MEET THE TEAM

People

Allison Coffin, PhD

Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Creighton University

Meet the PI

“Science without communication is silent. Make some noise!”

Alli’s research examines the cellular mechanisms of hearing loss and works to develop preventative or restorative therapies. With a background in marine biology, she’s also interested in how endogenous factors like hormones and exogenous agents like aquatic toxicants impact fish sensory systems.

Alli completed her PhD in Biology at the University of Maryland, then conducted postdoctoral research at Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario, Canada) and the University of Washington in Seattle. She joined Washington State University Vancouver in 2012 as an assistant professor, then moved to Creighton University in 2024 to join the Bellucci Translational Hearing Center. Alli’s research has been funded by the NIH, NSF, and multiple foundations including the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, American Hearing Research Foundation, and American Otological Society.

A long-time Toastmaster and communication trainer, Alli is co-founder and President of the Association of Science Communicators (formerly Science Talk), a professional organization for the science communication community.

PEOPLE

Meet the Lab Members

  • Conor is interested in exploring the wide-ranging effects of drugs on the mind and body. While earning his B.S. in Psychology at Creighton University, he investigated the use of morphine and ketamine in combination to expand their therapeutic profile in rats.

    During graduate school, he examined withdrawal-induced anhedonia following methamphetamine use in adolescent- and adult-aged rats. These experiences deepened his curiosity about how pharmacological interventions shape behavior and physiology.

    Currently, Conor is contributing to an NIH-funded project studying ototoxic effects of COVID-19 therapies using computational modeling and in vivo models. His work focuses on understanding drug-induced damage and exploring ways to reduce these effects while maintaining therapeutic benefits. Outside the lab, Conor enjoys sports, watching movies, hiking with his dog, fishing, and working on cars.

Conor Strumberger

Research Technician

Research Interests: Effects of drugs on the mind and body, pharmacological interventions, drug-induced damage, ototoxic effects of COVID-19 therapies

  • Jon's scientific interests are focused on neural regeneration and plasticity, particularly in injury and developmental contexts. He shifted from psychology to neuroscience and molecular biology thanks to an internship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he worked with carcinogenic mutations in human cell lines.

    As an undergraduate and later a graduate student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Jon investigated the regeneration of peripheral nerves of the gustatory system, alterations to fungiform papillae morphology as a result of nerve injury, and assisted in researching the dynamics of glia cells in the central nervous system.

    Today, Jon is part of a project at Creighton University, studying the ototoxic effects of COVID-19 drug treatments and the role such therapies can play in hearing loss.

    When he isn't doing science, Jon is a big fan of tabletop board games, a certified SCUBA diver, and a scale modeling enthusiast.

Jonathan Hollingsworth

Research Technician

Research Interests: Neural regeneration and plasticity, peripheral nerve regeneration, glial cell dynamics, ototoxic effects of COVID-19 drug treatments

  • My scientific journey began with a profound interest in the relationship between biology and medicine. I hold a master’s degree in medical microbiology, establishing the groundwork for my research career. In my academic and professional endeavors, I investigated the efficacy of single-cell and DNA sequencing technologies in oncological screening. Throughout the years, I have cultivated a keen interest in elucidating the mechanisms of ototoxicity utilizing zebrafish as a model organism.

    I am dedicated to developing AI-based technologies to help drug developers and researchers predict the ototoxic potential of new drugs. I believe that integrating artificial intelligence with biological insights can revolutionize our ability to assess drug safety and efficacy, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Investigating how the ear and gut microbiota contributes to ototoxicity is going to be a focal point of my research in future.

    Through these endeavors, I hope to contribute to a better understanding of the genetic and microbiota-related factors involved in ototoxicity, fostering advancements that benefit both science and medicine. This passion for discovery and innovation drives my work every day, and I am excited about the prospects.

Sneha Pradhan

MS Student

Research Interests: Ototoxicity mechanisms, AI-based drug safety prediction, ear and gut microbiota’s role in ototoxicity

  • Coming Soon

  • Isabella is interested in exploring the effects of exogenous GABA on hair cells in the larval zebrafish lateral line, specifically regarding its impact on synaptic morphology and colocalization.

    In addition to research, she is passionate about promoting an understanding of neuroscience and the importance of preserving auditory health through community outreach.

