The Kopinke lab
CURRENT TEAM
DR. DANIEL KOPINKE
Assistant Professor
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS; MYOLOGY INSTITUTE
Daniel received his BS in Biology and MS in Cell Biology from the University of Kiel in Germany. His master thesis on pharyngeal arch development in zebrafish was a collaborative effort between the labs of Dr. Thomas CG Bosch at the University of Kiel and Dr. Tatjana Piotrowski at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. For his Ph.D. studies, Daniel worked with Dr. L. Charles Murtaugh at the University of Utah investigating whether the pancreas contains an adult stem cell population capable of replacing beta-cells selectively lost in type I diabetes. After finishing his PhD in 2011, he moved to the University of California, San Francisco where he joined the lab of Dr. Jeremy Reiter working on primary cilia, Hedgehog signaling and muscle regeneration. Daniel started his Assistant Professor position at the University of Florida in fall 2018. Daniel received several awards including a Muscular Dystrophy Association Development Grant during his postdoc and a Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds Ph.D. Fellowship during his PhD.
Kiara Fierman
PhD Student
Kiara is a proud double Gator, having earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology with an emphasis in Biotechnology and a minor in Pathogenesis from the University of Florida. She began her research journey in the Bihorac Lab as an undergraduate, where she worked on leveraging artificial intelligence to predict pain and delirium in ICU patients. Kiara first joined the Kopinke Lab during her undergraduate studies and returned to pursue her graduate training. In 2023, she entered the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program with a concentration in Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Her current research focuses on harnessing endogenous Hedgehog signaling to prevent pathological fat formation. She's particularly fascinated by the many layers of Hedgehog signaling—investigating everything from downstream targets when the pathway is active, to the upstream source of the ligand—and how this impacts neuromuscular conditions.
XINYUE LIU, MS
PhD Student
Xinyue got her master's degree at the University of Florida. Her research for the master program focused on how cell cycle-dependent regulation of histone modifications governs the mitotic condensation of chromatin. She enjoys reading, watching movies and listening to music in her spare time. Xinyue joined the Kopinke lab in Fall 2023.
Hailey Jones
PhD Student
Hailey grew up in North Carolina where she earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry, with minors in biological sciences and microbiology from North Carolina State in 2024. As an undergraduate, she conducted research in the Cruse lab, where her project focused on synthesizing cell-penetrating peptide conjugates to target c-KIT for the enhanced treatment of mast cell diseases. Following graduation, Hailey started her PhD at UF in the Biomedical Sciences program and joined the Kopinke Lab. Her current research centers on finding new therapeutics to prevent IMAT formation after injury as well as investigating the root cause of fibro/adipogenic progenitor cells differentiation into adipocytes.
Jacob Barretto
PhD Student
​Beginning in 2024, Jacob joined the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program at the University of Florida, with a focus in Physiology and Aging. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Business Management from the University of San Diego. As an undergraduate, Jacob conducted research under the mentorship of Dr. Nicole Danos, studying how pregnancy and lactation affect the gastrocnemius muscle in female rats. Following graduation, Jacob spent two years in the biotechnology industry, where he specialized in optimizing biochemical assays to support drug development initiatives. Now conducting his graduate research in the Kopinke Lab, with co-mentorship from Dr. Karyn Esser, Jacob is investigating the role of the circadian clock in fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) and how disruptions in circadian rhythms may contribute to pathological intramuscular fat accumulation.
Gaby Mateo-Hernandez
Lab Technician
​Gaby was born and raised in Puerto Rico (a place everyone should visit if they haven’t!). She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Puerto Rico and later relocated to Boca Raton, FL, to pursue her master’s in biomedical engineering at Florida Atlantic University. She has worked in a chemistry lab analyzing organic compounds as well as in a biopharmaceutical lab focused on cell culture and monoclonal antibody production. In the Kopinke Lab, Gaby will be working primarily with genotyping and lab management. Her research interests include pharmacology, immunotherapy, and cancer biology. In the future, she hopes to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and use that path to help connect biomedical research and healthcare with greater accessibility and education for underrepresented minorities.
Dawson Geller
Lab Technician
Originally born in Tampa, FL, Dawson attended the University of Florida where he earned his bachelor’s in biology with minors in nutritional sciences and business administration. Previously during undergrad, he worked in Dr. Nikhil Urs’s lab studying dopamine neurotransmission and its role in motivation and learning. He graduated in the spring of 2025 and joined both the Kopinke Lab and Urs lab as a lab technician. He is currently applying to medical school, with the hopes of using what he learns from bench research to help future patients throughout his career. ​
UNDERGRADUATES
Marisa Bonilla
Marisa is a fourth-year undergraduate student at UF majoring in both Biochemistry and Mathematics. She spent her early childhood in Gainesville before moving to her mom’s hometown of Stillwater, Minnesota. She previously participated in undergraduate research in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, studying inflammation pathways in recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa and the effects certain proteins have on inflammation signals. She joined the Kopinke lab in September of 2023, mainly focusing on the effect of molecular compounds on adipogenesis and myogenesis in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
Ben Lento
Ben is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Florida pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Originally from Bradenton, Florida, he has a strong interest in regenerative medicine and is an active member of UF’s Regenerative Medicine Club, where he explores topics in tissue engineering and biomedical innovation.
In the Kopinke Lab, Ben works under the mentorship of Kiara Fierman to investigate the immediate effects of glycerol-induced muscle injury in mice. His research also focuses on evaluating how specific siRNA treatments influence the formation of intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT).
