Program Committee
Shihoko Kojima
Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Co-Director, MCB Graduate Program
The Kojima lab deciphers genetic codes of biological rhythms to understand how the molecular machinery controls circadian biochemistry, physiology and ultimately behavior. This research integrates neuroscience, molecular/cellular biology, genomics, bioinformatics and computational biology.
Timothy Jarome
Associate Professor, School of Animal Sciences
Co-Director, MCB Graduate Program
The Jarome lab uses a variety of behavioral, molecular and genetic approaches to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control memory formation and modification in neurons. Current projects in the lab examine the role of epigenetic mechanisms and the ubiquitin-proteasome system in memory storage processes.
Aaron Gross
Associate Professor, Department of Entomology
The goal of my research program is to identify new physiological targets that can be used to develop insecticides that control arthropods that impact human and animal health along with agriculture, to investigate the reasons why pesticides lose their efficacy in the field (molecular mechanisms of resistance), but also to understand the dynamic interaction that occurs between arthropod pests and their hosts for the development of novel intervention strategies.
Joshua Drake
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise
The Drake lab investigates mitochondrial quality control in the context of aging, primarily in post-mitotic tissues (e.g. skeletal muscle). Specifically, the lab is interested in how damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria are targeted for degradation (i.e mitophagy), the negative impacts of aging on these processes, and strategies to manipulate them to promote healthy aging.
Nisha Duggal
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology
Nisha Duggal’s research is focused on the co-evolution of emerging mosquito-borne viruses and their hosts. The lab studies Zika virus sexual transmission in humans and West Nile virus pathogenesis in birds using molecular virology and phylogenetics tools in order to identify mechanisms of viral emergence and disease.
Bryan Hsu
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
The Hsu lab uses an inter-disciplinary approach (microbiology, synthetic biology, and biomaterials) towards understanding and remodeling the gut microbiota. A particular area of interest is the discovery of new phages and genetic engineering of these phages for anti-bacterial and anti-virulence applications.
Eva Schmelz
Professor, Dept. of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise
The focus of the Schmelz lab is ovarian cancer prevention with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms that promote peritoneal metastasis. The group is specifically interested in obesity-induced changes, bioactive sphingolipid signaling pathways, and biophysical stresses.