Wolfgang Bergmeier, PhD (he/him)
Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Director of Graduate Studies
Green Labs Sustainability Committee member
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
UNC Blood Research Center
116 Manning Drive,
8212A Mary Ellen Jones Building
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7035
919.962.7331 (office)
919.962.7332 (lab)
bergmeie@email.unc.edu
We believe diverse viewpoints are essential to tackling challenging problems with creative and novel solutions – our lab strives to provide an excellent and welcoming environment to improve both our research and our community.
Meet the Team
Summer Jones, BS (she/her)
Master’s Student / Research Technician
Summer joined the lab in 2022 as a Research Technician after earning her BS in Neuroscience and Biology while minoring in Chemistry. Summer is in charge of maintaining our large mouse colony and keeping the lab running smoothly. She has recently been accepted as a Master’s Student in the department of Biochemistry and looks forward to working on a research project of her own.
Robert H. Lee, PhD (Bobby) (he/him)
Research Assistant Professor
Bobby joined the lab in 2015 as a postdoc after earning his PhD at the University of Toledo. Bobby’s research is focused on translational platelet biology, transfusion medicine and platelet function disorders.
Aleksei Martianov, PhD (Alexey) (he/him)
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Aleksei joined the lab in 2023. His research focuses platelet intracellular signaling with a focus on the platelet cytoskeleton and membrane role in the propagation of the activation signals.
David S. Paul, PhD (he/him)
Research Assistant Professor
Dave joined the lab in 2012 as a research associate. His research focuses on development of animal models, protocol optimization and collaborative studies.
David Rocco, BS (he/him)
PhD Student
David joined the lab in 2021 to earn his PhD. He is currently focused on elucidating the signaling mechanisms of the platelet receptor GPIb.
Matthew Vander-Ploeg, BS (he/him)
MD-PhD Student
matthew_vander-ploeg@med.unc.edu
Matt is an MD student here at UNC and joined the lab in 2022 to earn his PhD. His project focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of platelet migration.
Undergraduate Research Team
Ansh Gulati
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ansh is a Senior majoring in Biology (B.S) and Aeronautical & Astronautical Medicine (B.A). He joined the lab in 2023 as a research volunteer.
Carmen Sagues
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Carmen is a Senior majoring in Biomedical Engineering. She joined the lab in the summer of 2024 as a research volunteer.
Ashley Seung (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ashley is a sophomore majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry. She joined the lab in 2024 as a research volunteer.
Andrew Shaz
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Andrew is a sophomore majoring in Biology. He joined the lab in 2024 as a research volunteer.
Lab Alumni
Annabel Crosswell, BS
Annabel graduated with her Bachelor’s in Biology/Spanish and is now working as a Medical Assistant in Washington D.C.
Valeriia (Val) Kaneva, MS
Val joined a lab at UNC in the Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry department (CBMC)!
Federico Boggio, MD
Federico returned to his home country of Italy to continue working in both the clinical and lab setting. His increased knowledge of platelet biology will hopefully serve many of his patients!
Abigail (Abby) Ballard Kordeliski, PhD
Abby graduated with her PhD and moved back to her home state of Oklahoma for a post-doctoral position.
Nikola (Niki) Ziegmann, BS, MS
Niki returned to her home country of Germany to begin a PhD in the lab of Bernhard Nieswandt.
JEAN MARIE MWIZA, PhD, DVM, MS
Jean Marie graduated with his PhD and is now a professor at North Carolina A&T University.
NAZLI DEGER, PhD
Nazli returned to her home country of Turkey where she will continue her research career.
TANVI RUDRAN, B.S.
Tanvi graduated from UNC with a degree in Neuroscience and hopes to continue her research career in graduate school.
WYATT SCHUGG, B.S.
Wyatt enrolled in graduate school to earn his PhD at University of Virginia.
KATIE O. POE, B.S.
Katie now works for a biotech firm in the Research Triangle Park managing animal studies and performing histological analysis.
PATRICK KRAMER, B.S.
Patrick earned his B.S. in Neuroscience.
DORSAF GHALLOUSSI, PH.D
Dorsaf returned to her home country of France and is working as a Medical Communications Specialist.
ANKITA DHENGE, PH.D
Ankita returned to her home country of India and is working as a Senior Research Investigator at Syngene Amgen Research Center.
JOSEPH KENNY, B.S.
Joe is currently seeking employment opportunities in the Biotech/Pharm sector.
TRISTAN MILLER-COTTLE, B.S.
Tristan is currently seeking employment opportunities in the Biotech/Pharm sector.
COLE KIRKPATRICK, B.S.
Cole is currently an Associate Consultant for Allscripts EPSi.
MAXIMILIAN BAZIL, B.S.
Max graduated with Highest Honors and will be continuing his research career.
GABRIEL HAROUSSEAU, B.S.
Gabe graduated from UNC with Highest Honors and is currently earning his MD at New York Medical College.
RAYMOND PIATT, B.S.
Ray is currently a research technician at Dignify Therapeutics in the Research Triangle Park, NC.
ADARSH RAO, B.S.
Adarsh graduated with Honors and is currently enrolled in medical school at Wake Forest University.
AARON COOK, PH.D.
Aaron is currently a Design Analyst at IQVIA.
CATERINA CASARI, PH.D.
Caterina is now an Assistant Professor at INSERM in Paris, France.
ASHLEY BEALE, B.S., M.S., M.D.
Ashely earned her M.D. at UNC-Chapel Hill . She is currently training to be a General Surgeon at Beaumont Hospital in Michigan.
SWETHA PASALA, B.S., M.S., M.D.
Swetha earned her MD at Eastern Virginia Medical School. She is currently an Internal Medicine Resident in the Washington DC area.
YACINE BOULAFTALI, PH.D.
Yacine is now an Assistant Professor at INSERM in Paris, France.
TODD GETZ, PH.D.
Todd is currently with the American Red Cross, Combat Casualty Care Research Program Scientist
LUCIA STEFANINI, PH.D.
Lucia is continuing her research at Sapienza University of Rome in Italy, as a tenure-tracked researcher.
AGNIESKA CHOLKA, B.S.
Agi earned her Master’s from University of Texas, Southwest and continues her work as a lab manager.
MORITZ STOLLA, M.D.
Moritz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hematology at the University of Washington and Associate Medical Director at Bloodworks Northwest.
FIRDOS AHMAD, PH.D.
Firdos is an Assistant Professor in the College of Medicine at University of Sharjah.
R. CLAIRE RODEN, M.D.
Claire is a resident in pediatrics at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey.
TIMOTHY OUELLETE, M.D.
Tim enrolled in a Masters degree program at Georgetown University and is currently a resident physician in Boston
