Members
Principal Investigator
Krishna C. Mudumbi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor/PI, Cell and Developmental Biology
He/Him/His
Krishna completed his undergraduate work at Emory University, after which he worked in industry for some time before getting his Master’s from Saint Joseph’s University working in the lab of Edwin Li on fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) dimerization. He went on to work in Weidong Yang’s lab at Temple University for his graduate studies, where he used single-molecule microscopy to study the distribution of transmembrane proteins on the nuclear envelope, and their transport through the nuclear pore complex. Krishna joined the lab of Mark Lemmon at Yale University, where he was an NCI Early K99 Fellow and used his expertise with single-molecule microscopy to understand the mechanisms of EGFR signaling. The Mudumbi lab opened in January 2025 in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at Vanderbilt University. Krishna has been a passionate advocate of trainees throughout his career and greatly values strong mentorship and sponsorship of his trainees. Outside of the lab, Krishna can be found spending time with his family, enjoying music and playing the guitar, and playing board games (perhaps a bit too competitively)!
Postdoctoral Fellows
Please email Krishna with your CV, names and contact information for 3 letter writers, and a cover letter with the following information:
• A summary of your past research
• Your research interests and why you are interested in joining the lab
• Your career goals
Graduate Students
Brandon Goldstein
Program in Cell and Developmental Biology
He/Him/His
Brandon graduated from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs with a B.S. in Biology. During his time at UCCS, he was an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Olesnicky Lab, where he worked with Drosophila to study the role of the RNA binding protein, Caper, in the developing brain. Following his studies at UCCS, he worked as a Professional Research Assistant at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus in the Dempsey Lab and Organoid and Tissue Modeling Shared Resource (OTMSR). In the Dempsey Lab and OTMSR, Brandon aided in research focused on the intestinal stem cell niche, and via the OTMSR, provided resources and expertise to support the use of novel 3D culture models. Brandon is currently a Ph.D. student in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. He is interested in studying the subcellular organization and trafficking of EGFR. In his free time, he enjoys playing board games, disc golf, and spending time with his two cats, Kylo and Rey.
Isabella Silvestri
Program in Cell and Developmental Biology
She/Her/Hers
Isabella graduated from the University of Rochester with her BS in Biochemistry. During her time at the U of R, she worked in the Gorbunova and Seluanov laboratory studying aging biology. There, she wrote her senior thesis on senescence induction and cancer resistance in non-canonical model organisms, including the African spiny mouse and the naked mole-rat. Isabella is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, and she is primarily interested in studying EGFR receptor dynamics and kinetics. In particular, she is interested in the ‘barcoding’ of EGFR phosphorylation sites and understanding adaptor protein recruitment in response to different ligands. Outside of the lab, Isabella spends time exploring Nashville, hitting the gym, and enjoying music!
Any interested students are encouraged to apply to either the IGP or QCB programs. Currently enrolled students can email Krishna to meet and discuss rotations.
Postbaccalaureate Researchers
Adriana Esposito
She/Her/Hers
Adriana is a research assistant for the Mudumbi Lab at Vanderbilt University. Prior to working at Vanderbilt, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Saint Joseph’s University. To continue her passion for science, Adriana spent a year working as a conservation intern for Longwood Gardens. During her time at Longwood, Adriana found a passion for lab work and tissue culture. Adriana hopes that by contributing to the Mudumbi Lab, she can expand her knowledge on cellular biology, while also making a meaningful impact!
Hunter Lischwe Mueller
He/Him/His
Hunter is a Research Assistant for the Mudumbi lab at Vanderbilt University. Hunter recently completed his Master’s degree in Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan. He joined the Mudumbi Lab to expand his research skillset and contribute to the lab’s ongoing projects. Hunter is eager to build on his experience and further advance the lab’s work in the field.
Undergraduate Students
Elynor Fix
She/Her/Hers
Elynor (or Elinor) is an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University, majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She began her research career studying bacteriophages and is now a member of the Mudumbi lab, where she contributes to research on EGFR signaling kinetics. A fun fact about Elinor is that she became an EMT at the age of 15 and she is also fluent in three languages! Outside of her academic pursuits, Elinor enjoys music and singing, she also loves spending time with her friends and family. Her passion is about combining her diverse experiences to make meaningful contributions in her field.
Khaw Ti Ning
She/Her/Hers
Khaw Ti is an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University, majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She is beginning her research journey at Vanderbilt with the Mudumbi Lab and is passionate about the learning and research experience that the lab has to offer. Before joining the research community, she worked as a medical assistant at Ascension St. Thomas and volunteered with a nonprofit organization. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, running, and spending time with family.
Interested undergraduate students are encouraged to contact Krishna to meet and discuss laboratory research opportunities.