Lab Members

Principal Investigator

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 6-year-old daughter, Madelyn, has 2 dogs and is an avid swimmer.

Research Scientist

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.

Post Doctoral Fellow

Dr. Laura Fontenas

Post Doctoral Fellow

Laura recieved 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 labratory 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 rock and roll music, reading, swimming, getting new tattoos, and sampling craft beers. She also bakes delicious French treats!

Graduate Students

Yunlu Zhu

Graduate Student

Yunlu received his B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in 2013. In the Kucenas lab, Yunlu studies interactions and coordinations of glia and motor neurons at the CNS/PNS transition zone at the ventral motor root during nervous system development. Types of cells that he is interested in includes motor neurons, neural crest cells and perineurial glia. In his spare time, Yunlu likes to practice Wu-style TaiChi Quan and take photos. He is also a multi-instrumanlist.

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. Maria is currently interested oligodendrocyte progenitor cell spacing. Outside of the lab her favorite hobbies are crafting, beer tasting, and sleeping.

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.

Ashtyn Smith

Graduate Student

In May of 2015, Ashtyn received her B.Sc. in Neuroscience and a minor in Chemistry from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, UT. She began her PhD in Neuroscience in June of 2015 and is currently studying the molecular mechanisms that shape Schwann cell heterogeneity. Ashtyn also enjoys volunteering and promoting community science education. In her spare time, Ashtyn likes reading, creating art, visiting museums, hiking and camping.

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. There, he worked with Dr. Benjamin Blackman investigating genetic and ecological characteristics of the domesticated sunflower. Evan's science career has led him from studying fruitfly dorsal-ventral patterning to renal dysfunction in mice. He joined the Kucenas lab in 2018, where he studies the development and function of satellite glial cells. Aside from science, Evan enjoys running, engaging in local politics, and spending time with his fiance and their cat, Toast.

Fish Facility Manager

Lori Tocke

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.