Our Team
Current Lab Members
Michael Deans
PI
Mike moved to the Univ. of Utah in 2013 and is an associate professor in the Division of Otolaryngology. He completed a PhD in Neurosciences at Harvard Medical School and has been asking questions about inner ear development since the early 2000s. Outside of the lab you can find him on the soccer sideline or hiking with his dogs along the Wasatch front.
Shubham Kale
Graduate Research Assistant
Shubham joined the Bioscience PhD Molecular Biology program after completing his Bachelors in Genetic Engineering from SRM University, India and a research internship at Harvard Medical School. His research is focused on the mechanisms that guide Type II Spiral Ganglion Neurons (SGNs) to innervate the cochlea in Mus musculus that eventually innervate the 8th cranial nerve. When not in lab, he enjoys ice-skating, night skiing, reading DC comics graphic novels, hiking, and downhill mountain biking.
Ellie Goodrich
Lab Technician
Ellie earned her bachelor's degree in Anthropology with an emphasis in Human Biology from the University of Utah. Ellie began working in the Deans lab in August of 2020 as a lab technician. Outside of the lab Ellie likes to spend time reading, hiking, crocheting, and listening to music.
Shihai Jia
Research Associate
Shihai completed his Ph.D. in the insect molecular genetics research group at Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, CAS, and gained his expertise in mouse genetics and developmental biology during his postdoc training program. In his free time, Shihai enjoys hiking and skiing with his family or having fun on bike trails, soccer fields, and volleyball matches.
Jennie Nelson
Graduate Research Assistant
Jennie joined the Graduate Neuroscience program after earning her bachelor's degree in Biology at Idaho State University. She joined the Deans lab in September of 2021, working on a project to understand the purpose of Type II Spiral Ganglion Neuron turning in the inner ear. In her free time, Jennie enjoys making metal models, playing the piano, and collecting rocks on hikes.
Liam Wallis
Undergraduate Researcher
Liam is pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of Utah in Biology. He joined the Deans Laboratory for undergraduate research in February 2023. In his free time, Liam enjoys whitewater kayaking, running, rock climbing, nordic/alpine skiing, and fishing with friends.
