Principal Investigator
Kimberly O. O’Brien, Ph.D.
Professor, Cornell University, Division of Nutritional Sciences
Adjunct Professor, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rochester, NY
Postdoctoral Associate
Yiqin Wang
Yiqin did his undergraduate studies in Biology and received training in Bioinformatics in Shanghai, China. He completed his PhD in Molecular Nutrition at Cornell University in late 2019 with dissertation research focused on the human mitochondrial genome and its roles in development and aging. After graduation, he continued as a postdoc at Cornell University. He is currently a member of the FeGenes team, working with Dr. Kimberly O’Brien and Dr. Andrew Clark to understand the differences in iron homeostasis between East Asians and Europeans. He has a broad interest in studying human diseases, particularly identifying maternal, fetal, and placental determinants of child development and diseases across the life course.
Lab Manager
Yaqin Xu
Dr. Xu graduated as MD from TongJi Medical College, and received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Peking Union Medical College. She had her postdoctoral training and became an Instructor at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Xu joined Professor O'Brien's lab in November 2021 as the Lab Manager overseeing laboratory operations and instructing students. Dr. Xu likes hiking, running, boating, and cooking. She is also active in Boy Scouts of Troop 55 as an assistant scoutmaster.
Human Subject Research Coordinator
Sara Bird
Degrees: B.S., Health Science and Sociology; M.P.H., Public Health
Background: Sara completed her bachelor's degree at SUNY Brockport in 2016. She then went on to complete her master's in public health at the University of Rochester and recently graduated in 2021. Sara has been working at the University of Rochester since 2017. She recently joined the O'Brien Lab as a team member studying ethnic differences in iron absorption.
Alexa Barad, MS, RD
Degrees: B.S., Nutritional Science; M.S., Nutritional Science; R.D.
Year Entered: 2019
Background: Alexa is originally from Costa Rica. She completed her undergraduate degree at Texas A&M University and her Master of Science and Dietetic Internship at the University of Florida. Her doctoral research aims to improve understanding of genetic and biochemical variations in iron absorption and how these differences affect iron homeostasis across different ethnicities.
Julia Caldropoli | College of Human Ecology | Human Biology, Health, and Society | Class of 2023
Clara Deley | College of Human Ecology | Nutritional Sciences | Class of 2022
Chloe Hasund | College of Human Ecology | Global and Public Health Sciences | Class of 2022
DeeDee Maizes | College of Human Ecology | Human Biology, Health, and Society | Class of 2022
Brendan Parent | College of Arts and Sciences | Chemistry | Class of 2022
Aurora Basnet | College of Human Ecology | Global and Public Health Sciences | Class of 2023
Audrey Lewis | College of Human Ecology | Global and Public Health Sciences | Class of 2023
Jordan Amoako | College of Agriculture and Life Sciences | Biology & Society | Class of 2024
Claire Gao | College of Agriculture and Life Sciences | Biometry & Statistics | Class of 2022
Angelina Tang | College of Human Ecology | Global and Public Health Sciences | Class of 2024
Joanne Wang | College of Arts & Sciences | Biochemistry | Class of 2024
Amy Qiao | College of Human Ecology | Human Biology, Health, and Society | Class of 2025
Daniel Clarke | College of Agriculture and Life Sciences | Biology and Society | Class of 2024
Sofia Lorente | College of Agriculture and Life Sciences | Biological Sciences | Class of 2024
Hannah Lee | College of Human Ecology | Biological Sciences | Class of 2022
Youri Jung | College of Human Ecology | Human Biology, Health, and Society | Class of 2021
Jessica Leipman | College of Arts and Sciences | Biological Sciences (Nutrition) | Class of 2020
Fernanda Nunes | College of Human Ecology | Nutritional Sciences | Class of 2021
Abhirami Ramakrishnan | College of Arts and Sciences | Biology and Society & Chemistry | Class of 2020
Julie Thompson | College of Arts and Sciences | Biological Sciences | Class of 2020
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 Oreo |
 Coco |
 Sesame Sauce |
Teddy
Our summer lab team in Dr. O'Brien's tree house!