ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Olena earned a degree in Human and Animal Physiology at the Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology in Kiev, Ukraine, and had postdoctoral trainings in Dr Natalia Shirokova’s laboratory in the Rutgers Medical School, New Jersey and the laboratory of Dr. Gregory L Holmes at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, New Hampshire. Olena Isaeva joined Cheryl Stucky’s lab in October of 2021, where she applies her expertise in single-channel and whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology and optical fluorescence assays to study cellular signaling pathways involved in the crosstalk between sensory neurons and epidermal keratinocytes in health and disease. In her free time, Olena enjoys travelling, reading books, cooking, and spending time with her family.

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Jonathan completed his B.S. in Molecular Biology at William Jewell College and his Cell Biology M.S. and Neuroscience PhD at the University of Kansas Medical Center. His dissertation explored mechanisms of pain relief by a ketogenic diet in acute and chronic pain models, especially diabetic peripheral neuropathy. He joined the Stucky Lab as a postdoctoral researcher in June of 2023, where he is developing expertise in calcium imaging and electrophysiology to study how cell chaperones regulate sensory neuron activity in sickle cell disease and other peripheral neuropathies. Outside of the lab, Jonathan enjoys making barbeque and exploring breweries and parks with his family.

PhD CANDIDATE

Dianise (Didi) is a Neuroscience PhD candidate at MCW who obtained a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico in Ponce. During her undergraduate training, she was a NIH RISE trainee researching endometriosis fertility and pelvic pain in Dr Idhaliz Flores’ lab. Wanting to further her understanding in pain and sensation, she joined the Stucky lab in March of 2021. Didi’s projects focus on better understanding how skin cells contribute to pain in systemic diseases such as diabetes and sickle cell disease. Outside of lab, Didi can be found playing DnD with the lab, dancing latino/afro-latino rhythms and reading on her kindle!

MEDICAL SCIENTIST TRAINEE

Bradey completed his B.S. and M.S. in Molecular & Cellular Biology at University of Arizona. After graduating in 2021, he moved to Wisconsin to work as a Research Tech II with Dr. Lezi E studying neurodegeneration in C. elegans. Bradey enrolled in the MD/PhD program at MCW in 2022 and joined the Stucky Lab for the graduate research portion in 2024. His research focuses include pain associated with cancer and CIPN. In the future, he hopes to lead his own lab. In his free time, Bradey enjoys playing golf, bird photography, and spending time with his dog Ivy.

PhD CANDIDATE

Zainab completed her B.S. in Biotechnology at the Virtual University of Pakistan and her M.S. in Stem Cell Biology at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. After graduation, she moved to Milwaukee and enrolled in the Neuroscience Doctoral Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she joined the Stucky Lab. Her research focuses on understanding how peripheral sensory mechanisms contribute to pain and sensitization. Outside of the lab, she enjoys going for walks and spending time with her baby girl.

LAB MANAGER

A Milwaukee native, Tony earned his B.S. in Microbiology from UW-Milwaukee in 2016 while working in Dr. Kuchin’s yeast genetics lab. Tony started working with Cheryl as a Tech I shortly after graduation, initially performing much of the molecular work within the lab and devoting much of his time to learning some of the more technical electrophysiology techniques. Now he handles much of the day-to-day goings on within the lab while routinely performing teased-nerve fiber recordings for the numerous projects the Stucky lab pursues. When not decked out in a lab coat, Tony can typically be found around town with his wife Britni, playing D&D with lab mates, or using his yeast handling experience to craft fine beverages to share with friends.

RESEARCH TECHNICIAN I

Vivien completed her undergraduate education at UW-Milwaukee in December 2024 with a B.S. in Neuroscience and Psychology. She joined the Stucky Lab in the Summer of 2024 as a SPUR student before officially joining as a Research Technician. She plans on pursuing her MD in the future. In her free time, she enjoys taking day trips to Chicago and trying every crafty hobby imaginable.