Faculty

Biochemistry; protein structure and function relationships; protein dynamics; chemotaxis in bacteria.

Molecular mechanisms of self/non-self recognition in non-vertebrates; characterization of stem cells and development processes underlying regeneration and aging.

I hold a doctorate in immunology and hematopoietic stem cell development. My current work in biology education focuses on helping students thrive in college, especially those from marginalized backgrounds. My lab explores how sense of belonging impacts student persistence and success, as well as quantifying cognitive engagement linked to academic outcomes.

Biochemistry and Cell Biology of Neuronal Development; Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases; Structure, Function and Regulation of the Microtubule Associated Protein, Tau; Cytoskeletal Regulation.

Molecular genetics of plant development; analysis of abscisic acid signaling networks.

Combining biochemistry and cell biology to understand the regulation of membrane-bound organelles.

The overarching goal of my research is to better understand how the mammalian neocortex processes and stores incoming sensory information.

Discipline Based Educational Research. Effect of pedagogical strategies and course structures on student success. Mentoring and learning communities as responses to education disparities.

Molecular genetics and biochemistry of bacterial contact-dependent growth inhibition (CDI) systems; mechanisms of tmRNA- and ArfA-mediated ribosome rescue.

Neural circuit dynamics and behavior; navigation in a visual environment; neural mechanisms of object selection and decision-making.

Neural plasticity including the molecular basis of plasticity, the evolution of synapses, and disease-related impairments of plasticity such as occurs in Alzheimer's disease.

The overarching focus of the Kranzfelder lab is developing evidence-based knowledge, practices, and assessments to improve biology (and STEM) teaching and learning at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, especially at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).

Molecular mechanisms of signal transduction; Alzheimer's Disease and other protein aggregation/misfolding diseases; molecular biology, enzymology, and protein structure/function.

Combining theory and experimentation to understand how navigational decisions come about in terms of neural-circuit computation.

Virus-host interaction.

Microbial pathogenesis; innate and adaptive immune responses to infection; microbial sepsis; vaccine and antimicrobial development.

Combination of molecular, genetic, and state-of-the-art imaging approaches to define and solve fundamental questions in cell and developmental biology with implications for neurodegenerative disease, ischemic diseases and cancer.

Molecular and cellular basis of animal behavior in flies and mosquitoes.

Tuning macrophage signaling for cancer therapy.

We investigate DNA repair mechanisms and use this knowledge to improve gene editing.

Regulation of development and differentiation; regulation of programmed cell death and cell division; mechanisms of tumorigenesis.

Safinya’s research revolves around elucidation of structures and interactions in assemblies of biological molecules and soft matter systems, including, liquid crystalline biological matter.

Genetics, Neural Circuits, and Motor sequences.

Developmental genetics and morphogenesis of the primitive chordate Ciona.

Information processing by neural circuitry with a special focus on the role of active dendrites in nonlinear modes of synaptic integration.

The Volland Lab focuses on exploring and understanding uncultivated, giant bacteria, like Thiomargarita magnifica, to challenge traditional views of bacterial life and uncover fundamental processes of life through innovative microscopy and genomic techniques.

Structure-properties relationships in loadbearing marine biomolecular materials, e.g. from mussels, squid and whelks, at different length and time scales to design new materials.

Investigation of molecular mechanisms underlying polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and related renal diseases. Membrane trafficking and epithelial cell polarity.

Combines tools from Biology, Engineering, and Physics to understand the cell’s perceptual field.

Instruction and mentorship of biology majors; research into how mentorship and improved course structure influence student academic success and retention in the major.

An evolutionary biologist using genomic and epigenomic tools to study regulatory evolution.