Current Lab Members
Danielle Smith
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Danielle began postdoctoral research training in July 2024, focusing on the role of amino acid metabolism in chondrogenesis and endochondral ossification. She earned a Ph.D. in biological chemistry from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD in 2024, where she studied fatty acid metabolism and hepatic lipid trafficking during fasting. Danielle graduated with a B.A. in chemistry from Colby College in Waterville, ME in 2018. Outside the lab, she enjoys running, watching hockey, and exploring the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area.
Abu Ramim
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Ramim joined the team in January 2026. His research focuses on how oxidative stress influences bone health and metabolism. He completed his Ph.D. in molecular biology at Wayne State University in Detroit, where he studied how the loss of TAFAZZIN alters amino acid metabolism in the rare genetic disorder Barth syndrome. Ramim earned both his MS and BS in microbiology from the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh. In the summer, he can often be found hiking or backpack camping somewhere with a great mountain view. He enjoys playing volleyball, badminton, and loves trying new cuisine.
Priyanka Roy
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Priyanka Roy joined the Lab as a postdoctoral researcher in February 2026. Her current research focuses on how redox balance and glutathione metabolism regulate kidney development and tissue health, with a particular emphasis on the role of glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL) in controlling oxidative stress and cell survival.
Originally from Kolkata, often referred to as the cultural capital of India, Priyanka earned her PhD in Life Sciences from the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata, where she studied inflammatory signaling, membrane trafficking, and nanoscale receptor organization to understand how cells sense and respond to stress. She also holds an MSc and a BSc in Zoology from the University of Calcutta, Kolkata.
Outside the lab, Priyanka enjoys traveling, exploring new cuisines and cultures (currently learning German), watching comedy shows, birdwatching, and going on wildlife safaris. On weekends, you’ll usually find her discovering new food spots, spotting birds, nurturing her house plants, or planning her next trip!
Amy Whitaker
Position: Ph.D. Candidate
Amy Whitaker joined the lab in June 2024 and has enjoyed researching amino acid metabolism in support of osteoclast differentiation and activity. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Dallas, where she worked on characterizing the structure and function of Cry toxins.
Amy loves peppermint milkshakes from Braum's, as it is the only place where she can enjoy peppermint milkshakes at any time of the year.
Yilin Yu
Position: Lab Manager
Yilin Yu is the lab manager and has been an essential part of the team since joining the lab in November 2015. As the lab manager, Yilin helps keep everything running smoothly and supports many different aspects of the lab’s work-so the research focus could be described as a little bit of everything. Outside the lab, Yilin enjoys sleeping, as she said- “. in dreams you can have everything you want!”
Michael Neal
Position: Research Assistant
Michael Neal joined Dr. Karner’s lab in January 2026 as a Research Assistant II. He earned both his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Biological Sciences from East Texas A&M University, where he developed a strong foundation in cellular and molecular biology research. During his time at East Texas A&M, he co-authored studies on novel cardiac-inducing RNAs and their potential to transform non-stem cells into cardiac myocytes in vitro.
Michael’s current research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which amino acid metabolism regulates the differentiation of chondrocytes into osteoblasts.
Outside the lab, Michael enjoys writing, recording, and performing original blues-rock music, as well as exploring creative expression through the guitar. He also enjoys staying active and continues to learn across both science and the arts.
Lab Alumni
Postdoctoral Fellows
| Date | Name | From | Current Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-2025 | Guoli Hu, Ph.D. | Postdoctoral Fellow | Research Scientist, Bejing, China |
| 2023-2024 | Logan Moore, Ph.D. | Postdoctoral Fellow, UTSW | Assistant Professor, Texas Wesleyan University |
| 2017-2020 | Deepika Sharma, Ph.D. | Postdoctoral Fellow, Duke University | Scientist, KBI Biopharma |
Graduate and Undergraduate Students
| Date | Name | From | Current Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Jimena Ramirez | Summer Undergraduate Research Institute for the study of Kidney Diseases (SURISKD) Fellow | Undergraduate, East Central University |
| 2023 | Lauren Herrneckar | SURISKD Fellow | Undergraduate, East Central University |
| 2022 | Aaron Seto | SURISKD Fellow | Undergraduate, Brown University |
| 2022 | Elijah Woodward | SURISKD Fellow | Undergraduate, East Central University |
| 2023 | Anu Aggarwal | Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow |
MD Student, UTSW |
| 2018 | Nathan Loyd | Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow | DO Student, Oklahoma State College of Osteopathic Medicine |
| 2017 | Joshua Hardage | Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow | Internal Medicine Resident, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine |
| 2016-2017 | Jonathan Schwartzman | Undergraduate Researcher, Duke University | MD Student, University of Central Florida College of Medicine |
| 2015-2017 | Everette Knudsen | Undergraduate Researcher, Duke University | MD Student, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine |
| 2015 | Risigan Logendran | Undergraduate Researcher, Duke University | Lab Operations Manager, Tavros Therapeutics |
| 2016-2021 | Leyao Shen | Graduate Student/ Duke University | Postdoctoral Fellow (Kaigler Lab) and DDS Student, University of Michigan School of Dentistry |
Rotation Students
| Date | Name | From | Current Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Katie Rubitschung |
Rotation Student, UTSW |
PhD Student, UTSW |
| 2025 | Desiree DeHart |
Rotation Student, UTSW |
Elementary Teacher, Rockwall ISD |
| 2024 | David Anjakos | Rotation Student, UTSW |
PhD Student, UTSW |
| 2023 | Nataliya Tod | Rotation Student, UTSW | MSTP Student, UTSW |
| 2018-2024 | Dilara Anbarci | Rotation student then dissertation committee member, Duke University | PhD Student (DSCB Program) Duke University |
| 2018 | Belinda Hernandez | Rotation student, Duke University | PhD Student (UPGG program) Duke University |
Research Personnel
| Date | Name | From | Current Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-2020 | Hunter Newman | Technician, Graduate Student, Duke University | Postdoctoral Fellow (Varghese Lab), Duke University |