Our Team
Describe your team here.
Tibby is a joint MD/PhD student with the Losonczy Lab, which is also part of the Zuckerman Institute. He is currently in his first year of grad school.
Dr. Lomvardas is the Roy and Diana Vagelos Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and a Herbert and Florence Irving Professor of Neuroscience at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute and the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. By studying olfaction, his research aims to understand the molecular mechanisms that give rise to the wide diversity of cell types in the mammalian nervous system.
Nikko joined the lab in August 2024 and is a graduate student in the Neurobiology and Behavior graduate program. He is interested in mechanisms by which external signals such as odors and sound waves are translated into the language of the nervous system. As an MSTP student, he has completed two years of medical school at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Miao Wang, PhD joined the lab in Aug 2023 after completing her doctorate in the lab of Peter Fraser at FSU.
Marianna is an Associate Research Scientist in the Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute
Maëla joined in August 2024 as a postdoctoral researcher co-mentored by Stavros Lomvardas and Franck Polleux. Driven by her fascination with brain development and wiring specificity, Maëla completed her master’s degree at the École Normale Supérieure (Paris, France) and her PhD at the Collège de France (Paris, France) in the team of Fekrije Selimi, focusing on molecular mechanisms of neuron connection specificity.
Her current postdoc research centers on investigating the mechanisms underlying the precise targeting and connectivity of neurons that project to multiple, distinct brain regions. By conducting this research jointly, the aim is to uncover whether different neuron types employ similar strategies to coordinate the guidance and targeting of their extensive, multi-branched axonal projections.
Alongside her research, Maëla actively participates in science communication initiatives, working to make scientific concepts more accessible to the wider public.
Outside the lab, Maëla is an avid traveler and passionate pâtissière, specializing in crème brûlée and strawberry meringue pie. She enjoys adventures with her puppy Cocker Spaniel.
Junming is pursuing his PhD and is a joint student in Shawn Liu's lab.
Joan Pulupa fell in love with microscopy early in her scientific career and never looked back. Joan is interested in how genome organization and nuclear compartmentalization inform gene expression. Today, she uses live-cell microscopy to interrogate the mechanism of olfactory receptor gene regulation in primary olfactory neurons.
After attending Goucher College (Baltimore, MD) and graduating with degrees in physics and biological science, she followed her fascination with molecular machines to study with Sanford M. Simon at Rockefeller University (New York, NY) for graduate school. During her PhD, she developed new ways to monitor protein dynamics in living cells with polarized light microscopy to reveal nuclear pore biology.
Throughout her career, Dr. Pulupa has mentored many students with diverse backgrounds and is committed to building an inclusive laboratory where students and trainees can come together to do science, learn from each other, and grow into future leaders. Outside of the lab, Joan enjoys playing tennis, cooking and baking for friends and family, and going on hikes with her dog.
Isabella joined the lab in August 2023 and is graduate student in the Integrated Program for Biomedical studies. Her interest is in the intersection of the immune and olfactory system, in healthy and diseased states. As an MSTP student, she has already completed two years of medical school at the renowned Vagelos Physicians and Surgeons Medical School at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Christos is a rotation student from the Dept of Biological Sciences.