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!

Sofía Navas Merino, Visiting Research Scholar

I’m Sofía, a Colombian student in the final semester of my Biological Engineering degree, and I’m currently in the lab as a visiting scholar. I really enjoy genetics and molecular biology, and I’m sure I’ll learn a lot from everyone here. In my free time, I love reading, discovering new places, exercising, and practicing synchronized swimming.

Rachel Isaac, Undergraduate Researcher

Hi! I'm Rachel and I'm from Louisville, KY. I'm a senior 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’ve worked on ancestral state reconstructions for kinases with TK activity to gain insight into the roles of chance, contingency, and necessity in evolution. I’m now working on a project to determine the basis of speciation for Saccharomyces species for my Biology Honors Thesis. Fun fact: Look up rhinoceros hornbills, they’re my favorite bird!

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.

Alex Webb, Undergraduate Researcher

Hi there! My name is Alex Webb and I am from Fishers, Indiana. I am a junior double majoring in Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology and Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology. I joined the lab in December of 2025, working on a bioinformatics project focusing on the ancestral reconstruction of the YK families. Outside of the lab, I am a competitive Pokémon and Destiny 2 player, which I have been doing for over 10 years. I love hanging out with my cats and friends, am an avid movie watcher, and a gaming fanatic. I'm extremely excited to contribute to the lab and gain even further experiences in the field of biology! Fun Fact: The largest organism in the world isn't something like the blue whale, rather, it is a specimen of Posidonia australis  seagrass in Australia!

Phoenix Moore, Undergraduate Researcher

Hello! My name is Phoenix and I'm from Fort Worth, Texas! I'm a freshman majoring in Planetary Science with a growing passion for astrobiology and evolutionary biology. I love challenging environments that push me to think deeply and creatively about how life works. Outside of science, I enjoy video games, arts and crafts, puzzles, and baking. I'm excited to contribute to this lab and learn from my experience here!

Gabrielle Vonder Embse, Undergraduate Researcher

Hi! My name is Gabby and I'm from Columbus, Ohio. I'm a freshman majoring in Biochemistry and pursuing a minor in Biotechnology. I joined the lab in hopes to learn more about the evolution of signaling pathways and how they affect gene expression. I'm hoping to use the knowledge I learn from this lab to pursue a career in drug development!  Outside of the lab I enjoy crocheting, reading, and bouldering!

Regan Auguste, Undergraduate Researcher

Hi! I’m Regan, I'm from Indianapolis, Indiana. I am an undergraduate for the class of 2029 and I'm double majoring in Chemistry and Neurobiology and Physiology. I love doing challenging things, mostly in gaming, and I believe research will allow me to continue to do such while developing more biological knowledge!

Lab Alumni

Juanita Jimenez Ramirez, Visiting Research Scholar. (Universidad Nacional de Colombia). 2025-2026

Alex Carethers, Research Technician. 2024-2025

Nani-Marie McFadden, Visiting Undergraduate Researcher (Chicago State University). Summer 2024

Jinling Yuan, Research Technician. 2023-2024