Lab members
Current Members
Postdocs
Zahrat El Oula Hassoun, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biochemistry
Zahrat is a native of Lebanon. She did her Masters in Functional Genomics and Proteomics, between Lebanon and France, followed by a doctoral journey in Belgium in the lab of Franck Dequiedt. During her PhD, Zahrat worked on the control of mRNA translation. Her fascination with ribosomes led her to the Karbstein lab, where she is currently studying ribosome assembly and quality control. When not in the lab, Zahrat cherishes family gatherings, enjoys learning to swim, and loves diving into books from all genres.
Graduate Students
Katie Jo Gelasco
After entering Vanderbilt through the QCB program, Katie Jo joined the lab in April 2025, where she studies remodeling of the ribosome under stress conditions. She earned a B.A. in music and B.S. in biochemistry from Florida State University in 2024. Her undergraduate research focused on engineering CRISPR-Cas9 proteins for structural studies in Dr. Hong Li’s lab. When not in the lab, Katie Jo enjoys reading, playing cello, and exploring Nashville with friends.
Technicians
Daniel Gatewood
Technician, Department of Biochemsitry
Daniel received his BS in Biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame where he investigated co-translocational folding of beta helical domains in the lab of Dr. Patricia Clark. He is most interested in processes that regulate protein and proteome structure and function as well as the potential to engineer such systems for novel aims. In the Karbstein lab he studies translational and ribosomal adaptation under zinc deprivation. In his free time he is a big film buff and likes to stay active through hiking, weightlifting, and sand volleyball.
Undergraduate Students
Sophia Jiang
Undergraduate Student
Sophia is an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University (Class of 2028) majoring in Biochemistry. She previously conducted research with Dr. Shenglong Zhang, where she worked on de novo RNA sequencing using mass spectrometry. In the Karbstein lab, she investigates cellular responses to zinc deprivation by studying the role of Rps26 as a potential zinc reservoir. Outside the lab, Sophia is a competitive figure skater and coach, and she enjoys crocheting and giving back through volunteer work.
ALUMNI
FORMER POSTDOCS
Dr. Yoon-Mo Yang (TSRI, 11/2018-07/2023); now: Assistant Professor, Hanyang University, Korea
Dr. Sohail Khoshnevis (TSRI, 04/2012-06/2018); now: Assistant Professor, Emory University
Dr. Homa Ghalei (TSRI, 04/2012-10/2017); now: Associate Professor, Emory University
Dr. Jason Collins (TSRI, 10/2015-08/2017); now: Postdoctoral Researcher, NIH, NIDCR Director’s Diversity Fellowship Recipient
Dr. Miriam Koch (TSRI, 10/2016-08/2017); now: Janssen Vaccines AG, Switzerland
Dr. Hari Bhaskaran (TSRI, 05/2013-08/2014); now: Arcturus Therapeutics, San Diego
Dr. Juliette Trepreau, (TSRI, 01/2012-06/2013); now: Project Leader in Molecular and Cell Biology, CIMTECH, Universite de Marseilles
Dr. Boguslawa Korona (TSRI, 08/2011-02/2012); now: Oxford University
Dr. Darryl M. Horn (TSRI, 09/2010-08/2012); now: Assistant Professor, Keystone College, PA
Dr. Allison Lamanna (University of Michigan, 08/2007-06/2010); now: Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, Boston University
Dr. Hajeong Kim (University of Michigan, 09/2008-06/2010); now: Pharmacy Student, University of Massachusetts
Dr. Scott Walker (University of Michigan, 08/2007-08/2008); now: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Michigan
Former Graduate Students
Andres Cuellar, M.S. 2025, Now: Pasadena City College
Melissa Parker, Ph.D. 2022, Now: Neurocrine Biosciences, San Diego, California
Haina Huang, Ph.D. 2022, Now: Arrakis Therapeutics, Massachusetts
Max Ferretti, Ph.D. 2019, Now: Staff Scientist, Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania
Crystal Young, Ph.D. 2012, Now: Associate Professor, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida
Bethany Strunk, Ph.D. 2011, Now: Assistant Professor, Trinity University
Heather Woolls, Ph.D. 2011, Now: Solo Hill, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Annie Labut, M.S. 2009, Now: NSF International
Former Staff Scientist
Joanne Doherty, Ph.D., Kissill Lab, Moffitt Cancer Center
Former Lab Technicians
Ebba Blomqvist, 2020-2022, Now: Graduate Student, Scripps Graduate Program
Melody Campbell, 2010-2011, Now: Associate Professor, Fred Hutch
Saundra Mason, 2009-2010, Now: Ansa Biotechnologies
Former Undergraduate Students
Aaron Wilkinson, Vanderbilt, class of ’27
*Mindi Klaus, Scripps Graduate Program, **won poster prize
*Jaylin Knight, Vanderbilt University, ** won poster prize
*Gabriela Guerrero-Corcino, University of Pennsylvania, Berks
*Peyton De Marzo, Now: Predoctoral Student, UCSC
Stefan Choy (undergraduate student at FAU, FL), *** co-authored paper
*Maggie Lyons (B.S., Eckerd College, FL)
*Jessica Bush (Graduate school, Scripps Research)
Elizabeth Potts (B.S., University of Florida, post-bac, Max Planck Florida Institute), *** co-authored paper
*Hans Smith (Graduate school, University of Wisconsin, Madison)
*Rebecca Culver (Graduate school, Stanford University), *** co-authored paper
*Hannah Toutkoushian (Graduate school, UCSF, NSF predoctoral fellow)
*Katelyn Doxtader (Graduate school, UT Southwestern), *** co-authored paper
*Oscar Martinez-Armenta (Graduate school in engineering, Augsburg College)
John Bloszinski (B.S., FAU)
*Megan Novak (Ph.D., Northwestern University, NSF predoctoral fellow), ** won poster prize, *** co-authored paper
Melody Campbell (Ph.D., Scripps Research, postdoc: UCSF), *** co-authored paper
Christine Norton (Medical School, University of Michigan)
*Elia Wright (Graduate school, University of Michigan)
*Ariell Joiner (Graduate school, University of Michigan)
Sylvia Escudero (Graduate school, Harvard)
Jennifer Raymond (Dentistry School, University of Michigan)
Chris Dion
Rebecca Leone
*Summer student