Research Team

Our mission is to become the destination department for surgeon-scientists and scientists in surgery.”
Vice Chair of Research and Innovation
We help each resident develop an individualized plan that includes faculty mentors, funding, advanced degrees or certification, and other career development activities. We are committed to recruiting and training the best of the next generation of leaders in academic surgery.”
Director of Resident Research

James Burns
Research Administrator, Transplant Surgery
Supports PIs in the Comprehensive Transplant Center
Devin Coachman
Research Administrator, Surgery
Supports PIs: Abbass, Dumanian, Grady, Halverson, Hong, Issa, Jordan, Kim, J., Kim, S., Ko, McCarthy, Odell, Poylin, Strong, Tatebe
Lynnette Dangerfield
Research Project Manager, Vascular Surgery
Supports PIs: Ho, Jiang, Eskandari and Vascular Surgery
Mike Doran
Senior Research Administrator, Surgery
Supports PIs: Avella Patino, Bentrem, Bethke, Bharat, Clare, Garza-Castillon, Gordon, Hansen, Hu, Hungness, Johnson, Johnston, Khan, Kurihara, Lecuona, Lung, Malaisrie, Shapiro, Stey, Yan
Haena Jung
Research Administrator, Surgery
Supports PIs: Bryner, Chawla, Elaraj, Ellis, Galiano, Ghomrawi, Kulkarni, Mueller, Nagle, Raval, Schwulst, Sturgeon, Teitelbaum, Wayne
Kelly Memmer
Assistant Director of Research and Finance, Comprehensive Transplant Center
Supports PIs in the Comprehensive Transplant Center
Tanikka Mitchell
Manager of Research Administration, Surgery
Supports PIs: Alam
Melanie Mkrdichian
Director of Research Operations, Surgery
Melanie Mkrdichian oversees both the research administration and NU finance teams.
Brittany Palmer
Associate Research Administrator, Transplant Surgery
Supports PIs in the Comprehensive Transplant Center
Kashmeen Raza
Sr. Finance Administrator, Surgery
Kash is responsible for payroll management, financial management of non-sponsored accounts, and aids in the annual budget process.
Rhiannon Weathers
Program Assistant IV, Surgery
Rhiannon supports the Vice Chair of Research and the Department of Surgery
Desiree Marte
Year Up Intern
Desiree supports the research administration team in the Department of Surgery.