Team Members


Marla Lujan, Ph.D., Principal Investigator and Associate Professor of Human Nutrition
Education: Ph.D. (Physiology), M.Sc. (Physiology), B.Sc. (Life Sciences), Queen’s University
Research Interests: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Folliculogenesis, Menstrual Cycle, Nutrition and Metabolism, Ultrasonography
Rene Black-Hellwitz, RDMS, R.T. (R) (ARRT), Clinical Research Project Manager, Cornell University. 2021-present
Bailey Smith, MS, Research Support Specialist, Cornell University. 2018-2020 and 2022-present.
Faith Carter, Doctoral Student, Human Nutrition (expected 2023); BS (Chemistry), University of North Carolina Wilmington; lab member since Fall 2019.
Current Project: Faith is assessing the impact of weight loss on follicle dynamics in women with PCOS. Her objective is to determine the effectiveness of weight loss to normalize folliculogenesis.
Avery Zhang, Doctoral Student, Human Nutrition (expected 2025); BS (Human Nutrition), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; lab member since Spring 2022.
Current Project: Avery is evaluating the impact of weight loss in women with overweight/obesity and PCOS. Her objective is to assess the efficacy of lifestyle interventions aimed at weight loss and address the changes in body composition, ovulatory cyclicity, and endometrial development.
Hilary Zhang, Masters Student, Nutritional Sciences (expected 2023); BS (Nutrition and Food Studies), New York University; lab member since Fall 2022.
Current Project: Hilary is evaluating ethnic and racial variations in PCOS diagnosis in relation to ovarian morphology. Her interests extend beyond ovarian morphology where she is exploring these specific variations’ influence on cardiometabolic markers within India and New York populations.
Nabiha Zaman: Nutritional Sciences (2023); lab member since Fall 2019. Ultrasound image archival, ultrasound image analysis, and follicle tracking in women with PCOS during a weight loss intervention.
Alexandra Reich: Human Biology, Health, and Society (2023); lab member since Fall 2020. Ultrasound image analysis and follicle tracking in women with PCOS.
Noah Lee: Nutritional Sciences (2023); lab member since Fall 2020. Ultrasound image analysis and follicle tracking in women with PCOS during a weight loss intervention.
Rachel Reeves: Human Biology (2023); lab member since Fall 2020. Ultrasound image analysis and follicle tracking in women with PCOS during a weight loss intervention.
Cynthia Wan: Human Biology Health and Society (2023); lab member since Fall 2020. Current project: Systematic review on the definition of polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM).
Julia Michalak: Biological Sciences (2023); lab member since Fall 2020. Current project: Lifestyle behaviors and health status in women with PCOS.
Isabella Xavier: Biological Sciences (2023); lab member since Fall 2020. Current project: Lifestyle behaviors and health status in women with PCOS.
Kiran Ganga: Human Biology Health and Society (2024); lab member since Fall 2020. Current project: Lifestyle behaviors and health status in women with PCOS.
Jessica Ma: College of Arts and Sciences (2024); lab member since Winter 2021. Current project: Dietary intake during the adolescent reproductive transition in females.
Kiarra Coger: College of Arts and Sciences (2023); lab member since Winter 2021. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis across the reproductive lifespan.
Effat Rahman: Human Biology Health and Society (2024); lab member since Winter 2021. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis across the reproductive lifespan.
Keziah Wilson: Human Biology Health and Society (2024); lab member since 2022. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis and follicle tracking in women with PCOS during a weight loss intervention.
Ariana Ishkanian: Biological Sciences (2024); lab member since 2022. Current project: clinical research support in the human metabolic research unit.
Grace Sappington: Biological Sciences (2024); lab member since 2022. Current project: clinical research support in the human metabolic research unit.
Colleen Bradley: Biological Sciences (2024); lab member since 2022. Current project: Artificial intelligence in ultrasound image analysis.
Melody Hong: Biological Sciences (2024); lab member since 2022. Current project: Artificial intelligence in ultrasound image analysis.
Catherine Cho: Human Biology Health and Society (2025); lab member since 2022. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis.
Maggie Walsh: Chemistry (2025); lab member since 2022. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis.
Ryan Levine: Biological Sciences (2025); lab member since 2022. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis.
Hannah Lee: Global and Public Health Sciences (2025); lab member since 2022. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis.
Heidi Vanden Brink, Postdoctoral Associate; PhD (Nutrition) Cornell University, MSc (Health Sciences, Reproductive Physiology & Endocrinology) University of Saskatchewan, BSc (Physiology) University of Saskatchewan; lab member since 2012.
Additional Credentials: Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Specialization: Obstetrical & Gynecological Ultrasound)
Current Position: Assistant Professor (Tenure Track; Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, August 2022)
Maryam Kazemi, RD, MSc, PhD, CPT, Postdoctoral Associate, Nutrition, Metabolism, and Reproductive Physiology (Cornell University, 2022); PhD, Nutrition (University of Saskatchewan, Canada, 2018); MSc, Nutritional Sciences (Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, 2012); BSc, Nutritional Sciences (Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran, 2007); active years 2018-2022.
