Yan Lu, PhD

Dr. Yan Lu

Dr. Lu is a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University (WMU). She received her Ph.D. in Botany at the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 2005. Dr. Lu obtained postdoctoral training in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Michigan State University during 2005 - 2011. She joined the faculty of WMU in August 2011.

 

Current Lu Lab Members:

Mr. Theophilus Addo is a M.S. student in Biological Sciences. He joined the Lu Lab in Fall 2023.

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Ms. Glory James is a M.S. student in Biological Sciences. She joined the Lu Lab in Fall 2023.

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Ms. Ella G. VarnHagen is an undergraduate student in Biology at Kalamazoo College. She joined the Lu Lab in Summer 2024.

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Mr. Jacob Waterlander is an undergraduate student in Biology at Western Michigan University. He joined the Lu Lab in Fall 2024.

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Former Postdocs and Students:

Dr. Jun Zhao received his Ph.D. from Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University in Shaanxi, China in 2016. He was a postdoctoral visiting research associate in the Lu Lab during November 2018 - November 2019. He is currently an associate professor at Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University.

 

Dr. Krishna Nath received his Ph.D. from Pusan National University in the Republic of Korea in 2010. He was a postdoctoral researcher in the Lu Lab during October 2013 - February 2016. He is currently a Life Science Instructor at the University of Arkansas at Rich Mountain.

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Teresa J. Clark was a M.S. student in Biological  Sciences. She joined the Lu Lab in Fall 2011 and graduated in Summer 2013. After obtaining her Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Michigan State University, Teresa joined Brookhaven National Laboratory as a postdoc research associate. She is currently a Plant Molecular Biologist at InVitria.

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Justin B. Hackett was a M.S. student in Biological Sciences. He joined the Lu Lab in Fall 2013 and graduated in Summer 2016. He is currently a M.D./Ph.D. student at Wayne State University School of Medicine.

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James P. O'Donnell was a graduate student in Biological Sciences. He joined the Lu Lab in September 2012 and graduated with a M.S. degree in 2016.

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Ryan L. Wessendorf was a M.S. student in Biological Sciences. He joined the Lu Lab as a graduate student in Fall 2014 and graduated in Summer 2017. After receiving his Ph.D. in Molecular Plant Sciences from Washington State University, Ryan joined Charles River Laboratories as a Senior Associate Scientist.

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​Manasa B. Satyanarayan was a M.S. student in Biological Sciences. She joined the Lu Lab in September 2016 and graduated in Spring 2019. After obtaining her M.S. in Biological Sciences, Manasa joined Charles River Laboratories as a scientist. She is currently an R&D Project Manager at ICON plc.

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Alex Kolstoe was a M.S. student in Biological Sciences. He joined the Lu Lab in January 2020 and graduated in Summer 2023. He is currently an Medical Case Manager at Prevention Point Philadelphia.

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Jessica Zhang was a high school student from Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center and Portage Central High School (PCHS). She joined the Lu Lab in Summer 2018. She graduated from PCHS in Spring 2020 and from Cornell University in Spring 2024.

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Danielle Ahn was a high school student from Portage Northern High School (PNHS). She joined the Lu Lab in Summer 2023. She graduated from PNHS in Spring 2024 and is currently studying human biology at the University of California - San Diego.