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
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Conor is a PhD student in Biomedical Sciences at Creighton University interested in understanding why some sensory hair cells are more vulnerable to damage than others. His research uses the zebrafish lateral line to investigate how hair cell age influences sensory function, synaptic activity, and susceptibility to injury. Through this work, he hopes to identify cellular processes that could be targeted to protect hearing and balance.
Conor earned his B.S. in Psychology at Creighton University, where he studied the combined effects of morphine and ketamine in rats. During subsequent graduate training, he investigated withdrawal-induced anhedonia following methamphetamine use in adolescent and adult rats. These experiences shaped his interest in how drugs affect behavior and physiology, which he now applies to understanding sensory hair cell function and damage.
Outside the lab, Conor enjoys sports, watching movies, hiking with his dog, fishing, and working on cars.
Conor Strumberger
PhD Student
Research Interests: Hair cell aging, sensory function, ototoxicity, and mechanisms of vulnerability and resilience.
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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
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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
Master’s Student
Research Interests: Ototoxicity mechanisms, AI-based drug safety prediction, ear and gut microbiota’s role in ototoxicity
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Coming Soon
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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.
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Dawn became interested in research during her undergrad at Texas A&M University, where she studied the brain circuitry involved in anxious and avoidant behaviors in rats. After earning her B.S. in Neuroscience in 2023, she worked as a lab technician at Baylor College of Medicine. There, she investigated the genetic risk factors influencing auto-resuscitation failures in a mouse model of SIDS.
In the Coffin lab, Dawn is studying the transcriptomic and molecular changes that contribute to age-related hearing loss in zebrafish. In her free time, she hangs out with her cat, listens to local bands and DJs around Omaha, and plays video games.
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Faith is a junior studying biology on the pre-medicine track with the intention to practice maternal/fetal medicine. Her love for science stems from growing up on a swine farm in eastern South Dakota where she got to observe how it plays a role in everyday life. On campus, Faith is involved in the Honors Program, Medical Pre-Professional Scholars, sorority life, Social FelIows, and Women’s Health Club, along with other leadership, teaching, and mentorship roles. In her free time, Faith enjoys baking, reading, working as a CMA, and spending time with friends.
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Rhys is a junior from Fort Collins, Colorado, studying biology, with the eventual goal of pursuing a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery. His passion for science stems from his experiences at Colorado State University’s Translational Medicine Institute, where he gained firsthand exposure to the intersection of scientific research and clinical applications. On campus, Rhys is a member of the Creighton Track and Field Team, SAAC, as well as being involved with community outreach via the SAVE Program and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands. In his free time, Rhys enjoys skiing, running, being in the mountains, and spending time with dogs.
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Ava is a freshman studying biology on the pre-medicine track. Her favorite way to spend her free time is taking walks and playing pickleball, tennis, and volleyball. She also enjoys playing with her dogs, shopping, and trying new fun drinks at local coffee shops.
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
Dawn Ho
PhD Student
Research Interests: Age-related hearing loss, bioinformatics, regeneration of auditory sensory cells
Faith Genzlinger
Undergraduate Student, Creighton University
Research Interests: Drug induced hearing loss
Rhys Cushman
Undergraduate Student, Creighton University
Research Interests: Drug induced hearing loss
Ava Underberg
Undergraduate Student, Creighton University
Research Interests: Drug induced hearing loss
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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 and husband, exploring coffee shops, thrifting, and collecting vintage books.
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At Creighton, Jenna studied Biology and Spanish on the pre-med track. She is now applying to medical school in hopes of specializing in pediatrics. In her free time, she enjoys thrifting, listening to music, working out, and trying new coffee shops with friends.
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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 majored in biochemistry and Spanish and is now pursuing a master’s degree before attending medical school.
Outside of the lab, Noah ran for Creighton's Cross Country and Track teams, and his hobbies include fishing, cooking, and spending time with his family.
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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
Post-Baccalaureate, Creighton University
Research Interests: Drug-induced hearing loss
Noah Jodon
Master’s student, Creighton University
Research Interests: Drug-induced hearing loss
Yehonatan Tammam
Undergraduate student, Midland University
Research Interests: mechanisms of sensorineural hearing loss, machine learning
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