Laboratory Members
The lab is growing and looking for dedicated and creative individuals interested in molecular evolution!
Positions are available for graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and short term (< 2 years) research technicians. Positions for undergraduate researchers are also be available as research needs expand.
Interested individuals should send a CV and a couple of sentences stating experience and skills, research interests, and future goals to bphm@purdue.edu.
Brian Metzger, Principal Investigator
Dr. Metzger started studying the evolution of new functions as an undergraduate with Dr. Carol E. Lee at UW-Madison (B.S. 2009). During his graduate work, he focused on the evolutionary and functional consequences of genetic variation and new regulatory mutations with Trisha Wittkopp at the University of Michigan (Ph.D. 2015). From 2016-2022 Dr. Metzger studied protein evolution as a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Fellow with Dr. Joe Thornton at the University of Chicago. The Metzger lab officially opened in 2023 at Purdue University.
Aparna Desai, Research Scientist and Laboratory Manager
My educational and work background covers multiple areas of biology including agricultural sciences, molecular genetics, protein biochemistry, regulatory sciences, pharmacogenetics along with quality assurance, grant writing support and administrative responsibilities.
I am currently working on genetic mapping of phenotypic and gene expression variations among various Saccharomyces species that are genetically as distant as birds and humans. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, large scale interspecific hybrid progenies are generated to study genetic architecture contributing to trait variations over a long evolutionary time. These maps enable future functional genomic studies to understand functional divergence and evolution of new molecular functions.
Ashutosh Sharma, Postdoctoral Researcher
I joined the Metzger lab as a Postdoctoral researcher in January 2025. I investigate gene expression variation and regulatory divergence across diverse taxa, with a particular focus on the evolution of gene regulation in yeasts. My research utilizes NGS data, genomics, transcriptomics, and phylogenetics approaches to understand how regulatory divergence evolved across populations, species, and evolutionary contexts. During my PhD (2019-2024), I explored comparative genomics and population genetics in vertebrates, particularly in the Galliformes, to understand gene loss, genome evolution, structural rearrangements, genetic diversity, and selective sweeps with Nagarjun Vijay at the IISER Bhopal. I love my family, cricket, and poetry.
Maggie Bogomolny, Research Technician
B.S. in Biochemistry, minor in Bioinformatics from Miami University
Two truths and a lie: all the bones I’ve broken have been on the left side of my body, I can handle the last sauce on Hot Ones, I’m from San Diego
David Moore, Research Technician
Hi! I'm David, I am from Highland Park, Illinois. I graduated from Purdue in May 2025 with a double major in Planetary Sciences and Biology, BS. My long-term interests lie in Geobiology and Astrobiology, such as the origin of life, which studying Evolutionary Biology plays a crucial role in. Outside of the lab I enjoy cooking and spending time outdoors!}
Shunxin Zhou, Graduate Student
Hi, I am Shunxin, from Harbin, China. I'm now a graduate student in biological science. I hope to learn more about population genetics. In my spare time, I enjoy tennis, yoga and mint chocolate ice cream!
Yuming Wang, Graduate Student
Hi! My name is Yuming Wang. I'm a graduate student from Fuzhou who joined the lab in 2025 after completing my undergraduate studies in Northeast China. What really drives me is evolutionary biology—I love using bioinformatics and lab work to untangle its fascinating puzzles.
Fun fact: The Tomato is the evolutionary "mother” of the Potato, which makes French fries with ketchup so genetically reasonable!
Juanita Ramirez, Visiting Research Scholar
Hi! I am from Colombia, I am a last year student of biological engineering. My research experience has focused on microbiology and biotechnology. I also love chocolate, ice cream and spending time with people ❤.
Rachel Isaac, Undergraduate Researcher
Hi! I'm Rachel and I'm from Louisville, KY. I'm a junior in ecology, evolution, and environmental biology as well as genetics. I've been in the lab since January 2024 and am working on a bioinformatics project looking into the evolutionary history of tyrosine kinase activity. Fun fact: the fastest a sloth will ever move is when it's falling.
Michael Gardner, Undergraduate Researcher
Hi! I'm Michael and I'm from Greenwood, South Carolina. I'm an undergraduate in the Honor’s college for the class of 2027 and I’m double majoring in Genetics and Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology. I've been in the lab since January 2024 and I’m currently working on ancestral state reconstructions for kinases with TK activity to gain insight into the roles of chance, contingency, and necessity in evolution. Fun fact: My friend Carl makes really great bread
Abbey Burris, Undergraduate Researcher
Hi, my name is Abbey Burris, and I’m from Naperville, IL. I am an undergraduate senior studying biology and psychology. I’ve been in the lab since August 2024 working on modifying and crossing Saccharomyces species to understand their evolutionary background. A fun fact is sidonglobophobia is the fear of cotton balls.
Haven Bader, Undergraduate Researcher
Hi! I’m Haven, and I am from Green Bay, Wisconsin. I am a junior in Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology. I have been in the lab since October 2024 and am working on inter-species genetics with Saccharomyces yeast. Fun fact: The lines around a Cheetah’s eye work like built-in sunglasses to block the sun.
Romit Ghosh, Undergraduate Researcher
Hi, I'm Romit, and I'm from Naperville, IL. I'm a sophomore majoring in Biology, and I joined the lab in August 2025. I'm working to understand the processes of regulatory variation and hope to learn more about bioinformatics. Fun Fact: Dinosaurs are older than grass.
Lab Alumni
Alex Carethers, Research Technician. 2024-2025
Nani-Marie McFadden, Visiting Undergraduate Researcher (Chicago State University). Summer 2024
Jinling Yuan, Research Technician. 2023-2024