People
Doug Mashek
Doug is currently a Professor with a primary appointment in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics (BMBB) and a secondary appointment in the Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism. Doug earned his B.S. from Iowa State University, M.S. from Michigan State University and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. Doug did his postdoctoral training in Nutritional Biochemistry at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Outside the lab, Doug loves cooking, running, biking and pretty much anything outdoors.
Mara Mashek
Mara is the "boss" of the laboratory and a multi-tasking queen. In addition to her own projects, she is the glue that keeps everything together and the oil that keeps the machine (i.e. the lab) running smoothly (at least most days :). Mara received her B.S. from Iowa State University and her M.S. from Michigan State University.
Evan Kerr
Evan joined the Mashek lab in January 2021 as a postdoctoral fellow. He received his Ph.D in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from West Virginia University. His graduate work focused on regulation of Coenzyme A in the mitochondria. Currently, Evan is working on two projects. The first is looking to identify novel substrates of Sirt1. The second is to determine proteins effecting lipid droplet interaction with other organelles. Outside of lab, Evan is an avid golfer and loves baseball.
Santiago Martinez Cifuentes
Santiago joined the Mashek lab in January of 2023. He received his M.S. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics from the University of Minnesota. His research work focused on replication timing throughout cardiac differentiation. In his free time, he loves playing and watching “soccer”, camping and hiking, cooking, hanging out with friends, video games, and music. He is also a Minnesota sports fan (Timberwolves, Lynx, Minnesota United & Aurora, Twins, and Vikings) which proves his resilience against adversity and negative results.
Mahima Devarajan
Mahima earned her B.S. in Biology from Case Western Reserve University and is now an Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD) student at the University of Minnesota. She joined the Mashek lab in 2020 to study the role lipid droplets play in cellular senescence.
Mari Reid
Mari earned her B.A. in Biology and Chemistry from St Olaf College and is currently a student in the Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics Ph.D. program at the University of Minnesota. Mari joined the Mashek lab in early 2024 to study organelle interactions. Specifically, she is interested in how lipid droplet and mitochondrial interactions are mediated during metabolic stress, as well as the compartmentalization of nutrient sensing, stress responses, and translation. Outside the lab, Mari is an avid reader (especially of murder mysteries), and clarinetist who can often be found spending quality time with her friends and family.
Simone Intriago
Simone is a Junior Researcher from Quito/ Ecuador. She earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Biology from Bemidji State University. In her free time, she loves learning about the history of medicine, hanging out with her cat, going to pet stores, hiking and eating Vietnamese food.
Peter Gutenberger
Peter is an undergraduate from Milwaukee, WI. He is studying biology with a focus on medicine. In his free time, he enjoys taking long walks outdoors, playing piano, listening to classical music, watching Arrested Development, and eating cinnamon rolls.
Anna Bartelt
Anna is an undergraduate from Waukee, Iowa. She is majoring in Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development. In her free time, Anna enjoys going to cat cafes, rewatching New Girl, shopping, and doing sudoku puzzles.
Claire Shaikoski
Claire is an undergraduate from Rockford, Minnesota. She is studying Spanish and Global Health. In her free time she enjoys rock climbing, weightlifting, skiing, making music, and listening to TED Talks.