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Associate Professor
Dr. Shook received a B.S. in Biology from Pennsylvania State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. As a New York Stem Cell Foundation – Druckenmiller Postdoctoral Fellow in the lab of Dr. Valerie Horsley at Yale University, he investigated tissue maintenance and repair in mammalian skin. His work revealed functional cellular heterogeneity within fibroblasts and macrophages in skin wound beds. Additionally, his work has identified distinct molecular interactions between skin-resident mesenchymal cells (adipocytes and fibroblasts) and immune cells that promote successful inflammation and repair after injury. He joined George Washington University’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine in 2019.
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Stephenie Droll
Postdoctoral Scientist
Stephenie graduated from Purdue University before spending two years at the NIH as a postboc researching GATA2 deficiency, a rare disease that causes immunodeficiency and AML She then earned her PhD in 2025 from Northwestern University, where she uncovered novel regulatory roles of a transcription factor and a chromatin remodeler in epidermal homeostasis. As a postdoc, she is excited to investigate immune and dermal components of skin biology. In her free time, Stephenie loves to swing dance, draw, paint, read/watch mysteries and play with her two cats.
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Sarah Kleb
Ph.D. Candidate
Sarah graduated with a B.S. in Biotechnology from Elizabethtown College in 2022. She is currently a Ph.D. student in the Institute of Biomedical Sciences on the Microbiology and Immunology track. Her research focuses on signaling mechanisms that support keratinocyte function during skin wound healing. Outside of the lab, Sarah enjoys going on walks and hikes with her dog and being on the water.
Gabriel Batzli
Ph.D. Student
Gabe graduated with a B.A. in Genetics from Rutgers University-New Brunswick and is currently a Ph.D. student in the Integrated Biomedical Sciences program. Before coming to GW, Gabe was a research technician in the lab of Dr. Krithika Lingappan at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is currently interested in understanding how changes in cell identity contribute to inflammation during acute wound healing. Outside of the lab, Gabe enjoys running, visiting museums, and attending concerts.
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Anna Kogut
Research Assistant
Anna graduated with a B.S. in Neuroscience from Dickinson College in 2021 with the goal to later apply to medical school. She worked as a medical assistant and clinical research assistant at a retina specialist for two years post-undergrad. Anna joined the Shook Lab in February 2024 to further explore her interest in pre-clinical research and learn more about the wound healing process. In her free time, Anna enjoys running and spending time with friends and family.
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Lab Alumni
Satish Noonepalle
Postdoctoral Scientist
Satish graduated from Augusta University in 2015 with a PhD in Biochemistry & Cancer Biology. Satish is an Assistant Professor - Research Track at Georgetown University.
Khatereh Khorsandi
Postdoctoral Scientist
Khatereh (Kate) has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Tehran. After leaving the lab, Kate joined Children's National as a Postdoctoral Scientist.
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Paula Cooper
Postdoctoral Scientist
Paula graduated from Purdue University. After leaving GW, she joined the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine.
Veronica Amuso
Ph.D. Candidate
Veronica earned her PhD in Spring of 2025.
Vu Nguyen
Master’s Student at GW
After graduating from GWU, Vu became a Flow Cytometrist at the NIH.
Najuma Babirye
Master’s Student at GW
After graduating from GWU, Najuma became a Research Associate II in Cell Bio R&D at Arcellx, Inc.
MaryEllen Haas
Research Assistant
MaryEllen graduated with a Biochemistry degree from Marymount University in 2020. She is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Darlene Nguyen
Research Assistant
Darlene graduated from Scripps College in 2019 with a bachelor's in Neuroscience. After leaving the lab, she entered a program at VCOM.
