Staff, Students, and Postdocs

Cody Hager - Lab Manager

Cody joined the Burness Lab in 2019. He works on a variety of projects in the lab. His is primarily focus is on elucidating the role of DNA repair mechanisms in mediating breast cancer stem cell resistance to therapy. He completed his undergraduate studies in Cell and Molecular Biology at Grand Valley State University in 2012 and is pursuing a master's degree in Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology from the University of Michigan.

Deeksha Sharma, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Deeksha joined the Burness Lab in 2022. She works on BET degrader effect on Breast cancer stem cells. She completed her doctoral study at National Dairy Research Institute in 2021. In her free time, she enjoys reading and traveling.

Katherine Xendzova - Undergraduate Student

Kat joined the Burness Lab in the fall of 2022. 

Grace Shapiro - Undergraduate Student

Grace joined the Burness Lab in the Fall of 2022. She is majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN) and minoring in Art and Design. In her free time, Grace likes to read, paint, and knit.

Alex Kalman - Undergraduate Student

Alex joined the Burness Lab in the fall of 2023. He is majoring in Biochemistry. 

Aihui Ma, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow

Aihui joined the Burness Lab in 2018. She works on variety of projects in the lab as a postdoctoral fellow. Her interest is on the DNA damage responses in breast cancer stem cells. She completed her doctoral study in Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2017.

Destiney Hadden - Undergraduate Student

Destiney joined the Burness Lab in the fall of 2019. She is double majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN) and Biology, Health, and Society (BHS) and minoring in Gender and Health. 

Yei-Jee Burkitt - Undergraduate Student

Yei-Jee joined the Burness Lab in the fall of 2017. She is working on her Bachelors degree in Public Health Sciences.