Additional Credentials: Registered Dietitian and Certified Phlebotomist
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow (Genomics of Human Complex Metabolic and Reproductive Traits - specialty area of PCOS, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 2022)
Jeff Pea, PhD., Biomedical and Biological Sciences (2022); Doctoral Dissertation Title: Ultrasonographic Features of Ovarian Morphology in the Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; active years: 2019-2022.
Alexis Oldfield, Ph.D., Biomedical and Biological Sciences (2022); Doctoral Dissertation Title: Ultrasound Characterization of Antral Follicle Dynamics Across the Adiposity Spectrum; active years: 2018-2022.
Laura Galley, M.S., Human Nutrition (2021); active years: 2018-2021.
Heidi Vanden Brink, Ph.D., Human Nutrition (2019); Doctoral Dissertation Title: Ultrasonographic Imaging of Ovarian Morphology for the Diagnosis and Evaluation of Anovulatory Conditions Across the Adiposity Spectrum in Women and Adolescents; active years: 2014-2019.
Brittany Jarrett, Ph.D., Human Nutrition (2017); Doctoral Dissertation Title: Ultrasound Characterization of Antral Folliculogenesis in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; active years: 2012-2017. *Also previous postdoctoral fellow (2018-2019) and honors undergraduate student (2009-2012).
Annie Lin, Ph.D., Human Nutrition (2017); Doctoral Dissertation Title: Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviors, Knowledge, and Beliefs Association with PCOS; active years: 2012-2017.
Aprile Bertomo, B.S., Human Biology, Health, & Society (2022); Honors Thesis Title: Adherence to a Mediterranean diet during the adolescent reproductive transition.
Ashley Tam, B.A., Biological Sciences (2019); Honors Thesis Title: A comparison of ovarian morphology and reproductive and metabolic features between South Asian and White women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Lydia Anderson, B.S., Biological Sciences (2018); Honors Thesis Title: Association between glucoregulatory measures and reproductive function in women with and without PCOS; active years: 2016-2018
Adrienne Pisch, B.S., Biological Sciences (2018); Honors Thesis Title: Comparison and reliability of 2D and 3D ultrasound imaging methods to evaluate ovarian morphology; active years: 2016-2018
Hayden Chung, B.S., Nutritional Sciences (2016); Honors Thesis Title: The Impact of a Weight Loss Intervention on Health-Related Quality of Life in Overweight Women with Irregular Menses; active years: 2014-2016
Reid Mergler, B.S., Human Biology Health and Society (2015); Honors Thesis Title: Assessment of Reproductive and Metabolic Correlates of Cognitive Differences in Women with PCOS; active years: 2012-2015
Nikhita Chahal, B.S., Human Biology, Health and Society (2014); Honors Thesis Title: Ovarian Size and Stromal Characteristics across the Phenotypic Spectrum of PCOS: Are they Predictive and/or Useful in the Sonographic Assessment of PCOS?; active years: 2012-2014
Dana Larsen, B.S., Nutritional Sciences (2016); Honors Thesis Title: Validation of the Modified Women's Health Initiative Physical Activity Questionnaire in Women of Reproductive Age; active years: 2014-2016
Nina Clark, B.S., Human Biology, Health and Society (2013); Honors Thesis Title: Adiponectin, Leptin, Visfatin, and Retinol Binding Protein 4 Gene Expression Profiles in Women with PCOS; active years: 2010-2013
Amanda Pawlak, B.S., Biological Sciences (2011); Honors Thesis Title: Longitudinal Characterization of Follicle Populations in Women with PCOS: A Pilot Study; active years: 2009-2011
Jean Lee, College of Arts and Sciences (2025); active years 2021-2022
Maggie Shideler, CALS (2025); active years 2021-2022.
Elizabeth Viebranz, College of Arts and Sciences (2024); active years 2021-2022
Armita Jamshidi, Biology and Society (2024); active years 2022-2022
Viveka Jain, Biology and Society (2024); active years 2022-2022
Stephanie Wright, College of Arts and Sciences (2023); active years 2021-2022
Julia Xiong, Human Biology Health and Society (2023);active years 2020-2022
Jahnay Bryan, Chemistry (2023); active years 2020-2022
Hannah Son, B.S., Human Biology, Health, and Society (2022); active years 2021-2022
Anushka Malik, B.S., Biological Sciences (2022); active years 2020-2022
Gabriella Spinola, B.S., General Biology (2022); active years 2019-2022
Brooke Kelly, B.S., Nutritional Sciences (2022); active years 2020-2022
Mickayla Smith, B.S., Chemistry and Chemical Biology (2021); active years 2018-2020
Anna Rodriguez, B.S., Biological Sciences (2021); active years 2019-2021
Joy Zhang, B.S., Human Biology, Health, & Society (2021); active years 2019-2021
Joy Kim, B.S., Nutritional Sciences (2021); active years 2019-2021
Jessica Lim, B.S., Biology and Society (2020);active years 2018-2020
Maryyam Durrani, B.S., Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (2020); active years 2018-2020
Shayla Kilgannon, B.S., Nutritional Sciences (2019); active years 2018-2019
Avigdor Nosrati, B.S., Biology and Society (2018); active years 2016-2018
Ashley Hsu, B.S, Human Biology, Health, and Society (2018); active years 2016-2018