Chris Dulla, Ph.D. - Principal Investigator
Chris heads up the lab and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Tufts University School of Medicine. Chris trained with Dr. Kevin Staley, as a graduate student, and Dr. John Huguenard, as a post-doc. Throughout his career he has focused on understanding the how glutamate synaptic activity contributes to epilepsy and other neurological disorders an the Dulla Lab continues to focus on the molecular and cellular underpinnings of epileptogenesis. Techniques used in the lab center around electrophysiology, imaging, and EEG. Chris has also always enjoyed developing novel technical approaches and currently is exploring novel approaches to image voltage, high-speed imaging of neuronal activity, and models of epilepsy and brain injury.
Chris is addicted to hot sauce, loves to camp, play guitar, and has a significant collection of mullet wigs.
Chris heads up the lab and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Tufts University School of Medicine. Chris trained with Dr. Kevin Staley, as a graduate student, and Dr. John Huguenard, as a post-doc. Throughout his career he has focused on understanding the how glutamate synaptic activity contributes to epilepsy and other neurological disorders an the Dulla Lab continues to focus on the molecular and cellular underpinnings of epileptogenesis. Techniques used in the lab center around electrophysiology, imaging, and EEG. Chris has also always enjoyed developing novel technical approaches and currently is exploring novel approaches to image voltage, high-speed imaging of neuronal activity, and models of epilepsy and brain injury.
Chris is addicted to hot sauce, loves to camp, play guitar, and has a significant collection of mullet wigs.
Moritz Armbruster, Ph.D. - Research Assistant Professor
Moritz did his doctoral training in the lab of Dr. Tim Ryan, where he focused on the kinetics and mechanisms of synaptic vesicle endocytosis and the large GTPase Dynamin. He joined the Dulla lab in 2012 to pursue his postdoctoral studies. His focus is on astrocyte biology and characterizing the perturbations in spatial and temporal control of glutamate reuptake in a model of developmental epilepsy.
Moritz grows his own wheat, mills his own flour, kneads his own dough, and bakes his own bread.
Moritz did his doctoral training in the lab of Dr. Tim Ryan, where he focused on the kinetics and mechanisms of synaptic vesicle endocytosis and the large GTPase Dynamin. He joined the Dulla lab in 2012 to pursue his postdoctoral studies. His focus is on astrocyte biology and characterizing the perturbations in spatial and temporal control of glutamate reuptake in a model of developmental epilepsy.
Moritz grows his own wheat, mills his own flour, kneads his own dough, and bakes his own bread.
Zin-Juan Klaft, M.D., doctorate - Post-doctoral scholar
Zin joined the Dulla Lab in early 2018 moving to Boston from Berlin, Germany. He paused his medical studies at Charite for 4.5 years to do his doctoral training in Uwe Heinemann's lab at the Institute of Neurophysiology. His research there focused on mechanisms of drug resistance in epilepsy, seizure models and purinergic modulation of physiological and pathological network activities. He led the human brain slice program at his former institute for several years and initiated a drug development project in collaboration with Charite technology transfer. In the Dulla Lab he will focus on developmental disturbances of interneuron maturation.
In his free time he enjoys gold prospecting and has found a decent amount in California.
Zin joined the Dulla Lab in early 2018 moving to Boston from Berlin, Germany. He paused his medical studies at Charite for 4.5 years to do his doctoral training in Uwe Heinemann's lab at the Institute of Neurophysiology. His research there focused on mechanisms of drug resistance in epilepsy, seizure models and purinergic modulation of physiological and pathological network activities. He led the human brain slice program at his former institute for several years and initiated a drug development project in collaboration with Charite technology transfer. In the Dulla Lab he will focus on developmental disturbances of interneuron maturation.
In his free time he enjoys gold prospecting and has found a decent amount in California.
