Former Research Scientists & Postdoctoral Fellows
Krish Kizhatil, Ph.D., Research Scientist, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
I earned my Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Tennessee, Memphis where I uncovered a role for the cellular cytoskeleton in retrovirus entry. Then, during my postdoctoral studies at Duke University, I developed my skills as a Cell biologist and I identified a novel role for the membrane skeletal protein ankyrin in post-Golgi delivery of membrane proteins to the plasma membrane in epithelial cells and photoreceptors. In the summer of 2009, I came to The Jackson Laboratory because of an opportunity to work with Dr. Simon John, a pioneer in the field of glaucoma research. In the John Laboratory, I am learning to use mice to decipher causes of complex diseases. During this training I am mastering clinical and physiological ocular examinations, and the use of mouse genetics and genomics to identify genes pathways impacting glaucoma. Elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) is a significant risk factor for developing glaucoma and is caused by disruption in the drainage of aqueous humor. My aim is to identify molecular pathways regulating IOP elevation. Currently, my major focus is on understanding the molecular mechanisms of aqueous humor drainage into Schlemm’s canal. As a part of this study, I am taking a holistic approach in characterizing the cells of the Schlemm’s canal at a cellular as well as transcriptome level. I am also involved in the development of implantable pressure sensors that can be monitored by radio-telemetry and in understanding the role of endothelial and immune components in the progression of glaucoma and the death of retinal ganglion cell neurons. These studies are predicted to reveal a new understanding that can be used to design new therapeutic interventions.
Arthur Chlebowski, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering, University of Southern Indiana
I formally joined the John lab, in 2012 after various visits. I received my Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D. from Purdue University with emphasis in Biomedical Engineering. I was introduced to many different fields of study and research opportunities and settled my interest in implantable devices. During my collegiate tenure, I conducted 7 years of research including design, development, and integration of an implantable intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring device in collaboration with Dr. Simon John. I also developed a novel packaging technique using Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) as a casing for implantable devices. Through the collaboration with Dr. John, an important goal of bringing engineers and biologists/geneticist together at a single location was brought to fruition. First, I was invited to join my PhD mentor (Prof. Pedro Irazoqui) while he conducted his sabbatical at the Jackson Lab. Later I worked with Simon at the Jackson Lab while still a postdoc affiliated with Purdue. I enjoyed this time and valued the exposure and training in world-class biology and genetics while being able to bridge the gap of understanding between scientists and engineers.
Next and due to the great value of this real world experience in biomedical research, physiology and genetics, I was delighted to join Simon’s group full time as a resident biomedical engineer and Research Scientist at the interface between biology and engineering. In this position, I continue my research to develop and create miniature implantable devices. The opportunity to learn and at the same time bring engineering concepts and ideas to the science that the John lab completes is amazing. Not only do I continue my research on implantable devices, but I get first hand experience and knowledge of research into glaucoma, physiology, anatomy and genetics and the use of cutting edge microscopy and imaging techniques. I exploit my engineering background to design and implement new tools and experimental setups that advance data collection and the testing of hypotheses. I introduce and teach these engineering concepts to my colleagues, while they in return teach me about genetics and biology. This furthers my knowledge and understanding of biology. I also mentor and train students and research assistants and help with grant and paper writing. This unique training is allowing me to understand diseases and their progression not only from a global view, but also down to the genetic and molecular variations that causes disease. This is making me a better trained biomedical engineer.
As a research engineer, I am in the great situation of having to run the research engineering space at the lab. Making sure that all equipment in the engineering space is organized and taken care of, as well as making sure everything is setup for other visiting engineers and scientists, allows me to learn and understand what is necessary to keep a lab and its multifaceted collaborations running. Lastly, I am learning to communicate effectively. Explaining my research to other scientists at JAX has given me the ability to explain engineering concepts and ideas to the biology community. This experience in the John Lab. is allowing me to become more effective at all aspects of research including laboratory management, personnel management and budgeting. It is a huge advantage for my progression to leadership positions in the future.
