MEET OUR TEAM
Michael Howitt, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Michael is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Pathology and Microbiology & Immunology at Stanford University. He is also a member of Stanford’s program in Immunology, Maternal & Child Health Research Institute, Bio-X, and a Faculty Fellow in ChEM-H.
Michael grew up in Davis, CA before attending U.C. Berkeley as an undergraduate. After receiving his B.A. in Molecular and Cellular Biology, he traveled to India to work as a field research assistant at the Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning. Upon returning to the U.S., he joined the lab of Dr. Manuel Amieva at Stanford University to pursue his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology where he studied the sensory mechanisms that guide bacteria within the mucosal environment of the gastrointestinal tract. After completing graduate school, he moved east to the Harvard School of Public Health and the laboratory of Dr. Wendy Garrett. During this time, Michael became fascinated by tuft cells and the powerful influence of the gut microbiota on the immune system. After his postdoc, Michael returned to Stanford to start his lab studying the microbiome, gut epithelium and mucosal immune system.
Outside of the lab, Michael enjoys traveling, hiking, spending time outdoors, good food and beer, but mostly hanging out with his wife and little kids.
Post-Docs :
Yang Zang, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Yang grew up in Shandong Province, China and got her B.S. in Biological Sciences from Qingdao Agricultural University in 2016. She subsequently got her M.S. in Marine Biology from University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2019, during which she studied the chemotaxis of Epsilon-proteobacteria. Then she joined the lab of Dr. Heping Xu and received her a Ph.D. in Basic Medical Sciences from Fudan University (Fudan University-Westlake University joint program) in 2024. There she investigated the regulatory mechanisms that control Group 2 innate lymphoid cells homeostasis and explored type II cytokines-mediated neuro-immune interactions. In December 2024, she made a significant move and relocated to the U.S., where she joined the Howitt Lab as a postdoc. Currently, she is fully engaged in investigating how protists influence enteric neurons and regulate type 2 immunity.
In her free time, she likes running, cooking, reading books and watching movies.
Students:
Katherine Nico, B.A.
Immunology Graduate Student
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Katherine received her B.A. in Biochemistry (and French!) from Washington University in St. Louis in 2019, during which she worked in the lab of Dr. Paul Allen studying the relationship between T cell receptor binding and T follicular helper cell development. Katherine returned to the Bay Area after graduating to pursue her Ph.D. in Immunology at Stanford, only thirty minutes from her childhood home. She has found her new home in the Howitt lab as of January 2020, where she is studying the effects of the microbiome and microbial perturbation on adaptive immunity in the gut.
When she isn’t thinking about science, Katherine likes cooking, yoga, waving at dogs, and taking pictures of her cat, Jiggle Bell.
Gabe Barrón, B.S.
Immunology Graduate Student
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Gabe received his B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Chicago in 2020. There, he investigated how the gut microbiome influences susceptibility to lung injury and infection in the lab of Dr. Anne Sperling. While he traded in cold Chicago winters for year-long sun, he is a proud Chicagoan and will endlessly defend the reputation of deep dish-style pizza. In 2021, he joined the Howitt Lab to study the interplay between the intestinal barrier and microbes.
Gabe enjoys photographing Californian beach and forest landscapes, pottery and appreciating poetry outside of the lab. ————-
Miles Tyner, B.A.
Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Student
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Miles grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts and got his B.A. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Middlebury College in 2018 where he studied the impact of BPA, a ubiquitous endocrine disruptor, on ovarian health. He then completed two years as a Postbaccalaureate Fellow at the NIH where he studied mosquito immune responses to the malaria parasite. He joined the Howitt Lab in June 2021 and is excited to start exploring how diet and pathogens influence type 2 immunity and epithelial secretions in the gut.
In his free time, Miles enjoys eating Korean BBQ, bothering his kitty, Candace, and hanging out with friends.
Flora Tierney, B.S.
Immunology Graduate Student
Flora grew up in Stow, Massachusetts and earned her B.S. in Biochemistry from Ithaca College in 2018. She subsequently worked for three years as a laboratory technician at Harvard Medical School in the lab of Dr. Ulrich von Andrian investigating vaccine modalities to better elicit adaptive immune responses in the gastrointestinal tract. Having developed an interest in the mucosal immune system, she joined the Howitt lab in June 2022 to pursue her graduate degree and is currently investigating how tuft cell signaling impacts the many tissue resident immune cell populations of the small intestine.
Outside of the lab, Flora enjoys skiing as well as cooking and baking—occasionally to the benefit of her fellow lab members.
Leila DeSchepper
Human Biology Undergraduate Student
Leila grew up in Berkeley and graduated from Stanford in 2024. She is currently a Course Associate in Stanford’s Human Biology Department. Leila joined the Howitt Lab in June 2021 and studies the role of the intestinal epithelium in ileal Crohn’s disease.
Outside of lab, Leila enjoys rock climbing, playing clarinet and searching for the best chai latte in the Bay Area.
Heather Tran
Bioengineering Undergraduate Student
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Heather is currently a third-year undergraduate student who was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, and joined the lab in December 2024. As she progresses in her research career, she hopes to learn more about the link between gut immunity and autoimmune conditions.
Aside from science, Heather enjoys trying new restaurants in the Bay Area, binge-watching shows, and window shopping in various malls.
Research Associates:
Dahlya received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from Chapman University in 2021, where she was first exposed to research in Dr. Douglas Fudge’s lab while investigating the photoreactivity of Pacific hagfish. Having enjoyed her first research experience and wanting to delve deeper into research and begin to specialize her knowledge in molecular biology and organic chemistry, she earned her M.A. in Biotechnology from Columbia University in 2023. While at Columbia, Dahlya conducted her master’s thesis work in the lab of Dr. Brent Stockwell, synthesizing analogs to help develop a potent non-covalent inhibitor of the main SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease. Having developed a love for research with her previous experiences and a strong interest in the gut microbiome and inflammation through personal and academic experiences, Dahlya joined the Howitt Lab in August 2024 and is currently working on a project to investigate the impact of protists on various models of colitis.
Outside of the lab, Dahlyais a foodie, so when she is not cooking, baking, or trying out new restaurants, you can find her volunteering – usually fostering dogs or cats, trying new workout classes, or searching for the best coffee in the South Bay!
Eli Gerrick, Ph.D.
Eli worked in the Howitt Lab as an postdoc from 2018 to 2024. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago. Gerrick Lab
Former Lab Members:
Dahlya Habashi, B.S., M.A.
Matthew Gologorsky, B.S.
Matthew worked in the Howitt Lab as an LSRP1 from 2018 to 2022. He is currently a medical student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Ada Chung
Ada was a high school intern in the Howitt lab during the summer of 2019. She is currently an undergraduate studying Psychobiology/Neuroscience at UCLA.
Jessica Ann Li, B.S.
Connie Fung, Ph.D.
Connie worked in the Howitt Lab as a PostDoc from 2019 to 2024. She is currently a Senior Scientist at Gilead Sciences
Claire Mechler, B.S.
Claire worked in the Howitt Lab as an LSRP1 from 2021 to 2024. She is currently a medical student at RUSH University Medical Center.
Jess worked in the Howitt Lab as an LSRP1 from 2018 to 2021. She is currently a research associate at Mitokinin.