Principal Investigator
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Dr. Sarah Kucenas
Principal Investigator/Creative Director Sarah is interested in elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate glial-glial interactions in the developing and regenerating nervous system. Her long-term goal is to understand the mechanisms that mediate cellular interactions along developing spinal motor nerves and use this information to better understand how the human nervous system is initially established, maintained, and behaves during disease. Sarah earned a B.Sc. in Biology from Valparaiso University in 2000 and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Pharmacological & Physiological Science from Saint Louis University with Dr. Mark Voigt in 2005. After Dr. Kucenas’ postdoctoral work with Dr. Bruce Appel at Vanderbilt University, she joined the faculty at the University of Virginia in 2009. Sarah is married with a 8-year-old daughter, Madelyn, has 2 dogs, and is an avid swimmer. |
Research Scientist
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Dr. Drew Latimer
Research Scientist
Originally from Augusta, Georgia, Drew received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Presbyterian College and his Ph.D. in Dr. Bruce Appel’s laboratory at Vanderbilt University, where the focus of his thesis was the role of Delta-Notch signaling in cell fate specification at the embryonic zebrafish midline. Drew was a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Jason Jessen’s laboratory at Vanderbilt and studied extracellular matrix formation and function during zebrafish gastrulation. Following this he was an Assistant Research Scientist in Dr. Jonathan Gitlin’s lab at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. At the MBL he investigated the role of copper during zebrafish development, energy production and growth. Drew joined the Kucenas lab in 2016 to study the molecular diversity of peripheral glia. He likes growing vegetables, IPAs, reading, and mountains.
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Post Doctoral Fellows
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Dr. Laura Fontenas
Post Doctoral Fellow
Laura received her undergraduate degree in Animal Physiology and Neuroscience from the University of Poitiers in France. She then went on to get her M.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Paris-Sud. In the laboratory of Dr. Tawk at the University of Paris-Sud Laura worked on her PhD from 2012-2015 studying peripheral nervous system myelination in zebrafish. Laura joined the Kucenas lab in 2016 to characterize the development and interaction of glial cells at the motor exit point. When not in lab, Laura enjoys drinking wine and sampling craft beers. She also bakes delicious French treats!
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Dr. Inge Werkman
Post Doctoral FellowInge obtained her Bachelors in Life, Science & Technology at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, majoring in biomedical sciences & molecular life sciences. She then followed a so-called “topmasters” program called Medical and Pharmaceutical Drug Innovation (MPDI), meaning that students are only admitted after a strict selection procedure, focusing on neurological diseases. At the end of her masters she wrote a PhD research proposal that was selected by the Graduate School of Medical Sciences of the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Her PhD focused on the heterogeneity of glial cells between the grey and white matter in the brain. More specifically, she studied how astrocytes from the grey and white matter affect oligodendrocyte progenitor cell behavior and myelination, using primary cultures of rat brain cells. As a new Post Doctoral fellow in the Kucenas lab, Inge will study glial cell tiling and debris clearance within the zebrafish spinal cord. Next to science, Inge loves to drink wine and play boardgames with friends, listen or read fantasy books like “the Wheel of Time” and loves to dance salsa.
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Graduate Students
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Maria Ali
Graduate Student
Originally born in Oxfordshire, England to active-duty Air Force parents, Maria considers her home to be Northern Virginia where she attended middle and high school. Maria received her B.S. in Neuroscience in 2014 from the College of William & Mary. There, she was named a W&M scholar. Maria began her training at UVA in fall of 2015 where she received the Hearst Minority Fellowship in the Biological and Physical Sciences and membership in the Mentoring Institute. In 2016, Maria was appointed to the Biotechnology Training Program, an NIH sponsored training grant focused on providing trainees exposure to Ph.D. career paths outside of academia. In 2019, Maria received a NIH NINDS Pre-Doctoral National Research Service Award for her project studying oligodendrocyte progenitor cell tiling (F31NS108660). Maria’s passion for diversity and inclusion in higher education led her to found the Organization for UnderRepresented Students (OURS) at UVA and co-chair the Diversifying Scholarship Research Conference.
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Kim Arena
Graduate Student
Kim's passion for science originated in her hometown of Cold Spring Harbor, New York. She received her undergraduate degree from Duke University in 2016 with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Psychology. At UVa, Kim joined the Kucenas Lab in 2017 and is interested in the mechanisms that drive perineurial glia migration in the PNS following injury. Outside of lab, Kim enjoys running, hiking, bouldering, visiting friends and family, and watching Duke Basketball beat UNC.
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Ashtyn Wiltbank
Graduate Student
Ashtyn received her B.Sc. in Neuroscience and a minor in Chemistry from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, UT. At UVA, she is working on her PhD in Neuroscience and is currently studying the role of cd59 in myelinating glial cell development. In her spare time, Ashtyn enjoys reading, creating art, visiting museums, hiking and camping. She is also an avid fan of Harry Potter, Mario Maker, and board games.
Evan Brown Graduate Student Evan grew up on the shores of Virginia Beach. He earned a B.A. in Biology from the University of Virginia while completing the department's Distinguished Majors Program. Evan's science career has led him down curious paths: from genetic and ecological characteristics of domesticated sunflower, to fruit fly dorsal-ventral patterning, and to renal dysfunction in mice. In 2018, he found a home in the Kucenas lab as a Biology PhD student, where he studies the development of glial-neuronal signaling within dorsal root ganglia and the role of satellite glia in pain disorders. Aside from science, Evan enjoys running, engaging in local politics, and [very] loud music. Kendra Liu
Graduate Student Kendra earned a B.S. in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (emphasis in Neurobiology) as well as Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona. Her research involved reconstructing neuron-glia networks in D. melanogaster with Prof. Lynne Oland and Prof. Leslie Tolbert. Afterwards, she traveled abroad to complete a M.Phil in Life Science under the direction of Prof. Karl Herrup at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology using yeast to examine the vesicular mechanisms behind disease-associated kinases. Besides exploring the wonderful world of glia, Kendra enjoys cycling, cats, and cheese. |
Fish Facility Manager
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Fish Facility Manager
Lori got her B.S. in Human Services form Virginia Tech in 1992. She went on to get her Associate's of Applied Animal Science from Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology in 1999. In the past, she has been a Counselor for Dually-Diagnosed Adults and a Veternary Technician specializing in Emergency Medicine. Lori is currently in charge of fish husbandry and maintence of our facility in the Kucenas Lab. Outside of the lab, Lori is a FEMA K-9 search specialist and works closely with her rescue dog, Sarge. Lori also enjoys running, eatting chocolate, and reading mysteries.
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Research Technician
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Melanie PillerResearch Technician
Melanie graduated from UVA in 2019 with a B.S. in Biology with highest distinction. She started in the lab in her first year as an undergraduate and was named a Beckman Scholar in 2018. Melanie is looking forward to continuing her work studying signaling pathways involved in the MEP transition zone. In her free time, Melanie enjoys triathlon, hiking, and cooking. |
Undergraduate Researchers
REBECCA WU
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VIRGINIA HEFNER
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