Our Story
Dr. Kevin Vaughan and Dr. Patricia Vaughan met during their PhD programs at Cornell University. Both went on to become Post-Doctoral Fellows at the University of Massachusetts. The Vaughan Lab opened in 1998 when the Vaughan's moved to South Bend, IN. Early research in the lab focused on studying mitosis, specifically dynein and mitotic spindle. Over the course of 26 years, the Vaughan lab has advanced scientific understanding of mitosis and motor proteins. A major area of focus of the Vaughan lab for the last decade has been research on Niemann-Pick Type C Disease (NPC), and specifically the role of the kinesin StARD9 in cholesterol transport defects. Another area of focus is Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and disrupting the nuclear stability as an approach to treating cancer.
Meet The Team
Past Post-Doctoral Fellows
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Past Graduate Students
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Past Undergraduate Students
A huge thank you to all of the amazing undergraduate students who have worked in the Vaughan lab, past and present!
Anastasia Chibucos
B.S., Neuroscience, Theology, and Compassionate Care in Medicine, University of Notre Dame, 2025
Kristen Pang
B.S., Biology, University of Notre Dame, 2025
Ashley Zolfaghari
Ph.D. Student, Biomedical Science, Vanderbilt University
B.S., Biological Sciences University of Notre Dame, 2024
Kaiya Hansen
Medical Student, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2023
Hunter Spears
B.S., Science Business
University of Notre Dame, 2023
Katherine Minton
Research Technician, IUSM
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2023
Michael Chmiel
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2023
Christopher Archer
Ph.D. Candidate, Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2022
Regan Hines
Ph.D. Candidate, Pharmacology, Indiana University School of Medicine
B.S., Neuroscience and Behavior
University of Notre Dame, 2022
Alexis Waldschmidt
Ph.D. Candidate, Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame (O'Tousa Lab)
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2021
Caroline Langley
Ph.D. Candidate, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, Penn State University
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2021
Madeline LaBar
Medical Student, Creighton School of Medicine
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2020
Erica Gerstbauer
Medical Student, Indiana University School of Medicine
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2021
Shelby Schwarz
Ph.D. Candidate, Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame (Vaughan Lab)
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2020
Tess Marvin
Ph.D. Candidate, Quantitative and Computational Biology, Princeton University
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2020
Mariah Snook
Program Evaluation Consultant, TB Unit of Texas Department of State Health Services
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2018
Jose Serrato
Research Associate, Xencor
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2019
Dr. Lillian Spatz
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Washington University in St. Louis
Ph.D., Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2018
Joshua Kolb
Laboratory Assistant, University of Maryland School of Medicine
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2018
Dr. Shannon Leahy
Post Doctoral Researcher, Vanderbilt University
Ph.D., Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2018
Grant Koch
Senior Strategy Consultant, Epic
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2017
Dr. Eric Marasco
Akron Children's Hospital
D.O., Lake Erie Col of Osteo Med
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2017
Claire (Kampman) Marasco
Associate Director, Global Regulatory Strategy, Forge Biologics
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2017
Dr. Shannon Hodges
Pediatric Resident, Johns Hopkins Medicine
D.O., LECOM- Bradenton
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2017
Dr. Peter Gonzales
Resident, UT Health San Antonio Long SChool of Medicine
M.D., University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2017
Dr. Phil Allen
Cardiothoracic Surgical Resident at Brigham and Women's Hospital
M.D., Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2016
Betel Ali
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2016
Dr. John Kwon
Department of Medical Oncology, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
M.D., Weill Cornell Medicine
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2015
Dr. Kevin Maciuba
Scientist/Study Director, MilliporeSigma
Ph.D., Biochemistry, Biophysics, The John Hopkins University
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2015
Dr. Mari Grief
Pediatric Chief Resident, Unversity of Hawaii's Pediatric Residency Program
M.D., John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii
M.S., Medical Physiology, Loyola University Chicago
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2015
Dr. Jeanae Kaneshiro
Research Coordinator, Hawaii Pacific Health
Ph.D., Biological Sciences, UC San Diego
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2015
Michael Diaz
Ph.D. Candidate, Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
M.S., Global Epidemiology, Emory University
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2013
Dr. Alexandria Brumfield
Medical Student, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Ph.D., Cellular and Molecular Biology, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2013
Dr. Amelia Lucisano
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine
M.D., University of Pittsburgh
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2012
Dr. Matthew Sanchez
M.D., University of Chicago
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2011
Dr. Michael Winding
Group Leader, Social Circuits and Connectomics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute
Ph.D., Cell and Developmental Biology, Northwestern
B.S., Biological Sciences, B.A., Studio Art,
University of Notre Dame, 2011
Dr. David Hurley
Clinical Assisant Professor in Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine
M.D., Albany Medical College
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2011
Dr. David Suprenant
Surgery and Dermatology
Adjunct Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Indiana University
M.D., Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2011
Dr. Linnea Fechtner
Otolaryngology
M.D., Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2012
Dr. Brian O'Rourke
Principal Scientist Cell Therapy Process Development at Obsidian Therapeutics
Ph.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2009
Christina Wheaton, J.D.
