Principal Investigator
Dr. Sean W. Fanning, Ph.D.
Dr. Fanning is a trained cancer biologist, biochemist, and structural biologist. He earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech in 2008 and his PhD with Dr. James R Horn at Northern Illinois University in 2012. After he completed his PhD, he joined Dr. Geoffrey Greene's lab at the University of Chicago in 2012 as a postdoctoral fellow where he examined the role of estrogen receptor in breast cancer. He joined the Department of Cancer Biology at Loyola University Chicago in 2020 as an Assistant Professor. Outside of the lab, Dr. Fanning's hobbies include playing bluegrass banjo and smoking BBQ.
Dr. Fanning's Linkedin Profile Dr. Fanning's ResearchGate Profile
Doctoral Students
Kristen Young - Joined 2022
Kristen earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Biophysics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York in 2021, where she worked in research in cellular kinetics and microscopy, played collegiate basketball, and participated in Greek life. She is studying Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cancer Biology (BMBCB) in the Integrated Program of Biomedical Sciences (IPBS) at Loyola. Outside of school Kristen enjoys playing pick-up basketball, going on hikes, and exploring the restaurants and events in downtown Chicago.
Kristen's Linkedin Profile Kristen's ResearchGate Profile
Govinda Hancock - Joined 2022
Govinda earned his B.S. in Biology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, after which he pursued a career in the clinical laboratory setting. While working as Chief Technologist of the Cytogenetics lab at New York Presbyterian Hospital he continued his studies, earning a M.S. in Health Policy and Economics at Weill Cornell Medicine in 2018. He is now studying in the Biochemistry, Molecular and Cancer Biology (BMCB) track of the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences (IPBS) at Loyola University Chicago. When not in a lab coat, Govinda enjoys playing with his 3 accomplished poodles, reading comics and exploring the numerous cultural gems of Illinois.
Emma Fink - Joined 2023
Emma earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Computer Science at Providence College in Rhode Island in 2022, where she played collegiate volleyball. She is studying Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cancer Biology (BMBCB) in the Integrated Program of Biomedical Sciences (IPBS) at Loyola. When not in school, Emma enjoys playing volleyball, reading, and spending time outside.
Emma Fink | LinkedIn
Emma Fink | Researchgate profile
David Zak - Joined 2023
Education: B.S. in Biochemistry and Neuroscience from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Previous Research: Marine Microbiology and HIV-related Neurodegeneration
Hobbies: Playing guitar, rock climbing, foodie, playing DnD
David Zak | LinkedIn
David Zak | Researchgate profile
Graduate Rotation Students
Yoldas Yildiz - August through September 2021
Asia Paguntalan - October through November 2021
Hannah Cizauskas - October through November 2021
Past Members
Millie Martinez, Summer 2022
Ms. Martinez joined the Fanning lab as a summer undergraduate researcher in 2022.
Emily Sullivan, M.S. 2020-2022
Ms. Sullivan joined the Fanning lab in August 2020 as a laboratory manager. She completed her B.S. at Loyola University Chicago and her Master's at Midwestern University.
Carstyn Joiner 2021-2022
Ms. Joiner Joined the Fanning Lab in June 2021 as a research assistant. She completed her B.S. at Augustana College.
Dr. Sean W. Fanning, Ph.D.
Dr. Fanning is a trained cancer biologist, biochemist, and structural biologist. He earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech in 2008 and his PhD with Dr. James R Horn at Northern Illinois University in 2012. After he completed his PhD, he joined Dr. Geoffrey Greene's lab at the University of Chicago in 2012 as a postdoctoral fellow where he examined the role of estrogen receptor in breast cancer. He joined the Department of Cancer Biology at Loyola University Chicago in 2020 as an Assistant Professor. Outside of the lab, Dr. Fanning's hobbies include playing bluegrass banjo and smoking BBQ.
Dr. Fanning's Linkedin Profile Dr. Fanning's ResearchGate Profile
Doctoral Students
Kristen Young - Joined 2022
Kristen earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Biophysics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York in 2021, where she worked in research in cellular kinetics and microscopy, played collegiate basketball, and participated in Greek life. She is studying Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cancer Biology (BMBCB) in the Integrated Program of Biomedical Sciences (IPBS) at Loyola. Outside of school Kristen enjoys playing pick-up basketball, going on hikes, and exploring the restaurants and events in downtown Chicago.
Kristen's Linkedin Profile Kristen's ResearchGate Profile
Govinda Hancock - Joined 2022
Govinda earned his B.S. in Biology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, after which he pursued a career in the clinical laboratory setting. While working as Chief Technologist of the Cytogenetics lab at New York Presbyterian Hospital he continued his studies, earning a M.S. in Health Policy and Economics at Weill Cornell Medicine in 2018. He is now studying in the Biochemistry, Molecular and Cancer Biology (BMCB) track of the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences (IPBS) at Loyola University Chicago. When not in a lab coat, Govinda enjoys playing with his 3 accomplished poodles, reading comics and exploring the numerous cultural gems of Illinois.
Emma Fink - Joined 2023
Emma earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Computer Science at Providence College in Rhode Island in 2022, where she played collegiate volleyball. She is studying Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cancer Biology (BMBCB) in the Integrated Program of Biomedical Sciences (IPBS) at Loyola. When not in school, Emma enjoys playing volleyball, reading, and spending time outside.
Emma Fink | LinkedIn
Emma Fink | Researchgate profile
David Zak - Joined 2023
Education: B.S. in Biochemistry and Neuroscience from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Previous Research: Marine Microbiology and HIV-related Neurodegeneration
Hobbies: Playing guitar, rock climbing, foodie, playing DnD
David Zak | LinkedIn
David Zak | Researchgate profile
Graduate Rotation Students
Yoldas Yildiz - August through September 2021
Asia Paguntalan - October through November 2021
Hannah Cizauskas - October through November 2021
Past Members
Millie Martinez, Summer 2022
Ms. Martinez joined the Fanning lab as a summer undergraduate researcher in 2022.
Emily Sullivan, M.S. 2020-2022
Ms. Sullivan joined the Fanning lab in August 2020 as a laboratory manager. She completed her B.S. at Loyola University Chicago and her Master's at Midwestern University.
Carstyn Joiner 2021-2022
Ms. Joiner Joined the Fanning Lab in June 2021 as a research assistant. She completed her B.S. at Augustana College.
