PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Robyn L. Tanguay
Distinguished Professor | Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology
Director of Superfund Research Program
Director of Environmental Health Sciences Center
Director of Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory
Robyn Leigh Tanguay (Formerly Robert Leonard Tanguay) is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, the Director of the Oregon State University Superfund Research Program, Director of the Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory, and the Director of an Environmental Health Sciences Center. She received her BA in Biology from California State University-San Bernardino, her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of California-Riverside, and postdoctoral training in Developmental Toxicology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She serves on a number of academic, commercial, and federal advisory boards and is on the editorial board for several scientific journals. Over the past several years she has pioneered the use of zebrafish as a toxicology model and recently developed automated high throughput instrumentation to accelerate phenotype discovery in zebrafish. A major focus is on identifying chemicals and mixtures that produce neurotoxicity. Phenotypic anchoring coupled with the inherent molecular and genetic advantages of zebrafish is used to define the mechanisms by which chemicals, drugs, and nanoparticles interact with and adversely affect vertebrate development and function.
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Lisa Truong
Assistant Professor (Sr. Research)
Deputy Director of Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory
Lisa Truong is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, and the Deputy Director of the Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory at Oregon State University, where her research program goal is to utilize the zebrafish model to build computational models to be less reliant on animal testing and conduct toxicity-testing based on toxicity pathways. She received her Ph.D. in Toxicology at Oregon State in 2012 which focused on identifying the structure-activity relation of nanoparticles in the zebrafish model and was a postdoctoral fellow at US EPA-National Center for Computational Toxicology from 2012-2014. Lisa has been conducting research in nanotoxicology and high throughput screening using zebrafish for the last 10 years. Dr. Truong is the author/co-author of over 40 publications and has mentored over a dozen students.
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STAFF SCIENTISTS
Jane La Du
Lab Manager
Since receiving a B.S. in Zoology at OSU in 2003, I have been an FRA and lab manager in the Tanguay lab. In addition to assisting graduate, undergraduate, and visiting students in their studies, my main research interests have focused on investigating the role of population genetic variation that results in differential susceptibility to chemical exposure, and the characterization of a novel long non-coding RNA activated following TCDD exposure.
Eric Johnson, MS
SARL Facility Manager
Eric keeps both the building and animal life support systems operating, and he facilitates experimental work here at SARL.
Michael Simonich, PhD
High Throughput Screening Director
Mike works in all aspects of developmental toxicity testing at the SARL and contributes experience in molecular biology and technical writing.
Ryan Lopez
Fish Room Manager
Ryan graduated from OSU with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Chemistry and an M.S. in Toxicology. As a Faculty Research Assistant at the Tanguay Lab, he manages daily operations within the fish room, oversees zebrafish breeding, maintains high zebrafish health standards, and conducts cryopreservation on all the genetic lines.
Lindsey St. Mary
Post Doc
I am currently an NIEHS postdoctoral trainee at the Tanguay Lab assessing the toxicity of 9,000 representative chemicals found in consumer products. I received my Bachelor of Science degree at Oregon State University in General Science, Pre-vet. I then went on to North Carolina State University where I received my master’s in Toxicology. My PhD training and research were done in Edinburgh, Scotland at Heriot-Watt University where I investigated time-related alteration of bioactive polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) photoproducts in the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles. My previous research has included investigations of iAs-mediated immunosuppression, toxicity of high-nitrogen compounds, nitrates/nitrites, smoke dyes, various nanoparticles, and other environmental pollutants which involved the use of diverse molecular and analytical chemistry techniques. I spend most of my spare time exploring Oregon with my dog, Lilly and enjoy craft cider, lifting weights, and listening to alien podcasts.
Steven Carrell
Bioinformatist
I have my B.S. in Microbiology, and PhD in Comparative Health Sciences, both from OSU. I conducted research in Dr. Rockey’s laboratory with a focus on Chlamydial genomics and recombination analysis. My specialty is within Genomics, Recombination, DNA sequencing, and Bioinformatics using Python/R/Bash/Ruby/Mysql. I am currently a Bioinformatics Scientist in the CQLS and Tanguay Lab, and I teach Environmental Sequence Analysis in the winter.
THE SCIENTISTS
Christian Rude
Pre-Doctoral Student
Christian hails from Redding, California, and received his BS in Chemistry at Pacific Lutheran University in 2017. As an undergrad, he developed an SPME-GCMS method for investigating the migration of residual acrylonitrile from plastic cups into hot chocolate. After graduating he meandered through a variety of work roles including youth ministry, substitute teaching, medical scribing, and quality control for a mint flavoring company. A newly established Tanguay lab member, he is excited to use the zebrafish model to better understand the mechanisms underlying PAH toxicity.
