Our Team

 

Elissa Levine

Lab Manager

Elissa is the lab manager and in addition to managing the day-to-day functions of the lab, she guides all in vivo work. She began her research career in 2001 developing and testing therapeutics in preclinical models of cancer.  Over the past 20 years, she has developed an expertise in model development, surgical approaches, and drug delivery. In addition to pediatric solid tumor therapeutics, she has explored the areas of sarcoma and vascular biology, canine hereditary cancer and genomics, immunology, and metabolomics. Elissa joined the Grohar Lab in 2016 and is passionate about supporting the team in our mission of finding better treatments for children with cancer. Outside the lab, Elissa enjoys bike riding with her husband and spending time with her dogs.

Zachary Tolstyka, MD, PhD

Clinical Fellow, Pediatrics Hematology Oncology

Zach is a clinical Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellow who joined the Grohar Lab in July 2024. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 2005 with a BS in chemistry and went on to earn his PhD in organic chemistry in the Maynard Lab at the University of California Los Angeles in 2011. There, he studied the use of controlled radical polymerization in protein-polymer conjugates. He then held subsequent Post Doc positions in the Reineke lab at the University of Minnesota, studying polymer-based non-viral gene delivery and in the Lyssiotis Lab at the University of Michigan, studying pancreatic cancer metabolism. In 2020, Zach went back to school to earn his MD from the Wayne State University School of Medicine and completed his pediatric residency at Helen Devos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids Michigan in 2023. He returned to Ann Arbor a 3rd time for his pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at CS Mott Children’s Hospital in July 2023 and joined the lab the following year. He is working on improving Ewing sarcoma treatment through targeting EWS-FLI and plans to continue working in the sarcoma field after graduating. When Zach has a spare moment or two, he enjoys playing ice hockey.

Emily Seiden, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Emily is a postdoc who joined the Grohar lab in January 2025. She graduated from The University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2019 with a BS in biology and chemistry. She went on to earn her PhD in anatomy and cell biology from Indiana University School of Medicine in 2024. For her PhD, she worked in the Greenfield lab repurposing FDA-approved therapies to treat metastatic osteosarcoma using a 3D cell culture model and metastatic mouse model. Throughout her PhD research, Emily became passionate about translational research and finding ways to improve treatments for patients with osteosarcoma. She joined the Grohar lab to continue to pursue research on new therapies for MYC-amplified osteosarcoma. In addition to cancer research, Emily is also interested in educational research and really enjoys teaching and mentoring. Following her postdoc training, she plans to pursue a career as a faculty member with both teaching and research responsibilities. Outside of lab, Emily enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her dog. Emily is also a competitive powerlifter – her favorite lift is the deadlift.

Emma Hiscock, BS

Research Technician

Emma earned her bachelor's degree in neuroscience at University of Louisville, where she also played 4 years of D1 soccer. After graduating, she moved home to Michigan and joined the Grohar lab as a research technician. Emma has been focusing on developing new microscopy approaches to study Ewing sarcoma signaling and metastasis.  In the future, she plans to attend medical school, hoping to pursue anesthesiology. Outside of the lab, Emma enjoys skiing, running, and playing with her dog.

Andrew Fuller, BA

Research Technician

Andrew is a research technician currently studying spatial transcriptomics and the relocalization of EWS-FLI1 in Ewing sarcoma cells after drug treatment. He earned his BA in Biological Chemistry from Grinnell College in 2024. Andrew is enthusiastic about working with the chemistry behind cancer cell biology and enjoys developing translational bench to bedside approaches to treating patients. In his free time, he enjoys backpacking during Michigan’s warmer months.

Monica Inda

Undergraduate Research Student

Monica is a senior undergraduate student at the University of Michigan, graduating in May 2025 with a degree in Exercise Science from the School of Kinesiology. Passionate about children's oncology and inclusive healthcare, Monica plans to attend medical school after graduation to pursue a career in pediatric oncology. Outside of academics, she played club soccer at Michigan, is actively involved with Camp Kesem, and is engaged in creating adaptive and inclusive approaches in sport for children with disabilities.

Ainsley Hellens

Undergraduate Research Student

Ainsley is a senior undergraduate student at the University of Michigan. She will be graduating in May of 2025 with a degree in Honors Biology, Health, and Society, with plans to attend medical school following her time with the Grohar Laboratory. Outside of lab, Ainsley is an avid skier, reader, and baker. 

Past Lab Members

 

Vanderbilt University

 

  • Matt Harlow, PhD

  • Christy Osgood, MD

  • Nichole Maloney, MS

  • Joel Everett, BS, MS

Van Andel Institute

 

  • Susan Goosen, BS, MBA

  • Guillermo Flores, MD, PhD

  • Maggie Chasse, BA, MS, PhD

  • Mitchell McBrairty, BS, MBA

  • Matt Easton, MD

  • Katie Sorensen, DO

  • Erik Peterson, BS, MS

  • Brandon Oswald, BS

  • Lauren McGee, PhD

  • Jenny Jess, MD

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

 

  • Jenna Gedminas, MD

  • Jess Rosien, BA

  • Monica Pomaville, MD

  • Riley Draper, MD

  • Mallory Brodnik, BS, ALSF POST Award Student

  • Hannah Kim, ALSF POST Award Student

  • Cecilia Carlowicz, BA

  • Angelle Brown, Penn Access Scholars Program Student

  • Seneca Kinn-Gurzo, BA

  • Curtis Parker, BA

  • Matt Stout, PhD

  • Elizabeth “Lulu” WIlson, BA

  • Raphael Lopez, MS

  • Sridhar Veluvolu, VMD, DACVIM (Oncology) 

  • Lauren Gaetano, BS

  • Annie Bartosz