Group Alumni – Graduate Students & Senior Researchers
Jacob J. Haffner, Ph.D.
(He/Him/His)
Currently working at MSU RTSF Mass Spectrometry and Metabolomics Core
B.S. University of Arkansas, 2016
M.A. University of Oklahoma, 2019
Ph.D. University of Oklahoma, 2023
Postdoc, Michigan State University, 2023-2025
Dr. Jacob Haffner completed his B.S. in Anthropology at the University of Arkansas, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Oklahoma. Working in the laboratories of Dr. Laura-Isobel McCall and Dr. Cecil Lewis, Jacob’s graduate research used mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and gut microbiome approaches together to explore interactions between human health, behavior, and biology in modern and archaeological contexts. After graduating, he started as a postdoc at Dr. Qiu’s lab in Fall 2023 to study spatial dimensions of metabolite-microbiome interactions. Beyond research, Jacob enjoys playing video and board games, watching tv shows/movies, hiking, and bouldering.
Yasuaki Saito, Ph.D.
(He/him)
Visiting Professor 2023-2025
B.S. Kitasato University, 2007
M.S. Kitasato University, 2009
Ph.D. Kitasato University, 2012
Assistant Professor, Kitasato University, 2012-Present
Dr. Yasuaki Saito completed his BS, MS, and PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Kitasato University in Japan. His PhD work focused on understanding physiological functions of D-amino acids using Caenorhabditis elegans as an experimental model in the laboratory of Prof. Hiroshi Homma. He started working as an assistant professor in the same lab in 2012 and has been deepening this research topic with analytical chemistry and molecular biology. He has joined Dr. Qiu lab as a visiting scholar in April 2023 and is working on developing mass spectrometry methods for D-amino acids and exploring the roles of D-amino acids in the host-microbe interactions using C. elegans. Outside work, Yasuaki enjoys walking and driving around East Lansing with his family.
Group Alumni – Undergraduates & High School Students
Helen O’Shaughnessy
(She/her)
2022-2026
Helen is a senior Biomedical Laboratory Science student from Columbus, Ohio. She is a pre-med student interested in studying pathology. In her free time, Helen likes to read and cook. Helen loves animals and has three cats at home.
Jillian Luczkowski
(She/her)
2024-2026
Jillian is a third-year student at MSU, majoring in Plant Biology and minoring in Pharmacology and Toxicology. Her interests in studying are pathology and toxicology.
In her free time Jillian likes to read and tend to her collection of plants. She currently has one cat and three fishes.
Gillian Robbins
Elizabeth Smith
(She/her)
Allegheny College
2023 Summer
Currently Chemistry PhD student at Carnegie Melon University
Elizabeth was a third-year Chemistry student at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA and a MSU Chemistry REU student from May-Aug 2023. She was working on MALDI imaging and spent a great deal of time drawing worm pictures on the chalkboards. In her free time, she likes to paddleboard, paint, and bake. Elizabeth has three cats at home: Nelson, Mozart, and Ginger.
Abby Smith
(She/her)
2023-2024
Currently Analytical Chemistry PhD student at Purdue University
Abby was a Chemistry undergraduate student interested in PFAS toxicology. In her free time, Abby likes baking, music, and playing video and board games. Abby graduated in 2024 and is now a graduate student at Purdue University.
Tanvi Satoor
(She/her)
2023-2024
Tanvi was a first-year chemical engineering student and is interested in studying mass spectrometry. Tanvi enjoys painting, sketching portraits and classical dancing.
Tanvi was an undergraduate researcher in Qiu Lab from Spring 2023-2024.
Sarah Granquist
(She/her)
Sarah was a senior at Hall High School in Connecticut and joined our team for summer 2024 with the MSU HSHSP. She worked on research with PFAS using C. elegans as a model organism under graduate student Aidan’s supervision. Sarah loves learning about topics related to chemistry and medicine. In her free time, she likes to play the viola and spend time with her dog, Riley.
Qiu Research Lab 