Principal Investigator

I was born in Nebraska, but mostly grew up in upstate New York. I completed my BS in Biochemistry at the University of Vermont in 2011, PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UCSF in 2016, and postdoctoral fellowship at UT Austin in 2022. I am currently passionate about studying the adult cycling uterus, and how uterine cells and tissues change their shape and behavior across the estrous cycle in rodents, and the menstrual cycle in humans. I've been privileged to have incredible mentors throughout my career, and the most critical part of my current role is to pass that mentorship forward to the best of my ability.

Outside of the lab, I love baking, cooking, reading, and teaching my two dogs and cat new tricks.

Postdoctoral Researcher

After my five-year service in the United States Marine Corps as a cryogenic technician, I attended Iowa State University to obtain my bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. During my time at Iowa State University, I assisted a graduate student, Tibebe A Teklemariam, in Dr. Scott Nelson's lab identifying notable inhibition sites of the Mre11/Rad50 (MR) complex (DNA repair enzyme).

During my graduate studies at Washington State University and the University of Missouri-Columbia I became adept in systems biology, with a specific focus on the oviduct during pre-implantation development. Dr. Wipawee Winuthayanon and I integrated 3 independent bioinformatic techniques (bulk-RNA sequencing, single-cell sequencing, proteomics (LC-MS/MS)) to establish a large public database elucidating adaptive responses in the oviduct during fertilization and pre-implantation development over 4 sequential days.

I am excited for my next opportunity as a Postdoctoral researcher to study uterine remodeling with Dr. Elle Roberson!

Outside of the lab I enjoy gaming, reading, scheming science, listening to music and exercise. 

ryan.finnerty@cuanschutz.edu

Graduate Student - MSTP/CSD

Ashlyn was born in New Jersey, but only spent a month there before growing up in Colorado - she considers herself a native. She attended the University of South Alabama and graduated with a B.S. in Mathematics and Statistics and a B.S. in Biology in 2020. During her time in Mobile, AL, Ashlyn worked in the lab of Dr. Glen Borchert, where she discovered a love of research and completed an honors thesis focused on the role of snoRNA-derived microRNA in prostate cancer. This love of research led her to pursue an MD/PhD dual-degree, and she was very excited to return “home” to CU Anschutz in 2020. In her first 3 years of medical school, Ashlyn discovered a passion for women’s health, and so, following a year and a half of research in tRNA biology, she is excited to continue her PhD in the Roberson lab and further scientific understanding of cell signaling in the endometrium. 

She plans to continue this passion in the future by becoming an OB/Gyn and integrating the most up to date research in her medical practice. Ashlyn’s hobbies include knitting, baking, skiing, and training her dog, Penne, with her partner, Michael.

ashlyn.stahly@cuanschutz.edu

Graduate Student - IPHY

Natalia was born and raised in Bloomington, Minnesota. She attended the University of Iowa for her undergraduate studies and completed her B.S. in Human Physiology in 2023. During her time, she joined Dr. Erin Talbert’s lab and completed an honors thesis highlighting sexual dimorphisms in a pancreatic cancer-induced cachexia model. After graduating, she joined Dr. Andrea Bonetto’s lab as a PRA at CU Anschutz, continuing study cancer cachexia. There, she characterized an ovarian cancer cachexia model and studied the role of tumor-derived RANKL on skeletal muscle and bone loss in vitro and in vivo. While having a strong interest in muscle physiology, she became intrigued in female endocrinology and reproductive physiology.

Currently, she is PhD student in the Integrated Physiology Program at CU Anschutz and is excited to study myometrial signaling and function throughout the estrous cycle and pregnancy. Outside of lab, Natalia loves to hike, run, and rock climb!

natalia.weinzierl@cuanschutz.edu

Graduate Student - CSD

Emily grew up in Southern California and earned her B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and M.S. in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine from Cal Poly SLO. She has worked in academia and small biotech, studying plant genetics, biochemistry, oral vaccine development, cancer biology, and clinical chemistry. Most recently, she spent the last four years working at CU Anschutz in the Department of Pediatrics, division of Hematology/Oncology in Dr. Chris Ng’s lab studying vascular and endothelial cell biology in the context of the inherited bleeding disorder von Willebrand Disease. Emily is now pursuing her PhD from Anschutz in the Cell Biology, Stem Cells, and Development program. As a rotation student in the Roberson Lab, Emily hopes to gain new insight into the vasculature and endothelial signaling of the uterus through spatial transcriptomics and hopes to learn more about microvascular/perivascular cell signaling in this dynamic tissue. Outside of the lab, you will find Emily playing with her two children, at the gym, attending live music events, skiing, or dancing.