MET NEWS
MET Faculty Affiliate Recognized for Green Herbicide Innovation
MET faculty affiliate Dr. Michael Sussman’s lab developed a novel “green herbicide” technology recognized with a WARF Innovation Award, offering a safer alternative for agricultural weed control. Read more here.
February 20, 2026MET Faculty Affiliate Honored with WARF Professorship
MET faculty affiliate Dr. Martin Zanni was recognized with a WARF Named Professorship, highlighting his impactful contributions to chemical sciences and spectroscopy research. Read more here.
February 20, 2026MET Faculty Affiliate Awarded Grant for Organ Transplant Research
MET faculty affiliate Dr. Joshua Mezrich received funding to study how dietary interventions may improve the quality of donated organs, advancing translational research in metabolism and transplantation. Read more here.
February 20, 2026MET Students Co-Author Developmental PCB Exposure and Adult Health Outcomes Publication
A recent peer-reviewed study published in Current Research in Toxicology examines how developmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can lead to lasting effects on lower urinary tract function in adulthood. The publication, co-authored by MET …
January 20, 2026- More MET news
MET Spotlight
Current Student Spotlight: Catherine Pettinger
4th year MET doctoral student Catherine Pettinger (lab of Erica Majumder) spoke to MET program manager Ezra Mauk about her research and experience in the MET program. Name Catherine Pettinger Start Term for MET Degree …
October 31, 2025
Current Student Spotlight: Abby Veeser
2nd year MET doctoral student Abby Veeser (lab of Heather Barkholtz) spoke to MET program manager Ezra Mauk about her research and experience in the MET program. Describe your educational background prior to joining the …
October 16, 2025
Student Spotlight: Noah Carrillo
4th-year MET doctoral student Noah Carrillo (lab of Vincent Cryns and Richard Anderson) spoke to MET program manager Ezra Mauk about his research and experience in the MET program. Noah passed his preliminary examination in …
September 19, 2023
Faculty Spotlight: Heather Barkholtz
New MET faculty affiliate Dr. Heather Barkholtz spoke with program manager Ezra Mauk about her educational/career background as well as her research goals and advice to graduate students. Dr. Barkholtz joined MET in May 2023. …
June 8, 2023
Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Debra Garvey
MET alumna Debra Garvey (PHD ’19, Ahmad Lab) spoke with Mark Marohl, describing her time in the program and what she’s been up to since she graduated. Dr. Debra Garvey (PHD ‘19, Ahmad Lab) transferred …
May 14, 2021
Student Spotlight: Brandon Bocanegra
Brandon Bocanegra (MS ’20, Cryns Lab) entered the MET Graduate Program following a summer in the MET-SROP under Christopher Bradfield. He successfully defended his MS thesis in late June and has since moved to an …
August 3, 2020- More Profiles posts
Recent MET Milestones
- 12/05/25: Sierra Sorenson successfully passed her curricular master’s degree defense.
- 12/01/25: Eileen Sember (lab of Mark Meyer) passed her preliminary exam.
- 09/26/25: Tamryn Jordan (lab of Kim Keil Steitz) passed her preliminary exam.
- 07/29/25: Ashleigh Tindle (Lab of Lauren Trepanier) successfully passed her dissertation defense.
- 07/24/25: Rachel Walkup (lab of Robert Lipinski) passed her preliminary exam.
Program Administration
Sathish Kumar, Director
Professor, Comparative Biosciences
Veterinary Medicine South
2015 Linden Dr
Madison, WI 53706
Email: sathish.kumar@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 265-1046
Robert Lipinski, Associate Director
Associate Professor, Comparative Biosciences
Veterinary Medicine Building
Email: robert.lipinski@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 265-4043
Cara Westmark, Associate Director
Assistant Professor, Neurology
Medical Sciences Center
Email: westmark@facstaff.wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-9730