Saptarnab Naskar, Ph.D. - Post-doctoral Scholar
Saptarnab graduated from Prof. Sumantra Chattarji's lab at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India in 2019 where he studied effects of stress on astrocytic structure, its spatial distribution and interaction with neurons and the role of astrocytic glutamate reuptake in the basolateral amygdala(BLA) and the dorsal hippocampus. In the Dulla lab, he is exploring the spatio-temporal dynamics of astrocytic glutamate uptake and its underlying mechanisms.
Exploring different cuisines and trying to recreate them at home is one of the highest order of worldly pleasures Saptarnab indulges in. Huge fan of Prog-rock and Jazz.
Saptarnab graduated from Prof. Sumantra Chattarji's lab at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India in 2019 where he studied effects of stress on astrocytic structure, its spatial distribution and interaction with neurons and the role of astrocytic glutamate reuptake in the basolateral amygdala(BLA) and the dorsal hippocampus. In the Dulla lab, he is exploring the spatio-temporal dynamics of astrocytic glutamate uptake and its underlying mechanisms.
Exploring different cuisines and trying to recreate them at home is one of the highest order of worldly pleasures Saptarnab indulges in. Huge fan of Prog-rock and Jazz.
Sadi Quiñones - Ph.D. Student
Sadi graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2017 where he spent three years utilizing single cell genomics to elucidate the mechanisms underlying neurogenesis. Now a member of the Dulla Lab, he exploits these same techniques to explore the metabolic dynamics within the brain following traumatic brain injury. During his years here at Tufts, Sadi plans to further pursue his interest in single cell genomics and bioinformatics.
However, when he isn’t in the lab, you can find Sadi working out or searching for his next cup of coffee.
Sadi graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2017 where he spent three years utilizing single cell genomics to elucidate the mechanisms underlying neurogenesis. Now a member of the Dulla Lab, he exploits these same techniques to explore the metabolic dynamics within the brain following traumatic brain injury. During his years here at Tufts, Sadi plans to further pursue his interest in single cell genomics and bioinformatics.
However, when he isn’t in the lab, you can find Sadi working out or searching for his next cup of coffee.
Rachael Ryner - Ph.D. Student
Rachael joined the lab in May 2018. She is originally from Oregon and studied Microbiology with a minor in Chemistry at Oregon State University. At Oregon State, she worked in Aleksandra Sikora's lab on identifying and characterizing drug and vaccine targets for N. gonorrhoeae. In the Dulla lab, she's looking into the role that interneurons play in establishing inhibitory networks during early development.
Rachael joined the lab in May 2018. She is originally from Oregon and studied Microbiology with a minor in Chemistry at Oregon State University. At Oregon State, she worked in Aleksandra Sikora's lab on identifying and characterizing drug and vaccine targets for N. gonorrhoeae. In the Dulla lab, she's looking into the role that interneurons play in establishing inhibitory networks during early development.
Jacqueline Garcia - Ph.D. Student
Jacqueline is originally from Pagosa Springs, Colorado and graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2019 with a degree in Biology and Biotechnology. For her senior thesis project she investigated novel mutations in the kinesin motor (KIF5A) associated with familial ALS. She joined the Dulla lab in May of 2020 and will explore changes in glutamate dynamics following traumatic brain injury.
Jacqueline is an avid Celtics fan and enjoys crafting Spotify playlist for all occasions.
Jacqueline is originally from Pagosa Springs, Colorado and graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2019 with a degree in Biology and Biotechnology. For her senior thesis project she investigated novel mutations in the kinesin motor (KIF5A) associated with familial ALS. She joined the Dulla lab in May of 2020 and will explore changes in glutamate dynamics following traumatic brain injury.
Jacqueline is an avid Celtics fan and enjoys crafting Spotify playlist for all occasions.
Samantha Bottom-Tanzer - M.D./Ph.D. Student
Sammi joined the lab in 2020 after graduating from Columbia University where she majored in Neuroscience. She studied olfaction in the Firestein Lab, working to classify and predict olfactory sensory neuron responses to odorants. She then delved into virology in the Moscona/Porotto Lab studying paramyxovirus entry and developing agents to inhibit viral-cell fusion and thus prevent infection. In the Dulla Lab, she’s interested in discovering biomarkers of post traumatic epilepsy and better understanding the mechanisms behind metabolic-based inhibition of epilepsy.
