manipulate mammalian cells for non-invasive remote control of tissue regeneration. His interests outside of lab include power-lifting, motocross and soccer.

chima maduka - grad student

Chima is a student in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State, where he studies comparative medicine and integrative biology. He obtained his DVM from University of Maiduguri, where he holds an adjunct lecturer position. In the lab, he plans to investigate new ways of differentially labeling newly-formed osteoblasts to distinguish them from native bone cells and to study the differentiation of iPSCs to skeletal stem cells.  In his free time, Chima volunteers, learning new cultures & languages, playing soccer and, more recently, basketball.

TOmoko Marumo - Visiting Scholar

lauren parker - office coordinator ii

Maryam sayadi - assistant professor

nureddin shammakhi - senior specialist

shakhlo aminova - grad student

anthony tundo -

max kuhnert -

victoria toomajian - Grad student

Victoria is a second year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering. She graduated from Michigan State University in 2017 with a degree in Materials Science and Engineering. Victoria's research interests include tissue engineering and biomaterials. Her current research is focused on using extracellular vesicles as a delivery tool to the heart. Outside of research, Victoria likes playing Dungeons and Dragons, embroidery, and embodying Ina Garten. She is the world's youngest 70 year old.

cort thompson - grad student

Cort Thompson is a doctoral student of Biomedical Engineering at Michigan State University. His research focus is on utilizing his broad skillset in molecular biology, neuroscience, and material science to find novel ways to integrate technology with the nervous system. His most recent published works evaluate the neuronal bio-compatibility of key bio-materials and the utilization / development of powerful new gene expression systems to control cell populations proximal to implanted neural devices. During his time at MSU, he aims to better define the essential design parameters for neural probe fabrication, characterize tissue response to implanted devices at the molecular level, and to find novel ways to create a more confluent integration of biotic and abiotic elements at the brain-machine interface.

VInce Volpone - undergrad student

Vince is a sophomore undergraduate student at Michigan State working towards attaining his Chemical Engineering degree with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering. In the lab, he works with Cody Madsen and is generating an inducible gene construct for controlling bacterial cell division. His interests outside of the lab consist of tinkering, playing music, and biking.