Jesse Williams, Ph.D.,
Principal Investigator
Jesse graduated with a B.A from DePauw University in 2007 where he first gained research experience in Dr. Henning Schneider’s lab cloning zebrafish serotonin receptor genes. He did his graduate training at the University of Chicago in the Molecular Pathogenesis and Molecular Medicine graduate program under mentor Anne Sperling. His thesis focused on the mechanisms regulating immunity in pulmonary inflammation. For postdoctoral training, Jesse joined Gwendalyn Randolph’s laboratory at Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Pathology and Immunology. In Dr. Randolph’s group, Jesse specialized in studying macrophage differentiation and heterogeneity in models of atherosclerosis. Jesse moved to the University of Minnesota in March of 2019 to start his own lab to continue his work on innate immunity in atherosclerosis. Jesse lives with his wife (Elizabeth), two dogs (Rocky and Bingo), and cat Simon. When not in the lab, Jesse is often out riding his bike or relaxing by the lake.
Patricia (Patty) Schrank, M.S.
Lab Manager
Patty received her M.S. of Science from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse in 2013. She has 10 years of research experience in the fields of Hydrology and Malacology. She switched her focus into the biomedical field when she joined the Williams Lab in April 2019. Her current research is focused on the initiation of inflammatory events and crosstalk mechanisms between macrophages and endothelial cells in mouse models of atherosclerosis. When Patty isn’t working on the microscope, she can be found hiking nature trails or canoeing peaceful streams with her husband and family
Michael Patterson, B.S.
MD/PhD student, Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)
Michael is originally from Jacksonville, FL and graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson, MS in 2017 where he majored in biochemistry and was a member of the football team. He is in the graduate phase of the MSTP (MD/PhD) program and is pursuing a PhD in immunology. His current project is focused on understanding the dynamics of monocyte entry and differentiation in atherosclerosis using mouse modeling, scRNA-seq and confocal microscopy. When not in the lab, Michael enjoys powerlifting and watching sports.
Yingzheng Xu, B.S.
Ph.D. student, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BICB) graduate program
Yingzheng graduated from the University of Minnesota Rochester in 2020. While in Rochester, he received the BICB summer research fellowship at Dr. Matthew Urban’s lab (Mayo Clinic) where he conducted ultrasonic/mechanical testing of arterial viscosity. Since October 2020, Yingzheng decided to pursue immunology and bioinformatics in the Williams Lab where he gained first impression of single-cell RNA sequencing and loved it. His specific focus will be investigating adrenal gland macrophage development and function, aided by his computational skills. Yingzheng enjoys video gaming and running in his spare time. He actually got a medal for a 5K race in Get in Gears. Motivated by his chemistry professor, he agreed that his PhD career will not be completed without a marathon race.
Ainsley Kennedy
Researcher
Ainsley is originally from Lexington, KY and received her B.S in Animal Science from the University of Kentucky in December 2018. In 2020, she and her partner decided to move to the Twin Cities area. She started working in the Williams Lab in 2021. Her current research is focused on ASC and its role in inflammation within lesions in an atherosclerotic mouse model using confocal microscopy. When not in the lab, Ainsley can be found lounging with her cats (Leela and Fry) or reading a substantial amount of fiction books.
Hannah Hillman
Graduate Student, MICaB
Hannah is from Prescott, WI and graduated from the University of California San Diego in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. After graduation, she worked as a technician in Dr. Bjoern Peters’ lab at La Jolla Institute for Immunology where she investigated gene and protein signatures capable of predicting tuberculosis disease progression and treatment response. She joined the Williams lab in the spring of 2023, and her work will involve elucidating the mechanisms by which Trem2 expression on arterial plaque macrophages modulates progression of atherosclerosis. She is simultaneously pursuing a Masters degree in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. In her free time, you can find Hannah reading, riding her bike, drinking beer, and planning outdoor adventures for her and her dog Boots.
Sia Shekhar
Undergraduate Researcher
Sia is from Woodbury, Minnesota, and has been part of the Williams Lab as a research assistant since September 2022. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. In her free time, Sia enjoys reading and playing her guitar.
Sam Tollison
Undergraduate Researcher
Sam is from Woodbury, Minnesota and has been working in the Williams Lab as an undergraduate researcher since August 2022. They are currently pursuing a B.A in Human Physiology at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. When not in the lab, Sam enjoys rock climbing, playing guitar, and exploring the outdoors.