Deborah Bell-Pedersen

Principal Investigator

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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: dpedersen@bio.tamu.edu

Phone: 979-847-9237

Office: BSBW 210A

TERESA LAMB
Senior Research Associate

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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: tlamb@bio.tamu.edu

Phone: 979-847-9239

Lab: BSBW 210

JOHNNY FAZZINO

Lab Manager and Research Technician

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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: jfazzino@bio.tamu.edu

Phone: 979-847-9239

Lab: BSBW 208

KATHRINA CASTILLO

Postdoc

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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: kcastillo@bio.tamu.edu

Phone: 979-847-9239

Lab: BSBW 208

JENNIFER JUNG

Graduate Student (Genetics)

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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: jjung@bio.tamu.edu

Phone: 979-847-9239

Lab: BSBW 208

Ebimobowei Preh

Graduate Student (Biology)

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Ebi received his Bachelor of Microbiology degree at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Nigeria. He is currently working on investigating the mechanisms of circadian clock control of the activity of the kinase CPC-3. His future goal is to incorporate the knowledge of circadian clocks into the drug making process in the pharmaceutical industry. In his free time, Ebi enjoys playing basketball, watching sports and movies, and spending time with friends.

Email: prehebi@bio.tamu.edu

Phone: 979-847-9239

Lab: BSBW 208

Griffin Best

Graduate Student (Biology)

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Griffin completed his undergraduate at Ohio University and obtained a B.S. in biology. He is currently investigating clock control of tRNA synthetase activity and their role in generating translation rhythms. He is an avid runner, and enjoys skiing, reading, traveling, and beer/wine tastings. Additionally, he watches a lot of movies both good and bad.

 

Email: gbest@bio.tamu.edu

Phone: 979-847-9239

Lab: BSBW 208

Manuel Ramirez

Research Assistant (Biology)

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Manuel earned his B.S. in Biology from Texas A&M University in 2019. While deciding on a career in research or pursuing professional school, he earned his M.S. in Microbiology from his alma mater working in the Bell-Pedersen lab. He is currently a research assistant in the Bell-Pedersen lab continuing his thesis work to uncover regulatory mechanisms behind clock-controlled translation of proteins in Neurospora crassa. In his free time he enjoys playing the cello and spending time with his cat, Destiny. 

 

Email: manuelr19@tamu.edu

Phone: 979-847-9239

Lab: BSBW 210

Tamika Harford

Graduate Student (Biology)

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Tamika earned her B.S. in Biology from Midwestern State University.  She is currently investigating mechanisms involved in clock control of ribosome composition and activity.

 

Email: tharford@bio.tamu.edu

Phone: 979-847-9239

Lab: BSBW 208

Emily Chapa

Undergraduate Beckman Scholar (Biology)

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Email: emily_chapa@tamu.edu

Phone: 979-847-9239

Lab: BSBW 210

Ashwin Viekananthan

Lab Volunteer

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Ashwin earned his B.S. in Biology from Texas A&M University in 2021. He was part of the I-Tasser project during his undergraduate and continued to help as a lab volunteer post-graduation. He is currently applying to medical school. He enjoys playing basketball, taking photos, and baking.

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Email: ashwin2399@tamu.edu

Phone: 979-847-9239

Lab: BSBW 210

Charlie

The Wonder Dog

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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. 

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Email: alldogsareawesome@tamu.edu

Phone: 979-847-9237

Lab: BSBW210A