Mark J. Zylka, Ph.D., Director, UNC Neuroscience Center

W.R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor
American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow

I received my B.S. in Biochemistry at Virginia Tech, spent three summers at the NIH as an IRTA student in Dr. David Klein’s lab and then completed my Ph.D. in Neurobiology at Harvard. While in graduate school with Dr. Steven Reppert, my colleagues and I identified several of the core circadian clock genes and determined at a mechanistic level how these genes contribute to circadian rhythms in mammals. I then did my postdoctoral work at Caltech in Dr. David Anderson’s laboratory. While at Caltech, I co-discovered a large family of G protein-coupled receptors called Mrgprs that are found in sensory neurons of rodents and humans. I am focused on developing new treatments for pain and autism with the talented group of people you see below. Nice article describing what motivated me to become a scientist, written by the Rita Allen Foundation. Email:  zylka at med.unc.edu

Hannah Bazick, B.S., Neurobiology Ph.D. Student

I received my B.S. in Chemistry with a focus in biochemistry from the University of Florida in 2017. Following graduation, I spent two years at the McKnight Brain Institute at UF, researching therapies for hereditary peripheral neuropathies linked to PMP22. Venturing out of Florida to pursue my interests in studying neurodevelopmental disorders at UNC, I joined the Zylka lab in April 2020 through BBSP. Publications.

Carla Belmonte Mateos, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow

I graduated in Biotechnology from University of Barcelona in 2015, and got my Masters in Neuroscience from the same school in 2016. After that, I received my PhD in Biomedicine from Pompeu Fabra University in 2022. Through these years, I have conducted research both in Europe and in the US, navigating between basic and applied science with different model systems. Throughout these experiences, I became fascinated with neurodevelopmental disease modeling and with the development of gene therapy strategies. As much as I enjoy science I also love nature and coffee. Outside the lab, I love going on hikes, horse-riding and practicing yoga. Publications. Email: Carla_Belmonte-Mateos at med.unc.edu

Jeannette Delva-Wiley, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate (Williams Lab)

I received in B.S. in Chemistry at Bennett College and then completed both my M.S. in Biology and Ph.D. in Applied Science and Technology with a concentration in Bioscience and Computational Biology at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. While in graduate school under the supervision of Dr. Robert Newman, I focused on the impact of redox modification of Cys199 residue within the catalytic subunit of cAMP Dependent Protein Kinase (PKA Cα) towards various substrates. Using both a benchtop and computational approach, I examined the docking interactions/predictions between 300 different combinations of reduced, oxidized/sulfenylated, and glutathionylated PKA Cα towards selective substrates. I joined Dr. Morika Williams Summer 2021 and my project focuses on understanding changes in cellular and molecular mechanism due to early life injury followed by later life injury (Osteoarthritis).

Andrew C. Freeman, M.S., Computer Science Ph.D. Student

I received my B.S. in Computer Science and Mathematics from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and my M.S. in Computer Science from UNC. Under the advisement of Prof. Ketan Mayer-Patel, my doctoral research centers on building systems for reinterpreting framed video in an asynchronous context and developing applications that can take advantage of this new data format. Publications.

Luke James, B.S., Neurobiology Ph.D. Student

I received my B.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida in 2020. During my time at UF, I worked at the Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases where I studied the development, pathology, and genetics of neurodegenerative diseases utilizing mouse and axolotl model systems. I am a recipient of the 2020 Royster Society Fellowship and joined the Zylka and Philpot labs in April 2021 through BBSP.

Ina Klockner, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow

I received my bachelor's degree at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Germany, followed by a master’s program with a focus on developmental biology and genetics. After graduation I worked on a PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Bad Nauheim. My research focused on post-transcriptional regulation mediated by non-coding RNAs and the downstream signaling cascades in skeletal muscle. Thereby, I was able to gain new insights into the pathogenesis of human neuromuscular diseases. I received my Dr. rer. nat. degree in February and joined the Zylka Lab in April 2022. Publications. Email: ina_klockner at med.unc.edu

Rami Major, B.S., Genetics & Molecular Biology Ph.D. Student

I received my B.S. in Genetics from Clemson University in 2019 with minors in Political Science and Spanish. As an undergrad, I conducted research on shrimp mating systems, the tumor microenvironment, and DNA double-stranded breaks. I came to UNC in 2019 through BBSP and joined the Zylka lab and the Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology in February 2020. Beyond the bench, I am involved in science policy, ethics, communication, and outreach efforts.

