Our Research Focus
We are interested in host-pathogen interactions following infection with Listeria monocytogenes and Francisella tularensis
The Radoshevich lab opened its doors in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa in December of 2017. In 2023 we relocated to National Jewish Health in Denver.
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We use label-free quantitative proteomics to map targets of understudied ubiquitin-like proteins (UBLs) in order to determine the consequences of modification on target proteins. UBLs can act as the first line of defense against invading intracellular pathogens. In turn, pathogens secrete virulence factors which can hijack and thwart host defense pathways. Thus, by studying the interplay ex vivo in cells and in vivo in mouse models, we can learn about fundamental facets of biology of both the pathogen and host.
The Team
We are broadly interested in cellular microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, and proteomics. We seek to create a supportive and creative environment for researchers from all backgrounds to pursue their scientific interests and career goals.
Lilliana Radoshevich, PhD
Associate Professor and Principal Investigator
Dr. Radoshevich has been fascinated by ubiquitin-like proteins and host-pathogen interactions since her graduate work. She pursued her PhD at UCSF in the Debnath laboratory, her postdoctoral fellowship at the Pasteur Institute in the Cossart Laboratory, and recruited a vibrant team of young researchers as an Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa. She is excited about Rad lab 2.0 in her home state of Colorado at National Jewish Health in Denver in the Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine.
Anthony Rojas-Chávez, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Rojas Chávez, originally from Peru, has a background in bioinformatics and molecular biology. He earned his PhD at the University of Iowa in the Haim Lab, where he studied the evolutionary pressures against HIV-1 Env and developed computational models to predict mutation emergence within the spike of SARS-CoV-2 and identify if HIV-1 variants within a patient would be sensitive or resistant to agents that target Env. Currently, as a postdoctoral fellow at National Jewish Health in the Radoshevich Lab, he is applying his computational biology skills to proteomics, with a focus on identifying novel disease biomarkers. Outside of research, he can often be found around Denver, attempting (and usually failing) to fish with his wife, Olga.
John Patterson, MS
Senior Research Scientist
Johnathan Patterson is a Microbiology MS graduate from Colorado State University. From a young age John has always been intrigued by the ability to visualize the unseen world of microbiology. With over a decade of experience in imaging/image analysis, John has made the microscope his tool of choice. He is honored to be a part of Rad Lab 2.0 at National Jewish Health, and enthusiastic about the potential to make new discoveries.
Jake Miller
Research Scientist
Jake earned his B.S. in Biochemistry and minored in Mathematics at West Virginia University. Here he grew an interest in better understanding structure and function of proteins and how aberrations can have large downstream physiological impacts. Following his undergraduate education he began working in Dr. Bradley Webb’s laboratory a part of the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at West Virginia University. Here he studied the role of the glycolytic enzyme PFK-1 in cancer cells, focusing on the importance of structure and function alterations and the impact to cellular metabolism. After moving to Denver he began working in third party testing laboratories as an analytical chemist in environmental and cannabis testing. After several years as an analytical chemist he transitioned back to the biological sciences working in the Complement Testing Laboratory at National Jewish Health. Following his time in industry he joined the Radoshevich laboratory to re-start his career in biological research.
Vidia Ramadin
Research Scientist
Vidia Ramadin has received her BS in biology from Hofstra University and is currently working on her Masters in Integrative Biology at Hofstra University. She has spent the last 6 years developing her skills as a molecular biologist, leading to performance recognition and the ability to present her work at various conferences. As a student she was inspired by each new discovery she made in the classroom and in the lab working on multiple projects with C. elegans as the model organism. Prior to moving to Denver, she lived in sunny San Diego working in the neuroscience department at the University of California, San Diego working on various protein purification projects to identify the structure of the protein through crystallography. While at UCSD, she aided in crystallography screens of purified fluorescent proteins such as iSeroSnFR and successfully harvested and purified HRV3C protease for the lab members to use. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis and exploring her creative side with hands on projects such as crocheting.
Recent alumni
Brittany Ripley-Dajles, PhD
Former Post-doctoral Fellow
Dr. Ripley completed her PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Iowa in 2020. In the laboratory, she initiated a DEEPN-screen to map non-covalent ISG15 interactors in collaboration with the Piper laboratory. She also spear-headed several structural biology projects on bacterial and host proteins, which are in preparation for publication. In December of 2023 she left the lab to be a fields operation specialist for BioRad.
Yifeng Zhang, PhD
Former Graduate Student
Yifeng (she/they) defended their PhD in June of 2023. Yifeng authored projects employing our new method to map the ISGylome and leveraged it to determine how ISGylation affects autophagy (Zhang et al. Nature Communications 2019) and dissected how ISG15-Arp3 slows actin nucleation (Zhang et al. BioRxiv). They recently started their postdoctoral fellowship at Duke co-mentored by Dr. Jörn Coers and by Dr. Carolyn Coyne.
Emma Luhmann
Former Lab Manager
Emma Luhmann got her BA at Grinnell College in Biology and French, then moved to Iowa City to start as a post-baccalaureate fellow in the Radoshevich laboratory. She quickly rose through the ranks to become our mass spectrometry specialist and lab manager. She is currently pursuing her PhD in the laboratory of Dr. Kevin Campbell at the University of Iowa.
Ellen Upton, PhD
Former Graduate Student
Ellen hails from Pennsylvania and moved to Iowa City for her graduate studies in Immunology in 2018. She initiated the laboratory's first foray into Francisella infection and characterized how enhanced ISGylation protects from respiratory distress. She graduated from the Immunology Program in 2024 and is currently a science policy fellow in the Idaho State Legislature.
Laboratory Alumni
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Research Scientists:
Aaron Gillman, PhD, October 2023 - Haim laboratory
Srijit Das, PhD, July 2023 - Driscoll Laboratory, Rutgers
Emma Luhmann, July 2023 - Graduate Student University of Iowa, Physiology
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Post-doctoral Fellows:
Brittany Ripley-Dajles, PhD, December 2023 - Field Application Scientist, BioRad
Graduate students:
Orane Pion-Piola, MS July 2024 - ENS, Paris Doctoral Student
Ellen Upton, PhD June 2024 - Science Policy Fellow Idaho Legislature
Yifeng Zhang, PhD July 2023 - Postdoctoral Fellow Duke University
Ryan Callahan, MS 2020 - Scientist Zoetis
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Post-baccalaureate Fellows:
Alfredo Colina, PhD Candidate, Medical College of Wisconsin
Madeleine Vessely, Phd Candidate, Northwestern University
University of Iowa, Undergraduate students:
Audrey Hake, UI Class of 2025, University of Iowa
Joey Kesteloot, UI Class of 2023, EMT
Barbara Badovinac, UI Class of 2020, Carver College of Medicine M4
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Summer REU students:
Jasmine McKeel, Microbiology REU 2023, Mount Mercy
Natalia Estrada, Microbiology REU 2022, Graduate student UTSA
Hope Harrington, REU 2022, Grinnell College
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