Metabolomics Core Facility

MCF Scientists

Alan K. Jarmusch, Ph.D.
Director, Metabolomics Core Facility (MCF)
Director, Trans-NIH Metabolomics Core (TNMC)
Alan Jarmusch is the Director of the Metabolomics Core Facility at NIEHS and the Director of the Trans-NIH Metabolomics Core Facility. Jarmusch performed his undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Biochemistry. He earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Purdue University under the mentorship of Prof. R. Graham Cooks. Jarmusch completed his postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Diego, supervised by Prof. Pieter C. Dorrestein. His broad research interest is the application of mass spectrometry in the biomedical and environmental sciences but has particular interest in developing novel methods and data analysis software to enable discovery. Jarmusch possesses specialized knowledge in electrospray ionization fundamentals, ambient ionization, mass spectrometry imaging, untargeted mass spectrometry, mass spectrometry data processing, cancer research, microbiome, drug metabolism, and metabolomics.

Kaylie (Kirkwood) Donelson, Ph.D.
Chemist
Kaylie (Kirkwood) Donelson is a chemist in the Metabolomics Core Facility at NIEHS and a Coordinator of the Trans-NIH Metabolomics Core. Kaylie earned both her B.S. and Ph.D. in Chemistry from North Carolina State University under the advisement of Prof. David Muddiman and Prof. Erin Baker, respectively. She is particularly interested in applying mass spectrometry-based approaches to understand the relationship between human health and the environment, and has experience with ion mobility spectrometry, nontargeted mass spectrometry, PFAS analysis, lipidomics, and metabolomics.

Kirsten Overdahl, Ph.D.
Chemist
Kirsten Overdahl is a Chemist in the Metabolomics Core Facility and serves as a Trans-NIH Metabolomics Coordinator. She is particularly interested in using high-resolution mass spectrometry as a basis for exploring the human metabolome and the environmental exposome to understand how small molecule exposures may be implicated in health consequences. Her current independent research centers around best practices for untargeted analysis data interpretability and, more specifically, for de novo annotation of previously unrecognized chemicals. Kirsten earned her B.A. in Chemistry with Distinction from St. Olaf College, where she studied with Doug Beussman, Ph.D.; she then earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from Duke University, where she studied with Lee Ferguson, Ph.D. and Heather Stapleton, Ph.D. Kirsten possesses specialized knowledge in untargeted mass spectrometry, experimental design and analysis of emerging environmental contaminants in numerous matrices (particularly azo dyes and other halogenated molecules), mass spectrometry data analysis, and metabolomics.

Heather Winter, Ph.D.
Contractor
Heather Winter is a contracted Scientist in the Metabolomics Core Facility at NIEHS. Winter is a graduate of UNC Greensboro with a Ph.D. in Medicinal Biochemistry, having studied with the mentorship of Nadja Cech, Ph.D. Previously, Winter was a Research Specialist with Marcy Balunas, Ph.D. at the University of Connecticut and earned a bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences the University of Connecticut. Her primary experience is in analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics. Her research interests focus on promoting human health utilizing research with metabolomics and has a previous background in metabolomics data processing method development and natural products based medicinal chemistry.

Danielle Lehman
Contractor
Danielle Lehman is a contracted lab technician in the Trans-NIH Metabolomics Core at NIEHS. Danielle received her B.S. in biology from Youngstown State University. She has extensive experience in the field of mass spectrometry, including nontargeted analysis, unknown identifications, quantitative method development and small molecule analysis.

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Fall 2023

Spring 2024