Ann L. Miller, Ph.D.

She/her/hers

Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

annlm@umich.edu | Instagram: @themillerlab | LinkedIn

Ann Miller earned a B.A. in Biochemistry at Gustavus Adolphus College. She completed her Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Yale University in Tony Koleske’s Lab and her Postdoc in Cell Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Bill Bement’s Lab. Her predoctoral work was funded by an NIH NRSA, and her postdoctoral work was funded by American Cancer Society and Helen Hay Whitney fellowships as well as a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Grant. Ann was recruited to the University of Michigan in 2011 as an Assistant Professor, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and Full Professor in 2024. Research from the Miller Lab, which has been funded by grants from the NIH and the NSF, has contributed to our understanding of how adhesion and barrier function are maintained and remodeled during cell shape change events in epithelia. Using Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog) embryos as a vertebrate model system, Miller’s group has revealed new information about how the small GTPases RhoA orchestrates the actin cytoskeletal dynamics responsible for epithelial cytokinesis and junction remodeling.  Recent Awards: Arthur F. Thurnau Professor (2025), Vice-Chair (2018) / Chair (2022) of the Signaling by Adhesion Receptors Gordon Research Conference, Co-organizer of the International Xenopus Conference (2023), Current Biology Editorial Advisory Board Member (since 2022), Class of 1923 Memorial Teaching Award from the University of Michigan College of Literature Science and the Arts (2018), Exceptional Mentor of the Year Award from the University of Michigan Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (2017), University of Michigan Biological Sciences Scholar (2010).  Other interests: spending time with my husband and our two kids, traveling, outdoor activities (biking, gardening, watching my son play baseball), taking walks with my dog, watching sports (esp. Michigan women’s volleyball and basketball), reading, drinking coffee.

More about Ann Miller | Ann Miller’s CV | “People and Ideas” article about Ann Miller in JCB

Catherine Redmond, Ph.D.

She/her/hers

Postdoc

catredmo@umich.edu

Cat earned a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a PhD in Cancer Biology from the University of Michigan. She worked at the National Cancer Institute as a high schooler and undergraduate, and at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases as a postbac. As a PhD student, Cat studied how keratin filaments regulate cell identity. Cat’s postdoc project will examine how keratin filaments cooperate with cell-cell junctions during cell fate decisions in development and cancer initiation. Awards: Bernard Maas Fellowship, Cancer Biology T32, NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award F99/K00. Other interests: Video games, pickleball, cooking and making cocktails, illustration and printmaking, biking, coffee.

Zie Craig, Ph.D.

He/him/his

Postdoc

craigsu@umich.edu | Instagram: @scraig719 | Twitter: @suzieq7190

Zie earned his B.A. in Biology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He then worked for several years outside of academia, before returning to Indiana University of Pennsylvania to earn his M.S. in Biology (Advisor: Robert Major). Zie recently defended his Ph.D. Thesis and is staying on in the lab as a short-term postdoc to finish up his publications. Zie is studying the various roles of Anillin in regulating contractility during cell-cell junction remodeling and repair, as well as in potential kidney disease pathogenesis. Activities: Science Communication Fellow. Awards: Cellular Plasticity and Organ Design Fellowship. Okkelberg Fellowship. Other interests: Dungeons and Dragons, videogames, baking, and spoiling my pets (cats, a horse, and a gecko).

Babli Adhikary, M.S.

She/her/hers

MCDB Ph.D. Student

babli@umich.edu | Twitter: @adhikary_babli | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/babli-adhikary

Babli earned her Integrated MSc. in Biological Sciences from UM-DAE Center for Excellence in Basic Sciences, India.  She completed her Masters’ thesis in Max-Planck Institute of Cell biology and genetics, Dresden, Germany (Advisor: Dr. Natalie Dye). Babli is studying the role of mechanosensitive channel (MSCs), in maintaining barrier function and cell-cell junction integrity of Vertebrate epithelia. She is also interested in the function of MSCs’ at the cleavage furrow of a dividing cell.  Activities: Mentor in Project SHORT (https://www.project-short.com), Volunteer at Michigan DNA Day.  Other interests: Painting, reading novels, traveling, amateur oenophile, and playing board games with friends.

Katherine Koning

She/her/hers

CMB Ph.D. Student

kmkoning@umich.edu

Katherine earned her B.S. in Biochemistry from Calvin University. Katherine is studying the role of Zyxin and LPP, mechanosensitive LIM domain containing proteins, in maintaining epithelial barrier function and cell-cell junction integrity at tricellular junctions, the point where three cells meet. Activities: CMB Short Course Committee, CMB Program Committee, Volunteer at Michigan DNA Day. Awards: Benard Maas Fellowship, CMB NIH T32 Predoctoral Training Grant. Other interests: dancing, baking, reading novels.

Samantha Wheeler

She/her/hers

CMB Ph.D. Student

samwh@umich.edu

Sam earned her A.S. in Natural Sciences from SUNY Erie Community College and her B.A. in Biology at SUNY Buffalo State University. Her thesis project is studying regulation of cytokinesis by neighboring cells in epithelial tissues. She is interested in the small GTPases RhoA and Rac1, as well as their associated GEFs (guanine nucleotide exchange factors). Awards: Rackham Merit Fellowship, Rackham Recruitment Grant, 2024 CMB New Student Service Award. Activities: MI DNA Day volunteer. Other interests: Knitting, baking, reading, trying interesting beers, and organizing elaborate potlucks.

Andrea Laboy-Figueroa

She/her/hers

MCDB Pathways M.S. Student

laboyfia@umich.edu

Andrea earned her B.S. in General Biology from University of Puerto Rico at Humacao. Andrea is working on optimizing the Flipper-TR membrane tension probe for use in Xenopus embryos and live imaging of cytoplasmic calcium dynamics as epithelial cells change shape. Other interests: Anime, crochet, music, reading.

Alexander Chang

He/him/his

Undergraduate Student – independent research

abcchang@umich.edu

Ashley Shahi

She/her/hers

Undergraduate Student – independent research

ashahi@umich.edu

Elizabeth Nwagwu

She/her/hers

Undergraduate Student – Horizons Summer Research Intern

ennwagwu@umich.edu

Kylie Lianez

She/her/hers

Undergraduate Student – lab assistant

lianezka@umich.edu

Kylie pours plates, makes solutions, aliquots reagents, changes frog water, and generally makes sure the lab runs smoothly!