Welcome Simpson Lab Members Michael Martin & Porter Wilkes

Please join us in welcoming two new research assistants to the Simpson Lab Research Team, Michael Martin and Porter Wilkes! 

Michael, an undergraduate student at Gonzaga University, and Porter, a rising second-year medical student at the Idaho WWAMI site, will be supporting the Simpson Lab's skin biology research projects this summer. Michael joined the lab on June 23, and Porter joined the lab on July 3. 

Cory Simpson, MD, PhD, is the Principal Investigator of the Simpson Lab in the UW Department of Dermatology. His lab is based at UW Medicine’s research complex in Seattle’s South Lake Union, a hub for medical and biotechnology innovation.

Learn more about the Simpson Lab at simpsonskinlab.org.

Welcome Michael and Porter!

Welcome Q&A

Michael Martin 

Hometown: Seattle, Wash. 

What are your education and career goals? 

I’m currently a biochemistry major at Gonzaga University interested in pursuing a career in medicine. I’m particularly interested in learning how basic scientific research translates into clinical therapeutics as well as studying disease pathogenesis and how the body's natural defense mechanisms respond to illness. Through these interests I hope to contribute to scientific advances and treatment of diseases in a future career as a physician.

What do you like to do in your free time? 

In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors at Green Lake Park. I like to play pickleball, go for runs, and try out new foods.

Porter Wilkes

Hometown: Nampa, Idaho

What are your education and career goals? 

I am a second year medical student at WWAMI in the Idaho cohort. I am currently exploring several medical specialties with dermatology being one of my primary interests.

What do you like to do in your free time? 

In my free time I like to run, mountain bike, hike and go to the gym. I’m currently training for the Twilight at the Bay half marathon in August.