Bareun Kim, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
I grew up in Busan the 2nd largest city, Republic of Korea. I studied at Pusan National University and earned B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. Doing research is the most enjoyable part of my life, weekdays only. On weekends, I usually enjoy playing tennis, cooking, and watching classical music concert with friends. I’m trying to achieve and maintain a good work-life balance. Hopefully, I keep it till I will retire, please!
Tara Billman, LVT
Research Associate
Tara Billman was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. She attended Columbia State College, in Tennessee, and graduated from Cedar Valley College where she obtained a Licensed Veterinary Technician Degree (LVT).
In her 25 years at UTSW she acquired numerous skills related to mouse management. This is what she enjoys most.
Away from work her hobbies include grooming her pets, cruise vacations, and keeping up with politics but most of all watching football & movies with her husband of 25 years.
Sayra Briseno
Lab Technical Assistant
Sayra is from Dallas, TX and is a current student at the University of Arlington. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a minor in Spanish for Global Competence. Sayra has a passion for helping others and is interested in going into the Healthcare Industry.
Sonia Fuentes Lewey
Graduate Student Researcher
Sonia completed her undergraduate studies with a B.S. in biology from the University of North Texas. She then worked as a research technician here at UTSW for three years studying diabetes pathogenesis before she transitioned to a graduate student in the Osborne Lab. Currently, she is investigating the interactive role of the RNA-binding protein Lin28 and transcription factor Sox9 in lung development and cancer tumorigenesis. She hopes to use her training to develop a career specializing in creating novel therapeutics for a wide variety of human diseases. As a Washington State native, Sonia enjoys the sun here in Texas, but also misses skiing and snowboarding back home. She loves to spend her free time doing absolutely nothing together with her husband and baby boy.
Caylah Griffin
Research Technician I
Caylah received a B.S. in Biochemistry from Brown University, where she played soccer and studied the effects of the PD-1 blockade in the submandibular gland under Dr. Laurent Brossay. In the Osborne Lab, she works on understanding the connections between lung development and cancer. Caylah loves running, is an avid sci-fi book reader, and hopes to start her own Ph.D. journey in the coming years.
Maria Osuna
Research Technician II
Maria was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She received a B.S. in biology with a minor in chemistry from Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. In Dr. Osborne's Laboratory, she focuses on in vivo animal experiments that contribute to the study of the dysregulation of metabolism in cancer metastasis. She hopes to start medical school soon. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, crocheting, and watching series of different genres.
Indhujah Thevarajan, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr. Thevarajan received her B.S. degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from University of Colombo in Sri Lanka. She pursued her Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry from Kansas State University. She recently joined the Osborne lab as a postdoctoral researcher. Her research focuses on understanding feedback regulatory loops within the Lin28/let-7/SOX2/SOX9 axis during cancer stem cell (CSC) formation and metastasis. Apart from science, she is an avid badminton player and likes gardening and cooking.