Team
Monica Dus, Ph.D.
Associate Professor with Tenure and Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition
MONICA DUS is a tenured associate professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan. She is the Director of the National Lab Office at the Office of the Vice President for Research. She is a member of the Michigan Neuroscience Institute and the Michigan Obesity and Nutrition Research Center, as well as an affiliate of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at the Ford School of Public Policy. Dus was named a 2023 Guggenheim Fellow, a 2023–2024 White House Fellow, and a 2024–2026 member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine New Voices program.
At U-M, Dus leads a multidisciplinary, NIH- and NSF-funded laboratory investigating the interplay between food, genes, and physiology. She also teaches Molecular Genetics, Neuroscience, and Science Communication to over 500 undergraduates annually. Beyond the lab and classroom, she engages the public through writing; community events on personalized nutrition, genetics, and neuroscience; and podcasts exploring the intersections of science and society.
Dus is deeply invested in the role of science and technology in shaping national power, security, and competitiveness. From 2023 to 2024, she served as Special Assistant for Science, Education, and Force Resiliency (GS-14) to the 78th Secretary of the Navy. In this role, she contributed to initiatives such as the Michigan Maritime Initiative, the Department of the Navy Science and Technology Strategy and Board, and the Naval Education Strategy. She also serves on the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Vision for American Science & Technology task force, working to strengthen the U.S. science and technology enterprise through cross-sector collaboration and strategic foresight.
Her scientific, communication, and service work has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award, the NIH New Innovator Award, the NSF CAREER Award, the Sloan Research Fellowship, the Rita Allen Scholar Award, the Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship in Neuroscience, the Ajinomoto Young Investigator Award for Gustation Research, the Society for Neurogenetics and Behavior Early Career Award, and the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Young Investigator Award. Dus’s research has been featured in over 80 academic talks across 12 countries and highlighted in major media outlets, including NPR, PBS, Bloomberg, Scientific American, Forbes, and Women’s Health.
Dus earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory School of Biological Sciences, where she studied RNA-based gene regulation, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in neurobiology at the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine at NYU, investigating nutrient sensing mechanisms.
Our values
We are committed to fostering a supportive learning environment and building meaningful relationships grounded in shared scientific goals and open communication. We envision the lab as a cohesive team where the group’s collective efforts elevate each individual’s progress. As the team leader, the PI will guide mentees to think creatively and rigorously, support and inspire them throughout their journey, and facilitate their transitions to the next stages of their careers.
Prospective graduate students can rotate in the lab after admission to either the Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, the Program in Biomedical Sciences, the Neuroscience Graduate Program, or the Cell Molecular Biology Program. If you are an international student, the MCDB program has more available positions.
Postdocs inquiries: Email a CV and a cover letter summarizing your graduate work and future interests, especially those related to current or potential projects in the lab. Please include the names of three references.
Undergraduates: Email Dr. Dus your resume, class list, and schedule.
Postdocs
Manaswini Sarangi, Ph.D.
I am examining how parental high-sugar consumption impacts offspring development. The primary question that I am working on is whether diet-induced metabolic changes in parents shifts key metabolic pathways and gene expression during early development of offspring. I hold a Ph.D. in Evolutionary and Organismal Biology from JNCASR, India. My long-term research interests are in finding mechanisms behind neurodevelopmental changes on nutritionally challenged food environments. Outside of research, I am busy parenting!
Hayeon Sung, Ph.D.
I earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and a B.A. in Biological Sciences from Sungkyunkwan University. As a postdoctoral researcher since 2019, my research focuses on understanding how sensory systems adapt to environmental changes by exploring the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying taste plasticity. Outside of research, I enjoy movies and travel.
TJ Waller, Ph.D.
I did my Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. at the University of Michigan and currently study metabolism of the neuromuscular system and related myopathies. I’m interested in how communication of science changes its impact and how academic cultures shape science and scientists.
Graduate students and technicians
Riley Woerner
I graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. Since 2021, I have worked as the lab manager with an interest in understanding the neural mechanisms of diet-induced taste plasticity in fruit flies. I plan to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Environment, Sustainability, and Climate. Outside of research, I enjoy reading, hiking, and gardening.