Mackenzie Morshead
Pre-Doctoral Student
I grew up in Marin county California and received my bachelor’s in Biochemistry/Molecular biology and Fine art from Hamilton College in 2018. After graduation, I’ve had a variety of roles. Most notably as a research associate at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging using high-throughput methods to identify life-span extending compounds in c. elegans, and as an ORISE fellow at the Duluth office of the EPA developing Adverse Outcome Pathways to understand aquatic toxicity. I am a new member of the Tanguay lab and look forward to developing my research focus, I am currently interested in QSAR modeling and molecular mechanisms of alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon toxicity.
Annika Gehl
Masters Student
I’m currently a first-year Master’s student and will be studying the interaction between the flame retardant TDBPP and miR-125b-5p.
Spencer Stinson
Graduate Student
I am originally from Washington State and graduated from the University of Washington in 2021 with my bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular biology. During and briefly after undergrad, I worked primarily in a cancer research setting, studying the genetic drivers behind rhabdomyosarcoma. Now, as a PhD student in the Tanguay lab, I am focusing on the AHR/AIP complex and its relationship to the susceptibility of toxic ligands. My goal is to further develop my knowledge and skillset in molecular biology and mechanisms of toxic chemicals.
Dante Perone
Graduate Student
I earned with my Bachelor of Science from Oregon State University in 2019. My senior year I began working in the Tanguay lab as a screening technician and later as lead technician. In 2022, I rejoined the lab as a PhD student in the Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology at Oregon State University. My research primarily studies how genetic variation within a population affects an individual’s response to chemical and environmental insult. I work with several transgenic zebrafish lines and utilize DNA and RNA sequencing and nontargeted metabolomics analysis to determine phenotype. I was supported by a graduate research assistant appointment until September 2023 when I was selected to be a graduate research fellow on the NIEHS T32 Training Grant.
Nalu Martin
Graduate Student
I am a 2nd year PhD student in the Field Lab and the Tanguay Lab studying the partitioning of PFAS and cannabinoids using biomimetic chromatography. I grew up near Dallas, Texas and graduated with a bachelors in Marine Biology from Texas A&M University at Galveston. I enjoy food, the outdoors, and encounters with nonhuman animals, especially aquatic/marine life.
Karl Stuntzner-Gibson
Research Scientist
I have three years of zebrafish experience in both industry and academia. In my off time, I enjoy strength training, hiking, and time with family.
EARLY CAREER SCIENTISTS
Zoë Antenucci
Screening Technician
I recently graduated from Oregon State University in December of 2023 where I earned a B.S. in Zoology. I am a screening technician here at Tanguay Lab, working closely with embryonic zebrafish. In the future, I plan to earn a master’s degree and I hope to go on to work in species conservation and specialize in marine animals.
Sam Speir
Screening Technician
I recently graduated from Oregon State University with a major in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Science and a minor in Botany. I plan to attend graduate school in the near future and study how climate change affects organism physiology and thus impacts their ecology, with the hope of developing smarter conservation methods. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, reading, and training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Amelia Etue
Screening Technician
I am a third year Biochemistry & Molecular Biology undergraduate student at Oregon State. In the Tanguay Lab, I am currently working as a zebrafish screening technician. I’m incredibly passionate about molecular biology and education, and plan to pursue both throughout my academic journey and career. Outside of the lab, I enjoy kayaking, hiking, and exploring new places.
Josiah Dees-Besas
Screening Technician
I am a sophomore in the Dual Partnership Program, majoring in Marine Studies and Sustainability at Oregon State University. I grew up in Hawaii and my future interests surround sustainable aquaculture and culturally important species. I am screening technician here at the Tanguay Lab working with zebrafish embryos. Outside of work I enjoy homemade food, the outdoors, and rockclimbing.
THE ENGINEERS
Matthew Meyer
Software Engineer
I am a fourth year undergraduate studying Computer Science with an applied focus in Data Science. I work here in the lab as a software engineer writing code to support the lab’s numerous projects and scientific instruments. In my spare time, I love hiking and rock climbing.
Ming Wei
Software Engineer
I am a First Year of Computer Science Master of Engineering student at Oregon State University. I graduated from OSU, majoring in Computer Science, and my focus area is Artificial Intelligence. As a software engineer, I am responsible for writing code and testing for several projects. I love badminton and won a championship in the Summer of 2018.
William Kuan
Eletrical Engineer
I’m a Computer Science Master’s student at Oregon State University, transitioning from an Electrical Engineering background from National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology. As an Electronics Engineer at Tanguay Lab, I focus on leveraging my technical skills in new and challenging contexts within electronic engineering. My academic and professional journey reflects a commitment to growth and adaptation in the evolving fields of computer science and electronics.
Parth Shah
Software Engineer