2026 Postdoctoral Awardees
Wei Chen, PhD
Research Scholar
Walther Lab
Project Title: “Lipid metabolism regulation of synaptic function in motor neuron physiology and diseases”
Motor neurons are the largest neurons with very long axons and extensive synapses to connect brain and muscles. All these membranes require tremendous lipids. Yet, how motor neurons maintain their lipidome to support neuronal network has been a mystery. My overarching question is how motor neurons maintain specialized lipidome to support synaptic function over the lifetime of organisms. To address this, I will focus on lipid metabolism enzymes required for motor neuron function in humans.
Anne McMahon, PhD
Research Scholar
Keeney Lab
Project Title: “Epigenetic Influences on the Formation and Repair of Meiotic Double-Strand Breaks”
Meiosis is a specialized cell division that produces the germ cells essential for sexual reproduction. During meiosis, DNA double-strand breaks are intentionally introduced across the genome to facilitate genetic exchange between parental chromosomes, a process known as meiotic recombination. Errors in this process can cause chromosome copy number alterations and mutations that underlie genetic disease.
This project addresses how meiotic recombination is shaped by factors that act on top of DNA sequence itself. These “epigenetic” factors (epi, Latin for “on top of,” and geneticus, “origin”) include factors which influence genome packaging (chromatin), three-dimensional genome organization, and histone modifications. Here, I investigate epigenetic factors that may directly influence meiotic recombination. Specifically, I will evaluate BRD4 as a candidate cis-acting epigenetic regulator of recombination outcomes in mice, and use single-molecule long-read sequencing to map nucleosome occupancy on broken DNA molecules.
Raphaël Mangione, PhD
Research Scholar
Whitehouse Lab
Project Title: “Inter-sister chromatid architecture as a mechanism of chromatin identity transmission”
Every time a cell divides, DNA replication strips away the proteins and chemical marks that define its identity, and all of this must be rebuilt correctly, on both new DNA strands, within hours. How cells manage this so reliably is not well understood. Using two new sequencing technologies developed in our lab, we are investigating how the physical relationship between newly replicated DNA copies shapes this process. Our findings could help explain why diseases involving errors in chromosome structure, including several cancers and developmental disorders, are marked by a progressive loss of proper cell identity.
Jin Shuai, PhD
Research Associate
Long Lab
Project Title: “Structural studies of APOL1; a Trojan horse ion channel that protects against trypanosome infection”
Apolipoprotein L1(APOL1) is a component of human serum that protects humans against infection by trypanosome parasites. This protection occurs through an incredible mechanism like a Trojan horse – APOL1 is eaten by trypanosomes but, once inside, transforms into an ion channel that kills the parasites. Natural variants of APOL1 (called G1 and G2) confer enhanced protection from parasitic infection. However, people with these variants are at elevated risk of developing advanced stage kidney disease due to aberrant APOL1 channel activity in the kidney. Inhibitors of the channel are in clinical trials for these APOL1-mediated kidney diseases (AMKD). The goals of this project are to determine the three-dimensional shape of APOL1 and to discover the basis of its ion channel function that protects against parasite infection and can cause kidney disease.
Zhiying Zhang, PhD
Research Scholar
Patel Lab
Project Title: “From modified nucleotides to immune catastrophe: Mechanisms of metabolic antiviral defense”
Our research explores how bacteria sense viral infection and activate their defenses. Many PUA sensors are linked to different antiviral effectors, providing a diverse range of systems to study. We will investigate how these sensors recognize modified nucleotides as danger signals and trigger responses such as nucleotide depletion and RNA or DNA degradation. Using structural biology and biochemical approaches, we aim to reveal how cells detect danger signals and translate them into protective responses, advancing our understanding of immunity.
2025 Postdoctoral Awardees
Yuxi Ai, PhD
Research Scholar
Abdel-Wahab Lab
Project Title: “Understanding the minor spliceosome via synthetic introns”
RNA splicing is the process during which non-coding sequences (introns) of precursor messenger RNA (mRNA) are excised, and coding sequences are ligated to give rise to mature coding mRNA. Most eukaryotes have two distinct splicing machineries: the major spliceosome, which removes >99 % of introns, and a less abundant and less well-studied minor spliceosome, which removes rare but evolutionarily conserved introns. We proposed to utilize synthetic minor intron reporters to uncover the novel factors required for minor spliceosome function.
Zhe Yang, PhD
Research Associate
Studer Lab
Project Title: “Dissecting the mechanisms of microglia-mediated uptake of amyloid beta using hPSC-derived models”
We are studying how the brain’s immune cells, called microglia, interact with amyloid beta, the protein that clumps together to form plaques in Alzheimer’s disease. Our research explores whether microglia help protect the brain by clearing this protein or accidentally promote its buildup. By uncovering the exact mechanisms behind this process using stem cell models and cutting-edge genetic tools, we aim to provide new insights that could lead to better understanding and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
2024 Postdoctoral Awardees
Hipolito Cuesta, PhD
Research Scholar
Dar Lab
Project Title: “Chemical Tools to Modulate a Kinase: Kinase Complex”
The primary objective of this project is to characterize the kinase domains dimerization focusing on the well-established c-Src:FAK complex. This complex serves as a critical signaling hub closely associated with the malignancy of numerous cancer types. Our goal is to design a novel inhibitor by linking already designed but unapproved inhibitors. By doing so, we aim to address the existing challenges posed by the lack of specificity in c-Src inhibitors and the limited potency of FAK inhibitors. This approach should enable us to modulate this crucial signaling hub effectively, which has remained elusive despite extensive research efforts.
