PEOPLE
Kevin Koronowski, PhD
Dr. Kevin Koronowski is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology and the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at the University of Texas Health San Antonio. He got his start in research as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh with Dr. William de Groat, studying neuropharmacology of the bladder and colon. Kevin earned his PhD with Dr. Miguel Perez-Pinzon at the University of Miami investigating resveratrol, a red wine polyphenol, as a prophylactic treatment for ischemic stroke. For his postdoctoral work, he contributed several fundamental studies of metabolic and epigenetic regulation of circadian rhythms in the liver with the late Dr. Paolo Sassone-Corsi at the University of California Irvine. Dr. Koronowski was recruited to UTHSA by Dr. Reuben Harris, BSB Chair, in February of 2022 to start his own research program aiming to uncover fundamental mechanisms of circadian control of metabolic disease, neurological disorders, and cancer. Kevin likes to listen to music and watch sports in his free time.
Email: koronowski@uthscsa.edu
Zhihong Li, MD, PhD
I’m Frieda, Lab Manager/Research Scientist. With metabolic research and lab managing experience, I have been happy to join Dr. Koronowski’s lab from the beginning. I like animals and enjoy working on murine research projects. I am committed to providing the highest level of help to the team. Along with research, I am also passionate about how food nutrients are linked to physical/mental health. As a hobby, I'm very much interested in making videos for wild animals and spacious fields - everything that Texas has to offer.
Email: liz1@uthscsa.edu
Qing Zhang, MD
My name is Qing Zhang. I was born in Tianjin, a north coastal city in China famous for seafood and comedy talk show. I got my Bachelor of Medicine degree in Tongji Medical College, Huazhong Science and Technology University, Wuhan, China and my M.D. at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing. I received my laboratory post-doc trainings in Moffitt Cancer Center and UTHSCSA. I joined Dr. Koronowski’s lab in August 2022 as a research scientist. My biggest research interest is to establish a tool to “diagnose” potential internal circadian disturbance and find a way to fight against it. In my personal life, I love playing with my kids because their laugh sounds are my best stress-reliever. I’m a good Chinese food chef, said by my wife and kids, and I’m proud of this.
Email: zhangq2@uthscsa.edu
Christopher Litwin, BS
I am a PhD student in the lab. I received my bachelor’s degree in biology from Texas A&M University. After graduating, I went on to work in a vision research lab which piqued my interest in how light influences physiology and led to my joining of the Koronowski lab. My projects in the lab are focused on the circadian control of secretion from the liver in the context of metabolism and aging. My overall scientific interests include metabolism, intercellular communication, cell signaling, physiology, and aging. In my free time, I like to go fishing, spend time with my wife and dog, and play basketball.
Email: litwin@livemail.uthscsa.edu
Yannis Tsialtas, PhD
Yannis was born and raised in Greece. He received his B.S. in Biology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, followed by a M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at the University of Thessaly. In October 2023, he joined the Koronowski Lab as a postdoctoral research fellow, to study protein-protein interactions and metabolism within the circadian clock system. Outside of the lab, Yannis enjoys playing tennis, attending theater performances, traveling, and exploring new bars.
Email: tsialtas@uthscsa.edu
Kristi Dietert, PhD
Here in the Koronowski lab, I am postdoctoral scholar interested in investigating a potential relationship between circadian rhythm and cellular senescence. My research background is mainly in neuroscience – my graduate work was focused on the role of adult neural stem cells in brain injury/aging. Aging research is my jam and investigating circadian rhythm/metabolism in that context is a super exciting field to be in! When I’m not in the lab, I love spending time with my family and friends. My partner, Cody, and I love to fish, embark on home-improvement projects, walk/play with our dogs, take our friends’ money in Texas hold-em game nights and generally love to explore. Much of my family lives in New Braunfels, so we enjoy visiting them frequently as well. I’m also an avid plant-mom and plan to have a reptile zoo in my backyard one day.
Email: dietertk1@uthscsa.edu
Mesomachi Udenta
My name is Mesomachi Udenta, I am a rising undergraduate senior Biology major chemistry minor from Baltimore Maryland interning at the Barshop Institute this summer with Howard University’s Aging Research Program. I am interested in understanding the neurodegenerative diseases that can contribute to aging.
Noelia Plantenga
Noelia Plantenga is a student at Harlan High School who enjoys broadening her knowledge of the scientific world through hands-on laboratory research. She was selected to be a member of the Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy through UT Health in 2023, which has allowed her to experience educational sessions with experts, poster presentations, and active research with experts in their field. In addition to her work with her mentor Dr. Koronowski, she is highly involved in a variety of clubs and activities at her high school. She hopes that her experiences in school and with her mentors in the lab will help her to pursue a successful career in science.
Wan Hsi Chen, MS (co-sponsored with Gius Lab)
Wan Hsi (Wendy) Chen holds an MS in Biomedical Sciences from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and a BS in Microbiology, Immunology, and Biopharmaceuticals from National Chiayi University. Currently, she is a Research Scientist at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, focusing on the relationship between clock genes and breast cancer progression. Wendy has gained valuable experience in animal handling, cell culture, and molecular biology techniques through her work at UT Southwestern Medical Center and TTUHSC Cancer Center. She has contributed to several research publications and enjoys hiking and listening to music in her free time.
Email: chenw2@uthscsa.edu