Principal Investigator
Dr. Damien Callahan
Originally from Kinderhook, NY Damien completed his Ph.D. in Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2011 where he studied age-related differences in muscle activation, metabolism and fatigue. Thereafter, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Mike Toth at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. He started at the University of Oregon in 2017, starting the Muscle Cellular Biology Laboratory shortly after. Dr. Callahan is interested in the role of muscle plasticity on clinical rehabilitation outcomes and the links between intracellular metabolic function and muscle contractile performance. When Damien’s not in the lab, he stays busy pedaling his bike up and down the hills of Eugene, often towing his triplet daughters and chasing his dynomo of a son.
Graduate Students
Austin Ricci
Austin is originally from Santa Barbara, CA but has called Eugene home since 2015. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in the Human Physiology department at the UO, while volunteering in the Muscle Cellular Biology Lab. Austin has continued his passion for muscle research by pursuing a PhD in our lab. Currently in his 6th year, he is interested in the role that aging and hormones play in muscle performance. When not in the lab, Austin spends his time with family by taking his daughter to parks, playing fetch with his dog, and enjoying a quiet night of reading with his wife. When he needs added stress to his life, Austin enjoys watching his favorite sports teams (Dodgers, Lakers, Dolphins, and Ducks)!
Julissa Ortiz-Delatorre
Originally from the California Central Coast, Julissa moved to the Bay Area where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Kinesiology at San Francisco State University. As a second-year doctoral student in the Muscle Cellular Biology Lab, she is interested in investigating the effects of sex hormones and aging on skeletal muscle mechanics and the mechanisms that may mediate these changes. Outside of the lab Julissa enjoys weightlifting, hiking, reading, and (sometimes) binging TV shows.
Rishi Gulati
Rishi came to Eugene from Minneapolis, MN, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Cellular and Organismal Physiology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. He is currently beginning his 1st year and is interested in how sex hormones and their downstream signals work to influence muscle contractile function. Outside of research, Rishi enjoys trail running and exploring the local brewery scene.
Damilare Adebayo
Dami is from Nigeria. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Human Physiology from the Federal University of Technology (FUTA) and the University of Lagos (Unilag), respectively. Currently, she is a first-year graduate student interested in exploring the loss of muscle contractile function and strength with age, its prevalence, and the role of disuse in accelerating this condition. Outside of her studies, Dami loves cooking local dishes and enjoys watching Netflix.
Laboratory Manager
Karen Wiedenfeld Needham
Karen is originally from Ambler, PA. Before joining MCBL, she participated in a wide variety of research projects, including whether the Yucca Mountain environment will corrode proposed nuclear waste cannisters, the structures and binding kinetics of cytoskeletal proteins, the etiology and potential interventions for preeclampsia, the role of histamine in post-exercise hypotension, and the cardiovascular benefits of heat therapy. A true master of all trades, she also spent four years operating a bed and breakfast in the El Yunque rainforest in Puerto Rico. In her spare time, she enjoys working in the yard, baking, traveling, reading, and spending time outdoors.
If you’re interested in learning more about joining the Muscle Cellular Biology Laboratory, send Dr. Callahan an e-mail
. Potential graduate students can apply to the Human Physiology major at the University of Oregon.