Anna Knoerlein, PhD
Research Fellow
David Lab
Project Title: “Sugar-coating RNA: Unraveling the impact of RNA Glycation on Cells”
Sugars and other reactive metabolites can react spontaneously with biomolecules yielding in so-called non-enzymatic covalent modifications (NECMs). While these NECMS are well studied in proteins and DNA, there is little known about NECMS on RNA. This project aims to develop a chemical biological platform to detect sugar adducts on RNA and investigate their physiological impact on RNA structure and function.
Research Scholar
Jiang Lab
Project Title: “The OTX Family of Transcription Factors in Ferroptosis and Retinal Dystrophy and Degeneration.”
This project investigates how the transcription factors CRX and OTX2, crucial for retinal cell development, suppress ferroptosis. Using CRISPR/Cas9-activation screen, functional analysis, and engineered zebrafish models, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms by which CRX and OTX2 regulate the retinoic acid signaling pathway to protect retinal cells, potentially leading to new therapies for retinal dystrophy.
Basic Research Postdoctoral Innovation Grant
The Basic Research Postdoctoral Innovation Grant is no longer. In 2024, we have launched the new program named the Basic Research Innovation Scholars Fellowship Program. These awardees are found above.
2023 Postdoctoral Awardees
Lingling Cheng, PhD
Research Associate
Pertsinidis Lab
Project Title: “Integrating high-throughput single-molecule imaging and forward genetics for un-biased discovery of novel regulators of enhancer-promoter communication and dissection of complex multi-enhancer regulatory landscapes”
Enhancers enable precise spatiotemporal gene expression, by activating target promoters over large genomic distances. The specific factors that facilitate enhancer-promoter communication, as well as how multiple enhancers in complex regulatory landscapes work together to control transcription are key issues that remain unaddressed. The goal of this project is to close these knowledge gaps by developing new discovery platforms based on high-throughput single-molecule imaging and CRISPR forward genetics screens.
Michael Geeson, PhD
Research Fellow
Bachovchin Lab
Project Title: “A simple technology to monitor intracellular redox potential”
Cells are constantly working to maintain a redox state that is out of equilibrium with their surroundings. Disruption of this redox potential causes changes to important cellular processes, and can even result in cell death. We are developing a sensor that allows us to quickly and accurately measure the redox state of a cell, enabling researchers to understand how cellular redox state responds to a diverse range of stimuli and environments
2022 Postdoctoral Awardee
Meret Arter, PhD
Research Fellow
Keeney Lab
Project Title: “Combining novel structure- and function-informed phylogenetic analyses with molecular approaches to investigate the extraordinary plasticity of the meiotic recombination machinery”
To generate haploid gametes during meiosis most sexually reproducing organisms use the homologous recombination DNA repair pathway. While this process of meiotic recombination is almost universally conserved across eukaryotes, the protein machinery required for it is surprisingly variable between species. The goal of this project is to better understand the evolutionary forces that have shaped and keep shaping the meiotic recombination machinery and experimentally address the functional relevance of this remarkable variation
2021 Postdoctoral Awardee
Benjamin Winer, PhD
Research Fellow
Huse Lab
Project Title: “Defining how cells make decisions between migration and phagocytosis”
Neutrophils are the most abundant immune cell type and play an important role in detecting infection and disease. Neutrophils and other granulocytes must make complex decisions about where to move within the body and whether to perform phagocytosis, a process where they engulf and degrade a diseased cell or pathogen. The relationship between migration and phagocytosis is not well understood. The purpose of this project is to gain insight into these processes.
2020 Postdoctoral Awardees
Alberto Muñoz, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Tan Lab
Project Title: “Development of A One-Pot Synthesis of Carbonyl (Bio)isosteres”
The overall goal of this project is to develop new methods in organic synthesis that provide rapid access to complex and understudied pharmacophores. Our proposed methodologies promise to be catalytic, mild, and user friendly, requiring only visible light in the presence of a photosensitive catalyst to achieve a powerful molecular transformation. The compounds generated throughout the course of our studies will be implemented in research programs geared toward improving human health.
Keunwoo Ryu, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Thompson Lab
Project Title: “Functional Segregation of Mitochondria by High-Order Assembly of Metabolic Enzymes”
Mitochondria are highly dynamic and play a vital role in bioenergetic and biosynthetic pathways. However, how mitochondria maintain the intricate balance between biosynthetic and bioenergetic functions, especially those that utilize shared substrates and cofactors, remains poorly understood. The proposed research aims to explore whether mitochondria can functionally segregate into distinct populations that independently maintain biosynthetic and bioenergetic functions.
2019 BRIF Awardees
Daniel Ball, PhD
Research Fellow
Bachovchin Lab
Project Title: Development and application of a cysteine reactivity-based drug discovery platform for challenging protein targets
Turgut Dogruluk, PhD
Research Fellow
Ventura Lab
Project Title: CRISPRa-based Single Cell Barcoding for Tracking and Recovery of Rare Drug Resistant Persister Populations
Darpan Medhi, PhD
Research Fellow
Jasin Lab
Project Title: High throughput analysis of loss of heterozygosity in single cells using droplet-based microfluidics