Washington University in St. Louis
Appointed in 2025
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Washington University in St. Louis
Appointed in 2025
Structural mechanisms for higher-order microtubule assembly function in parasites
Dr. Matthew Reynolds is fascinated with the elegant structures of our cytoskeleton – a large network consisting of protein fibers and associated proteins that gives shape and structure to cells. During his thesis research he developed machine-learning based techniques to enable the structural determination of curved and bundled actin structures. In his fellowship, Reynolds will detail specialized cytoskeleton super-assemblies from parasitic cells.
During Reynolds’ thesis research in Dr. Greg Alushin’s lab at Rockefeller University, he made important contributions to processes involved in cryo-EM structure determination. Reynolds developed computational techniques that were crucial in reconstructing bent F-actin segments and bundled F-actin that help shape and move cells.
Now, in Dr. Rui Zhang’s lab at Washington University in St. Louis, Reynolds will apply his structural biology expertise to more complex cellular systems. He will continue to investigate the cytoskeleton and will use a combination of cryo-EM and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) to examine microscopic single-cell organisms. These studies will provide mechanistic insights into the nanoscale protein-protein interactions that drive micron-scale cytoskeleton organization in single-celled parasites. His research will likely push forward technological development in structural determination via cryo-EM and cryo-ET. Reynolds anticipates that his findings will inform parasitic disease models and may reveal novel therapeutic targets.
Stanford University
Appointed in 1987
MCH-antigen complex and helper T-cell activation
Stanford University
Appointed in 2024
Decoding Aging Neurogenic Niches: Unraveling Somatic Mutations, Clonal Dynamics, and Functional Decline
Aging is associated with decreased cognitive ability and enhanced risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The declining function of neural stem cells (NSCs) is partially responsible for these trends in the aging brain. While much is known about the genetics of late-stage neurodegenerative diseases, relatively little is known about changes that lead to the decline in NSC function.
Dr. Daniel Richard will investigate the accumulation of somatic mutations in NSCs in Dr. Anne Brunet’s lab at Stanford University. He will examine how these mutations change NSC gene expression and neuron production. Additionally, Dr. Richard will explore strategies to genetically manipulate somatic mutations to potentially enhance NSC function. Richard’s studies will provide much-needed insight into fundamental NSC biology during aging and may reveal novel therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive decline.
Richard’s interest in the link between genetic changes and aging emerged from his graduate studies in Dr. Terence Capellini’s lab at Harvard University. There, Richard focused on the genetic regulation of knee development. By comparing functional regulatory regions in human and mouse fetal limbs, Richard discovered mutations associated with an increased risk for osteoarthritis later in life. Now, Richard will shift his focus to aging-related biological changes in NSCs and neurodegenerative diseases during his postdoctoral research.
Pasadena Foundation for Medical Research
Appointed in 1960
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Pasadena Foundation for Medical Research
Appointed in 1960
Tissue culture
University of Indiana
Appointed in 1958
Immunological aspects of cancer
Harvard University
Appointed in 1989
Molecular mechanisms of TATA-independent gene transcription
MRC Center, University Medical School, England
Appointed in 1973
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MRC Center, University Medical School, England
Appointed in 1973
Genetic analysis of developmental pathways in c. elegans
University of Basel, Switzerland
Appointed in 1980
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University of Basel, Switzerland
Appointed in 1980
cytoplasmically-synthesized mitochondrial proteins
Rockefeller University
Appointed in 1968
Nucleic and metabolism of the Rous sarcoma virus
University of California, Berkeley
Appointed in 1983
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University of California, Berkeley
Appointed in 1983
Regulation of Drosophila P element transposition and expression
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Appointed in 2004
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Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Appointed in 2004
The biochemistry of RNAi in epigenetic regulation
University of Uppsala, Sweden /
Dartmouth Medical School
Appointed in 1978
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University of Uppsala, Sweden / Dartmouth Medical School
Appointed in 1978
Regulation of T-lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Appointed in 1985
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Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Appointed in 1985
Identification of enhancer factors
California Institute of Technology
Appointed in 1997
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California Institute of Technology
