Lab Members

Philip J. Smaldino, Ph.D.

Principle Investigator

Phil earned a B.S. and M.S. in biology at SUNY Fredonia and SUNY Buffalo, before completing a Ph.D. in cancer biology at Wake Forest University in 2013.

During his doctoral training, Phil met his future wife, Melissa Smaldino, who was completing a Ph.D. in neuroscience. Phil and Melissa spent the subsequent 3 years as a Postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Michigan before starting a lab at Ball State University in 2016.

Phil and Melissa enjoy spending time with their seven kids, Sophia-Noel, David, Michael, Augustine, Zelie-Therese, Rosa-Maria, and Louis, tending to their small farm, and reading aloud poetry and good books together.

Johann Georg Melchior Schmidtner, ca. 1700, "Mary Undoer of Knots"

Current Students

Masters Student

Chance Creviston, B.S.

chance.creviston@bsu.edu

Masters Student

Nana Akua Koranteng, B.S.

nkoranteng@bsu.edu

Masters Student

Kelsey Slattery, B.S.

kelsey.slattery@bsu.edu

Masters Student

Christiana Whittey, B.S.

christiana.whittey@bsu.edu

WhatsApp Image 2026-01-09 at 20.05.43.jpeg

Masters Student

David Lawrence, B. S.

david.lawrence@bsu.edu

Undergraduate Student

Abbey Wiggam

abaigeal.wiggam@bsu.edu

Masters Student

Christiana Whittey, B.S.

Masters Student

Nana Akua Koranteng, B.S.

Undergraduate Student

Abbey Wiggam

Lab Alumni

Adam Richardson

(M.S. 2019)

Then: Eli-Lilly Co-Op

Now: Scientist I, AbbVie

Tumor Dependency Drug Discovery

Antonio Chambers

(M.S. 2019)

Then: ATL Contract Scientist

Now: Senior Biologist, Eli Lilly

Peter Beerbower

(B.S. 2018)

Now: PhD Candidate

North Dakota State University

Abbie Scott

(M.A. 2020)

Then: Auburn Veterinary School of Medicine, Class of 2024

Now: Veterinarian Logue's TLC Pet Hospital

Nick Marzolf

(B.S. 2018)

Now: Senior Field Engineering,

Roche Diagnostics

Amari Crosby

(B.S. 2017)

Now: Inventory Manager

Katana Lipsomb

High School Summer Research Student (’17)

DeKayla Elliot

High School Summer Research Student (’18)

Destinee Saunders

(B.S. 2021)

Then: Phlebotomist

Now: Senior IT Coordinator Aces Energy Solution

Emily Schmidt

(B.S. 2021)

Now: Secondary Ed, Chemistry

Hasna Alashi

(M.S. 2021)

Now: PhD Student

University College London

Joseph Huang

(M.A. Candidate, 2021)

Now: University of Illinois - Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2025

Meredith Sharlow

(B.S. 2021)

Then: Elli-Lilly Co-Op (21-22)

Now: ATL/Lily Scientsit

Siara Sandwith

(B.S. 2021)

Now: PhD Candidate

University of Michigan, Cellular and Molecular Biology

Michael Reisinger

(B.S. 2021)

Now: Scientist at LabCorp

Tyler Osborne

(B.S. 2022)

Now: Indiana University School of Medicine, Class of 2027

Taylor Karns

(M.S. 2022)

Then: Lilly/BSU Co-Op

Now: Lilly Scientist

Dylan Seiler

(M.S. 2024)

Now: Lily/BSU Co-Op

Alex Gestwicki

High School Research Student

Now: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Class of 2029

Ahmad Ahmad

(B.S. 2024)

Now: Medical Student

Indiana University School of Medicine, Class of 2029

Quinn Anderson

(M.S. 2023)

Now: Research Associate

Case Western Reserve

Charline Charles

(B.S., 2025)

Now: Optometry Technician

Emma Eubanks

(B.S. 2024)

Now: PhD Student

Vanderbilt School of Medicine

Evan Rogers

(B.S. 2025)

Now: Lilly/BSU Co-Op

2LT Joseph Gumina

(M.S. 2025)

Now: Medical Student

Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine, Class of 2029

(full Army Scholarship)

Nicolas Bontzek

High School Research Student, Summer 2025

Now: Applying to universities to continue in research

Logan Patterson

Now: Indiana University Kokomo

Omar Habous

Now: Masters Student
Ball State University