Mimi deVries, Ph.D., Manager, Research Operations, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
I received my undergraduate and graduate training at the North-West University in South Africa. After receiving my B.Sc. degree with majors in Biochemistry, Physiology and Psychology, I went on to complete my B.Sc. Honors, M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry. My M.Sc. thesis work focused on the screening of families with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI: Brittle Bone Disease) for possible mutations in type I collagen. This study eventually led to the identification of the mutation in a1(I) type I collagen in one family, as well as the establishment of a prenatal diagnostic test for this family. For my Ph.D. thesis I focused on delineating the cis- and trans-factors responsible for regulating the transcription of the a1(I) type I collagen gene.
After completing my Ph.D., I wanted to gain experience in genetics and developmental biology, as a knowledge base in these two areas is critical for understanding disease processes. I joined the laboratory of Dr. Barbara Knowles at The Jackson Laboratory as a Postdoctoral Fellow, and continued in her laboratory as a Research Scientist. During this time I was able to elucidate the role of specific maternal genes in the oocyte-to-embryo transition. I was fortunate to then join the John Laboratory. This move not only gave me an opportunity to work in a vibrant lab utilizing my managerial, mentoring and experimental skills, but also brought me back to my “roots”. I’m once again working on a disease model using the experience I gained along my scientific journey while learning new things in a supportive and exciting environment. My major research is on the biomedical and deployment side of a project that is developing an innovative, ultra-miniature pressure-measuring device with an automated reading system. The tiny devices will permanently reside in the mouse eye providing valuable long-term data. These devices will allow experiments that are not currently possible. The technology is being designed to allow modification for human deployment to improve patient care. These devices will also improve my other projects that develop inducible models of glaucoma and that identify new mouse strains with glaucoma.
When my mother heard I was moving from South Africa to an island on the coast of Maine, she promptly started knitting sweaters! Despite the drastic change in temperature, life on MDI has suited me very well. Apart from finding a scientific home filled with excellent scientists with a wealth of knowledge, incredible resources, and an opportunity to transfer knowledge to younger generations, I also found a home in the community. I now live on the “Quiet Side” of MDI with my husband - whom I met on said island on the coast of Maine - and one slightly nutty Beagle. We love to sail and hike on and around MDI, and get away from the “crowds” by going to Moosehead Lake.
Gareth Howell, Ph.D., Associate Professor, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
I received a Bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Manchester, UK. I went on to join The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK where I studied for my Ph.D. in comparative genomics and bioinformatics. In 2003 I joined the laboratory of Dr. John Schimenti, at The Jackson Laboratory, as a Postdoctoral Fellow, gaining hands-on experience using mice to study genes contributing to developmental disease. I returned to the UK, to train with Dr. Stuart Wilson and Dr. Marysia Plazcek at The University of Sheffield, in powerful new methods for gene-silencing. I returned to The Jackson Laboratory as an Associate Research Scientist in October 2005, working closely with Simon John to understand the neurobiology of glaucoma and to develop clinically relevant neuroprotective treatments. Under the strong mentorship of Simon, I received my first independent grant in 2006 and was subsequently promoted to Research Scientist.
During my time with Simon, I have applied my bioinformatics and other experience in a number of different areas including identifying early stages of glaucomatous neurodegeneration. A second major focus is the refinement of a radiation-based neuroprotective treatment that completely prevents optic nerve damage in DBA/2J mice. More recently, because of my strong genomics background, I am leading a major initiative to identify glaucoma-relevant genes in humans. We are using cutting edge sequencing technology to identify potential disease-causing variants in human glaucoma patients. My time with Simon has been invaluable as a final training ground before beginning my independent career. My program covers both glaucoma and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). For glaucoma, I am continuing to conduct experiments to understand the role of both the complement and endothelin systems. For AD, it has become clear to me that we can harness the power of mouse genetics and genomics to contribute a great deal to the understanding of this debilitating disease.
