Our Team
Solving the world's problems one student at a time
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Dr. John Kauwe helps Hawaiian natives Brooke Laoliokalani Spencer and Alan Loki Alohikea's receive external funding for their lab experience.
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Mentoring is the Key to Success
The Kauwe Lab is run by a highly-skilled team of bioinformaticists, geneticists, biologists, and staff. Each of them exemplify the mission and purposes of BYU by conducting world-class research, spiritually uplifting people with whom they come in contact, and serving the broader BYU community. Below are current and former students who have been part of the lab.
Dr. John S.K. Kauwe
Dr. Kauwe's laboratory seeks to better understand the relationship between genotypes and phenotypes. He has pursued this understanding primarily by studying Alzheimer’s disease genetics using a variety of novel study designs and approaches. Dr. Kauwe has an established research program in this field and has published more than 120 papers in the past decade including high profile publications in the New England Journal of Medicine, Nature, Nature Genetics, PNAS, and PLoS Genetics.
Dr. Kauwe's research efforts are conducted with an intentional focus on outreach to populations that are underrepresented in biomedical science. He has an ongoing relationship with Molokai High School, including funded projects to provided scientific mentoring experiences and resources to teachers and students. He also speaks frequently to communities and academic organizations that serve underrepresented populations, including recent engagements in Samoa, Hawaii, and Alaska.
Dr. Kauwe's research efforts are conducted with an intentional focus on outreach to populations that are underrepresented in biomedical science. He has an ongoing relationship with Molokai High School, including funded projects to provided scientific mentoring experiences and resources to teachers and students. He also speaks frequently to communities and academic organizations that serve underrepresented populations, including recent engagements in Samoa, Hawaii, and Alaska.
Dr. Justin Miller
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Justin Miller received his Ph.D. in Biology from Brigham Young University in 2018. He earned a B.S. degree in Bioinformatics from Brigham Young University in 2015. Dr. Miller’s research focusses on algorithmic design and development with an emphasis in machine learning. For his dissertation, Dr. Miller analyzed codon usage and coding sequence length biases across the Tree of Life. He is currently applying his research in codon usage dynamics to Alzheimer’s disease by analyzing human subpopulations for disease-specific mutations that affect gene translational efficiency. Dr. Miller is also analyzing population-specific differences that might influence Alzheimer's disease progression.
Dr. Justin Miller received his Ph.D. in Biology from Brigham Young University in 2018. He earned a B.S. degree in Bioinformatics from Brigham Young University in 2015. Dr. Miller’s research focusses on algorithmic design and development with an emphasis in machine learning. For his dissertation, Dr. Miller analyzed codon usage and coding sequence length biases across the Tree of Life. He is currently applying his research in codon usage dynamics to Alzheimer’s disease by analyzing human subpopulations for disease-specific mutations that affect gene translational efficiency. Dr. Miller is also analyzing population-specific differences that might influence Alzheimer's disease progression.
Elizabeth Ward
Bioinformatics Research Assistant
Liz Ward received her B.S. degree in Bioinformatics from Brigham Young University in 2019. Her position as bioinformatician focuses on identifying and analyzing variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Liz enjoys reading, playing soccer, and spending time with her husband.
Liz Ward received her B.S. degree in Bioinformatics from Brigham Young University in 2019. Her position as bioinformatician focuses on identifying and analyzing variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Liz enjoys reading, playing soccer, and spending time with her husband.
Katrisa Ward
Bioinformatics Reasearch Assistant
Katrisa Ward received her B.S. degree in Bioinformatics from Brigham Young University in 2020. Her research focuses on using machine learning algorithms to identify protein coevolution and Alzheimer's Disease subtypes. She enjoys traveling, and her favorite trip so far was the three months that she spent in China teaching English with her husband, Josh. She also enjoys running, reading, and hiking in her free time.
Katrisa Ward received her B.S. degree in Bioinformatics from Brigham Young University in 2020. Her research focuses on using machine learning algorithms to identify protein coevolution and Alzheimer's Disease subtypes. She enjoys traveling, and her favorite trip so far was the three months that she spent in China teaching English with her husband, Josh. She also enjoys running, reading, and hiking in her free time.
Marie Tueller Emmett
Research Administrator
Marie completed an undergraduate degree at BYU and an M.Ed. at Harvard University. As the lab research administrator, she works with Dr. Kauwe to provide support for the many ongoing projects in the lab. She is committed to the lab’s mission and is excited to contribute to continuing successes and outcomes. Marie likes to read and watch soccer while keeping track of the comings and goings of her husband, Chad, a geography professor, and their three children.