Outside of lab, Sammi loves to run around the arboretum, concoct new kombucha flavors, and ski Vermont with her family.
Sammi joined the lab in 2020 after graduating from Columbia University where she majored in Neuroscience. She studied olfaction in the Firestein Lab, working to classify and predict olfactory sensory neuron responses to odorants. She then delved into virology in the Moscona/Porotto Lab studying paramyxovirus entry and developing agents to inhibit viral-cell fusion and thus prevent infection. In the Dulla Lab, she’s interested in discovering biomarkers of post traumatic epilepsy and better understanding the mechanisms behind metabolic-based inhibition of epilepsy.
Outside of lab, Sammi loves to run around the arboretum, concoct new kombucha flavors, and ski Vermont with her family.
Mary Sommer - Lab Manager
Mary has amassed the lab's largest sub-desk collection of shoes and blankets.
Mary has amassed the lab's largest sub-desk collection of shoes and blankets.
Lab Alumni
Previous Post-doctoral scholars:
David Cantu, Ph.D. - Associate Director, Medical Affairs at Sunovion
Theresa Rimmele, Ph.D. (co-mentored with Paul Rosenberg) - Now a scientist at Novartis
Isabel Derera, Ph.D. - Medical Writer at BlueBird Bio
David Cantu, Ph.D. - Associate Director, Medical Affairs at Sunovion
Theresa Rimmele, Ph.D. (co-mentored with Paul Rosenberg) - Now a scientist at Novartis
Isabel Derera, Ph.D. - Medical Writer at BlueBird Bio
Previous graduate students:
Elizabeth Hanson, Ph.D. - Defended her Ph.D. in 2017 - Now a post-doc in Ben Arenkiel's Lab at Baylor College of Medicine
Lauren Andresen Lau, Ph.D. - Defended her Ph.D in 2017 - Now a post-doc in Kevin Staley's Lab at Harvard
Jennifer Shih, Ph.D. - Defended her Ph.D. in 2017 - Now a post-doc in Mriganka Sur's Lab at MIT
Jenny Koenig, Ph.D. - Defended her Ph.D. in 2019 - Now completing her MD at Tufts Medical School
Elizabeth Hanson, Ph.D. - Defended her Ph.D. in 2017 - Now a post-doc in Ben Arenkiel's Lab at Baylor College of Medicine
Lauren Andresen Lau, Ph.D. - Defended her Ph.D in 2017 - Now a post-doc in Kevin Staley's Lab at Harvard
Jennifer Shih, Ph.D. - Defended her Ph.D. in 2017 - Now a post-doc in Mriganka Sur's Lab at MIT
Jenny Koenig, Ph.D. - Defended her Ph.D. in 2019 - Now completing her MD at Tufts Medical School
Previous Technicians:
Amaro Taylor - Now at the graduate student at Harvard in Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics
David Hampton - Now a graduate student in Neuroscience at Brandies University
Elliot Kim - Now an M.D./Ph.D. student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Amaro Taylor - Now at the graduate student at Harvard in Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics
David Hampton - Now a graduate student in Neuroscience at Brandies University
Elliot Kim - Now an M.D./Ph.D. student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Previous PREP Students:
Ashley Ortiz - Scientist at Editas Therapeutics
Sofia Corella - M.D./Ph.D. Student at Case Western University
Ashley Ortiz - Scientist at Editas Therapeutics
Sofia Corella - M.D./Ph.D. Student at Case Western University
Previous Undergrads:
Anar Kansara, Lina Duerrwald, Gokce Ozdemir, Pablo Gonzalez, Israel Robinson, Annabel Rutherford, Josh Pang, Alix Generous, Olivia Drake
Anar Kansara, Lina Duerrwald, Gokce Ozdemir, Pablo Gonzalez, Israel Robinson, Annabel Rutherford, Josh Pang, Alix Generous, Olivia Drake