Kayarat Saidas (Sai) Nair, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, UCSF School of Medicine
I received my Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Mumbai, India. From there I became a Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Vladlen Slepak at the University of Miami. My research focused on factors regulating phototransduction. With the advent of human/mouse genome sequencing, and emphasis shifting towards translational research, I felt it both timely and important to shift my research to examining ways to solve complex problems related to human diseases. With a background and interest in vision research, it was only appropriate to study ocular diseases. I joined the John Laboratory as a Postdoctoral Fellow in 2005. I have since progressed to a Research Scientist position, which allows me more independence, as well as the training and experience needed in preparation to become a PI. The goals of my projects are to understand genetic factors controlling intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and glaucoma. One of my projects focuses on understanding the genetic complexity underlying elevated IOP and glaucoma, using the DBA/2J mouse as a model. Using the power of mouse genetics, our goal is to identify genetic mutations and their interactions that confer susceptibility towards glaucoma. It is challenging to identify contributing casual genes in complex, late-age onset diseases. We have been able to achieve this utilizing a specific gene mapping strategy that has been refined and well-proven in the John Lab. Our mapping efforts have led to identification of 7 genetic loci that contribute to IOP elevation in this system. These loci interact with one another and modulate IOP elevation. Of these 7 loci, we have already identified three causal mutations. Understanding how these mutations and loci influence pathogenesis will help us identify pathways that govern susceptibility to glaucoma. Potentially, this could lead to new avenues to treat the disease in humans. Additionally, this work has allowed us to gain insight into factors determining disease severity and penetrance. Success in this work is possible, because of the great expertise in ocular disease and in mechanistically dissecting complex diseases using mouse genetics in the John Lab. The great support provided by John Lab members and the general Jackson Laboratory environment are also important.
Another project involves characterizing a much needed animal model that recapitulates features of angle closure glaucoma. Angle closure glaucoma (ACG) is a subset of glaucoma affecting 16 million people. ACG is estimated to blind more people worldwide than other common forms of glaucoma, with 4 million people being bilaterally blind. The genetic and molecular mechanisms of IOP elevation in ACG are not understood but a reduced ocular size is common. A chemical mutagenesis screen led to identification of a mutant mouse strain with reduced ocular size and a phenotype resembling ACG. Subsequently, we have identified the gene responsible for this condition. Comparative genetics has led to identification of mutations in the same gene in human families with similar phenotypes.
Doug Gould, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Research, Departments of Ophthalmology and Anatomy, Institute of Human Genetics, UCSF School of Medicine
Dr. Gould obtained his B.Sc. with Specialization in Genetics and his Ph.D. in Medical Genetics from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. His Ph.D. thesis, in the lab of Dr. Michael Walter, was to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie ocular developmental defects. These defects often lead to glaucoma in human families. In 2001, Dr. Gould moved to Dr. John’s Lab to undergo postdoctoral training.
Doug’s projects were primarily focused on using mouse models to understand the mechanisms of glaucoma. In the first of his two main projects, Doug sought to understand how mutations in the myocilin gene (Myoc) lead to primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). MYOC mutations are the most frequently identified genetic cause of POAG, but the pathogenic mechanism(s) remained elusive. Doug tested two contemporary hypotheses about MYOC pathogenesis by first characterizing a mouse model that over-expressed the MYOC protein and secondly by characterizing a mouse model that expressed a mutant Myoc allele that was analogous to a common and aggressive human mutation. Doug’s data indicate that abnormal protein molecules are necessary to induce disease and show that accumulation of these molecules in ocular cells is not sufficient to induce glaucoma. These data agree with a growing literature from other groups and a recent report suggesting that the abnormal mutant proteins have to be mis-targeted to the peroxisome to cause glaucoma.