Felix Mader
Felix is an undergraduate student at the University of Florida majoring in Biomedical Engineering and pursuing a pre-med track. He joined the Kopinke Lab during his second semester at UF, marking his first hands-on research experience at the university level. Since then, he has been actively learning the experimental techniques and approaches used in the lab while gaining a deeper understanding of its ongoing projects. He is especially interested in the complexities of Hedgehog signaling and its emerging role in fat formation, and he is excited to continue exploring the intersection of developmental biology, regenerative medicine, and biomedical innovation.
Benedict Deepesh
Benedict grew up in the Tampa Bay area and is currently a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Florida, majoring in Pre-Professional Biology with plans to pursue a minor in Health Disparities. Benedict joined the Kopinke Lab in January 2025 to gain meaningful research experience and deepen his understanding of biomedical science. Since joining, he has been trained in muscle tissue sectioning, staining, imaging, and quantification. He is also contributing to a project with Xinyue investigating the role of the primary cilium and ciliary Hedgehog signaling during hindlimb ischemia. Through his work in the lab, Benedict has strengthened his skills in critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and collaborative research, and he looks forward to continuing his growth in the field.
Pritha Patel
Pritha is from Jacksonville, FL, and is currently an undergraduate student majoring in health sciences on the pre-med track. Although she does not yet have formal research or work experience beyond laboratory courses completed in chemistry and biology, she is eager to expand her knowledge through hands-on research. With a particular interest in how cell signaling and stem cells influence organ development and disease, Pritha hopes to apply the theoretical concepts learned in the classroom to real-world research while building essential skills in developmental biology.
Natalia Guzman-Manzano
Natalia is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Public Health at the University of Florida. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she is on the pre-med track and plans to pursue medical school after completing her Master of Public Health in spring 2028. Her previous research experience includes contributing to a lab studying osteoarthritis, where she focused on bone imaging, as well as gaining extensive hands-on training through undergraduate coursework in microbiology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biology labs. She joined the Kopinke Lab in August 2025 and is mentored by Jacob Barretto, assisting with a project investigating how circadian rhythms influence a population of mesenchymal stem cells within the muscle and how the clock may play a role in intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) formation. Her research interests lie at the intersection of public health and biomedical science, and her long-term goal is to bridge clinical medicine and research to improve health outcomes.
ALUMNI
ALESSANDRA NORRIS, PhD
Postdoc
Alessandra (Ale) received her Undergraduate degree from the Universidad de Belgrano (UB), Buenos Aires, Argentina. For her Undergraduate Thesis, Ale worked on the exosomal response to genomic damage induced by UV-C radiation in mesenchymal stem cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. Ale was a PhD student in the Kopinke lab and graduated in Summer 2023. She is a Postdoc in the Burkewitz Lab at Vanderbilt. You can contact her at alessandranorris@ufl.edu.
AMBILI APPU
Lab Manager
​Ambili is a dedicated lab manager with a master's degree in biotechnology from Mahatma Gandhi University and several years of experience supporting research teams. Originally from Kerala, India, she brings both technical expertise and a calm, organized approach to managing day-to-day lab operations. Ambili is passionate about creating a supportive and efficient research environment, mentoring team members, and ensuring that everything behind the scenes runs smoothly. Outside the lab, she enjoys gardening, reading, and focusing on a lifestyle rooted in peace, health, and purpose.
Christian Noble
PhD Student
Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Christian was raised in South Florida and earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Florida State University, graduating in 2024. He joined the Kopinke Lab later that year as a research technician, where he further developed his interest in biomedical research. Christian is now a first-year Ph.D. student in the Biomedical Sciences program at the University of Florida. His scientific interests include cell signaling in disease, genetic models, and developmental biology. He is enthusiastic about exploring diverse areas of research through lab rotations and looks forward to shaping his path in biomedical science.
SUSHANT BHATTACHARYA, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
Sushant obtained his PhD from CSIR- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India. In his PhD thesis, he worked on diabetic wound healing trying to elucidate the role of miRNAs and epigenetic modification responsible for delayed wound closure. He joined the lab in Dec 2023 and is now in his Postdoc at Vanderbilt
Connor Johnson
Research Technician
Connor received his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Florida, before joining the laboratory in the spring of 2020 as a research technician. He got accepted in the MD program at UF in Fall 2022 and is currently working his way through the program.
Veronica Castro
Intern
Veronica received her undergraduate degree from the Universidad Nacional del Litoral in Santa Fe, Argentina. She has undergone training in the fields of Bioinformatics, Genetics, and Immunology. Veronica joined the Kopinke Lab in August 2023 and is currently looking forward to pursuing her graduate studies here at UF.
Celeste Cifuentes
SURF Student
Celeste Cifuentes was born in Guatemala and raised in Arlington, Virginia. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry at Marymount University. In the summer of 2025, she participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program, where she joined the Kopinke Lab to investigate the role of the transcription factor PPARγ in intramuscular fat accumulation following glycerol and cardiotoxin injuries. Her research also involved testing various differentiation stimuli in pre-adipocyte cells. After graduation, she plans to pursue either a PharmD or a PhD to continue her passion for biomedical research.
Rhea Pitale
Rhea started in the lab in Fall 2022. She hopes to pursue a career in medicine.
JILLIAN CAMBPELL
Student Assistant
Jillian started in the lab in Spring 2023. She is pre-professional biology major on a pre-med track and has plans to obtain a dual degree in public health.
Muhammad (Sherry) Shahraj
Sherry started in the lab in Fall 2022. He is a biology major.
Lylybell Zhou
Lylybell was an undergraduate researcher in the lab from 2020-2022. During that time, she got accepted into the prestigious University Scholars Program. After graduating from UF in Spring 2022, she started as clinical coordinator in the lab of Dr. Javid Moslehi at UCSF.