William (Billy) Marinello, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow

After graduating from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, I worked at Duke University for three years as a research technician studying the molecular mechanisms of pregnancy complications and how environmental exposures can disrupt normal placental function. In 2018, I entered the Toxicology PhD program at North Carolina State University where I studied the impact of flame retardant exposure on the placenta-brain axis. I defended my dissertation and joined the Zylka Lab in August 2023. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, “singing” (loosely defined) karaoke, and hanging out with my bunny named Young Keanu Reeves. 

Eric McCoy, Ph.D., Research Associate & Lab Manager

I received my B.S. in Biology from Mercer University and my Ph.D. in Neurobiology from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, working under Harald Sontheimer, where I examined the function of aquaporins in astrocyte and glioblastoma migration and volume regulation. (Eric also serves as Laboratory Animal Coordinator and Laboratory Safety Supervisor.) Publications.

Leo Blondel, B.S., Cell Biology & Physiology Ph.D. Student

I received my B.S. in Physiology and Neurobiology at the University of Maryland- College Park. After my bachelors, I spent 3 years at Duke University as a technician in Dr. Aravind Asokan's lab, where I worked on projects aiming to evolve synthetic AAV capsids for CNS and kidney gene therapies. I joined the Zylka lab in 2024 through BBSP to pursue my interests in gene therapy and neuroscience.

Trinity Rust, B.S., Research Technician

I received my B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology in 2023 from The University of Texas at Austin. As an undergraduate, I conducted research on spliceosomal ribonucleoproteins, uterine morphology across the estrous cycle, and cranial facial defects. I joined the Zylka Lab as a research technician to continue to pursue my interest in developmental biology, and I intend to apply to graduate school in the future.

Dan Ryan, B.S., Research Associate

After graduating from Binghamton University in 2012 with a BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology, I started my scientific career by working in New York City. I worked in an andrology lab at Weill Cornell Medical College for a year before transitioning to research work at City College of New York. There, I worked in animal behavior with the goal of creating treatments for spinal cord injury. I have enjoyed moving down to North Carolina and I am excited to apply my skills to research projects in the Zylka lab. In my spare time, I enjoy practicing martial arts, going to breweries with my wife, Joanna, and playing with our new furbaby, Trixie. Publications.

Morika D. Williams, D.V.M., Ph.D., D.A.C.L.A.M., Research Assistant Professor

I received my B.S. degrees in Laboratory Animal Science and Animal Science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 2010 and my Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University in 2014. Following veterinary school, I completed the Research Triangle Laboratory Animal Medicine Residency Training Program in 2016 and became board-certified in laboratory animal medicine by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. I received my PhD in Comparative Biomedical Science, with a concentration in pharmacology, in 2020 from NC State University, under the guidance of Dr. Duncan Lascelles. My thesis work investigated the long-term impacts of early life (neonatal) injury on adult chronic pain conditions (e.g. osteoarthritis). I am dedicated to answering critical questions about pain control and pain mechanisms through high quality, innovative research. The aim of my research is to better understand, recognize, and alleviate pain in the newborn to improve the quality of life in adulthood for both human and animals. My research interests include the mechanisms of neurobiology and neurophysiology of pain processing (e.g., microglia), neonatal pain, chronic pain, degenerative joint disease, translational medicine, analgesics, and evoked and non-evoked pain assessments tools for laboratory and companion animals. Publications.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Felipe Chiavegatto

I am a junior undergraduate student in the Chancellor’s Science Scholar’s program at UNC-Chapel Hill, pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Statistics. I started working in the Zylka Lab in the Spring of 2022, and I am currently working on quantitatively assess the level of pain exhibited by a mouse using machine learning. My scientific interests fall in the applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in research. (Lab Mentor: Andrew Freeman)

Samhi Pudipeddi

I am a sophomore undergraduate student at UNC-Chapel Hill, pursuing a double major in Neuroscience and Computer Science. I joined the Zylka Lab in the summer of 2023 and am currently working on leveraging the power of machine learning to quantitatively assess the pain levels experienced by mice. My scientific focus centers around the practical application of computer science in the realm of biological research.

