Laboratory Members

The lab is growing and looking for dedicated and creative individuals interested in molecular evolution!

We are looking for individuals with a range of skill levels. Positions are available for undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, as well as both medium (~ 2 years) and long (>5 years) term research technicians.

Interested students and technicians should send a CV and a couple of sentences stating experience and skills, research interests, and future goals to bphm@purdue.edu.

Post-doctoral candidates should visit:
https://careers.purdue.edu/job/Post-Doc-Research-Associate/33054-en_US/
https://careers.purdue.edu/job/Post-Doc-Research-Associate/33056-en_US/

Brian Metzger, Principal Investigator

Dr. Metzger started studying the new evolution of new functions as an undergraduate with Dr. Carol E. Lee at UW-Madison (B.S. 2009). During his graduate work, he focused on the evolutionary and functional consequences of genetic variation and new regulatory mutations with Trisha Wittkopp at the University of Michigan (Ph.D. 2015). From 2016-2022 Dr. Metzger studied protein evolution as a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Fellow with Dr. Joe Thornton at the University of Chicago. The Metzger lab officially opened in 2023 at Purdue University.

Aparna Desai, Research Scientist and Laboratory Manager

My educational and work background covers multiple areas of biology including agricultural sciences, molecular genetics,  protein biochemistry, regulatory sciences, pharmacogenetics along with quality assurance, grant writing support and administrative responsibilities.

I am currently working on genetic mapping of phenotypic and gene expression variations among various Saccharomyces species that are genetically as distant as birds and humans. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, large scale interspecific hybrid progenies are generated to study genetic architecture contributing to trait variations over a long evolutionary time. These maps enable future functional genomic studies to understand functional divergence and evolution of new molecular functions.

Maggie Bogomolny, Research Technician

B.S. in Biochemistry, minor in Bioinformatics from Miami University

Two truths and a lie: all the bones I’ve broken have been on the left side of my body, I can handle the last sauce on Hot Ones, I’m from San Diego

Alex Carethers, Research Technician

I'm a lab technician eager to learn and make discoveries in the field of genetics. I am constantly committed to improvement and bettering myself and I'm undefeated at Brian's house in board games. Outside the lab, I enjoy cooking and calisthenics."

Shunxin Zhou, Graduate Student

Hi, I am Shunxin, from Harbin, China. I'm now a graduate student in biological science. I hope to learn more about population genetics. In my spare time, I enjoy tennis, yoga and mint chocolate ice cream!

Rachel Isaac, Undergraduate Researcher

Hi! I'm Rachel and I'm from Louisville, KY. I'm a junior in ecology, evolution, and environmental biology as well as genetics.  I've been in the lab since January 2024 and am working on a bioinformatics project looking into the evolutionary history of tyrosine kinase activity. Fun fact: the fastest a sloth will ever move is when it's falling. 

Michael Gardner, Undergraduate Researcher

Hi! I'm Michael and I'm from Greenwood, South Carolina. I'm an undergraduate in the Honor’s college for the class of 2027 and I’m double majoring in Genetics and Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology. I've been in the lab since January 2024 and I’m currently working on ancestral state reconstructions for kinases with TK activity to gain insight into the roles of chance, contingency, and necessity in evolution.  Fun fact: My friend Carl makes really great bread

Lab Alumni

Nani-Marie McFadden, Visiting Undergraduate Researcher (Chicago State University). Summer 2024
Jinling Yuan, Research Technician. 2023-2024