Lab Members
Samir Softic, MD
samir.softic@uky.eduFor educational experiences and training please see PI bio, College of Medicine profile, or UK HealthCare profile.
I enjoy spending time with my family. Norah and I have two children Leila and Arif and two dogs Lexi (Cocker Spaniel) and Lufty (Miniature Poodle). Arif has interests in many sports and Laila loves Disney princesses. If I start talking about these two topics, now you know why. I also enjoy traveling, gardening, and fixing things around the house.
Sehyung Park, PhD
Research Scientist II sh.park@uky.edu
I graduated from Chungbuk National University in South Korea with Bachelor Degree and a Master of Science degree in Veterinary Medicine. I received a Ph.D. in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences from the University of British Columbia in Canada. Prior to joining the Softic lab as a scientist/lab manager in 2019, I worked as a post-doctoral research fellow in Dr. Peter Zhou lab and Dr. Changcheng Zhou lab at the University of Kentucky.
During my leisure time, I enjoy going to concerts, camping outdoors, and fishing with my family on weekends.
Robert (Nate) Helsley, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow robert.helsley@uky.edu
I graduated from Miami University (OH) in 2011 with my Bachelors of Science in Zoology. From there, I pursued my PhD in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Kentucky (defended in 2016) under the guidance of Changcheng Zhou. From 2016-2017, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in the laboratory of Dr. J. Mark Brown. After a few years of serving as a Clinical Trial Manager in Industry and Academia, I moved back to Lexington to further pursue a career in academics.
I thoroughly enjoy the outdoors (fishing, hiking), sports, and hanging out with friends and family.
Taghreed Fadhul
PhD Student in Nutritional Sciences tfa235@uky.edu
I graduated from Umm Al Qura University in Makkah, Saudi Arabia with a Bachelor’s Degree in General Nutrition. Subsequently, I have obtained a Master of Public Health degree in Nutrition from the University of Toledo, Ohio, USA. Currently, I am working towards receiving my PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Kentucky. I joined Dr. Softic’s lab in the Spring Semester 2021.
During my leisure time, I enjoy reading, traveling, and going out with my family.
Mustafa Kutlu Inci
Medical Student
I am currently a student of medicine at Sanko University in Turkey.
I was a student in Dr. Softic Lab for two summers. First year I was in his lab at Harvard Medical School. I greatly enjoyed my experience and I returned to his lab for the second year, this time at the University of Kentucky. I am extremely grateful for these experiences as I wanted to become a physician scientist since young age. Doctor Softic has been a great role model for me. I appreciate his ongoing mentoring.
Currently, I am finishing the last year of my medical school training and studying for USMLE. My long-term hope is to become a physician scientist and lead my own lab.
Callen Conroy
Medical Student callen.conroy@uky.edu
I graduated for Miami University (OH) with a bachelor’s of science in microbiology. I am currently a medical student at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. During my first year of medical school I studied liver organoid development at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center and developed an interest in hepatology. I joined the Softic lab to work on the clinical side of research and learn more about medicine in the field that I have come to love.
In my free time I like to play soccer, read, and eat pizza (deep dish, I’m from Chicago).
Berina Halilovic
Undergraduate student berina.halilovic@uky.edu
I am an undergraduate student at the University of Kentucky. I’m majoring in Biology on the pre-med track with hopes of going into medical school following undergraduate studies.
I initially shadowed Dr. Softic in the Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinic in March of 2020. Subsequently, I was offered a position in the lab in November of 2020.
In my free time, I enjoy going on hikes, traveling, and hanging out with my family and friends.
Francois Moreau, PhD
Co-Mentored with C. Ronald Kahn
I am a post-doctoral fellow in the lab of C. Ronald Kahn. I started working with Dr. Softic when he was at Joslin Diabetes Center. Together we are studying the effects of FGFR4 on bile acid signaling as it pertains to lipid accumulation and insulin resistance in the liver. My work on this project is funded in part through NORCH grant awarded to Dr. Softic. I am having bimonthly Zoom meetings with Dr. Softic.
Collaborators
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
I started working with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in 2014. My initial collaborator at Alnylam was Kevin Fitzgerald, PhD. Alnylam is making siRNA compounds for my research to target fructose metabolism in the liver.