Lab members

Justin A. Bosch, Ph.D. (he/him)

Email: jabosch [at] genetics.utah.edu

Principal Investigator

Before attending graduate school, I studied plant evolution at UW-Madison and zebrafish developmental genetics at UCSF. For my PhD, I worked with Iswar Hariharan at the UC Berkeley, where I studied tissue growth in Drosophila. I was a post-doc in Norbert Perrimon's lab at Harvard Medical School, where I developed new techniques to study intercellular communication using Drosophila. In 2024 my lab started at the University of Utah where I am an Assistant Professor in the Human Genetics department. I enjoy spending time with my family, playing guitar, riding bike, and I am looking forward to exploring Utah's incredible natural beauty.

Current members

Carlie Widdison, B.S. (she/her)

Email: carliewiddison [at] utah.edu

Research Technician

I graduated with my B.S. in Zoology from Weber State University. While there, I studied salinity stress responses in nemerteans. I plan to attend graduate school to obtain a PhD in the future. In my free time, I enjoy kayaking, card games, and playing with my green cheek conures and huskies.

Dhruti Patel, B.S. (she/her)

Email: dhrutimp [at] gmail.com

Research Technician

I was born and raised in India. I earned my MS in Biotechnology from the University of South Florida. While there, I worked in a neuroscience lab, studying the characteristics of neurodegenerative diseases. I plan to keep learning to earn a PhD. I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, doodling, trying different foods, and exploring new flavors.

Mia Krause (she/her)

Email: u1401925 [at] umail.utah.edu

Undergraduate researcher

I am a 3rd year undergraduate student at the University of Utah pursuing a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Pediatric Clinical Research. I plan to attend Medical School with aspirations of becoming a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician in the future. In my free time, I enjoy running, hiking, traveling, and spending time with my friends and family.

Edward Wang (she/her)

Email: u1475567 [at] utah.edu

Undergraduate researcher

I am currently a sophomore at the University of Utah, majoring in Computer Science with plans to minor in Biology. My academic journey is driven by a passion for integrating computer science with medicine, aiming to leverage my technical skills to advance healthcare solutions. Outside of my studies, I love travelling, hiking, snowboarding, and scuba diving.

Past members

Josh Rosswork (he/him)

Email: josh.rosswork [@] utah.edu

Rotation Student, Molecular Biology PhD program

I graduated with a B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Washington in Seattle. While there, I studied a novel DNA-replication based mechanism for gene triplication where the central copy is inverted in orientation. After my graduation, I studied the genetics of cleft lip and cleft palate using zebrafish as a model. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, hiking, and skiing. 

Edward Dominguez

Email: edwardd5 [at] illinois.edu

GSRM summer student '24

I’m currently a rising junior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign pursuing a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology, with a creative writing minor. I plan to attend graduate school, with aspirations of obtaining a PhD in the future. Outside of school, I enjoy DJing, hiking, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.

Ruben Bravo

SLCSE BEES high school student, summer '24

I am a senior in high school at the Salt Lake Center for Science Education getting ready to go to college and to pursue the medical field. I have many hobbies some of them being photography, baking and writing.

Lab pictures

Our first experiment! May '24

Lab lunch June '24

Edward's talk to the GSRM - July '24

Edward's poster at the Undergraduate Summer Symposium  - August '24

Ruben's colored bacteria art - August '24


Carlie's poster at the Bioscience Symposium  - Sept. '24


Our first transfection of cultured Drosophila cells! (S2R+ cells transfected with Actin-GFP.) Thanks to the Murtaugh lab for use of their microscope. Sept. '24

Carlie's poster at the DELPHI Symposium - Nov. '24