Our Team

  • Lisandra Vila Ellis, MD

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

    Lisandra received her medical degree at Tecnologico de Monterrey, in Monterrey, Mexico, and subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Lisandra has mentored students of different backgrounds and career stages, from undergrad to postdoctoral fellows. Building a diverse, creative and supporting environment in research is one of her main goals.

  • David Arteaga

    GRADUATE STUDENT (DGP)

    David is from Lafayette, Indiana and earned his B.S. in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology from Purdue University. As graduate student in the Driskill Graduate Program, he is interested in studying the signaling networks that control pulmonary vascular development and regeneration after injury. In his free time, David enjoys going to concerts, biking along the lake, and thrift shopping with friends!

  • Joe Jennings

    RESEARCH TECHNICIAN

    Joe grew up in south east Michigan and got his Bachelor's in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Michigan Technological University. He is currently pursuing a Master's in Bioinformatics online from Brandeis University. Joe has worked in industry and academics; most recently, at the University of Utah, he developed the first genetically encodable fluorescent biosensor for Acetyl-CoA. Joe likes to spend his free time outdoors, hiking and biking with his family. 

  • Sofia Grivot Volkmann

    RESEARCH TECHNICIAN

Former Lab Members

  • Jonathan Bywaters

    Former research technician and the first lab member. Now in medical school at UT San Antonio.

  • Yun Liu

    Former research technician and founding lab member. She is now pursuing an MD/PhD (MSTP) at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

  • Amy Ceas

    Former research technician. She is now a graduate student at the University of Colorado.

  • Andres Gutierrez, PhD

    Former postdoc. Now manager of the Confocal Microscopy Core at the University of Nevada - Las Vegas.

  • Anđela Savić

    Former postbac. Now a master student at the University of Belgrade in Serbia.

  • Anastasia Jimenez

    Former undergraduate student. Just graduated from Northwestern University.

Join our lab!

  • Graduate students

  • Postdocs

  • Undergraduate Students

  • Interns and Summer students

  • Technicians

  • Master Students

The Vila Ellis lab welcomes grad students from different programs at Northwestern including DGP and MSTP. We also welcome interested postdocs from different backgrounds, undergrads with a genuine interest in scientific research, master students, research techs and clinical fellows. If you are a high school student interested in research and looking for lab experience, Lisandra started her journey in science as a research summer student, let’s talk!

For any inquiries, email Lisandra with your CV and research interests.