Hartman Lab Winter 2022 (left to right):
Kristina Stayer, Zaria Killingsworth, Taia Mendenhall, Kelly Misare, Kate Glorioso, Jessica Hartman, Abby Ryan, and Kaitlan Sullivan
Jessica H. Hartman, Ph.D.
Dr. Jessica Hartman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at MUSC. Dr. Hartman completed her Ph.D. in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in the lab of Dr. Grover P. Miller, where she studied cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) enzyme kinetics. In her F32- and, K99-funded postdoctoral position in the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University working with Dr. Joel Meyer, she extended her research to include in vivo models (cell culture and Caenorhabditis elegans), with a particular focus on metabolic influences on mitochondrial function and toxicity.
Kelly Misare, M.S.
Kelly Misare is a Research Specialist II in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. Kelly earned her Masters Degree from the University of Delaware focusing on Molecular Biology and Genetics. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree at Pace University in Pleasantville, NY where she majored in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry, graduating Magna Cum Laude.
Tsultrim Mendenhall, B.S.
Tsultrim (Taia) Mendenhall is a Research Specialist I in the Hartman Lab. Before joining the lab in September 2022, Taia completed her degree in Biology from College of Charleston. Her project is focused on the role of subcellular-targeted CYP2E1 in liver in driving responses to ethanol and a high-fat diet.
Hyland Gonzalez, B.S., B.A.
Hyland Gonzalez is a student in the Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences program at MUSC and joined the Hartman lab in June 2023. Hyland graduated with a dual degree in Biology and History from Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC. Following her degree, Hyland spent a year with us in the PREP program before starting her graduate work. Her project is focused on studying the effects of chronic alcohol use on alcohol metabolizing enzymes in the CNS.
Kristina Stayer, B.S.
Kristina Stayer is a student in the Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences program at MUSC and joined the Hartman lab in June 2023. Kristina graduated with a B.S. degree in Genetics from NC State University in Raleigh, NC. Her project is focused on studying the biochemical role of CYP2E1 in lipid handling in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Kaitlan Sullivan, B.S.
Kaitlan Sullivan is currently a student in the Masters of Biomedical Sciences program at MUSC. Her thesis project in the Hartman lab is a collaborative project with Dr. Mindy Engevik exploring the pathogenicity of different Acinetobacter strains using the model organism C. elegans.
Zaria Killingsworth
Zaria Killingsworth is an undergraduate Chemistry major at the College of Charleston, and is currently an undergraduate researcher in the Hartman lab. Her project focuses on the interaction of high lipid load and CYP2E1 in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Abigail Ryan
Abigail Ryan is a an undergraduate Biochemistry major at the College of Charleston, and is currently an undergraduate research volunteer in the Hartman lab. Abby’s project is measuring mitochondrial function and levels of the metabolic enzyme CYP2E1 in the brain and liver of rats fed a ketogenic diet. Within that study, she is also comparing the effects of age and sex on the ketogenic diet response.
Lab Alumni
Jasmin Johnson, B.S.
Jasmin Johnson was a post-baccalaureate Research Specialist in the Hartman lab from Jan 2021-May 2022. Jasmin earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at the College of Charleston. Her research in our group focused on the effect of exercise on neurotoxicity of mitochondrial toxicants. She is currently completing her M.S. in Biomedical Science at Wake Forest University.
Elizabeth Ampolini, B.S.
Elizabeth Ampolini was an undergraduate researcher in the Hartman lab in MUSC’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) in Summer 2021. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree at NC State University. Her research in our group focused on the sensitivity of polyploid worms to chemotherapeutic drugs. She is currently a Ph.D. student in the Biomedical Science program at MUSC, working in the lab of Dr. David Long (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology).
Kathryn Glorioso, B.S.
Kathryn (Kate) was a Research Specialist I in Hartman Lab from August 2022 to July 2023. Before joining the lab, Kate earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Eastern University and completed post-baccalaureate studies in Biology and Physiology at Georgia Southern University. Kate’s project is focused on MANF and its role in mediating unfolded protein responses in the endoplasmic reticulum and the mitochondria, and the role of exercise in these processes in C. elegans. Kate is currently a Ph.D. student in the Biomedical Sciences program at MUSC.
Benjamin Deaton
Benjamin Deaton is a an undergraduate Neuroscience major at the University of South Carolina, and is currently an SURP student in the Hartman lab. Benjamin’s project is measuring mitochondrial expression of HSP70 in normal and cancerous liver tissue and the impact of HSP70 inhibition in cancer cell lines. This project is in collaboration with Dr. Tim Barnoud (MUSC Biochemistry).