Deborah Bell-Pedersen
Principal Investigator
Deb is a Professor and Associate Department Head in the Biology Department at Texas A&M University, a member of the Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, and an executive member of the Center for Research on Biological Clocks. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms for how the circadian clock functions in organisms to regulate daily rhythms in behavior, physiology, and biochemistry. She has published more than 70 articles, reviews, and book chapters, and funding from the National Institutes of Health provides support for her work. She has held numerous leadership roles in her field, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms and the Fungal Genetics Society, and she is a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. In her spare time, she likes to ride her horse Hallie and play the violin.
Email:
Phone: 979-847-9237
Office: BSBW 210A
TERESA LAMB
Senior Research Associate
Teresa earned her Ph.D in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley in the lab of Dr. Richard Harland studying early neural development and patterning in X. laevis (African clawed frog). She then switched ponds and fields to do post-doctoral work at Columbia University in the lab of Dr. Aaron Mitchell studying the control of meiosis and environmental responses in S. cerevisiae (bakers yeast). She is now in the middle, here at Texas A&M, studying the molecular details of how the circadian clock drives overt rhythms in gene expression, physiology, and development in the orange bread mold (N. crassa), an excellent model system for eukaryotic oscillators. Outside of lab, she enjoys spending time with her two F1s, cooking, camping, traveling and reading.
Email:
Phone: 979-847-9239
Lab: BSBW 210
JOHNNY FAZZINO
Lab Manager and Research Technician
Johnny received his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science and his Master of Science in Nutrition from Texas A&M University. He keeps the lab running smoothly! In his spare time he enjoys personal training/fitness and going to the movies.
Email:
Phone: 979-847-9239
Lab: BSBW 208
KATHRINA CASTILLO
Postdoc
Kat earned her PhD in Molecular Biology from Texas A&M University in 2015 with Dr. Terry L. Thomas. Her dissertation focused on the activity of G protein-coupled receptors found in the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae involved in plant pathogenicity. She thenjoined the Bell-Pedersen lab to gain experience in sequencing and big data analysis. The lab did not disappoint as her current projects involve analyzing ribosome profiling, RNA-seq and mass spectroscopy data, to understand how the circadian clock controls protein synthesis. Her goal is to be able to apply her chemistry (B.S. and M.S.) and biology (Ph.D. and post-doc) skills in industry. Outside the lab, she enjoys building play forts, karaoke, and doing crazy dance moves with her family.
Email:
Phone: 979-847-9239
Lab: BSBW 208
SHANTA (ANJI) KARKI
Graduate Student (Biology)
Shanta earned a Masters degree in Medical Microbiology from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. She investigated the antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of bacteria isolated from wound infections of patients in Kanti Children's Hospital. After finishing her MS degree, she joined the PhD program at Texas A&M University. Currently, she is studying clock regulation of translation initiation through phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) in Neurospora crassa. Her future goal is to apply her knowledge and skills in circadian biology to a career in the pharmaceutical industry. Outside of the lab, she likes to hangout with her friends,cook, travel and explore new things.
Email:
Phone: 979-847-9239
Lab: BSBW 208
JENNIFER JUNG
Graduate Student (Genetics)
Jennifer graduated with a B.S. in Biology from the University of North Texas in 2014 and the following year (2015) started working toward her PhD in Genetics at Texas A&M University. She is currently investigating the potential role of certain transcription factors (and the network they form) in phase regulation of downstream clock output. After she graduates, Jennifer is considering a career in academia and hopes for a great post-doc to help confirm her decision. In her free time, Jennifer likes to ice skate, ride horses, and play various strategy games.
Email:
Phone: 979-847-9239
Lab: BSBW 208
ZHAOLAN DING
Graduate Student (Biology)
Zhaolan got her Bachelor of Science degree at China Agricultural University in Beijing in Biology. She worked in Dr. He's lab to study Neurospora circadian clocks for two years in college. She chose to continue to work on circadian clocks in Neurospora in graduate school at Texas A&M University with Dr. Bell-Pedersen. Currently, she is studying the role of phosphatases in the circadian regulation of translation initiation and elongation factors. Her future goal is to be a professor in China to study circadian clocks. Besides research, Zhaolan is also a big fan of badminton, swimming and snow skiing.
Email:
Phone: 979-847-9239
Lab: BSBW 208
RACHEL PORTER
Undergraduate Honors Student
Beckman and Research Scholar
Rachel is a Molecular and Cellular Biology major, with minors in Chemistry and Mathematics. She attend graduate school to pursue a career in biological research. As a freshman, she worked in the Lockless Lab to study potassium channels in E. coli. Now, in the Bell-Pedersen Lab, she works in N. crassa studying circadian clock control of ribosomal protein composition. Rachel will be presenting her research in the Undergraduate Research Scholars Symposium on campus, as well as at the 30th Fungal Genetic Conference in Pacific Grove, California and the Beckman Symposium in Irvine, California in the coming year. As a finalist in the national ASM Agar Art Competition, Rachel enjoys creating artwork inside and outside of the lab.
Email:
Phone: 979-847-9239
Lab: BSBW 208
OLIVIA KERR
Undergraduate Student
Olivia is currently working on her BS in Biology at Texas A&M. She enjoys her classes and applying what she learned to the lab. Her future goal is to attend medical school to become a physician, and her experience in the lab has encouraged her to pursue research opportunities in medical school. Outside of the lab,she enjoys tutoring students in organic chemistry, spending time with friends, and participating as a counselor in Fish Camp, a freshmen orientation program at Texas A&M.
Email:
Phone: 979-847-9239
Lab: BSBW 208
Elias Topo
Undergraduate Honors Student
Research Scholar
Email: eliastopo.tamu.edu
Phone: 979-847-9239
Lab: BSBW 208
ISAIAH SAMORA
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
Isaiah is inspired by science and math, specifically because there never seems to be a limit to what can be accomplished. It has always been a dream of his to make a new discovery, something that impacts modern science or technology. Some interests include running, working out, and playing tennis. He is also fond of the horror genre, books or movies, however because recent horror movies have been very dry, he switched to reading horror novels.
Email:
Phone: 979-847-9239
Lab: BSBW 208
Charlie
The Wonder Dog
Seated in Deb's office with her bestie Kip the Corgi. Stop by BSBW 210 and meet Charlie and Kip!! Her favorite things to do are to greet students, get treats, play with Kip, and take walks around campus.
Email:
Phone: 979-847-9237
Lab: BSBW210A