Appointed in 1997
Control of cell proliferation by CLV1
University of Washington
Appointed in 1999
Agrobacterium infection of yeast
University of Basel, Switzerland
Appointed in 1961
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University of Basel, Switzerland
Appointed in 1961
Biochemistry of steroid hormones
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Appointed in 2011
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Appointed in 2011
Investigating mechanisms underlying nervous system regeneration in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea
Columbia University
Appointed in 1979
DNA mediated gene transfer
Harvard University Medical School
Appointed in 2001
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Harvard University Medical School
Appointed in 2001
Function of condensation domains in peptide synthesis
University of Pennsylvania
Appointed in 2001
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University of Pennsylvania
Appointed in 2001
Analysis of PP2A function in C Elegans Ras signaling
Princeton University
Appointed in 2005
Genomic dissection of polygenic traits in C. elegans
Roche Institute of Molecular Biology
Appointed in 1987
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Roche Institute of Molecular Biology
Appointed in 1987
Study of the membrane transport protein lac permease
Rockefeller University
Appointed in 1947
Columbia University
Appointed in 2022
Learning the modular grammar of phase separaton in signaling networks
Cells efficiently convert environmental information into specific functional responses through cascades of biochemical reactions and biomolecular interactions. High fidelity signal transduction requires spatiotemporal regulation of these molecular events. This can be accomplished through phase separation. Many signaling condensates dynamically assemble through multivalent protein–protein interactions mediated by modular interaction domains. How the molecular factors that drive phase separation enable coordinated and precise flow of information among myriad signaling pathways remains a mystery. To answer such questions that encompass molecular- and systems-level phenomena, my research focuses on developing integrative data- and physics-based modeling frameworks using the tools of machine learning and statistical mechanics. Using these approaches, I aim to decipher the modular grammar of signaling proteins that governs phase separation and, more broadly, the biophysical principles that underlie cell homeostasis.
Rockefeller University
Appointed in 2008
A search for the molecular mechanisms and physiological basis of sleep
I am currently conducting research aimed at understanding sleep: its biological significance and how it is regulated.
I grew up in Belgrade, Serbia, convinced that the only interesting career would be in the arts or literature. Choosing science as my path came as a consequence of the harsh economic reality following the wars of the 1990s. For a while, I felt slightly uncomfortable, seeing myself as an outsider playing the role of a scientist. Now, I am convinced that science is one of the most exciting paths one can follow. I realize that scientists and artists are often cut from the same cloth, using different approaches to understand life. This may be particularly true in neuroscience, which I chose as my focus. Even without a scientific background, one can easily appreciate many of the questions asked in this field  — what does it mean to feel something, what drives us, why do we have to sleep every night? One of my hobbies is taking photographs of great works of art that have sleep as their theme. Chances are that your favorite artist is in my collection.
University of California, Berkeley
Appointed in 2025
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University of California, Berkeley
Appointed in 2025
Discovery of silencing factors of the unfolded protein response in cancer
Dr. Heegwang Roh recalls how the COVID-19 pandemic hit during a pivotal moment of his graduate training. During the lockdown, he devoted considerable effort to reading literature on basic biology and became interested in the unfolded protein response (UPR), a cellular stress response triggered by the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in a cell.
Roh’s thesis research in Dr. Alice Ting’s lab at Stanford University involved a number of innovative projects covering a broad swath of chemical biology. In one project, he created a better way to tag nearby proteins using an enzyme called laccase, fixing safety problems seen in older methods. This new system works well for studying proteins and viewing cells under powerful microscopes. In another project, Roh turned a harmless version of botulinum toxin into a tool for delivering proteins inside cells.
As he transitions to Dr. Michael Rape’s lab at UC Berkeley, Roh will utilize his expertise in tool development to interrogate the UPR. This response is important for cells to respond to stress stimuli, yet the molecular mechanisms by which the UPR is suppressed after the stress is resolved is unknown. Roh will use genetic screens to identify novel UPR suppressors and develop chemical inhibitors for the UPR suppressors. In addition to uncovering novel UPR biology, Roh’s studies will provide new tools for studying UPR in cancer cells and perhaps reveal lead molecules for cancer drug development.
