Dawn E. Quelle, PhD
Principal Investigator
Professor of Neuroscience and Pharmacology
Office Phone: (319) 353-5749
Lab Phone: (319) 335-7663
Email: dawn-quelle@uiowa.edu
Dawn obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Pennsylvania State University in 1992. In her post-doctoral work with Dr. Charles Sherr at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (1992-1996), she studied cell cycle control and discovered the ARF tumor suppressor. She joined the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Iowa in 1997 and has led the Cancer Genes and Pathways Program in the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center since 2009. Her research is highly collaborative and primarily explores mechanisms of tumor suppression using molecular, cell biological and in vivo approaches. Outside of the laboratory, Dawn is a sports enthusiast who enjoys reading, spending time with family, getting out on the water (kayaking, sailing) and following various college sports.
Courtney Kaemmer
Research Assistant
Address: 2-551 BSB
Phone: (319) 335-7663
Email: courtney-waite@uiowa.edu
An Iowa City native, Courtney graduated from the University of Iowa in 2013 with a B.A. in biology and psychology. Courtney began doing research in Dr. Mario Ascoli’s laboratory (University of Iowa 2008-2016) working on hormone receptor systems that regulate reproduction. She then joined Dawn’s research team in 2016 working on a variety of projects including neuroendocrine tumors and neurofibromatosis type 1. She enjoys spending her free time with her family, friends and two dogs.
Ume Salma Shaik Amjad, PhD
Assistant Research Scientist
Address: 2-551 BSB
Phone: (319) 335-7663
Email: umesalma-shaikamjad@uiowa.edu
Salma is an international researcher from India who received her PhD from the University of Madras. Before joining Dawn’s team, she was trained in Dr. Baumbach’s lab at the University of Iowa, Department of Pathology (2013-2016) where she examined signal transduction pathways associated with chronic hypertension. She joined Dawn’s lab in 2016 and has focused her work on molecular mechanisms and biomarkers of neuroendocrine tumor (NET) pathogenesis with the goal of developing innovative therapies for NET patients. She is particularly focused on studying druggable signal transduction pathways in pancreatic NETs. Outside of the laboratory, Salma spends her time mostly with family and friends, and she enjoys readings, running, painting and playing with her kids.
Josh Lingo
Graduate Research Assistant - Cancer Biology
Address: 2-551 BSB
Phone: (319) 335-7663
Email: joshua-lingo@uiowa.edu
Elizabeth Elias
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Address: 2-551 BSB
Phone: (319) 335-7663
Email: elizabeth-elias@uiowa.edu
“Elizabeth is an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa whose hometown is Fort Collins, CO.