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 studies how regulatory T cells enforce antigen-specific immune tolerance to prevent immunopathology in infections, autoimmunity, and cancer, while preserving protective immunity. Using advanced imaging, single-cell approaches, and antigen discovery, the lab dissects the molecular mechanisms of Treg function and develops strategies to selectively modulate harmful immune responses in diseases such as cerebral malaria, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes.

Dr. Elisabetta Babetto - I study axon glia metabolic and molecular communication in injury and disease. Central and peripheral nervous system axons are metabolically coupled to oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. We investigate the mechanism of this coupling and what happens to them during neurodegeneration.

Dr. Bogdan Beirowski  - Axon-glia energy: Keeping axons alive to combat neurodegeneration

Dr. Andy Fischer - Cellular, molecular, genetic and pharmacological approaches to driving reprogramming of supporting glial cells in to proliferating progenitors that regenerate retina neurons.

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. Amy Gleichman - The Gleichman lab studies astrocytes as gene therapy targets for brain repair after stroke and in vascular dementia, two forms of ischemic brain injury. 

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. Martin Haesemeyer - Our lab studies behavioral thermoregulation in health and disease conditions using zebrafish as a model.

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. Sabhya Rana - The Rana Lab investigates the neural control of breathing and how it is disrupted following neurological injury or disease. Using preclinical models and neuromodulatory interventions (spinal stimulation and targeted pharmacology), we aim to restore respiratory function and uncover fundamental mechanisms of neural plasticity after spinal cord injury. Our approaches have broad translational relevance, extending to other neurological conditions such as ALS, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Andrew Sas - 

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. Hiroki Taniguchi - Diversification of cortical interneurons. The role of cortical interneurons in pain perception.

Dr. Kenneth Wilson - Our research investigates the endolysosomal network and its components in neurons to identify how it influences age-related neurodegeneration and neurodegenerative diseases, with a special emphasis on Alzheimer's disease. We primarily utilize iPSC-derived neurons, patient-derived fibroblasts, and mouse models.

Dr. Ruili Xie - I study auditory neruosceince using mouse models. Specifically, I investigate the synaptic and cellular mechanisms of hearing loss during aging and after noise trauma, using electrophysiological, immunohistochemical, pharmacological and behavioral approaches.

Dr. Phillip Yuhas - Modulating neuroinflammation in the retina and visual system in a mouse model of repeated traumatic brain injury.

Updated 2/17/2026