Faculty Seeking Students:
The following faculty have indicated that they may be looking for at least one student to join their lab - some aren't quite sure if they need another student, and some are certain that they need several. We encourage you to reach out to them and inquire about their research, and see if their lab might be a good fit for you!
Dr. Billur Akkaya - Dr. Akkaya’s lab primarily investigates how regulatory T cells (Tregs) prevent immunopathology in infections such as cerebral malaria and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes. The lab focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying Treg function and has discovered that Tregs can selectively suppress harmful immune responses, such as those targeting self-tissue antigens, without compromising protective immunity against pathogens or tumors. To uncover how Tregs orchestrate antigen-specific tolerance in vivo, the lab employs a wide range of techniques, including flow cytometry, live microscopy, single-cell sequencing, and antigen discovery.
Dr. Amal Amer - Neuroinflammation, Alzheimer's disease, Long Covid/brain fog, Behavior studies using the IntelliCage
Dr. Bogdan Beirowski - Axon-glia energy: Keeping axons alive to combat neurodegeneration
Dr. Krishhna Chinthalapudi - Structure-function studies of proteins involved in human diseases.
Dr. Hongjun (Harry) Fu - The Fu laboratory research focuses on understanding which subtypes of neurons are vulnerable to tau pathology in early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other tauopathies as well as the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the selective neuronal vulnerability. In particular, they are interested in investigating the role of cell-autonomous (neurons) versus cell non-autonomous (microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) effects in selective vulnerability to proteinopathies in neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Jie Gao - My lab aims to study the molecular pathology of Alzheimer's disease and to develop new disease-modifying therapies
Dr. Erica Glasper - The Glasper Lab studies the benefits of rewarding experiences, like paternal care and mating, and the negative consequences of stressors on both the structure and function of the brain. Our research resides in the intersections of many disciplines, including behavioral neuroendocrinology, psychoneuroimmunology, and behavioral genetics.
Dr. Jonathan Godbout - Dr. Godbout's laboratory aims to determine the degree to which the bi-directional communication between the immune system and brain is affected by aging, psychological stress, and traumatic brain injury. In addition, he aims to delineate the mechanism by which inflammatory signaling causes long-lasting behavioral and cognitive deficits.
Dr. Bin Gu - Combining the wet lab and dry lab, we are interested in studying the mechanism of and developing therapies for epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Dr. Deliang Guo - Interaction between Neuron and brain tumor cells, lipid metabolism
Dr. Olga Kokiko-Cochran - The Kokiko-Cochran lab studies traumatic brain injury in preclinical models, specifically examining the influence of neuroinflammation on long-term outcome.
Dr. Katy Lenz - Neuroimmunology; Effects of perturbations (stress, brain injury, hormonal exposures) during critical periods on brain plasticity and motivated behavior
Dr. Benedetta Leuner - The Leuner lab conducts preclinical research to address issues/questions that are specific to the female brain and women’s brain health across the lifespan including adolescence, pregnancy, and the postpartum period with a focus on hormones, neuroplasticity, neuroimmunology, and behavior.
Dr. Sarah Peters - My research focuses on the role of sensory afferent signals in the development, repair, and aging of our teeth. We investigate axon pathfinding, neuroimmune responses to tooth injuries, and preserving tooth health as we age.
Dr. Giles Plant - Transplantation of human stem cells, spinal cord injury, age reversal strategies for axonal regeneration
Dr. Hillary Schiff - Our lab examines how early life experiences with tastes result in life-long plasticity in the brain and in taste preference using whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology, genetic techniques, and animal behavior. We are particularly focused on cortical interneurons, synaptic plasticity, and the role of nutrition in modifying taste preference.
Dr. Megha Sehgal - My research focuses on the cellular and molecular processes in the nervous system that enable cognitive tasks such as learning and memory. We use in vivo electrophysiology, longitudinal functional imaging as well as a large toolbox of techniques that allow us to monitor and perturb various neuronal functions. Using these methodologies, we answer fundamental questions about how plasticity within neuronal and dendritic compartments supports constant learning. Finally, by understanding these processes at a mechanistic level, we aim to facilitate treatment and therapies under neurological conditions such as aging and Alzheimer’s disease when normal cognitive function goes awry.
Dr. Grace Shin - Neuro-immune interactions underlying chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: from basic research to clinical translation
Dr. Wenjing Sun - My lab's research is focusing on dissecting the cellular and molecular mechanism underlying myelin formation and repair in health and disease.
Dr. Hiroki Taniguchi - Diversification of cortical interneurons. The role of cortical interneurons in pain perception.
Dr. Andrea Tedeschi - My lab studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms of brain (TBI and stroke) and spinal cord injury, with particular emphasis on promoting axon regeneration and neural circuit formation for therapeutic gain.
Dr. Kristy Townsend - Our lab investigates neural plasticity and neurodegeneration in the central and peripheral nervous systems and the relationship to energy balance and metabolic health (obesity, diabetes, aging, neuropathy, ADRD, women's health)
Dr. Ivy Tso - We are a social affective and cognitive neuroscience lab, using experimental paradigms, fMRI, EEG, and non-invasive brain stimulation to investigate cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying clinical symptoms and social functioning in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and related disorders. One focus is the role of basic visual processing in social cognition in psychiatric populations.
Dr. Monica Venere - Our lab aims to reveal novel insights into the cellular and molecular biology of the normal and neoplastic brain. From these efforts we will make discoveries that may lead to curative treatments for brain tumors as well as further our insight into neurodevelopment.
Dr. Cole Vonder Haar - Our lab is interested in maladaptive behavior, particularly as a result of traumatic brain injury. We use operant behavioral assays of impulsivity, risky decision-making and attention in combination with postmortem measures of microscopy, single nucleus RNA sequencing and other molecular biology methods. I am looking for a student to develop/lead projects using fiber photometry in vivo to study brain signaling during decision-making.
Dr. Jacy Wagnon - The Wagnon lab is focused on investigating the pathology underlying seizures and comorbidities, including cognitive and motor impairment, in genetic epilepsies. We utilize mouse genetics and behavior, along with cellular and molecular biology techniques, to identify pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic targets for these severe neurological disorders.
Dr. Ruili Xie - We are the auditory neuroscience laboratory studying the mechanisms of synaptic transmission under normal and hearing loss conditions. We use mice as our animal model and utilize multiplel techniques including in vitro whole-cell patch clamp recording, behavioral, and immunohistrochemistry.
Dr. Lihua Ye - Host-microbe interaction, gut-brain communication
Updated 5/19/2025