Janane Rahbani, PhD
Principal Investigator
Dr. Rahbani received his master’s degree in chemistry from the American University of Beirut and his PhD in Chemical Biology from McGill University. He then joined the Kazak lab at the Goodman Cancer Institute for his postdoctoral fellowship, where he studied the molecular determinants of creatine metabolism in adipocyte thermogenesis. Dr. Rahbani is passionate about mentoring academic trainees and committed to fostering a culture of learning and development in his lab. Outside the lab, Janane loves cooking and discovering new cuisines, traveling, attending comedy shows and exploring the vibrant art scene of Chicago.
Youhua Liu, PhD.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Youhua obtained his Ph.D. in Animal Science from Zhejiang University, where he focused on investigating the impact of RNA modifications, including N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and C5-methylcytosine (m5C), on fat deposition and in the development of obesity. In our lab, he is particularly interested in studying Gαq signaling due to its critical role in regulating key metabolic pathways and energy balance, as well as its potential implications for addressing metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Outside of his research, Youhua enjoys traveling, cycling, and working out at the gym.
Minsu Song, BSc.
PhD. Candidate (CCB)
Minsu earned his Bachelor’s degree in Life Science from Handong Global University in South Korea, where he researched the role of macrophages in kidney fibrogenesis. He later joined Prof. Bonventre’s lab at Harvard Medical School, focusing on developing bioluminescent enzymatic probes for diagnosing acute kidney injury. In our lab, Minsu investigates the impact of dietary interventions on the development and treatment of acute leukemia. Outside of his research, he enjoys playing tennis and soccer.
Emmy Villella, BSc.
PhD. Candidate (CCB)
Originally from Florida, Emmy earned a BSc. from the University of South Florida and an M.S. in Microbiology from the University of Florida. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Cancer Biology at the University of Chicago, where she has developed a fascination with adipocytes and their central role in tumor metabolism. In the Rahbani Lab, Emmy is excited to integrate her interest in adipocyte biology with her passion for cancer research. She is particularly focused on understanding how adipokine signaling influences cancer in ways that could translate into new therapeutic approaches. Outside of research, Emmy’s other passion is her two dogs, Eevee and Ellie.
Raghav Bhardwaj, MSc.
PhD. Candidate (CMMN)
Raghav earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of California, San Diego, and conducted his thesis research at the Salk Institute, where he investigated the therapeutic potential of time-restricted feeding for sarcopenia prevention. He later worked as an Associate Scientist at Avidity Biosciences, contributing to the development of antibody-oligonucleotide therapeutics for rare genetic muscular dystrophies, and subsequently joined the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, where he studied the genetic determinants of type 2 diabetes. He is currently a PhD student at UChicago, where his research focuses on identifying adipocyte signaling pathways that regulate thermogenic energy expenditure as potential targets to combat obesity. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, surfing, playing soccer, and dancing salsa and bachata.
Athanasios Kondilis, DO/PhD.
Internal Medicine Resident
Athanasios is a third-year internal medicine resident in the University of Chicago NorthShore program. He earned his DO and PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from Michigan State University, where his research focused on the effects of obesity on the central nervous system using chemogenetics in mouse models. Athanasios aims to build a career as an obesity medicine specialist, combining research and clinical practice to address the growing obesity epidemic. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, exploring Chicago’s concert scene, and traveling the world.
Obi Ukomadu
Undergraduate Student
Obi is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Chicago majoring in Biological Sciences. His project focuses on understanding the underlying mechanisms of adipose tissue atrophy in cancer-associated cachexia. Outside of school, Obi enjoys playing basketball and listening to music.
Quinn Autry
Undergraduate Student
Quinn is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Chicago majoring in Molecular Engineering. In the lab, he focuses on understanding the Gαq signaling pathway and how it regulates energy expenditure through its downstream effectors. In his free time, Quinn enjoys boxing, cooking, and biking or running on the lakefront trail.
Alumni
Hannah Berley, Undergraduate Student (2024).
Zaynab Vahora, Undergraduate Student (2025).
Em Lundberg, Research Technologist (2024-2026).
We are hiring!
The Rahbani lab is looking for enthusiastic undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows.
Rahbani Lab 