Meet the Team

  • Martin Golkowski, PhD

    Principal Investigator

    Martin obtained his PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from the University of Tübingen. During his Postdoc in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Washington in Seattle, Martin diversified into MS-Based Proteomics, Chemical Biology, and Cancer Cell Signaling. He utilizes his interdisciplinary background to identify the mechanisms of cancer plasticity and therapy resistance. In his free-time, Martin enjoys exploring new restaurants, hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking together with his wife Esther and friends.

  • Katie Maguire, MSc

    Laboratory Manager

    Katie has two undergraduate degrees from the University of Utah and a masters in forensic science from Cedar Crest College. She has a background in both scientific writing and DNA sequencing. Katie was born and raised in Salt Lake, and after living on both coasts decided to come back to Utah. In her spare time she enjoys going to concerts, playing with her dogs and knitting.

  • Thankhoe Rants'o, PhD

    Postdoctoral Research Associate

    Thankhoe is a Pharmacist from Lesotho. He obtained his MSc in Medicinal Chemistry from Auburn University in Alabama where he focused on LC-MS based metabolomics. He obtained his PhD in Pharmacology in 2023 in the field of infectious diseases from Wits University, South Africa. Thankhoe is interested in the molecular mechanisms that drive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) migration from the primary liver site and its invasion of distant organs. In his spare time, Thankhoe enjoys touring and going to movie nights and music shows.

  • Alexandria Carlson, PhD

    Postdoctoral Research Associate

    Alex earned her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Her dissertation work focused on the design and synthesis of heterobifunctional compounds such as dual inhibitors and proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) as therapeutics for resistant hematological malignancies. Outside of the lab, Alex enjoys hiking and camping with her husband and dog, as well as reading, puzzles, and playing video games.

  • Paige Jensen

    Laboratory Technician

    Paige is from Springville, Utah and haslived in Utah her whole life. She recently graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry from Brigham Young University and hopes to pursue a PhD in the future. Her research interests include exploring the proteomic profiles of disease, especially in the context of cancer, and uncovering pathways that contribute to disease pathogenesis. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing tennis or racquetball, dancing and watching new movies.

  • Lotfa Haque Lovely

    Lotfa Haque Lovely

    First-Year PhD Student

    Lotfa Haque Lovely is a physician from Bangladesh, having completed an MBBS degree. She is also a registered Diabetologist and completed six months of post-graduation training in Internal Medicine. Passionate about understanding disease processes at the molecular level and exploring pharmacological approaches for better patient outcomes. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Utah. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending quality time with her family. Residing in the beautiful city of Salt Lake City, she is committed to advancing medical research and improving healthcare through her studies and experiences.

Lab Summer BBQ 2024

Past Lab Members

  • Kathryn Oberg, lab technician

  • Kai Bunker, summer intern

  • Olatomiwa Aniyikaye, summer intern

  • Rahmon Kanmodi, rotation student

  • Spencer Ashworth, rotation student

  • Grace Mastin, rotation student