Principal Investigator
Jeffrey Savas, PhD
Investigating how altered protein turnover contributes to synaptic dysfunction, neurodegeneration, and aging.
Blue Zaire Frontosas
Bloop bloop blub bloop blub bloob blub.
Research Assistant Professor
Yi-Zhi Wang, PhD
NARSAD / BBRF Young Investigator (2019-2021)
Characterizing synapse type specific proteomes in the striatum and the role of exosomes in synaptic communicaiton. Pubmed
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Ewa Bomba-Warczak, PhD
NINDS NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow (2018-19)
NINDS K99 Pathway to Independence Award (2023-2025)
The role of long-lived mitochondrial proteins the aging brain. Pubmed
Arun Upadhyay, PhD
Savas and Vassar lab Postdoctoral Fellow
Determining the structure of amyloid fibrils and investigating synaptic protein degradation. Pubmed
Miguel Ramirez, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Characterizing the impact of impaired cochlear proteostasis in noise induced hearing loss. Pubmed
Prashanth Ciryam, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow / medical student
Investigating how hampered translation impacts neurodegeneration. Pubmed
Thaiany Quevedo Melo, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Establishing iN models of Alzheimer’s disease. Pubmed
Graduate Students
Nalini Rao, MS
NIA NRSA predoctoral fellow (2022-2024)
Determining the drivers of synaptic dysfunction in AD. Pubmed
Technical Staff
Anika Wilen, BS
Research Technician
Searching for biomarkers to classify forms of dementia.
Kamil Gebis, BS
Research Technician
Defining synapse specific proteins and exosome mediated communication in the CNS
David Gapen Watrous, BS
Research Technician
Isolating mtDNA from the brain.
Undergraduate Students
Olivia DeGulis
Investigating the role of levetiracetam in treating amyloid pathology in AD.
Hall of Fame
Blaire Lee (2021-2022): M.D. student, George Washington University
Seby Edassery (2019-2021): Director at Mass Spec Lab at Loyola University of Chicago
Tim Hark, PhD. (2015-2021): Patent Specialist at Nixon Peabody LLP
Jintao Yu, M.D. (2019-2021): M.D. at Wuhan Union Hospital
Natalia Khalatyan (2017-2019): PhD candidate at Northwestern University
Samuel Smukowski (2016 – 2018): PhD candidate at UW Seattle
Nopporn Jongkamonwiwat (2016 – 2018): Assistant Professor at Mahidol University, Thailand
Lap-Heng Keung (2016 – 2018): M.D. student at Medical College of Wisconsin
Kira Cozzolino (2015 – 2017): PhD student at CU Boulder