Rene Black-Hellwitz, RDMS, R.T. (R) (ARRT), Clinical Research Project Manager, Cornell University. 2021-present

Bailey Smith, MS, Research Support Specialist, Cornell University. 2018-2020 and 2022-present.

Faith Carter, PhD Candidate, Human Nutrition (expected 2024); BS (Chemistry), University of North Carolina Wilmington; lab member since Fall 2019.
Current Project: Faith is assessing the impact of weight loss on follicle dynamics in women with PCOS. Her objective is to determine the effectiveness of weight loss to normalize antral follicle development and ovulation.

Avery Zhang, PhD Candidate, Human Nutrition (expected 2025); BS (Human Nutrition), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; lab member since Spring 2022.
Current Project: Avery is evaluating the impact of weight loss in women with overweight/obesity and PCOS. Her objective is to assess the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions aimed at weight loss and address the changes in body composition, ovulatory cyclicity, and endometrial development in women with PCOS.

Samiha Azgar, Doctoral Student, Human Nutrition (expected 2026); BS (Psychology, minor Biochemistry), Hofstra University, lab member since Fall 2023
Current Project: Samiha’s research focuses on examining the metabolic changes and variations in ovarian morphology that occur during the reproductive transitions of adolescents. She is also interested in assessing the impact of diet quality on the successful ovulation of women diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

Kiran Ganga: Human Biology, Health and Society (2024); lab member since Fall 2020. Current project: Lifestyle behaviors and health status in women with PCOS.

Keziah Wilson: Human Biology, Health and Society (2024); lab member since 2022. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis and follicle tracking in women with PCOS during a weight loss intervention.

Ariana Ishkanian: Biological Sciences (2024); lab member since 2022. Current project: clinical research support in the human metabolic research unit.

Grace Sappington: Biological Sciences (2024); lab member since 2022. Current project: clinical research support in the human metabolic research unit.

Melody Hong: Biological Sciences (2024); lab member since 2022. Current project: Artificial intelligence in ultrasound image analysis.

Catherine Cho: Human Biology, Health and Society (2025); lab member since 2022. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis.

Maggie Walsh: Chemistry (2025); lab member since 2022. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis.

Ryan Levine: Biological Sciences (2025); lab member since 2022. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis.

Hannah Lee: Global and Public Health Sciences (2025); lab member since 2022. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis.

Eliana Warner: Global and Public Health Sciences (2026); lab member since 2023. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis.

Eli Thoma: Global and Public Health Sciences (2025); lab member since 2023. Current project: Ultrasound image analysis.

Virginia Burkhart: Human Biology, Health and Society (2025); lab member since 2023. Current project: Dietary and lifestyle factors and PCOS. 

Maimuna Masud: Human Biology, Health and Society (2026); lab member since 2023. Current project: Dietary and lifestyle factors and PCOS.

Heidi Vanden Brink, Postdoctoral Associate; PhD (Nutrition) Cornell University, MSc (Health Sciences, Reproductive Physiology & Endocrinology) University of Saskatchewan, BSc (Physiology) University of Saskatchewan; lab member since 2012.

Additional Credentials: Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Specialization: Obstetrical & Gynecological Ultrasound)

Current Position: Assistant Professor (Tenure Track; Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, August 2022)

Maryam Kazemi, RD, MSc, PhD, CPT, Postdoctoral Associate, Nutrition, Metabolism, and Reproductive Physiology (Cornell University, 2022); PhD, Nutrition (University of Saskatchewan, Canada, 2018); MSc, Nutritional Sciences (Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, 2012); BSc, Nutritional Sciences (Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran, 2007); active years 2018-2022.

Additional Credentials: Registered Dietitian and Certified Phlebotomist

Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow (Genomics of Human Complex Metabolic and Reproductive Traits - specialty area of PCOS, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 2022)

Jeff Pea, PhD., Biomedical and Biological Sciences (2022); Doctoral Dissertation Title: Ultrasonographic Features of Ovarian Morphology in the Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; active years: 2019-2022.

Alexis Oldfield, Ph.D., Biomedical and Biological Sciences (2022); Doctoral Dissertation Title: Ultrasound Characterization of Antral Follicle Dynamics Across the Adiposity Spectrum; active years: 2018-2022.

Laura Galley, M.S., Human Nutrition (2021); active years: 2018-2021.

Heidi Vanden Brink, Ph.D., Human Nutrition (2019); Doctoral Dissertation Title: Ultrasonographic Imaging of Ovarian Morphology for the Diagnosis and Evaluation of Anovulatory Conditions Across the Adiposity Spectrum in Women and Adolescents; active years: 2014-2019.

Brittany Jarrett, Ph.D., Human Nutrition (2017); Doctoral Dissertation Title: Ultrasound Characterization of Antral Folliculogenesis in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; active years: 2012-2017. *Also previous postdoctoral fellow (2018-2019) and honors undergraduate student (2009-2012).

