Team
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.
- Staff
- Adjunct Assistant Professors, Postdoctoral Fellows
- Doctoral Students
- Master Students
- Volunteers, Undergrad, Directed Research
Current Staff
John Brigham, MILS
Heart Library Curator
[email protected]
Kara Heinle, BBA, MA
Lab Coordinator
612-624-3959
[email protected]
Rachel Larson, BA, RDCS
Researcher 1
[email protected]
Samantha Niehaus
Researcher 1
[email protected]
Weston Upchurch, MS
Researcher 3
612-626-3956
[email protected]
Gary Williams, BCpE
Applications Programmer
612-624-3161
[email protected]
Extended Staff
Erik Donley
Madeline Wethington
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]
Emma Schaffer, MD
[email protected]
Michael Bielecki
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
[email protected]
David Buyck
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
[email protected]
Amanda DeVos
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
[email protected]
Neal Duong
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
[email protected]
Kayla Molina
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
[email protected]
Ryan Nadybal
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
[email protected]
Weston Upchurch
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
612-626-3956
[email protected]
James Villar-Mead
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
[email protected]
Noe Bazan
Robotics
[email protected]
Erika Casal
Biomedical Engineering
[email protected]
Anders Torp
Mechanical Engineering
[email protected]
Audrey Wethington
Biological Sciences
[email protected]
Michelle Brubaker
ATP-Bio REU
[email protected]
Jack Burt
Medical Student
[email protected]
Alexander Gherciuc
Biochemistry
[email protected]
Victoria Laberge
Hispanic Studies and Pre-Medicine
[email protected]
Cindy Li
Human Physiology
[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