University of Basel, Switzerland
Appointed in 1984
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University of Basel, Switzerland
Appointed in 1984
Characterization of mitochondrial protein import
Yale University
Appointed in 1991
CD59 and tyrosine kinases in human T-cell activation
University of California, Berkeley
Appointed in 1997
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University of California, Berkeley
Appointed in 1997
Neurotransmitter receptor localization in C elegans
Princeton University
Appointed in 1989
Genetic analysis of the yeast spindle pole body
Rockefeller University
Appointed in 2005
Telomere deletion though homologus recombination
Washington University in St. Louis
Appointed in 1980
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Washington University in St. Louis
Appointed in 1980
Analysis of 2 proteins form the murine H-2 complex
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Appointed in 1982
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Appointed in 1982
Molecular genetics of yeast nucleus, pathway of nuclear fusion yeast
Boston Children's Hospital
Appointed in 2002
Role of Foxhead foxo3a in longevity and tumorigenesis
Carnegie Institute for Science
Appointed in 1984
Chromosome organization of amphibian oocytes during the lampbrush stage
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Appointed in 1977
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Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Appointed in 1977
Gix antigen induction in prothymocytes
Rockefeller University
Appointed in 1958
Cellular growth and differenitation
Stanford University
Appointed in 1965
Host-controlled modification
California Institute of Technology
Appointed in 2008
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California Institute of Technology
Appointed in 2008
The contribution of the intestinal microbiota to development of colon cancer
I am interested in how commensal bacteria influence the development of the intestinal immune system  and their impact on disease.
Bacterial organisms residing within our bodies outnumber our own cells by an order of magnitude. We are often taught that bacteria cause disease and that our immune systems function to recognize and eradicate them. However, commensal bacteria do not make us sick and our immune systems tolerate their presence. My postdoctoral research is directed at understanding why we allow these bacteria to live with us. We have shown that colonization by one of these commensal organisms  has beneficial consequences for its host as it can protect from  development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As 30 percent of IBD patients develop colonic cancer, colonization by beneficial bacteria might also serve as a potential cancer preventive. Additionally, in studying this bacterium we have uncovered novel mechanisms by which our bodies detect and tolerate bacteria. Understanding what organisms live within our bodies and deciphering how they individually influence the development of immune responses could ultimately lead to the creation of therapies to treat multiple human diseases.
Rockefeller University
Appointed in 1990
Characterization of the yeast nuclear pore complex
University of California, San Francisco
Appointed in 2010
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University of California, San Francisco
Appointed in 2010
Early stochastic events that affect aging
University of California, Berkeley
Appointed in 2016
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University of California, Berkeley
Appointed in 2016
Ubiquitin regulation of neural development and cell fate
The goal of my postdoctoral research is to discover essential regulatory mechanisms that control neural developmental programs and cell fates in a complex organism. Abnormal neural development is central to many pediatric diseases and the source of many cancers originating in the nervous system. Development requires precise signaling pathways to facilitate cell-cell communication and maintain normal function and prevent disease. Thus, I propose to study neural development in Xenopus tropicalis embryos, an established model system, and identify evolutionarily conserved complexes in human embryonic stem cells undergoing neuronal differentiation. A small modifying protein, ubiquitin is an important part of regulatory pathways that control nearly every aspect of cell physiology and is frequently perturbed in cancer. Recent work has demonstrated that ubiquitin modification is an essential regulator of development and cell fate. I will use combination of genetic, proteomic, biochemical, and cell biology techniques to identify crucial ubiquitin complexes and reveal the molecular mechanism of neural differentiation programs. Together, this work will provide unprecedented insight into the regulation of early embryonic differentiation programs and reveal therapeutic avenues to treat human cancers.
