Idan Shalev, Ph.D.
Lab Director (ius14@psu.edu)
Idan Shalev received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the Ben-Gurion University in Israel. He then moved to the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and completed Master’s and PhD degrees under the supervision of Professor Richard Ebstein (Dissertation title: The Genetic and Psychoneuroendocrine Basis of Social Stress Response in Humans). He worked at the Department of Psychology at the National University of Singapore as a Research Associate (Stress and Decision Making), before moving to Duke University as a Postdoctoral Fellow. At Duke, Shalev worked with Professors Avshalom Caspi and Terrie Moffitt where he focused his research on telomeres, a promising new biomarker of stress and aging. In Spring of 2014, Shalev joined the Department of Biobehavioral Health and the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network at Penn State University. The Network, which began in response to a recommendation from the Presidential Task Force on Child Maltreatment in Fall of 2012, aim to strengthen the University’s research efforts in the area of child maltreatment.
Laura Etzel-House, B.A., M.Ed., Ph.D.
Research Scientist (laura.etzel-house@duke.edu)
Laura is a Research Scientist working with Dr. Patricia Garrett-Peters (Duke University) and Dr. Idan Shalev. She received her B.A. in biology from the University of Delaware in 2010 and M.Ed. in educational administration from Wilmington University in 2014. She completed her Ph.D. in Biobehaviroal Health at Penn State working with Dr. Shalev. Motivated by her work as a high school teacher for underprivileged youth, Laura’s research interests focus on the biological embedding of early life adversity on later life health outcomes.
Christopher Chiaro, Ph.D.
Research Technologist (cxc223@psu.edu)
Chris is a senior Research Technologist working in the Shalev lab for the past 5 years. Dr. Chiaro completed his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Penn State. He continued as a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at Penn State Metabolomics Core Facility and a Senior Scientist at BioMagnetic Solutions before joining the lab.
Lauren Petri, B.A.
Graduate Student (laurenchu@psu.edu)
Lauren is a fourth-year pre-doctoral student in Biobehavioral Health. Lauren received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine University in 2019. After college, she was a research assistant in a clinical ophthalmology laboratory, using multiple methodologies to quantify the trajectories of children and adults with glaucoma. As a third-year pre-doctoral student in the department of Biobehavioral Health and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, she is interested in studying both static and dynamic indicators of mitochondrial health and function. Her goal is to understand the biological embedding of stress from a bioenergetic perspective.
Abner T. Apsley, B.S.
Graduate Student (ata5287@psu.edu)
Abner is a fifth-year pre-doctoral student in the Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biological Sciences (MCIBS) program in the Huck Institutes of the Life-Sciences and Biobehavioral Health Department. He received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University in 2019 where he did research on nuclear power plant safety. After spending time in a bioengineering lab, he discovered a passion for biology, genetics, and bioinformatics. His current research is aimed at using multi-omic approaches to better understand human health and well-being
Qiaofeng Ye, B.S.
Graduate Student (qfy5049@psu.edu)
Qiaofeng is a fourth-year pre-doctoral student in Biobehavioral Health and a University Distinguished Graduate Fellow. She received her B.S. in Clinical Pharmacy from Fudan University in 2019. After that, she continued her experience in Shanghai, China and worked in the Children’s Hospital of Fudan University as a research assistant. Her previous research focused on clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of immunosuppressants in pediatric autoimmune diseases. With research experience in clinical studies and exposure to genetic applications in medicine, she became interested in biological mechanism underlying stress and aging in humans. Her current work focuses on telomere dynamics under different health conditions and genetic underpinnings of emotion and cognition.
Aaliya Ahamed, B.S.
Graduate Student (aba6631@psu.edu)
Aaliya is a first-year pre-doctoral student in Biobehavioral Health. She completed her undergraduate degree in BSc Research in Biotechnology at Shiv Nadar University, India, in 2024. During her final semester, she conducted research at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, where she focused on Bulk RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes involved in the UPR pathway. Aaliya’s research interests include exploring the interplay between aging and the stress response pathway, as well as examining genetic and biopsychosocial factors that influence human behavior and health. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, working out, running, and spending time with friends.
