Current Members
Pavan Bhatraju, MD, MSc, Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Pavan K. Bhatraju, MD. MSc. is an Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Washington (UW), where he attends in the medical intensive care units and on the pulmonary consult service at Harborview Medical Center. He completed his undergraduate studies at Duke University and medical school at University of Louisville. He then completed internal medicine residency and a chief residency year at New York University before coming to the UW for pulmonary and critical care fellowship training, as well as, his Masters in Science in the UW School of Public Health. His primary academic focus is the pathogenesis and treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill populations. In his free time, Dr. Bhatraju enjoys reading, playing tennis, watching Duke basketball and spending time with his family.
Sarah Speckmaier
Sarah attended the University of British Columbia with a combined major in Chemistry, Biology and Enviromental Science. Before joining the lab Sarah worked at the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDs studying COVID vaccine efficacy. In the Bhatraju lab, she works on measuring biomarkers, sample processing and ensuring the safety of lab members as the C.H.O. Sarah enjoys cuddling with her cat Honey Mustard, making jewelry, and baking.
Tiffany Vuong
Tiffany is a current student at the University of Washington majoring in Biology-Physiology. In the lab she extracts and purifies DNA, processes samples and assist with lab maintenance and organization. As a true PNW she enjoys hiking, bouldering and trying new sports.
Deepthi Nacharaju
Bio coming soon…
Zoie Bailey, B.S. – Research Scientist I
Coming from sunny California, Zoie graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a B.S in Cellular and Molecular Biology. During her undergraduate, she worked on a sexually transmitted pathogen, Mycoplasma genitalium, where she discovered a passion for research. In the Bhatraju lab, she works on measuring biomarkers, sample processing and creating a fun lab environment. Outside of lab, Zoie enjoys shooting on her film camera, caring for her house plants and crocheting.
Ian Stanaway, PhD. – Senior Data Analyst
Ian Stanaway, PhD is a bioinformatics specialist who analyzes large scale data, including genomic, proteomic, metabolomic and environmental variables to assess the risk of various outcomes. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Washington (UW) and has worked in industry and academia. He returned to graduate school to study Environmental Toxicology at the UW where he showed significant alterations of the oral microbiomes of farmworkers and their children when exposed to pesticides. Ian has interests in both clinical and population-based epidemiology and likes to find associations between health-related outcomes (phenotypes) and observable molecular measurements. Then we begin to think about how we can translate these observations into useful tools, diagnostics, and therapies. Outside work, Dr. Stanaway enjoys farming, building, reading, playing music, the outdoors, cooking, and family time.
Andrew Hart, B.A. – Medical Student, University of Washington School of Medicine
Andrew Hart is a medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, interested in pulmonary and critical care medicine. In the Bhatraju Lab, he has supported projects investigating cystic fibrosis and Covid-19. Prior to pursuing medicine, he was a journalist. Outside of research and medicine, Andrew enjoys skiing, climbing, hiking, running, cycling, reading, and peanut butter.
Former Members
Ayesha Khader, MD – Internal Medicine Resident, University of Washington
Ayesha Khader, MD is a 2nd year internal medicine resident interested in pulmonary critical care fellowship. She is from Beaverton, Oregon and attended medical school at OHSU in Portland. She is new to the lab and is excited to start working on a project this year. Ayesha is now completing a Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship at OHSU.
Julia Hallowell, B.S. – Research Coordinator
Julia graduated from University of Washington with a BS in Biology-Physiology. During her undergraduate, she worked for our lab as a student assistant before transitioning to a Research Coordinator after graduation. Outside of lab, she enjoys reading and hanging out with friends! Julia left the lab to attend medical school at the University of Washington Spokane.
Jordan Lo, B.S. – Research Scientist I
Jordan graduated from Seattle University with a B.S. in Chemistry with a Data Science focus. During his undergraduate, he worked in an environmental chemistry lab working to understand pollutant lifetimes in aquatic systems. He began working in the Bhatraju Lab in November of 2023 and is excited to learn more about medicine using the power of data. Outside of the lab, Jordan enjoys playing video games, rock climbing, and reading. Jordan left the lab to pursue a master’s at the University of Washington.
Neall Koetje, B.S., MPH – Research Coordinator, Kidney Research Institute
Neall graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Kinesiology and an MPH from University of Washington. He started with the Kidney Research Institute but works closely with the investigators of the Wurfel and Bhatraju lab. He started as a research assistant and moved up to be a coordinator in 2020. Neall has previous research experience working in an exercise physiology lab with patients who have multiple sclerosis. Outside of the lab, he enjoys traveling, camping, and riding his bike. Neall left the lab to attend medical school in Portland at Oregon Health & Science University.
Nick O’ Connor, B.S. – Research Scientist, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Nick was a Research Scientist in the lab, where he helped on CHROme and SARI-PREP, the main Covid-19 studies the lab was working on, as well as the Cystic Fibrosis cohort. A Puget Sound native, he graduated from UW with a double B.S. in Biochemistry and Chemistry. Nick moved to Missoula to pursue a PhD (also in Biochemistry) and enjoys baking and reading in his free time.
Sharon Sahi, B.S. – Research Scientist, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Sharon was a Research Scientist serving with the Bhatraju-Wurfel-Morrell Lab. She worked to identify biological markers which predict poor outcomes in critically ill patients suffering from severe respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens. She coordinated and directed biospecimen management for the nationwide and multicentered SARI-Prep study. Sharon has more than fifteen years of research experience and over 20 publications, including prior experience identifying genetic and immunologic factors related to neurosyphilis. Sharon earned a B.S. in Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology from UW, where she will soon return to begin training as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. She enjoys hiking and camping, adventuring with her husband and their three rescue dogs, and visiting her family and friends.
Tanya Rajabi, B.S. – Research Coordinator, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Tanya was Research Coordinator in the Bhatraju Lab. She worked on two of the lab’s critical illness cohorts while working closely with the Kidney Research Institute. Tanya graduated from Emory University with a B.S. in Quantitative Sciences and Neurobiology. Tanya is currently in Budapest, Hungary on a Fulbright Grant, where she is researching lung cancer screening. She is originally from Dallas, Texas and enjoys exploring Seattle and traveling.