Doug’s second major project was to develop new mouse models of glaucoma. A novel mutant mouse line was identified in a mutagenesis screen. Doug mapped the gene and identified a mutation in the type IV collagen alpha 1 gene (Col4a1). He showed that Col4a1 mutation can cause ocular dysgenesis in a genetic context dependent manner. On a permissive background mutant mice have severe anterior segment dysgenesis and optic nerve hypoplasia. On a resistant background both phenotypes are profoundly modified and we have identified a genetic modifier locus that is able to rescue anterior segment dysgenesis.
While identifying the gene and characterizing the ocular phenotypes, the John Lab discovered that Col4a1 mutant mice also had cerebrovascular defects including large cerebral cavities and multi-focal cerebral hemorrhages. This work led to the identification of COL4A1 mutations as a major genetic cause of a rare but severe human disease called porencephaly and the speculation that alleles of COL4A1 may contribute more broadly to hemorrhagic stroke in human patients. Importantly, Doug’s experiments show that Col4a1 mutations weaken blood vessels and predispose to trauma-induced hemorrhage in mice. Important collaborations demonstrated that this is also true in some human families. This work suggests that behavioral modifications/interventions may substantially decrease the risk of severe (even lethal) hemorrhage that can be induced by trauma in individuals with these mutations at all stages of life.
Dr. Gould started his own laboratory in 2006 at UCSF School of Medicine in the Departments of Ophthalmology and Anatomy and the Institute for Human Genetics where he is continuing to study the mechanisms of Col4a1-related pathogenesis in the eye and other organs. He rapidly obtained external funding, including NIH, and has been honored by awards. His email is gouldd@vision.ucsf.edu
Michael Anderson, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, University of Iowa
Dr. Anderson performed his graduate work studying developmental neurobiology utilizing Drosophila. During his postdoctoral studies with Dr. John his research focused on the mechanisms causing glaucoma in DBA/2J mice. These mice develop a pigment liberating iris disease and a form of glaucoma resembling human pigmentary glaucoma. Using genetic approaches, two genes were identified (Gpnmb and Tyrp1) that play early roles in this disease. Both of these genes encode melanosomal proteins.
These findings suggested that a key aspect of pigmentary glaucoma in DBA/2J mice involves aberrant melanosomal processes affecting the toxic intermediates of melanin production. In the course of studying modifiers of the DBA/2J form of glaucoma, Dr. Anderson's research also found that immune reactions contribute to the anterior chamber disease of DBA/2J mice and with other lab members showed that bone marrow transfers confer a striking neuroprotection against this form of glaucoma.
Dr. Anderson is currently a member of the Departments of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics and Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at the University of Iowa. His ongoing work continues to capitalize on the basic genetic skills of his past training, utilizing mouse genetics to provide and test unique hypotheses of ocular disease and now supplemented by clinical and human genetic resources at The University of Iowa. His program is well established with several NIH grants and he recently became tenured. His email is michael-g-anderson@uiowa.edu.
Richard Libby, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester Medical Center
Dr. Libby did his doctoral work in Dr. William Brunken’s laboratory (Boston College), where he focused on the role of extracellular matrix in retinal development. After completion of his doctorate, he joined Dr. Karen Steel’s group at the Medical Research Council’s Institute for Hearing Research. There he studied the pathogenesis of Usher Syndrome. The majority of work that Dr. Libby performed in the John Laboratory focused on the DBA/2J mouse glaucoma model. The DBA/2J mouse glaucoma model mimics many human glaucomas in that it is age-related and the pressure elevation is spontaneous and variable. There is now extensive knowledge of the disease profile of DBA/2J mice and the John Lab has been successfully exploiting this model to gain fundamental insight into glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Dr. Libby's role was to identify the key molecules and pathways that are activated in response to elevated intraocular pressure, and which lead to vision loss. Furthermore, he was interested in identifying susceptibility factors underlying glaucomatous neurodegeneration.
