Michael J. Zhang, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor (tenure track)

Link to clinical profile

Dr. Zhang grew up in San Diego, CA and went to the University of California, Los Angeles for his undergraduate studies in Microbiology and Immunology. He completed his medical and PhD training at the University of Louisville. His doctoral research focused on the role of omega-3 fatty acid-derived lipid mediators in diabetes-associated inflammation and vasculopathy. Dr. Zhang then completed his training in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease at the University of Minnesota through the Physician-Scientist Training Pathway. He underwent an additional year of advanced cardiovascular imaging training (CT/MRI) to enhance his clinical practice and research expertise with multi-modality cardiac imaging.

Esther Almeida

Administrator

Yuyong Xu, MBBS

Staff scientist

Yuyong Xu obtained a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Wuhan University School of Medicine. He has research experience in cardiovascular biology, with a focus on molecular and cellular techniques including PCR, qRT-PCR, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining. He has contributed to studies involving both human and animal models of cardiovascular disease. His technical strengths include histology, molecular biology, and fluorescence imaging.

Sergey Karachenets, BS

Medical student

Sergey Karachenets is a 4th year MD candidate at the University of Minnesota Medical School with a focus on intensive care and cardiology. His current projects explore anticoagulation management and validation of clinical tools to predict heparin‑induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in ECMO patients. Outside the lab he mentors junior students in point‑of‑care ultrasound and remains active in a community free‑clinic service.

Dylan J. Gyberg, BS

Medical student

Dylan Gyberg is a medical student at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a former Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Fellow. He plans to pursue a career in cardiology, with a clinical interest in cardiac electrophysiology. His research has focused on the role of atrial myopathy in the development of atrial fibrillation and heart failure, and on the discovery of potential therapeutic targets.

Jacob Terhaar

Undergraduate researcher

Jacob Terhaar is from Minnesota and is entering his 3rd year at the University of Minnesota majoring in Biology. His goal is to get into medical school and pursue a career in cardiology. He is getting his hands wet in the research lab to understand how new medical treatments are being developed. He is also shadowing doctors and volunteering at Woodwinds Hospital in Woodbury to attain more experience in the field.

Sebastian Torres, BS

Undergraduate researcher

Sebastian Torres is from Wisconsin and completed his bachelors in Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He currently works as an Emergency Medical Technician at Regions hospital and is a former undergraduate researcher at Mayo Clinic. Sebastian plans to pursue a career as a physician-scientist. He is currently applying to medical school, and is interested in translational research and molecular genetics.