John Kozlosky
Human Research Technologist I (jmk6869@psu.edu)
John Kozlosky is a fifth-year biotechnology undergraduate currently working full-time in the Shalev lab as a Human Research Technologist I. He began working part-time in the lab as a research assistant in 2021. John’s research interests include epigenetic modification, biological embedding, and type 1 diabetes. While working with the Shalev team he aims to gain practical laboratory experience, receive hands-on insight into the scientific research process, and form a meaningful network of connections both inside and outside of the lab
Lab Alumni
Waylon J. Hastings, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor (whastings2012@gmail.com)
Waylon received his B.S. in biochemistry/genetics and B.A. in mathematics from Texas A&M University in 2013. He continued on at A&M and received his M.S. in educational administration in 2015, and completed his dual-tile Ph.D. in Biobehaviroal eHealth and Bioethics at Penn State working with Dr. Shalev. He then continued as a postdoctoral associate working with Dr. Shalev and completed a second postdoc position at Tulane University. Waylon’s current research interests involve measurement of biological aging, with emphasis on variability between measures of biological aging, and their responsiveness to stress across the lifespan. Waylon is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition at Texas A&M University
Thomas L. Heller
Research Technologist (tlh5645@psu.edu)
Thomas was a Human Research Technologist. He began working with Dr. Shalev’s research team as an undergraduate research assistant in the spring of 2019. Thomas hopes to gather the necessary exposure to research, for future collegiate science endeavors, along with acquiring knowledge and skills that come with the research. After graduation, Thomas plans to attend Physical Therapy school, to pursue his dream of becoming a Physical Therapist. Thomas enjoys to watch football/basketball and hang out with friends in his free time.
Megan Zinoble, M.S.W.
Project Manager (muz144@psu.edu)
Megan Zinobile received her Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Lock Haven University 2002 and her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh in 2006. She has many years of experience in the clinical mental health setting as a child and family therapist. Megan began her work in Biobehavioral Health research with Dr. Shalev in 2015 serving as Project Manager for his NIH study. She has numerous research interests including long term effects of early life stress, prevention and intervention of child maltreatment and abuse and the development of social, emotional, and behavioral well-being in children living in adverse environments.
Brooke C. Mattern, B.S.
Research Support (bcm5214@psu.edu)
Brooke C. Mattern received her Associate of Arts in Social Science from Harrisburg Area Community College in 2011 and her Bachelor of Science in Biological Anthropology from Penn State University in 2014. From 2014 to 2017 she worked as a Research Coordinator and Lab Technician for Dr. Mark Shriver in the Department of Anthropology at Penn State University. Her previous work focused on research projects investigating how genes and the environment influence the appearance of externally visible traits (e.g., facial features, skin color, and hair form). Through her work in the Shalev lab she hopes to explore mechanisms underlying the telomere erosion associated with mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. Brooke is currently a fifth-year Biobehavioral Health pre-doctoral student working with Dr. Fernández-Rhodes.
Kelsie Hendrick, B.S.
Lab Manager (kah6016@psu.edu)
Kelsie graduated from Penn State University with a major in Science with a Biological Science and Health Profession option. Kelsie began her work in research during the fall of her junior year on Dr. Shalev’s team as an undergraduate research assistant. Her career goal is to become a doctor and use the techniques she learned in research to combine both of her interests. In her spare time she enjoys playing softball, running, and playing with her two dogs. Kelsie is currently a first-year medical school student
Ally T. Borgia
Undergraduate Assistant (atb5364@psu.edu)
Ally is a junior majoring in Biological Sciences with a Health Profession Option. She began her work on Dr. Shalev’s team as an undergraduate research assistant in the spring of 2019. Ally hope that the skills and knowledge she acquire will allow her to grow as a student in the science field. After graduation, Ally plan to attend medical school to pursue her dream of becoming a physician. In her spare time, Ally enjoy hanging out with friends and family and volunteering at the local hospital.
Dominic M. Farronato, B.S.
Undergraduate Assistant (dmf32@psu.edu)
Dominic is a junior majoring in biology with a vertebrate physiology option and began his work on Dr. Shalev’s team as an undergraduate research assistant in the spring of 2019. Other than research, Dominic is also the president of the Student National Medical Association chapter and participates in the Remote Area Medical club, which organizes and hosts free healthcare clinics throughout the Mid-Atlantic U.S. Dominic is currently a medical school student at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Xin Tang, B.S.
Research Support (xintangpennstate@gmail.com)
Xin Tang received her bachelor of science in biology from Penn State University in 2018. From 2017 to 2018, she worked as an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. Michael Axtell in Department of biology. At the end of 2018, Xin began working as a lab technologist in Dr. Shalev’s Lab. She wishes the lab experience in Dr. shalev’s Lab will allows her have a better comprehending about healthcare research. Xin is currently a dental school student