You may have seen some fresh faces around the department over the last couple months. We are pleased to welcome these new faculty, who joined the department in April and May 2017.
Prajwal Gurung, PhD (joined April 17, 2017)
Dr. Prajwal Gurung joined the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor after completing a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. Dr. Gurung earned his Bachelor’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from Winona State University in Minnesota, Master’s in Pathology from the University of Iowa, and PhD in Immunology from the University of Iowa College of Medicine. Dr. Gurung studies how pathogen- and damage-associated molecular patterns are recognized by the immune system. Proper and controlled immune responses are necessary to fight infections and maintain cellular homeostasis and Dr. Gurung’s research focuses on how different innate immune sensors are involved in maintaining this balance. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing with his son, running, playing basketball and watching a variety of sports and shows on television.
Chou-Long Huang, MD, PhD (joined April 24, 2017)
Dr. Chou-Long Huang has joined the Division of Nephrology as a Professor and Division Director, following a twenty-year career at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Huang received his MD from Taipei Medical University in Taiwan, followed by a PhD in Physiology from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He completed his medicine residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, followed by a Nephrology fellowship – as well as a Howard Hughes Postdoctoral Fellowship – at UCSF. His clinical and research interests include fluid and electrolyte transport disorders, hypertension, and mineral metabolism, skeletal and cardiac complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD-MBD). Dr. Huang’s outside interests include reading, traveling, and jogging.
Thorsten Maretzky, PhD (joined April 28, 2017)
Dr. Thorsten Maretzky comes to the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor from the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, where he served as a research instructor after completing a postdoctoral fellowship there. Dr. Maretzky received his PhD – as well as completing a postdoctoral fellowship – in Biochemistry from the Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany. His research focus is on a family of membrane-anchored metalloproteases named ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) with an emphasis on their role in tissue degeneration and regeneration, inflammatory bowel disease, and angiogenesis. He also enjoys cycling and spending time with his family and friends.
Michelle Mengeling, PhD (joined May 1, 2017)
Dr. Michelle Mengeling joins the Division of General Internal Medicine as an Associate. She has been with the University of Iowa since 2009 as an Associate Research Scientist, as well as an investigator with the Center for the Comprehensive Access & Delivery Research Evaluation (CADRE) at the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System during the same period. Dr. Mengeling received an MS in Statistics and Actuarial Science followed by a PhD in Measurement and Statistics from the University of Iowa. Dr. Mengeling’s research interests include access to care – especially among rural populations – women’s health, and measurement. When not doing research, she enjoys listening to podcasts (e.g., The Moth, Ted Radio Hour, Snap Judgment, The Hidden Brain) and spending time with her husband and teenage children.
Jian Xie, PhD (joined May 1, 2017)
Dr. Jian Xie joins the Division of Nephrology as a Research Assistant Professor, having previously worked as an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He received an MS in Molecular Biology from the University of Kentucky, followed by a PhD in Genetics & Development from UT Southwestern. Dr. Xie’s current research interests include using animal models to study the role of ion channels and their regulators in kidney and heart function, and in related cardio-renal diseases. His interests outside of the lab include sports, reading, and spending time with his little kids.