Our Team
The researchers, clinicians, and staff innovating cancer and metabolic-risk detection at SRL.
John A. Shepherd, PhD
Principal Investigator · Interim Deputy Director & Chief Scientific Officer, UH Cancer Center · B.H. and Alice C. Beams Endowed Professor in Cancer Research
Leads research on imaging biomarkers for breast cancer, obesity, and osteoporosis using advanced machine-learning techniques. Directs the Hawaiʻi Pacific Islands Mammography Registry (HIPIMR) and has been continuously NIH-funded since 2005.
Dustin Valdez
Postdoctoral Researcher
Evaluating the iBreastExam as an early-detection tool for breast cancer. Previously researched a nutritional SMS-based intervention for pregnant women in Hawaiʻi's WIC program.
Thomas Wolfgruber
Postdoctoral Researcher
Data scientist and software engineer focused on mammography for risk detection using machine learning. Contributes across the lab's scientific and technical operations.
Jonathan P. Bennett, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Holds degrees in biology, psychology, and kinesiology, with a PhD in nutritional sciences. Research examines multicompartment body-composition modeling across medical settings, athletes, and the lifespan.
Arianna Bunnell
PhD Student
Computer Science PhD student at the University of Hawaiʻi with undergraduate degrees in Statistics and Computer Science. Applies deep learning to breast ultrasound imaging for cancer detection.
Lydia Sollis
PhD Student
PhD in Computer Science at UH Mānoa, with prior degrees in Exercise Science and Computer Science. Specializes in machine learning for healthcare, including screening tools for autism and Parkinson's Disease.
Leila Kazemi
SRL Program Manager
Certified senior CRC manager with expertise in MRI and bone densitometry. A decade of research experience and contributions to major studies including NHANES and NIH R01 projects.
Valerie Saiki
DXA Technologist & Clinical Study Coordinator
Certified radiologic technologist (Oʻahu) working at SRL as DXA technologist and clinical study coordinator.
En Yong Liu
Exercise Physiologist · Body Composition Lab Manager
Manages the Body Composition Lab. Background in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Neuromuscular Science. Interests include body-composition assessment via 3D optical imaging and fitness tracking.
Aimee Bowen
Web Developer
Web developer for the Shepherd Research Lab.
Alumni
Former SRL members who have moved on to next chapters.
Nusrat Zaman Zemi
Clinical Research Associate
Designed and implemented software and hardware solutions for breast ultrasound imaging focused on cancer risk analysis and detection. Pursued an MSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering at UH Mānoa.
Laarni Igawa
Clinical Research Coordinator
Background in Public Health with a focus on epidemiology, and extensive laboratory experience in infectious-disease research.
Devon Cataldi, PhD(c), ATC
Researcher
PhD candidate in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science, with degrees in Athletic Training and Corrective Exercise. Research centered on body composition and human performance.
Nisa Kelly
Clinical Research Coordinator
Background in biochemistry and medical health sciences; coordinated the Shape Up! Studies. Co-author on publications examining optical imaging for pediatric body composition.
Lambert Leong
PhD Student
PhD in Molecular Bioscience and Bio-Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi. Research focused on breast imaging and applying ML/AI to cancer risk analysis and detection.
Abdur Rasool, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
PhD in computer applied technology from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology. Expertise spans AI, bioinformatics, breast cancer, computer vision, autism, and DNA data storage, with over 35 peer-reviewed publications.
Steven D. Buchthal
Postdoctoral Researcher
Research focused on body-composition assessment and metabolic health across diverse populations, including adiposity patterns, liver fat distribution, and relationships to glucose metabolism and diabetes risk in multiethnic cohorts.
Michael C. Wong
Postdoctoral Researcher (T32)
Analyzed optical imaging data from the Shape Up! study. Background in nutritional sciences.