Associate, Winston and Strawn
J.D., University of North Carolina School of Law
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2012
Dr. Meghan Morrissey
Assistant Professor at University of California, Santa Barbara
Ph.D., Cell and Molecular Biology, Duke University
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2009
Dr. Caitlin (Lazar) Wynne
Ph.D., Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irwing Medical Center
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2009
Dr. Phillip Schneider
Orthopedic Surgeon
M.D., University of South Dakota-Sanford School of Medicine
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2011
Dr. Sara Putnam
Assistant professor, UNMC Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
M.D., Washington University
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2008
Dr. Jackelyn (Burke) Arico
Project Studio Coordinator at Bishop Miege High School
Ph.D., Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology, Emory University
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2006
Dr. Stephen Bird
Field Applications Scientists Manager, Healthcare Content at Thermo Fisher Scientific
Ph.D., Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of California, Berkeley
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2007
Dr. Eric Joseph
Biotech Analyst at J.P. Morgan
Ph.D., Cell Biology/Molecular Pharmacology, Cornell University
Queen's University
Dr. Kristen Sell
Consultant, Assistant Professor of Surgery Cardiothoracic Surgery at Mayo Clinic Hospital Arizona
M.D., University of Michigan Medical School
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2007
Dr. Denise Fraga
Department of Emergency Medicine, Atrium Health
M.D., University of Texas Medical School at Houston
M.P.P., University of Texas at Austin - LBJ School of Public Affairs
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2005
Dr. Howard O'Rourke
Clinical Associate Professor and Medical Director at the Division of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa
M.D., in Medicine, University of Rochester
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2004
Dr. Pedro Miura
Associate Professor at UConn Health
Ph.D., Neuroscience, University of Ottowa
Bachelor of Science, Queens University
Dr. Heather (Wieman) Hayes
IQ Solutions Science Writer
Ph.D., Molecular Cancer Biology, Duke University
B.S., Genetics, Texas A&M, 2003
Matthew Henderson
Queen's University
Dr. Phillip Ditmar
Asst. Dean of the Clinical Curriculum at the University of Maryland School of Medicine
M.D., The Ohio State University College of Medicine
B.S., Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame, 2003
Dr. Albert Chaffin
Medical Director Legacy Health Partners
M.D., Medical University of Ohio at Toledo
B.A., Biology/Chemistry, Capital University
Past REU and Summer Students
Kun Yuan (Ivan) Chu
PhD Student, UT Southwestern
Undergraduate Researcher, Georgia College and State University
University of Notre Dame NSF REU, 2024
Parker Tamucci
B.S., Biology, Samford University
University of Notre Dame NSF REU, 2023
Suelyan Jones
Molecular Biology Major,
Undergraduate Researcher, Stockton University
University of Notre Dame NSF REU, 2025
Amira Bernard
Rice University
University of Notre Dame, 2023