Antje Schaefer, PhD
​Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology & Toxicology and the MCW Cancer Center

Antje joined the Medical College of Wisconsin as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in September 2024. 
 
She pursued her PhD in RHO & RAS GTPase biochemistry and structure in the lab of Dr. Alfred Wittinghofer at the Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Physiology in Dortmund, Germany. Antje conducted then her postdoctoral training in RHO GTPase cell biology in endothelial cells and leukocytes with Dr. Peter Hordijk at the Sanquin Blood Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. As a Research Assistant Professor in the lab of Dr. Channing Der at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), USA, Antje discovered that the two most common RHOA mutations in gastric cancer are oncogenic cancer drivers and defined novel target-based therapeutic strategies for this lethal cancer. Her publications are one of the first comprehensive studies in the field elucidating the cancer-driving functions of RHOA alterations. Antje also studied the role of RHO GTPase-dependent cancer cell plasticity in driving therapy resistance in RAS-mutant pancreatic, colorectal and head-and-neck-cancers.

Outside of the lab you can find Antje likely biking or watching college basketball.  

David Grau
​Research Technician 

David graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Spring of 2020 with a degree in Genetics and Genomics. He started working as a research technician at the Medical College of Wisconsin in March of 2021. David worked for 3 years in the lab of Dr. Sang Lee (Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology), studying neuropharmacology related to Alzheimer’s Disease and other neuropsychological conditions. He joined the Schaefer Lab in December of 2024.
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In his free time, David enjoys making various soups. His favorite is Potato Leek.

Emily Maccoux
​Research Technician 

Emily graduated from the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire in Spring of 2024 with a degree in Biochemistry Molecular Biology.  She started as a research technician at the Medical College of Wisconsin in May of 2024 in Dr. Lezi E's lab (Neuroscience Research Center). There she studied non-neuronal signals that trigger the onset of neurodegeneration in aging. She joined the Schaefer Lab in July 2025.

​In her free time, Emily likes to play piano, go on hikes, and watch soccer and basketball.  

Kai Liptow
​MSTP (MD/PhD) Rotation Student 

Kai is a medical student in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at the Medical College of Wisconsin and joined the Schaefer Lab as a rotation student in 2025. In 2023, she graduated from Ripon College with a B.A. in Chemistry-Biology and started as a research technician in Nikki Lytle's Lab (Department of Surgery, MCW), where she studied the tumor microenvironment in the context of pancreatic and breast cancers.

Outside of lab, Kai’s favorite things are rainbows, mac & cheese, and singing.

Vibhu Guda
​Undergraduate Student - SPUR Program

Vibhu is a sophomore at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor where he is studying Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology as well as Economics. He works in Dr. Schaefer's Lab this summer through MCW's SPUR program 2025. Vibhu has a deep interest in biological interactions on a molecular level as well as in the biomechanisms of cancer.

Some things that Vibhu likes to do in his free time are play tennis, lift weights, attend sporting events, and go on hikes. 




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Copyright: 2025 A. Schaefer. All rights reserved.