Lauren Austin
I graduated from the University of Michigan in 2022 with a B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. I began my work with the Dus Lab in December 2023 and I am currently investigating the effects that a parental high-sugar diet may incur in Drosophila offspring. I have worked in research and clinical laboratories, and with these experiences, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology with a focus on Virology. Outside of the lab, I am a musician and artist. I also love reading, knitting, and amateur astronomy!
Maggie McGlothlin
I am a Master’s student in Bioinformatics at the University of Michigan. I graduated from Cleveland State University in December 2020 with a BS in Biology and a minor in Statistics. After graduation, I worked in the Cai Lab, where I used expansion microscopy to study synaptic connections in intact mouse brains. Now, I am excited to contribute to the Dus Lab by analyzing gene expression patterns in the developing brain and their regulation by nutrition. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, singing in the choir, and spending time with loved ones.
Undergraduates
Archisha Pathak
I’m a current undergraduate at the University of Michigan pursuing a double major in Neuroscience and English. In the Dus Lab, my project pertains to sex-specific neurodevelopment and its impact on feeding in Drosophila. I plan to pursue a medical degree while continuing my interest in research, specifically neurology. Outside of the lab, I’m passionate about literature and writing as well as medical communication and journalism.
John Adams
I am currently an undergraduate at the University of Michigan. Since starting my studies, I have focused on investigating protein variations induced by the diet of the preceding generation and exploring whether these modifications are passed on to subsequent offspring. I plan to pursue a graduate degree that relates to chemistry and microbiology. In my free time, I enjoy reading, watching movies, and spending time with friends.
Sia Joshi
I am currently an undergraduate at the University of Michigan majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience with a minor in Biology. My work at the Dus Lab focuses on sex-specific reward signaling and food choice in Drosophila, with a concentration on the role that γ5 dopaminergic neurons play in shaping these choices. I plan to pursue a medical degree and have a specific passion for advancing health literacy and advocating for accessible education. My personal interests include reading, traveling, and spending time with friends
Ghaith Halaseh
I am a current undergraduate at the University of Michigan majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, as well as minoring in music. My current focus in the Dus Lab is investigating the effects of high sugar diet during early life in drosophila larvae, more specifically on the development of neuromuscular junctions. I plan to continue researching the specific effects of diet in early life and working towards a medical degree. Outside of research, I am passionate about playing and writing music; as well as film and traveling.
Kayla Haddad
I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan Honors College, studying Biology, Health, and Society, with minors in Medical Anthropology and Business. My current work in the Dus Lab focuses on assessing the stress response in drosophila embryos from regulated or high sugar fed parents via DNA markers, finding indicators of DNA replication stress. I plan to pursue a medical degree, with specialized interest in global health advocacy and sports medicine. Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time with loved ones, working out, and sports.
Katherine Smith
I am a current undergraduate student at the University of Michigan studying Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology. My current work in the Dus Lab focuses on analyzing the development of ovaries and fat bodies in drosophila based on different diets such as high sugar and nicotinamide. I plan to pursue a master’s degree after I finish my undergraduate work and hopefully one day a Ph.D. Outside of the lab, I love to spend time in the gym, bake and read!
Katie Barlow
I am a current undergraduate in my senior year at the University of Michigan studying Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Political Science. My current research is focused on changes in drosophila hereditary metabolic pathways in offspring based on parental diet, but I am also writing a thesis on the molecules involved in the drosophila insulin signaling pathway. Upon finishing my undergraduate work, I plan to take 2-3 years to pursue a clinical research position before applying to medical school. Outside of the lab, I can either be found swimming, doing the New York Times Crossword, or cheering at a Michigan Hockey game!
Maryam Khan
I am a current 3rd year undergraduate at the University of Michigan studying MCDB with a Minor in Music. In the Dus Lab, I am currently working on investigating the effect of high sugar diets on the cardiac model of Drosophila larvae. After undergrad, I plan on pursuing medical school. Outside of the lab, I enjoy making music, watching and playing hockey, and playing cozy video games.