Using DBA/2J mice deficient in the pro-apoptotic molecule BAX (a molecule that when active, triggers a cell to kill itself), he found that Bax deficiency completely protected retinal ganglion cells (RGCs; the cell bodies or soma) from apoptosis. BAX was the first molecule shown to be necessary for glaucomatous RGC death. However, BAX was not found to be required for RGC axon degeneration. (In addition to a cell body, RGCs have a long process known as an axon that connects them to the brain.) This is important because it is the first data indicating that there are distinct somal and axonal degeneration pathways in glaucoma. Furthermore, since axons degenerated even though the soma did not, these results indicate that somal death is not a prerequisite for axon degeneration in glaucoma.
While Bax deficiency did not protect RGC axons from degeneration, it did delay axon degeneration, implicating BAX as a potential glaucoma susceptibility gene.
These data suggest that a patient’s susceptibility to glaucomatous vision loss could be directly linked to Bax expression levels and that manipulating the BAX pathway could be a powerful mechanism for slowing or preventing vision loss in glaucoma. In collaboration with Dr. Robert Nickell's (University of Wisconsin) group, we were also able to use the genetic resource of DBA/2J mice deficient in Bax to evaluate two prominent glaucoma hypotheses. Genetically controlled experiments were performed where RGC cells were insulted by either mechanical axon injury or by an excitotoxin. The findings from these induced cell death models were compared to the findings obtained in the actual DBA/2J glaucoma. As in the actual glaucoma, Bax deficiency protected somas after optic nerve crush, but it did not protect RGC somas from excitotoxic injury. Together, these results support optic nerve injury as a primary cause of RGC death in glaucoma but do not support an excitotoxic mechanism.
During his time in the John Lab, Dr. Libby also participated in other projects ranging from studies designed to identify susceptibility factors for developing glaucoma (blood pressure, problems with eye development) to studies focused on developing neuroprotective therapies (radiation with bone marrow transfer).
Dr. Libby started his own research program at the University of Rochester Medical Center in 2006. He is Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology where he continues to study the molecular pathways of glaucomatous neurodegeneration and the genetic factors that underlie genetic susceptibility. He rapidly obtained external funding, including NIH, and serves on various grant review bodies. His email is richard_libby@urmc.rochester.edu
Xianjun Zhu, Ph.D., Professor/Investigator, Center for Human Molecular Genetics , Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Dr. Zhu received his B.Sc. degree in Plant Molecular and Developmental Biology from Peking University, Beijing. He went on to study in the Institute of Microbiology, at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing and received his master degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In 2000, Dr. Zhu entered the program of Cell and Molecular Biology of the University of Texas, Austin and worked in Dr. David Stein's lab for his Ph.D. dissertation. A major component of the project was to determine the molecular mechanism that controls Drosophila dorsal-ventral polarity formation, specifically investigating the role of glycosaminoglycans in Drosophila pipe-mediated dorsal-ventral patterning.
