Research Team Clinical Study Coordinators
Benjamin Chisum, B.S.
Ben (benjamin.chisum@genetics.utah.edu) completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Mass Communications & Journalism at the University of Utah in 2005. During his undergraduate career, Ben worked as a neurology research assistant at the University of Utah and as a Laboratory Specimen Coordinator at Primary Children's Hospital. He is currently working toward a new degree in Philosophy and Political Science. Ben joined the Pediatric Motor Disorders Research team in 2008.
Michelle Martensen, B.S.
Michelle (mmartensen@genetics.utah.edu) graduated from Colorado State University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health. During her undergraduate studies, she worked in a Tuberculosis research lab analyzing the effects of novel drugs on the growth of Mycobacterium. Michelle was also a volunteer for a therapeutic horseback riding program in northern Colorado. She participated in the University of Utah’s 2007 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Her project involved the investigation of the role of dietary selenium in the regulation of cellular transporters potentially involved in cancer chemoprevention. She joined our team in 2007.
Summer Davis, B.S.; C.C.R.C.
Summer (summer.davis@hsc.utah.edu) graduated from Brigham Young University in 2000 with a degree in psychology. While at BYU, she worked as a research assistant for a project involving refugee-linked post traumatic stress disorder and court psychology research. In 2001, she joined the University of Utah and began working as a research assistant on a variety of projects, including the Utah anti-smoking campaign evaluation and the Huntsman Utah population database. Since 2002, she has worked closely with Dr. Mark Bromberg to coordinate clinical studies and trials in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. She joined our group in 2007, and works as a multidisciplinary team member on both the SMA and AHC research projects. She also serves as a member of the University of Utah Institutional Review Board.