Annie Lin, Ph.D., Human Nutrition (2017); Doctoral Dissertation Title: Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviors, Knowledge, and Beliefs Association with PCOS; active years: 2012-2017.

Noah Lee, B.S., Nutritional Sciences (2023); Honors Thesis Title: The impact of weight loss on antral follicle development in anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Aprile Bertomo, B.S., Human Biology, Health, & Society (2022); Honors Thesis Title: Adherence to a Mediterranean diet during the adolescent reproductive transition.

Ashley Tam, B.A., Biological Sciences (2019); Honors Thesis Title: A comparison of ovarian morphology and reproductive and metabolic features between South Asian and White women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Lydia Anderson, B.S., Biological Sciences (2018); Honors Thesis Title: Association between glucoregulatory measures and reproductive function in women with and without PCOS; active years: 2016-2018

Adrienne Pisch, B.S., Biological Sciences (2018); Honors Thesis Title: Comparison and reliability of 2D and 3D ultrasound imaging methods to evaluate ovarian morphology; active years: 2016-2018

Hayden Chung, B.S., Nutritional Sciences (2016); Honors Thesis Title: The Impact of a Weight Loss Intervention on Health-Related Quality of Life in Overweight Women with Irregular Menses; active years: 2014-2016

Reid Mergler, B.S., Human Biology Health and Society (2015); Honors Thesis Title: Assessment of Reproductive and Metabolic Correlates of Cognitive Differences in Women with PCOS; active years: 2012-2015

Nikhita Chahal, B.S., Human Biology, Health and Society (2014); Honors Thesis Title: Ovarian Size and Stromal Characteristics across the Phenotypic Spectrum of PCOS: Are they Predictive and/or Useful in the Sonographic Assessment of PCOS?; active years: 2012-2014

Dana Larsen, B.S., Nutritional Sciences (2016); Honors Thesis Title: Validation of the Modified Women's Health Initiative Physical Activity Questionnaire in Women of Reproductive Age; active years: 2014-2016

Nina Clark, B.S., Human Biology, Health and Society (2013); Honors Thesis Title: Adiponectin, Leptin, Visfatin, and Retinol Binding Protein 4 Gene Expression Profiles in Women with PCOS; active years: 2010-2013

Amanda Pawlak, B.S., Biological Sciences (2011); Honors Thesis Title: Longitudinal Characterization of Follicle Populations in Women with PCOS: A Pilot Study; active years: 2009-2011

Effat Rahman, Human Biology Health and Society (2023); active years 2021-2023

Colleen Bradley, Biological Sciences (2023); active years 2022-2023

Jessica Ma, College of Arts and Sciences (2023); active years 2021-2023

Nabiha Zaman, Nutritional Sciences (2023); active years 2019-2023

Alexandra Reich, Human Biology, Health, and Society (2023); active years 2020-2023

Rachel Reeves, Human Biology (2023); active years 2020-2023

Cynthia Wan, Human Biology Health and Society (2023); active years 2020-2023

Julia Michalak, Biological Sciences (2023); active years 2020-2023

Isabella Xavier, Biological Sciences (2023); active years 2020-2023

Jean Lee, College of Arts and Sciences (2025); active years 2021-2022

Maggie Shideler, College of Arts and Sciences (2025); active years 2021-2022.

Elizabeth Viebranz, College of Arts and Sciences (2024); active years 2021-2022

Armita Jamshidi, Biology and Society (2024); active years 2022-2022

Viveka Jain, Biology and Society (2024); active years 2022-2022

Stephanie Wright, College of Arts and Sciences (2023); active years 2021-2022

Julia Xiong, Human Biology Health and Society (2023);active years 2020-2022

Jahnay Bryan, Chemistry (2023); active years 2020-2022

Hannah Son, Human Biology, Health, and Society (2022); active years 2021-2022

Anushka Malik, Biological Sciences (2022); active years 2020-2022

Gabriella Spinola, General Biology (2022); active years 2019-2022

Brooke Kelly, Nutritional Sciences (2022); active years 2020-2022

Mickayla Smith, Chemistry and Chemical Biology (2021); active years 2018-2020

Anna Rodriguez, Biological Sciences (2021); active years 2019-2021

Joy Zhang, Human Biology, Health, & Society (2021); active years 2019-2021

Joy Kim, Nutritional Sciences (2021); active years 2019-2021 

Jessica Lim, Biology and Society (2020);active years 2018-2020

Maryyam Durrani, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (2020); active years 2018-2020

Shayla Kilgannon, Nutritional Sciences (2019); active years 2018-2019

Avigdor Nosrati, Biology and Society (2018); active years 2016-2018

Ashley Hsu, Human Biology, Health, and Society (2018); active years 2016-2018