Dr. Makowski earned her Ph.D. in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health in the Division of Medical Sciences. She also received a Masters in Medicine concurrent with her Ph.D. studies as a Lucille P. Markey Fellow from Harvard Medical School. She completed a 1 year postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Chan School of Public Health in the Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases where she was awarded an F32 NRSA postdoctoral fellowship. Dr. Makowski continued postdoctoral studies in the Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology & Cancer Biology at the Duke University Medical Center in the Stedman Center for Nutrition and Metabolism with F32 funding. During her postdoc at Duke, she was awarded a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence award to transition from postdoc to faculty. After 8 years as faculty at UNC Chapel Hill in the top ranked Department of Nutrition in the Gillings School of Global Public Health and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, she moved to Memphis to join the University of TN Health Science Center.
Makowski lab focuses on immunotherapy and immunometabolism for which Dr. Makowski has received a K99/R00, U01, R21, and R01 grants from the NIH and Mark Foundation Endeavor Award, Mary Kay Foundation, American Heart Association, and other funding from foundations. Recent work focuses on reprogramming of the immunosuppressive microenvironment, microbial-derived metabolites, and efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapies in obesity-induced breast cancer. She has published in journals such as Science Advances, Journal of Immunology, Molecular Metabolism, Breast Cancer Research Treatment, Frontiers in Oncology, Scientific Reports, Immunological Reviews, JBC, and Obesity (cover). She has served on planning committees at AACR (obesity and cancer), Southeastern Immunology Society, South East Lipid Research Conference Organizing committee (now the Fredrickson Lipid Research Conference), and The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)/EB). With Dr. Brandt Pence, Dr. Makowski recently formed the Metabolism, Immunity, and Inflammation of the Mid-South interest group (MIIMS). Dr. Makowski is standing member of the Cancer Genetics (CG) study section and the NCI PREVENT study section. She has served on study sections including Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Fellowship Review Panel, Tumor Microenvironment (TME), a special emphasis panel (SEP) for NCI’s Provocative Questions (PQ), SEPs for metabolic reprogramming the microenvironment in cancer (OTC-Y and OTC-A), as well other foundations including American Heart Association and The Mary Kay Foundation.
Dr. Makowski take great pride in her trainees! To date, medical students, graduate students, and fellows have received funding from NIH (NIH NRSA F32, NIH NRSA F31, NIH Integrative Vascular Biology T32, NIH Medical Student T35), industry/foundation (Komen, The Obesity Society, AACR, Sanofi-Aventis), and/or internal merit-based (UNC Chancellor’s Fellowship, Royster Society of Fellows, UTHSC Center for Cancer Research). Previous graduate students have gone to postdoctoral positions at MD Anderson, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, UCSF-Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, or to pursue an MD. Undergraduates trained have gone to Harvard Med, Wash U Med, UNC Med, UNC Dental, UTHSC Med, UTSW Med, and Harvard Chan School of Public Health. Last, postdocs have obtained positions as a scientist at USDA, in industry, or as tenure track faculty.
Dr. Sandesh Marathe grew up in Ahmednagar, India. He earned his BSc and MSc in Biotechnology from the University of Pune. He then moved to Mumbai to pursue his Doctoral research at the Institute of Chemical Technology. He joined Makowski lab in 2023 to study the role of microbial-derived metabolites in protective immunity in obesity-driven cancer risk. In his free time, he enjoys swimming and working out at the gym.
Minjeong Kim, M.S., Ph.D.
Dr. Minjeong Kim embarked on her academic journey in Seoul, South Korea, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from Sogang University before pursuing her Ph.D. in Integrated Omics and Biomedical Sciences at Yonsei University. During her Ph.D. program, she earned recognition as a Young Scientist in the International Korean Genome Organization. Then she started her postdoctoral career at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Minjeong joined the Makowski Lab in October 2023 and started her second postdoctoral research fellow position. Beyond academia, Minjeong cherishes her love for dogs, expresses her creativity through drawing, and finds inspiration in fashion, fine arts, and sports games.
Naveed Pervaiz, M.S., Ph.D.
