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Student Research Assistant

Jaeden Calton born in Sacramento, California is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Arizona who is majoring in Physiology. Showing large interests in several branches of medicine, Jaeden hopes to one day attend medical school. His current position includes lab procedures focusing on human rhinovirus and CFTR mutation. In his spare time, Jaeden enjoys fly fishing and watching sports games with his friends.

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Clinical Research Coordinator

Trina comes to the Chang lab after more than 18 years of research. The last 5 years of her research focused on the genetic mutation that causes arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D). ARVC/D is caused by defects in the heart muscle, more specifically, areas on the surface of the heart muscle that link heart cells together. Her current research in the Chang lab is focused on clinical outcomes in nasal and sinus disorders, and assists the lab by consenting patients for research, and collecting nasal samples. Her research will help the Chang lab understand the underlying mechanisms of cystic fibrosis and upper airway disease. When Trina is not working, she enjoys learning how to play the washboard with her folk sing-along grouping and doting on her GSP SigLinda. 

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Assistant Scientific Investigator, Lab Manager

Amanda Jenkins is an Arizona native. She graduated with her B.S. from the University of Arizona (2005) with a double major in molecular & cellular biology and biochemistry. During this time she worked in the Dept. of Pharmacology & Toxicology studying mechanisms which effect embryotic heart valve development. Following graduation she accepted a position in the Breast and Ovarian Cancer research unit at TGen (Phoenix, AZ) where she worked for 4 years and obtained her M.S. in molecular & cellular biology through Arizona State University (2009). She then moved to Ann Arbor, MI and worked for 3 years as a researcher and lab manager at the University of Michigan. Her research there focused on mechanisms for how cells invade and migrate through the body using in vitro and chick chorioallantoic membrane model systems. After that Amanda and her husband relocated to Trieste, Italy for 2 years where their daughter was born. Upon their return to Arizona Amanda joined the Chang Lab (February, 2015). Her research focuses on how underlying genetic factors, viral infections, and microbiome composition all interact to drive in the development of chronic sinus disease. When not in the lab she enjoys spending time with her daughter, craft beers, comic books and hiking.

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Student Research Assistant

Sean Kent is a 4th year medical student at the University of Arizona. He grew up in Mesa, AZ, and graduated from BYU in 2011 with a BA in Spanish and a minor in Korean. His research interests include the sinus microbiome as well as genetic markers that influence the development of chronic rhinosinusitis.  In addition to spending time with his wife and two kids, he enjoys hiking, skiing, and gardening.

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Research Lab Technician

Marianne Kim was originally born in Torrance, California and grew up in Chandler, Arizona. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 2018 with a B.S. in molecular cellular biology and nutritional sciences. During this time, she worked in Dr. Kwang-chul Kim's lab a under the guidance of Dr. Kosuke Kato, supporting his research in the biological role of airway mucins in acute and chronic rrespiratory disease. She is currently working in the Chang lab and assisting in research involving chronis sinus diseas with in vivo and in vitro models. When not in lab, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies, and hiking. 

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Clinical Research Coordinator

Ray Lee was born in South Korea but was mostly raised in Bay Area, California till 2015. After moving to Arizona to attend University of Arizona for BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Cellular Biology, he has worked in an analytical chemistry research lab developing assays for intracellular measurement of miniscule concentrations of molecules. His current research roles within the Chang Lab include working as clinical research coordinator for Dr. Chang’s ENT clinic and managing the medical database. When he is not in lab, Ray is most likely playing golf or at the gym.

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Postdoctoral Research Associate III

George Noutsios was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece, has a BSc in Chemistry (2004), a MSc in Biochemistry (2006) and a PhD in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology (2009) from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. His dissertation focused on immobilization of antigenic biomolecules in bio-polymeric substrates for detection and diagnosis of endemic Brucella melitensis biotypes. In 2011 he came to USA to pursue his career in lung diseases research. During his postdoc at Penn State Hershey Medical Center (2011-2016) he studied the role of cis-acting elements and trans-acting factors on splicing and translation of the pulmonary surfactant protein A, and he identified 14-3-3 isoforms and microRNAs as potential therapeutic regulatory molecules in lung diseases. He recently joined the Chang Lab and he is involved in a collaborate effort to unveil the primary mechanisms of chronic sinusitis in upper airway diseases utilizing in vivo and in vitro air-liquid interface models. In his spare time, George enjoys traveling, working out at the gym, trying good food and craft beer.

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Research Specialist

Cynthia Thompson born in Georgia, graduated from Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ) BS in Health Sciences with a minor in Anthropology.  She has 2 years of experience in clinical research coordination at the University of Arizona.  Her current position consists of consenting subjects for research projects, collecting samples, building data repositories, data collection and data entry.  She is married with three children.   In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and cooking.