Mentorship Certified

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Neurosciences
Computational and Systems Biology

Research summary
The Albanus lab studies the molecular genomics of aging. Age is the strongest risk factor for neurodegeneration and many chronic diseases, yet some people reach extreme ages, or carry high-risk genetic variants, without developing them. We want to understand what separates these individuals from everyone else. Which genetic variants and molecular pathways mediate age-related disease risk, and which compensatory mechanisms protect against it? To answer these questions, we generate and analyze single-cell and spatial multi-omic data from human postmortem brain tissue, spanning cognitively healthy “super-agers”, young donors, and individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, and from genetically diverse mouse models. Our research is highly collaborative, and PhD students are encouraged to pursue new directions (e.g. in collaboration with other groups, we also apply spatial multi-omics to precision oncology). Students can pursue primarily computational projects or combine computational analysis with experimental validation in iPSC-derived and mouse systems.

Key words
Genomics, Aging, Neurodegeneration, Cerebrovascular dysfunction, Genetic risk, Genetic resilience, Longevity

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
My research aims to understand the lung vascular homeostasis and the pathogenesis of pulmonary diseases using novel animal models, integrated pharmacological approaches, genome editing and single cell RNA-sequencing and spatial transcriptomics.

Key words
cardiovascular, lung, vascular, single cell, spatial transcriptomic

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science

Research summary
Mammalian gene expression: Regulation through mRNA editing and RNA stabilization

Key words
gene expression, RNA, cancer, mRNA editing, mRNA stability

Program affiliation
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Computational and Systems Biology
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
We integrate metabolic, movement, and community ecology to address core and applied ecological and evolutionary questions. Spanning diverse species and habitats, our research links individual physiology to global biodiversity patterns using theory, data, experiments, and field studies. We aim to understand ecological systems, including human impacts, to inform effective management and policy.

Key words
metabolism, movement ecology, community ecology, behavior, species interactions, human-nature interactions, biogeography, global change, computer vision, eco-informatics, complex systems, biodiversity, great river systems, ecological management

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Neurosciences

Research summary
Developing therapies and studying the impact of lysosomal storage disorders in animal models and in trials

Key words

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology

Research summary

Key words

Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
Molecular mechanisms of cytoskeleton organization and function

Key words
cytoskeleton, molecular motors, cell morphogenesis, cell wall biogenesis, plant biology

Program affiliation
Human and Statistical Genetics
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Cancer Biology

Research summary
Identifying preventive strategies to reduce cancer disparities

Key words

Program affiliation
Neurosciences

Research summary
Movement and Neurodegenerative Disease

Key words
gait, balance, Parkinson disease, motor control, movement, neurodegeneration, neuroimaging, neurorehabilitation

Program affiliation
Computational and Systems Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Human and Statistical Genetics

Research summary
We develop new computational and experimental approaches to understand the roles of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in neurodevelopment and cancer

Key words
bioinformatics, cancer, cancer genomics, epigenetics, epigenomics, neurodevelopment, transcriptional regulation