Dr. Naveed Pervaiz was born and raised in Jammu and Kashmir, India. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kashmir, Srinagar and his Master’s degree (M.Sc.) in Zoology from Lovely Professional University, Punjab. After pursuing his Ph.D. from Panjab University, Chandigarh, India, Naveed moved to the USA for postdoctoral research. He started his postdoctoral career in August 2022 in the College of Pharmacy, UTHSC, and later joined the Makowski Lab in the Department of Hematology/Oncology, UTHSC in June 2024. Besides science, Naveed loves reading books, traveling, and enjoying time with his family.
Margaret Bohm, Doctoral candidate
Margaret Bohm grew up in Michigan and earned her BS in Biochemistry from Northern Michigan University. She then worked at the University of Michigan Medical School as a research technician before moving to UTHSC to pursue her PhD in Biomedical Sciences. She joined the Makowski lab in 2022 to study the role of the microbiome in obesity and cancer and is the 2023 recipient of the College of Graduate Health Sciences Alma and Hal Reagan Fellowship. Margaret is an avid stress baker who enjoys hiking and knitting in her free time.
Lukmon “Raji” Raji, PhD Student
Raji was born in Lagos, Nigeria, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Lagos. During his studies, he completed a rotation at the oncology clinic at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, which sparked his interest in cancer biology. After practicing pharmacy for two years in Lagos, he moved to the United States in 2022 to pursue a master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences. In April 2024, he joined the Makowski Lab to work toward his PhD in Biomedical Sciences, focusing on how obesity drives breast cancer. As a hobby, Raji enjoys photography and flying drones.
Medical Students
Joel Elasy, B.S., MD candidate
Joel Elasy is a medical student at UTHSC and won a summer fellowship as part of the UTHSC MRSF program to work in the Makowski Lab in the summer of 2024. Joel continues to work under the mentoring of Margaret Bohm.
Rhodes College students
Barbara Anne Harper
Barbara Anne Harper grew up in Florida and attends Rhodes College here in Memphis, TN. She is pursuing a BS in Neuroscience and Chemistry and plans to attend medical school. At Rhodes College, she has been awarded the Presidential Scholarship and membership into the Nu Rho Psi, the National Honor Society of Neuroscience. Barbara Anne joined the Makowski Lab in the summer of 2023 as an undergraduate research assistant and in her free time, she enjoys running, crocheting, and baking.
Logan McGrath
Logan McGrath grew up in upstate New York before moving to Nashville. Logan is currently a student at Rhodes College here in Memphis, Tennessee, pursuing a BS in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry with a minor in computer science with hopes to pursue medical school after graduation. Logan joined the Makowski lab in the 2023 summer as an undergraduate research assistant. In his free time Logan enjoys reading, running, and exploring local Memphis restaurants.
Areej Khan
Areej Khan grew up in Orlando, Florida and moved to Memphis in 2012. She is pursuing a BS in Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry and Philosophy. At Rhodes College, she has been awarded the Dean’s Scholarship and Search Certificate of Excellence. Areej Khan joined the Makowski lab in the Fall of 2024 as an undergraduate research assistant, and in her free time enjoys reading, biking, and cooking.
Technical Support/Research Associates
Zereque Powell, B.S., M.S.
Arvind Ramesh, B.S.
Arvind Rameshgrew up in Memphis, TN, and attended Rice University, earning his B.S. degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. During his undergraduate years, Arvind performed translational research in a central nervous system (CNS) tumor lab, investigating the molecular, clinical, and genetic aspects of CNS neoplasias. Arvind earned a Distinction in Research and Creative Work from Rice University for his senior thesis on the quantification and sequencing of microRNA (miRNA) in the diagnosis and treatment of CNS neoplasias. He joined the Makowski lab in June 2023 as a research technician. He is currently focused on medical and surgical weight loss interventions in cancer risk, progression, and response to immunotherapy. He is completing his MS degree. In his free time, Arvind likes to exercise and explore Memphis’ restaurants and nature scenes. Arvind hopes to attend medical school and one day become a physician-scientist.
Liza Makowski-Hayes (aka Liza Makowski), Ph.D., Principal Investigator.
