Michael Warkala, B.Sc.
Michael Warkala is a Ph. D. candidate in the Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Cancer (MBGC) track of the Multidisciplinary Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program at Rutgers SGS. He is investigating the genetic and cellular dynamics of the Second Heart Field-derived progenitor cells during cardiovascular development. Mike earned a B.Sc. in biology from Wilkes University in 2016. At Wilkes, working under Dr. Lisa Kadlec, Mike studied novel genes involved in Drosophila development. Following graduation, he worked as a research technician in Dr. Margaret Pearce’s lab at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. In the Pearce lab, Mike studied prion-like aggregate transmission in the Drosophila central nervous system. Prior to joining the Astrof lab, Mike worked in the lab of Dr. Andrew South at Thomas Jefferson University, where he worked on a successful phase II clinical trial of the multi-pathway allosteric inhibitor, Rigosertib, in the treatment of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa-associated squamous cell carcinoma. In addition to his research, Mike has a strong passion for science and equal rights advocacy work, as he is an active member of the Science Policy and Advocacy at Rutgers (SPAR) organization. In his spare time, Mike enjoys playing the piano, working out, gaming, and spending time with his husband, Dr. Steven Meanley.