Marie completed an undergraduate degree at BYU and an M.Ed. at Harvard University. As the lab research administrator, she works with Dr. Kauwe to provide support for the many ongoing projects in the lab. She is committed to the lab’s mission and is excited to contribute to continuing successes and outcomes. Marie likes to read and watch soccer while keeping track of the comings and goings of her husband, Chad, a geography professor, and their three children.
Madeline Page
Bioinformatics Research Assistant
Current Graduate Students
Tina Tavana
Biology Undergrad
PhD Grad program
PhD Grad program
Current Undergraduates
Joshua Parker
Physiology and Developmental Biology
Joshua Cassinat
Biology
Matthew Hodgman
Bioinformatics
Louisa Dayton
Bioinformatics
Matthew Cloward
Bioinformatics
Taylor Meurs
Bioinformatics
David Valentine
Neuroscience/ Experimental Lab Manager
Ed Ringger
Bioinformatics
Erik Huckvale
Computer Science/Bioinformatics
Benjamin Song
Bioinformatics
Braden Patten
Genetics, Genomics & Biotechnology
Micah Heimuli
Biochemistry
Brittany Reese
Open Major
Natalie Seufale
Open Major
Lab Alumni
Lab alumni without photos are not shown.
Ben Ainscough
PhD Candidate
Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine
Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine
Matthew Bailey
Graduate Student
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Krista Bean
Senior Bioinformatics Analyst
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Devan Bursey
Masters Student
Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University
Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University
Jesse Cobell
Medical Student
University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
Francisco Darquea
ISU AEGD Residency
Shane Dooley
Informatics Associate
DuPont Pioneer
DuPont Pioneer
Kenisi Fonoimoana
Medical Laboratory Science Student
Ariel Hippen
Bioinformatics Analyst
Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com
Todd Jaramillo
Podiatry Resident
Wake Forest Baptist Health
Wake Forest Baptist Health
Caitlin Lythgoe
Program Coordinator
Center for Simulation and Innovation, University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix
Center for Simulation and Innovation, University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix
David McKean
Graduate Student
Marquette University
Marquette University
Miles McKee
Medical Student
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
Ryan Miller
PhD Student
University of Utah, Molecular Biology
University of Utah, Molecular Biology
David Patty
Software Engineer II
Qualtrics
Qualtrics
Ammon Perkes
Graduate Student
University of Pennsylvania, Biology Department
University of Pennsylvania, Biology Department
David Peterson
Medical Student
Duke University School of Medicine
Duke University School of Medicine
Frederick Rohlfing
Medical Student
George Washington University, Ensign in US Navy
George Washington University, Ensign in US Navy
Emily Sears
Lab Analyst
Nelson Labs
Nelson Labs
Ryan Stinger
Medical Student
Georgetown University, School of Medicine
Georgetown University, School of Medicine
William Strong
Medical Student
St. George's University
St. George's University
Manti Su'a
Principle Investment Advisor
Single One International
Single One International
Eleni Tukuafu
Medical Laboratory Scientist
ASCP
ASCP
Mo Villagran
Actuarial Associate
Milliman
Milliman
PhD Student, Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics, BS
Neuroscience, BS
Exercise Science, BS
Moroni Chalita
Genetics & Biotechnology
Austin Wright
Bioinformatics
Lia Ludlam
Genetics and Biotechnology
Biology, MS
Microbiology, BS
John Allen
Biology, MS
MacKenzie Stewart Arrington
Family Life
Brandon Anderson
Neuroscience, BS
Calvin Quigley
Biology, BS
Robert Seymour
Bioinformatics
Monica Mackay
Bioinformatics
Brooke Spencer
Public Health
Omoremi Hamblin
Public Health
Keni Reid
Neuroscience
Emma Santiago
Pre-Nursing
Taylor Avei
Biology
Kameron Ho Ching
Physiology and Developmental Biology
Quentinia Aspinall
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Joseph Peterson
Bioinformatics
Devon McBee
Post-Bacc Studies
Katherine Crawford
Biology
Eden Gillette
Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology
Biology Undergrad
PhD Grad Program
PhD Grad Program
Biology Undergrad
PhD Grad Program
PhD Grad Program
Benjamin Bearss
Molecular Biology Undergrad
Rachel McDonald Young
Physiology & Developmental Biology
Austin Gale
Biology