Marla Lujan

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
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.

 

avery zhang
Avery Zhang, PhD Candidate, 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 effectiveness of lifestyle interventions aimed at weight loss and address the changes in body composition, ovulatory cyclicity, and endometrial development in women with PCOS.

Samiha Azgar
Samiha Azgar, Doctoral Student, Human Nutrition (expected 2026); BS (Psychology, minor Biochemistry), Hofstra University, lab member since Fall 2023
Current Project: Samiha’s research focuses on examining the metabolic changes and variations in ovarian morphology that occur during the reproductive transitions of adolescents. She is also interested in assessing the impact of diet quality on the successful ovulation of women diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).


Abbey Kampel, Doctoral Student, Biomedical and Biological Sciences (expected 2028); BS (Biomedical Engineering; double major Psychology), University of Rochester, lab member since Spring 2024
Current Project: Abbey's research aims to examine ovarian morphology across the reproductive spectrum and evaluate its implications for establishing risk of comorbidities. Her objective is to utilize unbiased approaches to identify ovarian phenotypes in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Melody Hong: Biological Sciences (2025); lab member since 2022. Current project: A comparison of machine learning algorithms to classify polycystic ovarian morphology.

Maggie Walsh: Chemistry (2025); lab member since 2022. Current projects: Artificial intelligence for the identification of ovarian morphology on ultrasonography and ovarian morphology in adolescent girls.

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.

Eliana Warner: Global and Public Health Sciences (2026); lab member since 2023. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis.

Eli Thoma: Global and Public Health Sciences (2025); lab member since 2023. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis.

Virginia Burkhart: Human Biology, Health and Society (2025); lab member since 2023. Current project: Dietary and lifestyle factors and PCOS. 

Maimuna Masud: Human Biology, Health and Society (2026); lab member since 2023. Current project: Dietary and lifestyle factors and PCOS.

Shervonne Hinds: Biological Sciences (2026); lab member since 2024. Current project: Adolescent ultrasound image analysis.

Sumaswara Chinthalapati: Human Biology, Health and Society (2027); lab member since 2024. Current project: Adolescent ultrasound image analysis.

Cameron Sims: Human Biology, Health and Society (2026); lab member since 2024. Current project: Adolescent ultrasound image analysis.

Veronica Faustino: Human Biology, Health and Society (2025); lab member since 2024. Current project: Ovarian morphology in adolescents.

Megan Chow: Food Science (2026); lab member since 2024. Current project: Artificial intelligence for the identification of ovarian morphology on ultrasonography.

Jabeen Sheikh: Human Biology, Health and Society (2026); lab member since 2024. Current project: Artificial intelligence for the identification of ovarian morphology on ultrasonography.

Shanelle Eshun: Human Biology, Health and Society (2026); lab member since 2024. Current project: Artificial intelligence for the identification of ovarian morphology on ultrasonography.

Robin Hall: Global and Public Health Sciences (2026); lab member since 2024. Current project: Effectiveness of a hypocaloric dietary intervention on body composition changes and ovulatory function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

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)

Faith Carter, PhD., Human Nutrition (2024); Doctoral Dissertation Title: Longitudinal Assessments of Ovarian Morphology in Women with PCOS: Implications for Diagnosis and Hypocaloric Interventions; active years 2019-2024.

Hilary Zhang, M.S., Human Nutrition (2023); active years 2021-2023.

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.

Noah Lee, B.S., Nutritional Sciences (2023); Honors Thesis Title: The impact of weight loss on antral follicle development in anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

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

Catherine Cho, Human Biology, Health and Society (2024); active years 2022-2024.

Kiran Ganga, Human Biology, Health and Society (2024); active years 2020-2024

Keziah Wilson, Human Biology, Health and Society (2024); active years 2022-2024

Ariana Ishkanian, Biological Sciences (2024); active years 2022-2024

Grace Sappington, Biological Sciences (2024); active years 2022-2024

Effat Rahman, Human Biology Health and Society (2023); active years 2021-2023

Colleen Bradley, Biological Sciences (2023); active years 2022-2023

Jessica Ma, College of Arts and Sciences (2023); active years 2021-2023

Nabiha Zaman, Nutritional Sciences (2023); active years 2019-2023

Alexandra Reich, Human Biology, Health, and Society (2023); active years 2020-2023

Rachel Reeves, Human Biology (2023); active years 2020-2023

Cynthia Wan, Human Biology Health and Society (2023); active years 2020-2023

Julia Michalak, Biological Sciences (2023); active years 2020-2023

Isabella Xavier, Biological Sciences (2023); active years 2020-2023

Jean Lee, College of Arts and Sciences (2025); active years 2021-2022

Maggie Shideler, College of Arts and Sciences (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, Human Biology, Health, and Society (2022); active years 2021-2022

Anushka Malik, Biological Sciences (2022); active years 2020-2022

Gabriella Spinola, General Biology (2022); active years 2019-2022

Brooke Kelly, Nutritional Sciences (2022); active years 2020-2022

Mickayla Smith, Chemistry and Chemical Biology (2021); active years 2018-2020

Anna Rodriguez, Biological Sciences (2021); active years 2019-2021

Joy Zhang, Human Biology, Health, & Society (2021); active years 2019-2021

Joy Kim, Nutritional Sciences (2021); active years 2019-2021 

Jessica Lim, Biology and Society (2020);active years 2018-2020

Maryyam Durrani, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (2020); active years 2018-2020

Shayla Kilgannon, Nutritional Sciences (2019); active years 2018-2019

Marla Lujan and Brittany Jarret at ultrasound monitor