Noel Smith

Research Associate

Research Interests: Effect of inhibition of auditory synapses, computational tools for

Isabella Moreno Stedman

Research Associate

Research Interests: Effects of exogenous GABA on hair cells, synaptic morphology, auditory health education and outreach

  • Lauren joined the Creighton Translational Hearing Center as a Bellucci Fellow in 2024 to pursue her PhD. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 2020 from California State University San Marcos after which she worked as a lab assistant at Johnson & Johnson. After deciding the industry route wasn’t for her, she re-entered academia as a research assistant at the University of California San Diego in the lab of Dr. Uri Manor, where she studied possible drug treatments for sensorineural hearing loss. This position strengthened her resolve to earn a PhD, which led her to Creighton University.

    In the Coffin lab she is developing a project to investigate the role of estrogen in the auditory system. Outside of the lab, Lauren enjoys spending time at home with her pets, exploring coffee shops, thrifting, and collecting vintage books.

  • Jenna is a senior studying Biology and Spanish on the pre-med track. In her free time, she enjoys thrifting, listening to music, working out, and trying new coffee shops with friends. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school and become a pediatrician.

  • Noah's interest in research began after taking organic chemistry, where he became fascinated by synthetic chemistry and its real-world applications in pharmaceuticals. Noah previously worked in the Skaggs College of Pharmacy at the University of Arizona, synthesizing various tetrazine molecules for light-controlled click reactions, with potential applications in cancer drug delivery systems. 

    After transferring to Creighton, Noah wanted to continue research involving drugs with a more physiological focus on how they affect the body, both intentionally and unintentionally, which is what led to the Coffin lab. He is majoring in biochemistry and Spanish.

    Outside of the lab, Noah is a runner for Creighton's Cross Country and Track teams, and his hobbies include fishing, cooking, and spending time with his family. 

  • Yehonatan is originally from Israel and has a strong interest in neurobiology, particularly in the field of neuropsychology. He is fascinated by how environmental factors influence human behavior, decision-making, and the development of neurological conditions over time. Yehonatan previously conducted research at the University of Ariel, where he worked on targeting breast tumors with chemotherapy enhanced by peptide conjugation. This work focused on accelerating cancer cell death through peptide-drug interactions. He plans to pursue a PhD in neuroscience and contribute to a deeper understanding of the brain and behavior.

Lauren Sullivan

PhD student

Research Interests: hormonal modulation of inner ear structure and function

Jenna Que-Anh Bui

Undergraduate student, Creighton University

Research Interests: drug-induced hearing loss

Noah Jodon

Undergraduate student, Creighton University

Research Interests: drug-induced hearing loss

Yehonatan Tammam

Undergraduate student, Midland University

Research Interests: mechanisms of sensorineural hearing loss, machine learning

LIFE IN THE COFFIN LAB

Hear from Our Lab Members

  • "I have enjoyed every minute of my experience in the Coffin Lab. You have taught me so much, not only about science, but life! I am eternally grateful for the inspiration and opportunities you have provided me and the other undergrads."

    Bella Williams
    Undergraduate, WSU

  • "I’m so grateful that you accepted me into your lab. I wouldn’t be the person am I without your support and mentoring. You have treated me with such respect and seen so much potential in me. I appreciate all you’ve done for me and the lab. You’re an inspiration and it’s so encouraging to be in your presence."

    Leila Farbod
    Undergraduate, WSU

  • "Thank you so much for all of your mentorship so far. You’ve been an important part of my degree and career. You’ve taught me so much and put me in the position to learn so much more. You have definitely set the bar high for a work environment and boss."

    Isabella Moreno Stedman
    Research Technician, WSU

  • "Working under your guidance has been so rewarding and this is my favorite job by far! Thank you for the incredible opportunity to be part of your lab and for trusting me to lead a project. I’ve made friends here that I’ll cherish for years to come, and I owe that to the environment you’ve fostered – a place of inclusivity, respect, and encouragement."

    Sabrina Koh
    Lab Manager, WSU

  • "Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity to work with you and to have you as a mentor."

    Mariana Lopes Soares Llama
    Undergraduate, WSU

EXPLORE MORE

Curious about the Coffin Lab?

See where it can take you.

Coffin Lab Alumni

Meet our past lab members and see where they are now!

Lab Alumni

Join The Lab

Learn how to become part of the Lab and start your research journey.

Join the Lab