Our Research Team
Matthias C. Truttmann, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Email: mtruttma@umich.edu
Mary E. Skinner, M.S.
Research Lead
Email: maryski@umich.edu
Matthias was born and raised in a small village surrounded by the Swiss alps in the heart of continental Europe. He obtained his Ph.D. in Microbiology & Systems biology from the University of Basel, Switzerland in 2010. He spent time as an asset and liability manager before joining the lab of Hidde Ploegh at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research / MIT as a postdoctoral fellow in 2013. In 2016, he moved with the Ploegh lab to Boston Children's Hospital / Harvard Medical School to finish up his postdoctoral work.
In July 2018, he joined the Medical School at University of Michigan, founding the Truttmann Lab which is focused on the impact of post-translational protein modifications (PTMs) on proteostasis in the context of aging and aging-associated neurodegenerative diseases.
In 2023, he established the Taubman Nanobody Initiative, with generous support from the Taubman Institute, allowing him to concentrate his 10+ years of experience in nanobody-related research to developing a novel platform for the generation and characterization of new nanobodies for therapeutic, diagnostic, and biomedical research applications.
When he's not thinking about science, he enjoys hanging out with his family, exercising, cooking & baking.
Mary is a native Michigander. She has a BS degree in Biochemistry and Toxicology from Eastern Michigan University and completed her MS thesis in Cellular and Molecular Biology at EMU studying plant cell wall components in yeast and Arabidopsis model systems.
She spent 10 years in the University of Michigan Pathology and Biogerontology departments managing the Lombard Lab and researching the mechanisms of age-related pathologies using cancer cell and mouse models, but decided to remain at the University of Michigan when the lab moved to Miami.
In 2022, Mary joined the laboratory of Henry Paulson in the Neurology department at the University of Michigan. In this position, she was involved with many collaborative studies in neurodegenerative research, including work with novel antibodies and nanobodies.
She is thrilled to be on the ground floor Taubman Nanobody Initiative and to use her diverse skill set (PubMed) to support the mission of the initiative and of the Taubman Institute.
Outside of the lab she enjoys lurking on her teenager's social media profiles, asking Russell to make her food, collecting magnets, and reading Hemingway biographies.
Kristie C. Mitchell, Ph.D.
Senior Research Lab Specialist (2024-Present)
Email: kcmitche@umich.edu
Kristie is an Ann Arbor native, who pursued her B.S. degree in General Biology from Eastern Michigan University while working full-time and raising a family.
Subsequently, she also obtained her M.S. from EMU, before going on to earn a Ph.D. in Microbiology & Immunology from Wayne State University. Her research there helped to develop a new zebrafish natural host model for Vibrio cholerae infection.
Kristie did a postdoc with the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research at the University of Michigan, where she used 16S and 18S rRNA gene metabarcoding to clarify predator-prey relationships between zooplankton and phytoplankton in Lakes Erie and Huron.
In 2024 she joined the Taubman Nanobody Initiative and is very excited to be on the cutting edge of nanobody research. She is passionate about DEI and wants to make STEM more accessible to underrepresented individuals in those fields.
In her free time, Kristie does genealogical research and indulges in many crafts, including crocheting and sewing. She is also a professional knitter, occasionally offering handmade hats, mittens, and pom poms for sale. She loves reading forensic science journals and rewatching original episodes of Unsolved Mysteries.
Asa Huffaker
Research Technician Intermediate (2023-Present)
Email: hasa@umich.edu
Asa was born in Vermont and grew up in Rockford, Michigan, a small town north of Grand Rapids. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 2022 with a degree in Biochemistry and a minor in Swedish. He joined the Taubman Nanobody Initiative as a Research Technician where he will lend his efforts until he embarks on the graduate school journey. Outside of the lab he enjoys cooking, painting, and listening to experimental music.
Theresa (Tessa) Casselman, M.S.
Research Technician Associate (2024-Present)
Email: tcasselm@umich.edu
Tessa grew up in the town of Thornhill in Ontario, Canada. She completed a BS in Human Genetics and Genomics and an MS in Cell and Systems Biology specializing in microbiome research at the University of Toronto, followed by an MS in Earth and Environmental Sciences studying early Earth geomicrobiology and astrobiology here at the University of Michigan. When she's not working on exciting nanobody research at the Taubman Nanobody Initiative, Tessa loves watching Liverpool FC with her cat Minerva, playing video games, and exploring the beautiful Michigan outdoors.
Jamie Schnarrs
UROP Scholar, Magnificent Michigan Summer Research Fellowship Awardee (2023-Present)
Jamie grew up in Clinton Township, Michigan, a short drive away from Detroit. Right now they are working towards their degree majoring in Biochemistry at the University of Michigan. In their free time, they enjoy crocheting, hanging out with their pet skink, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with their friends.
Sylvia Ni
Undergraduate Research Assistant (2024-Present)
Sylvia was born and raised in San Jose, California. She is currently studying Movement Science in University of Michigan's School of Kinesiology. In her free time, she loves spending time with family and friends, traveling, running, and just being outdoors.
Kayla Archey
Pre-College Laboratory Assistant (Summer 2023, Summer 2024)
Kayla is a high school senior who is looking to study engineering during her college career. She is currently strategy lead and captain of the Brighton Technodogs FIRST Robotics team's design and build team. In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends and family and working on her current DIY project.
Anne Raikes
Pre-College Laboratory Assistant (Summer 2023, Summer 2024)
Anne is a high school junior who is part of her schools orchestra and color guard. She enjoys helping out with any and every event in her music department as well as encouraging students to join the music department. In her free time she enjoys reading books, listening to music, and going on walks.
Sarah Tabler
Research Technical Consultant (2023-Present)
Sarah grew up in Midland, Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University in 2020 with a major in Genomics and Molecular Genetics and a minor in Anthropology. In 2021, she joined the Truttmann lab as a research assistant. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, drinking tea, and meeting other people’s dogs.
🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙 Lab Pics 🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙
Asa, Mary, Jamie, and Matthias hanging out at Jamie's UROP Poster
Mary talking in GIFs at Ann Arbor Nerd Nite, March 2024
Asa presenting his work at the 2024 PSTP Symposium
Asa, Mary, Kristie, and Tessa hanging out at Top of the Park Summer Festival in Ann Arbor
Jamie presenting their work at the 2024 Spring UROP Symposium
Taubman Nanobody Initiative Team; Summer 2024
Taubman Nanobody Initiative Team; Summer 2023
TNI Alumni
Kayla Archey & Anne Raikes
Enterprising Pre-College Laboratory Assistants (Summer 2023)
Kayla and Anne are both high school student volunteers who are highly motivated in developing scientific skills and learning the ropes of the lab in order to get a head start on the next chapters of their academic careers. The TNI is happy to host them!
The TNI is very enthusiastic about encouraging scientific development, please see our Opportunities Page for more information!
Jack Guo
Undergraduate Research Assistant (Fall 2023)
Jack grew up in Hong Kong, and moved to the States to attend university. He is majoring in MCDB and is aiming to pursue a PhD in structural biology. When he's not in the lab, he enjoys spending time doing art, cooking, or bouldering.