DBBS mentors and educators are key to our training mission. Those who serve as primary mentors are DBBS Program Members, and others who participate in the educational mission are General Members. Learn about DBBS Faculty Membership »
To provide a supportive learning environment for our trainees, many DBBS-affiliated faculty have completed eight or more hours of CIMER-based mentorship training with a trained facilitator, as indicated below with a profile badge.

Find faculty of interest by entering a name, program or expertise keyword in the search bar; selecting a PhD program from the drop-down menu; or selecting the last name initial from the A-Z filter.
Scott Saunders, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: saunders_s@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
General
Research summary
Molecular basis of normal and abnormal development
Key words
development, bone biology, stem cell, heparan sulfate, cell signaling
Barbara Schaal, PhD
Mary-Dell Chilton Distinguished Professor
- Email: schaal@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Research summary
Evolutionary genetics and systematics of plants
Key words
evolution, population genetics, plant biology
Anneliese Schaefer, PhD
Professor
- Email: amschaefer@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
General
Research summary
Key words
Tim Schedl, PhD
Professor
- Email: ts@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Research summary
Control of germline stem cells and meiotic development in C. elegans
Key words
germ cells, C. elegans, genetics, development, functional genomics
Erica Scheller, DDS, PhD
Assistant Professor
- Email: scheller@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Neurosciences
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Research summary
Interactions between the nervous system and the skeleton
Key words
bone, diabetes, nerve, neuropathy, neuroskeletal biology, obesity, metabolism, adipose tissue, adipocyte, high-resolution imaging, advanced quantification, RNAseq, regeneration, healing
Joel Schilling, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: schillij@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Immunology
Research summary
My research is focused on understanding the role of liver macrophages in metabolic liver disease and heart failure. Using pre-clinical models and human samples we seek to discover novel pathways to modulate immune function for patients with cardiometabolic disease and cardiogenic liver disease..
Key words
macrophages, tissue injury, infection, diabetes, heart failure, metabolic liver disease
Suzanne Schindler, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: schindlers@neuro.wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Research summary
Our laboratory develops and validates blood and CSF biomarkers for Alzheimer disease and related disorders
Key words
biomarkers, Alzheimer disease, dementia, diagnostic tests, cognition
Paul Schlesinger, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: pschlesinger@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Research summary
Intracellular ion transport, chloride, protons, mitochondrial channels, phagosome, parasites, bone mineralization
Key words
apoptosis, ion channel, biophysics, bone, physiology, endocytosis, peptides, bacteria, cancer
Robert Schreiber, PhD
Alumni Endowed Professor
- Email: rdschreiber@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Immunology
Cancer Biology
Research summary
Cytokine receptor signaling and immunological protection against tumor development
Key words
cancer, lymphocyte, cytokine, signal transduction, tumor editing
Laura Schuettpelz, MD, PhD
Professor
- Email: schuettpelz_l@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Immunology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Research summary
Regulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by inflammation
Key words
Alan Schwartz, PhD, MD
Alumni Endowed Professor
- Email: schwartzalanl@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Research summary
Receptor-mediated protein targeting and protein degradation
Key words
proteins, receptor, endocytosis, metabolism
Drew Schwartz, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
- Email: Schwartzd@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Computational and Systems Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Research summary
Pediatric gut microbiome and immune disruption in serious bacterial infections
Key words
Microbiome, sepsis, bacteremia, infectious diseases, immune response, pediatrics
Julie Schwarz, MD, PhD
Professor and Vice Chair of Research
- Email: jschwarz@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Research summary
Studying cancer therapy resistance mechanisms in humans and preclinical models
Key words
Tumor metabolism, glycolysis, glutaminolysis, imaging, microenvironment, HPV, immunology, radiation therapy
Rebecca Schwarzlose, PhD
Assistant Professor
- Email: schwarzlose@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Research summary
Neuroimaging studies of sensory processing and atypical sensory responding in children
Key words
functional MRI, development, anxiety, autism, sensory
Clay Semenkovich, MD
Irene E. and Michael M. Karl Professor
- Email: csemenko@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Research summary
Molecular and cell biology of atherosclerosis and diabetes
Key words
aging, atherosclerosis, diabetes, lipids, obesity
Lori Setton, PhD
Professor & Chair
- Email: setton@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Research summary
Understanding the mechanisms for degeneration and regeneration of soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system, including the intervertebral disc, articular cartilage, and meniscus
Key words
Liang Shan, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: liang.shan@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Immunology
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Research summary
HIV infection and host immune response in humanized mouse models
Key words
HIV Infection, Humanized Mouse, Hematopoietic Stem Cell, Immune Response to HIV
Jieya Shao, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: shao.j@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Research summary
Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of novel cancer targets
Key words
cancer, genome stability, targeted therapy, proteostasis, autophagy, DNA replication stress, DNA damage response, phosphorylation
Jin-Yu Shao, PhD
Associate Professor and Associate Chairman
- Email: shao@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Research summary
Cellular and molecular engineering
Key words
blood coagulation, cell/tissue mechanics, inflammation, modeling, molecular biomechanics, protein-protein interaction