People

Principal Investigator

Gregor Neuert

Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Associate Professor, Pharmacology

I have a diverse interdisciplinary background, having obtained an M.Eng. in Technical Physics from Technical University Ilmenau, Montana State University, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory with a focus on surface science and solid-state physics. After graduation, I shifted my research focus to biophysics and earned a Ph.D. in Physics under the guidance of Dr. Hermann Gaub at Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, Germany. As a DFG Postdoctoral Fellow in the departments of physics and biology at MIT, I studied the underlying mechanisms of signal transduction and gene regulation with Dr. Alexander van Oudenaarden. I started my independent lab at Vanderbilt University with the support of an NIH Directors New Innovator Award and was later appointed as a Vanderbilt School of Medicine Basic Sciences Dean’s Faculty Fellow in 2021. My primary scientific interest lies in utilizing quantitative methods to unravel the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction and gene regulation. When not working, I enjoy engaging in various hobbies such as cooking, baking, hiking, camping, and appreciating the arts.

Postdoctoral Fellows

Catherine Leasure

ASPIRE Postdoctoral Fellow, BRET - Vanderbilt School of Medicine

Catherine received her B.S. in Genetics with a minor in Horticulture from Texas A&M University in 2017. After a year in the IGP program at Vanderbilt, she joined the Skaar laboratory where she studied heme homeostasis in Staphylococcus aureus and host stress sensing in Bacillus anthracis. She earned her Ph.D. in 2023 and is currently the ASPIRE to Innovate Postdoctoral fellow at Vanderbilt University. In this role, she is working to commercialize a cutting-edge technology that was developed at Vanderbilt.

Graduate Students

Blythe Hospelhorn

Graduate Student, Human Genetics

As an undergraduate student, I majored in with a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences from the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY. Before joining the IGP program, I worked for two years full time as a postbaccalaureate fellow for the Undiagnosed Diseases Program (UDP) at the National Institutes of Health. I am currently a graduate student in the Human Genetics (HGEN) program. My research as an NIH Big Biomedical Data Science (BIDS) Training Grant Fellow focuses on the quantitative understanding of transcription regulation in eukaryotic cells. I enjoy coding frivolous programs, audio engineering, and voice acting in my free time.

Jason Hughes

Gradaute Student, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

I graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maryland in Baltimore. I am currently a graduate student in the Molecular Physiology and Biophysics program. My research as an NIH ITED Training Grant and NSF predoctoral Fellow focuses on the quantitative understanding of transcription regulation in single cells. In my free time, I enjoy playing board games, breakdancing, playing musical instruments, and going to the symphony.

Research Assistant

John Adams

Research Assistant I, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

As an undergraduate student, I earned a B.S. with a major in Microbiology and a minor in Chinese language and culture from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. After graduating, I worked as a molecular biologist at Aegis Sciences Corporation involved in COVID-19 testing. I am responsible for lab management and the support of lab members. In my free time, I am an avid runner and enjoy reading philosophy and watching films of dubious quality.

There is no people with Undergraduate Students tag

Alumni

Savindu Buluwana

Undergraduate Student , Molecular and Cellular Biology

First position after graduating: Undergraduate student in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Vanderbilt University

Zachary Fox

Visiting Graduate Student, Munsky lab, CSU

Current Position

Robin Hohe

Visiting Master Student, Position after leaving: Innovation Manager, Voith Paper, Germany

Current Position

Hossein Jashnsaz

Research Instructor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

First position after graduating: QSP Scientist at Johnson & Johnson

Linked

Amanda Johnson

Post-doctoral Fellow, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

Fist position after graduating: Freelance Scientific and Medical Writer

Benjamin K Kesler

Graduate Student, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

As an undergraduate student, I majored with a B.Sc. in Neuroscience and with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Arizona. I am currently a graduate student in the Molecular Physiology and Biophysics program. My research as an NIH Molecular Biophysics Training Grant Fellow focuses on the quantitative understanding of long non-coding RNA regulation in eukaryotic cells. In my free time, I like to play the trumpet, video games, and board games.