Current Members
Our Labs
Dr. Paul A. Iaizzo has been at the University of Minnesota since 1990, performing research and teaching graduate and undergraduate courses. In 1997, Dr. Iaizzo and his coworkers began working on large mammalian isolated heart models, and thus the Visible Heart® Laboratories (VHL) were created in collaboration with Medtronic. Today, these labs are a premiere place to perform translational systems physiology research which ranges from cellular and tissue studies to organ and whole body investigations. The VHL embodies a creative atmosphere which is energized by some of the best and brightest students at the University. Our lab staff has over 100 years of collective research experience and functions as a highly efficient and productive team.

Javier Navarro Rueda, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
Current Staff

John Brigham, MILS
Heart Library Curator
[email protected]
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Kara Heinle, BBA, MA
Lab Coordinator
612-624-3959
[email protected]
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Rachel Larson, BA, RDCS
Researcher 1
[email protected]

Samantha Niehaus, BS
Researcher 1
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Weston Upchurch, MS
Researcher 3
612-626-3956
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Gary Williams, BCpE
Applications Programmer
612-624-3161
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Extended Staff

Erik Donley

Madeline Wethington, MS
[email protected]
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Adjunct Assistant Professors

Michael Eggen, PhD
Sr. Research Manager- Cardiac Implantables Research and Technology, Medtronic

Alexander Hill, PhD
Sr Product Development Program Director at Medtronic

Timothy Laske, PhD
Vice President of Research and Business Development - Medtronic AF Solutions

Nicholas Skadsberg, PhD
Sr. Commercial Marketing Director - Brady at Medtronic
Postdoctoral Fellows

Kevin Muneton, MD
[email protected]
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Emma Schaffer, MD
[email protected]
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Doctoral Students

Michael Bielecki
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
[email protected]
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David Buyck
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
[email protected]
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Amanda DeVos
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
[email protected]
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Neal Duong
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
[email protected]
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Kayla Molina
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
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Ryan Nadybal
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
[email protected]
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Weston Upchurch
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
612-626-3956
[email protected]
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James Villar-Mead
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
[email protected]
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Master Students

Noe Bazan
Robotics
[email protected]
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Erika Casal
Biomedical Engineering
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Shivangi Pandey
Mechanical Engineering
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Anders Torp
Mechanical Engineering
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Audrey Wethington
Biological Sciences
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Medical Students

Nevin Gupta
Medical Student
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Undergraduate Students

Michelle Brubaker
NSF ATP-Bio REU
[email protected]

Jordan Erickson
Human Physiology
[email protected]

Alexander Gherciuc
Biochemistry
[email protected]

Taylor Isabel
Biomedical Engineering
[email protected]

Abigail Theis
Human Physiology
[email protected]

Kaw Zan
Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
[email protected]

Paul A. Iaizzo, PhD, FHRS, FIEEE
Director, Visible Heart® Laboratories
Professor, Dept. of Surgery
612-624-7912