Michael Kearse — Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator

kearse.3@osu.edu

BS with Distinction, Penn State University
PhD, Lehigh University
Postdoc, University of Michigan (NIH F32 Kirschstein NRSA Fellow)
Postdoc, University of Pennsylvania (NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award)

Research Interests: ribosomes, mechanisms & regulation of mRNA translation, RNA-based mechanisms of human disease, collaborative science.

Out of Lab Interests: spending time with my wife and our two young kids, dark roast coffee, BIG10 college football, over using Post-It Notes, the Columbus Crew, turning things up to 11 (click here for reference).

Carter Flora — Undergraduate Research Student

flora.101@buckeyemail.osu.edu

Class of 2027
Major: Biomedical Science (College of Medicine)

“I'm very excited to learn more about RNA biology and build relationships with you and other lab members!”

Outside of Lab Interests: I enjoy everything outdoors — sports, hiking, and walking my dog. I recently became an intermural soccer champion!

Bridget Holland — Undergraduate Research Student

holland.627@buckeyemail.osu.edu

Class of 2028
Major: Biology (College of Arts and Sciences)

“I’m fascinated by the molecular machines we can’t see—especially how RNA translation impacts human health and disease. I’m excited to contribute to ongoing research in the lab while gaining hands-on experience in molecular biology.”

Outside of Lab Interests: I love spending time outdoors, whether it’s going for a hike or relaxing in the yard with my dog, Wesley. I’m also an avid baker and enjoy watching Buckeyes games with friends.

Gabby Javellana — PhD Student

javellana.2@buckeyemail.osu.edu

BS, University of the Philippines - Diliman
Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University (entered 2024)

"I love learning about how molecules we can't see affect pretty much every aspect of life from disease to just digesting the stuff we eat! Outside the lab, I will pretty much watch any sport from soccer and basketball to darts and curling! I also love to apply the scientific method to things like cooking and baking!"

Kath Olson (she/he/they) — PhD Student

olson.657@buckeyemail.osu.edu

BA, College of Wooster
Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University (entered 2024)

University Fellowship — 2024-2025 academic year
CMBP Fellowship — 2025-2026 academic year

“Outside of lab, I love reading a good book with our cat Reyna! I also picked up running at the end of undergrad and recently ran my first 5k.”

Julia Warrick, PhD

warrick.45@buckeyemail.osu.edu

BS, Marryville College
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, The Ohio State University (entered 2021)

Dissertation Title: Characterizing the RNA topoisomerase TOP3B in mRNA translation and disease

Center for RNA Biology Fellowship — 2023-2024 academic year
Center for RNA Biology Travel Award — 2024
Center for RNA Biology Travel Award — 2025
Best Poster Award, Ohio State CRB & CMBP Symposium — 2025
Johnson Academic Excellence Award — 2025

“I am a Maryville College alum, and I love to read, paint, and watch football. I also love to hike and buy new plants.”

Addie and Lincoln (now and then)

Junior members of the lab that contribute to the entropy of the lab’s staff office during time points that spill over into the weekends.

Out of Lab Interests: growing up too fast, rock climbing, driving Mike crazy by watching the same Disney movies all the time, ice cream, the Columbus Crew, and family night at the Columbus Clippers.

Join us!

We are always looking to hear from students and postdocs looking to learn and contribute to our team. If you are interested in RNA biology, translation, and human disease, learn more here or contact us at michael.kearse@osumc.edu.

Mia Ashriem (class of 2024); ashriem.1@buckeyemail.osu.edu — Undergraduate Honors Research Student, 2022-2024

Currently a Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology PhD student at Ohio State in Dr. Luis Bonet-Ponce’s lab.

Lainie Boyle (and Ranger); lainie.boyle@biochem.utah.edu — Research Assistant, 2020-2021

Currently a PhD candidate at the University of Utah in Dr. Brenda Bass’ lab.

Morgan Buchman, MS; buchman.38@buckeyemail.osu.edu — Graduate Student, 2024-2025

Currently pursuing academic and industry research.

Caleb Clark; caleb.clark@osumc.edu — Discovery PREP Postbac Research Scholar, 2024-2025

Currently a Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology PhD student at Ohio State in Dr. Ambro von Hoof’s lab.

Nicholas Forsyth ; forsyth1@kenyon.edu — Visiting Summer Research Student from Kenyon College, 2024

Currently finishing his BS in Chemistry (class of 2026) before applying to PhD programs.

Daisy Grove, PhD; grove.288@buckeyemail.osu.edu — PhD Student/Candidate, 2019-2024

Dissertation Title: Characterization of the inhibitory function of eIF2A in mRNA translation

OSBP Plenary Speaker at the Ohio State LS-IGP Symposium — 2023

Currently a postdoctoral research associate at Northern Kentucky University in Dr. Erin Strome’s lab.

Sarah Hoffmann-Weitsman; sehoffmannweits@knox.edu — Visiting Summer Research Student from Knox College, 2022

Currently a PhD student at WashU in St. Louis (entered August 2024) in Dr. Alex Holehouse’s lab .

Daniel Levine (class of 2023); levine.1789@buckeyemail.osu.edu — Undergraduate Research Student, 2021-2023

After teaching English in Spain for a year, Daniel is currently in medical school at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine and will focus on primary care & internal medicine.

Paul Russell, PhD; russell.699@buckeyemail.osu.edu — PhD Student/Candidate, 2020-2025

Dissertation Title: Defining mRNA and ribosome decay pathways in mammalian cells

CA Fellowship — 2019-2020 academic year
CMBP Fellowship — 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years
Center for RNA Biology Fellowship — 2022-2023 academic year
Outstanding Poster Award, Ohio State LS-IGP Symposium — 2023
Center for RNA Biology Travel Award — 2024

Currently pursuing industry research.

Kenzie Scarpitti, PhD; scarpitti@battele.org; LinkedIn — PhD Student/Candidate, 2019-2024

Dissertation Title: Mechanisms of translational control by the fragile X protein, FMRP

University Fellowship — 2019-2020 academic year
Center for RNA Biology Fellowship — 2020-2021 academic year
Johnson Academic Excellence Award — 2022
Best Poster Award, Ohio State CRB & CMBP Symposium — 2022

After Kearse Lab: postdoctoral training with Dr. Agnes Karasik at OSU and is now a Biologist II at Battelle.

Darren Webb; webb.799@buckeyemail.osu.edu — Research Assistant, 2022-2023

Currently pursuing research in industry before applying to graduate shcool.

Elly Yoder (class of 2024); yoder.459@buckeyemail.osu.edu — Undergraduate Research Student, 2021-2024

Currently pursuing a professional career in the medical field.