Marc Facciotti works in genetics, systems biology, and synthetic biology. He is currently interested exploring new, more integrated, approaches to engineering mammalian tissues by pursuing questions at the interface between genomic systems and synthetic biology. Facciotti is the program director for an HHMI Inclusive Excellence award and is also invested in creating more inclusive STEM training environments on campus.

Diasynou Fioravante studies the synaptic and cellular neurophysiology of small neural networks in the context of learning and memory. Her lab is particularly interested in understanding the activity-dependent principles that govern the formation of anatomical and dynamic functional microcircuits as well as identifying novel neural networks that regulate learning and memory.

Christopher Fraser explores the mechanism and regulation of mRNA translation in humans. Specifically, his lab works to identify and understand the fundamental mechanisms by which mRNAs are preferentially selected for translation and how their translational efficiency is regulated.

Melanie Gareau studies the microbiota-gut-brain axis, with a particular focus on the factors that shape the development of the axis during early post-natal life.

Aldrin Gomes, 2017 Chancellor’s Fellow, examines the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction, particularly in the role of protein homeostasis in cardiovascular disease.  Two main research areas are the role of the proteasome and immunoproteasome in cardiac and skeletal muscles, and the role of troponin in calcium regulation of muscle contraction in cardiomyopathies.

Theanne Griffith investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the transmission of thermal sensations in both health and disease. Researchers in her lab aim to identify the ion channels and receptors that constitute the transmission machinery in thermosensitive sensory neurons, and understand how their function is regulated under physiological and pathological conditions. To accomplish this, they use an innovation combination of patch-clamp electrophysiology, behavior, molecular profiling, and imaging in a mouse model.

Cecilia Giulivi's research focuses on the mitochondrial biology that underlies different pathophysiological cases including autism, schizophrenia, Huntington's and fragile X tremor and ataxia syndrome.

Gene Gurkoff conducts translational and basic research on brain injury and methods to moderate the effects of neurologic disorders, in particular traumatic brain injury and epilepsy. Projects include investigating how neural connectivity changes in the injured brain, and potential therapies including both pharmacological and deep brain stimulation. He is a member of the CounterACT Center of Excellence, a team of scientists evaluating the effects of organophosphate-induced epilepsy and the Center for Neuroengineering and Medicine because of his interest in analyzing neural activity and developing novel therapeutic tools.

The Wolf-Dietrich Heyer laboratory studies the mechanism and regulation of recombinational DNA repair. Their studies integrate biophysical, biochemical, cell biological and genetic approaches, with translational studies that aim at harnessing the knowledge of the basic mechanisms of recombinational DNA repair to improve the understanding of cancer etiology and develop novel concepts in anti-tumor therapy.

Wilsaan Joiner studies how humans use information to aid behavior ranging from visual perception to movement planning and updating. Specifically, he examines how external and internally-generated sensory information is integrated in healthy individuals, in comparison to impaired populations (e.g., people with schizophrenia and upper extremity amputees). Achieving this understanding may lead to better methods for diagnosing and treating impairments of the nervous system.