Minghao Shao

I am a sophomore undergraduate at UNC-Chapel Hill currently pursuing a Biology major. My journey of working in the Zylka Lab began in the Fall of 2022, and I am currently working on a project with the goal of attributing different levels of pain expression to a mode of inheritance with the aid of the automated Mouse Grimace Scale. My interests lie in researching how model organisms express pain and automated measurements of pain through machine learning.

Jenny Tran

I am a sophomore undergraduate in the Chancellor’s Science Scholars program at UNC-Chapel Hill majoring in Quantitative Biology and minoring in Public Policy and Data Science. My scientific interests lie in the application of CRISPR-Cas9 for gene therapies. I started working at the Zylka lab in the Spring of 2023. (Lab mentor: Carla Belmonte Mateos)

Lab Alumni

Graduate Students

• Jesse Niehaus, Postdoctoral Fellow, Scherrer Lab, UNC Chapel Hill

• Vicki Brings, Scientific Project Manager, Division of Translational Research, NIH

• Jaeda Coutinho-Budd, Assistant Professor, University of Virginia, Charlottesville

• Jessica Jimenez, Personal Health Care Toxicologist, Proctor and Gamble

• Rahul Patel

• Joe Rittiner, Viral Vector Core, Duke University

• Nate Sowa, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina

• Brittany Wright Schuck, Scientific Reviewer, Food & Drug Administration

• Meagen Voss, Science & Technical Editor and Programmer, Voss Editing & Coding Services

Postdoctoral Researchers

• Giulia Fragola, Research Associate, Cohen Lab, Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Wenxin Hu, Senior Scientist, Abbvie

• Julie Hurt, Medical Writer, Whitsell Innovations

• Ian King, Assistant Professor and Clinical Medical Geneticist, University of Toronto

• Paul Kullman, Research Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

• Lipin Loo, Research Fellow at the University of Sydney

• Angela Mabb, Associate Professor, Georgia State University

• Helen Mao, Senior Scientist, Life Edit

• Smita Paranjape, Postdoctoral Scholar, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Esther Park, Postdoctoral Scholar, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Brandon Pearson, Assistant Professor, Columbia University

• Ralf Schmid, Research Director, Gene Therapy for CNS Diseases, University of Pennsylvania

• Sarah Shoemaker, Mentorship & Research Coordinator, NC School of Science & Mathematics

• Sarah Street, Internal Medicine, Carrboro, NC

• Alex Tuttle, Program Director, NIH/NCCIH

• Hong Wang, SpecialtyCare Surgical Services

• Justin Wolter, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin

• Jason Yi, Assistant Professor, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Staff, Undergraduate, and Post-baccalaureate Students

• Bonnie Taylor-Blake, Enjoying Retirement

• Sam Boeshore, Research Specialist, University of Wisconsin (with Justin Wolter)

• Walter Dutton, M.D., Plastic Surgeon, Charlotte Plastic Surgery

• Rosanna Garris, Graduate Student, University of Colorado

• Adam Kashlan, Research Technician, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Clifford Woolf Lab), Boston

• James Krantz, Research Associate III, AskBio

• Joshua Lopez, Medical Student, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Baris Oztemiz, Seqirus

• Ben Rees, Medical Student, University of Pennsylvania

• Gabriela Salazar, Lab Manager and Research Technician, Coutinho-Budd Lab, University of Virginia

• Samuel Snider, M.D., Instructor, Neurology, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School

• Maggie Snyder, Medical & Graduate Student, Texas A&M

• Kelly Vanden, Research Technician, Mayne Lab, Stanford University

• Sophia Lamberti, Research Technician, Duke University