Harvard University
Appointed in 2008
Role of nuclear organization in gene regulation
Current Research: Probing gene expression in live eukaryotic cells at single molecule level
I majored in biotechnology and biochemical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur, India and joined the biophysics and computational biology graduate program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2001.  I received my doctorate in 2007 for my work on understanding the mechanism of various proteins involved in replication and transcription using in vitro single molecule techniques in the Taekjip Ha laboratory. I am currently a post-doctoral fellow in the lab of Sunney Xie.  My current research interests are twofold: 1) development of novel optical imaging techniques to probe the behavior of single biomolecules in live eukaryotic cells; and 2) implementation of single-molecule imaging to understand cellular gene expression and cell-fate determination. My efforts are geared towards extending the usefulness of single molecule techniques to mainstream biology.
University of California, San Francisco
Appointed in 2013
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University of California, San Francisco
Appointed in 2013
Engineering novel allosteric control over synthetic T cell receptors to improve cancer immunotherapy
I am interested in both the general biochemical principles that govern cellular signaling and the development of synthetic biology approaches to control complex signaling networks and cellular behavior. These interests are complimentary as synthetic biology is often informed by knowledge obtained from studying natural cellular signaling mechanisms refined by evolution. In Wendell Lim¬ís lab at UCSF, I am using this two-pronged approach to engineer new receptors and signaling networks to control the activity and behavior of therapeutic T cells. Such engineered multi-layered regulation of cellular activity — an important characteristic of naturally occurring biological systems — has the potential to make cell-based therapeutics safer and more effective, a critical concern for this burgeoning therapeutic approach.
I grew up in Louisiana, moved to Texas for undergrad and received my Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (UTSW) in January 2013. There I studied fundamental cellular and biochemical mechanisms that regulate T cell activation at the systems-scale in Christoph Wülfing’s lab. Before graduate school, I did a wide-range of research. One of my major contributions was in Colleen McClung’s lab in the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at UTSW where I characterized the first mouse model resembling human mania caused by disruption of the circadian rhythm transcription factor, Clock. Outside of lab, I enjoy biking, climbing, and exploring the San Francisco Bay Area.
Sidney Farber Cancer Institute
Appointed in 1978
Nucleic acid protein interactions in SV40 T antigens
Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago
Appointed in 1958
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Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago
Appointed in 1958
Intermediary metabolism
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Appointed in 1974
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Appointed in 1974
Synthesis of histone mRNA on the lampbrush chromosomes of Triturus oocytes by in situ hybridization
Harvard University Medical School
Appointed in 2001
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Harvard University Medical School
Appointed in 2001
Stanford University
Appointed in 1986
NMR and molecular genetics of antibody structure
The University of Texas at Austin
Appointed in 2024
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The University of Texas at Austin
Appointed in 2024
Structure-based vaccine design targeting mpox antigen A27
The international outbreak of mpox (monkeypox) in 2022 incited global health concerns and underscored the need for an innovative vaccine. However, little is known about potential vaccine targets within the causative orthopoxvirus, mpox virus.
Dr. Emily Rundlet will explore the structure and function of potential mpox vaccine targets in Dr. Jason McLellan’s lab at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Rundlet will structurally characterize antigen complexes using cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography, which will enable her to probe their function in the viral lifecycle and design vaccine candidates. In sum, Dr. Rundlet’s work is expected to provide valuable insights into mpox biology and pave the way for future mpox vaccines.
Dr. Rundlet developed her expertise in structural biology in Dr. Scott Blanchard’s lab at Weill Cornell Medicine. During her graduate studies, Dr. Rundlet used cryo-EM and single-molecule FRET assays to make important discoveries about protein translation. With these methods, Dr. Rundlet elucidated how the ribosome initiates movement of tRNAs during protein synthesis and demonstrated that mRNA decoding by ribosomes is kinetically and structurally different in humans and bacteria. Now Dr. Rundlet is using her expertise to uncover the structural secrets of orthopoxviruses to guide vaccine design and prevent future outbreaks.
Duke University
Appointed in 1997
Effect of gene position on ribozyme substrate choice