Amy Lee, Ph.D.
Amy received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Virginia with Kevin Lynch working on adrenergic receptor localization in the brain. She developed an interest in Ca2+ channels during her postdoctoral training with Bill Catterall at the University of Washington. She is broadly interested in how Ca2+ channel regulation, by a variety of factors, controls cellular function in the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Aside from doing experiments and brainstorming with people in the lab, Amy enjoys running, biking, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Research Scientists
Sodikdjon Kodirov, Ph.D.
Sodikdjon earned an MS in Physiology and a PhD in Biophysics from Saint Petersburg University, Russia with Vladimir L. Zhuravlev. He also earned a PhD in Internal Medicine from University of Heidelberg, Germany with Johannes Brachmann. Since then, he has been intensively involved in research addressing neural control of cardiac function in mollusks as well as properties of cardiac and neuronal ion channels, and synaptic plasticity in mammals.
Postdocs
Keith Bryan, Ph.D.
Keith received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the University of Iowa with Peter Rubenstein working on mutations in γ-non-muscle actin that cause DFNA20/26, an autosomal dominant non-syndromic form progressive hearing loss. He is broadly interested in how auditory hair cells, the primary sound-transducing cells of the inner ear, function in hearing. Currently, he is investigating the role of CaBPs in ion channel modulation and determining the role of CaBP5 in hair cell function. Besides performing experiments, Keith enjoys golfing, motorcycling, watching college football & wrestling, lifting weights, and spending time with his wife and children.
Elizabeth Scholl, Ph.D.
Liz received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from Tufts University in Boston, where she worked on identifying mechanisms that target potassium channels to efferent synapses in cochlear hair cells. She joined the Lee lab in 2012 to continue to pursue her interest in synaptic ion channels. She is currently studying the function and regulation of voltage-gated calcium channels at synapses in the cochlea and in the brain. When she's not in the lab, Liz loves cooking, knitting, swimming, camping, and spending time with friends and family.
Grad Students
Kristin Kim, B.S.
Kristin received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. She began nurturing her passion for science when she joined the Lee Lab as a Research Specialist. During this time, Kristin developed an interest in Ca2+ channels. Currently, Kristin is focused on studying the role of Ca2+ binding proteins (CaBPs) expressed in neurons. Outside of the lab, Kristin spends her time reading, cooking with friends, knitting, watching movies, and doing yoga.
Shi Yi Wang, B.S.
Shi Yi received her Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacology from University College London in the United Kingdom in 2011. She came to the Lee lab to explore the interactions of L-type Ca2+ channels and Densin-180 in the summer of 2011. At present, she is PhD student in Physiology and is studying the roles of Densin and RGS14 in ion channel regulation. Except spending time with proteins, she enjoys listening to music, reading, doing yoga, travelling and talking with her parents on Skype.
Nick Leymaster, B.S., M.S.
Nick received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Iowa. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. He is interested in regulation and trafficking of ion channel complexes in cardiomyocytes. Currently, Nick is investigating structural and regulatory components of the Cav1.3 channel and their roles in atrial cardiomyocytes. Outside of the lab, Nick enjoys going to concerts and football games, boating, baking bread, and watching movies.
Jessica Thomas, B.S.
Jessica Thomas received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Alabama State University in 2010. Broadly she is interested in the mechanisms in that underlie learning and memory. She came to the Lee lab in the summer of 2011 to explore the modulatory effects of RGS14 on L-type Ca2+ channels. At present, she is PhD student in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program and is studying the roles of neurotransmitters and G proteins in ion channel regulation. Outside of lab, she enjoys signing, traveling, and hanging with friends.
Research Associates
Xiaoni Liu, B.S.
Xiaoni received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Grinnell College in 2010 and joined the Lee Lab as a Research Assistant later in the same summer. Currently, Xiaoni is focused on studying the trafficking of Cav1.4 channel in the photoreceptors. When not working, Xiaoni enjoys traveling, playing piano, and doing Zumba.
Lab Manager
Bhuvana Parampalli, B.A.
Bhuvana received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism, Psychology and Literature from Bangalore University, India. She joined Lee lab the summer of 2012 as Administrative Services Coordinator. In the past, she has served as an Office Assistant at the University of Michigan and Georgia Health Sciences. Currently, she manages general lab administrative duties and as a secretary for Dr. Amy Lee. She enjoys reading, gardening, cooking and spending time with her family.
Undergraduate Students
Natalia Cardona
Natalia is currently a Biomedical Engineering Senior. She is interested in the characterization of L-type calcium channels in the heart. She is investigating the differential degradation of Cav1.3 splice variants through a Ubiquitin dependent mechanism. Outside of the lab, she enjoys gymnastics meets, cooking, baking, watching movies and spending time with friends and family.
Undergraduate Assistants
Shahana Kanchwala
Hyeong Jin (Daniel) Soh
Megan Hodson
Haniya Khalid
Viana Nguyen
Thao Do