Dr. Zhu received his Ph.D. degree in Cell and Molecular Biology in 2006. He then joined the John Lab to pursue his postdoctoral training using mammalian genetics and neurobiologic methods to study neurodegenerative disease. He gained expertise in experiments to test mechanisms of disease using mouse models of human disease, and in ocular, brain and spinal cord anatomy and pathology. His major project studied neurodegeneration in wabbler lethal (wl) mice. He determined that these mice develop a severe axonopathy affecting various nerves, the retina and parts of the brain. Interestingly, although their axons degenerate, the neuronal cell bodies survive in most affected tissues. Dr. Zhu characterized the mutant gene which affects cell membranes. Dr. Zhu also investigated the possible role of glial cells in the initiation and/or propagation of glaucoma. Dr. Zhu is currently a Professor/Investigator at The Center for Human Molecular Biology & Genetics, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Ileana Soto-Reyes, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular and Biosciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
I graduated with a B.A. in Life Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico. As an undergraduate student I worked in the laboratory of Dr. Rosa Blanco at the Institute of Neurobiology. The research experience was so great that I decided to apply for graduate school and continue doing research in her laboratory. My thesis project in Dr. Blanco’s laboratory consisted of determining the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the survival and axonal regeneration of frog retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after optic nerve axotomy. In 2005, I received my Ph.D. from the Biology Intercampus Program at University of Puerto Rico. My studies in the frog visual system encouraged me to continue further studies of the retina but with a more biomedical perspective. During my first postdoctoral training experience at Johns Hopkins University, I had the opportunity to work in the DBA/2J mouse glaucoma model and to study molecular changes that occur in RGCs and glial cells during the progression of glaucoma. However, a deeper interest for the role of astrocytes in glaucoma, and the use of mouse genetics to identify pathways and experimentally test mechanisms motivated me to join Dr. Simon John’s laboratory for a second postdoctoral training. My major projects are assessing the interactions between glaucoma and diabetes and the impact of dietary components on disease outcome. I plan to address whether cellular pathways activated in astrocytes contribute positively or negatively to disease onset and progression. I am also interested in possible therapeutic treatments that prevent or delay the progression of the disease in mouse glaucoma models. My goal is to identify certain mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of glaucoma that can then be targeted for the treatment of the human disease.
Richard Smith, M.D.,D.M.S Research Specialist -retired
After fellowships at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and two years as a research associate at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Smith joined the full-time staff of the Ophthalmology Department at Albany Medical College and Albany Medical Center Hospital in upstate New York. He served for 10 years as Chairperson of the Department of Ophthalmology with a joint appointment in the Pathology Department. Dr. Smith came to Jackson Laboratory first as a visiting scientist in 1990. He joined the scientific staff in 1993 as a research scientist. He has worked closely with Dr. John since 1995, and formally joined the John Laboratory in 1998. Dr. Smith was the first to recognize the presence of glaucoma in aging DBA/2J mice. His skills in clinical examination and ophthalmic pathology and anatomy are the focus of his work in the John Lab. His skills and experience are invaluable for many projects, and are an important resource for training other lab members.
We wish Dr. Smith a long and happy retirement, but will enjoy his visits and consultations.
Peter Williams, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
I received my undergraduate training at Cardiff University completing a BSc (Hons) in Neuroscience focusing primarily on molecular and sensory neuroscience. During this time I joined the laboratories of Profs. James Morgan and Marcela Votruba in the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University doing a research dissertation on retinal ganglion cell dendritic and synaptic plasticity in OPA1 mutant mice (a model of autosomal dominant optic atrophy). I continued this project into full graduate training completing my PhD in Visual Neuroscience and Molecular Biology in 2012. As well as studying the effects of OPA1 mutations on retinal ganglion cell plasticity in mice, I spent time developing novel transfection methods (in vivo magnetofection), revealed an early marker of neuronal degeneration in the APPswe Alzheimer’s mouse model, and generated a library of tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) retinal ganglion cells. In the autumn of 2011, I was lucky enough to be invited to the Jackson Laboratory as part of a collaboration project between Profs. James Morgan (Cardiff University) and Simon John, studying dendritic degeneration on retinal ganglion cells during DBA/2J glaucoma. Having thoroughly enjoyed this project and seeking the mentor ship of Simon to progress intellectually as an independent scientist, I joined the John lab as a Post Doctoral Fellow in Spring, 2012.
My current research focuses on retinal and optic nerve degeneration in the DBA/2J mouse, a widely used model of glaucoma, and the protective nature of γ- and X-ray radiation in this model. I am using modern genomic tools, including RNA-sequencing, to characterize the transcriptomes of different cell types to better understand glaucomatous disease pathogenesis. I am also involved with collaborative projects with biomedical and electrical engineering faculty members from Purdue University working on novel optogenetic tools, vagus nerve stimulation as well as strategies for blocking monocyte adhesion in disease.
Under the mentorship of Simon I have been given the chance to develop my critical thinking and decision-making skills as I work through increasingly more complex problems in neurobiology. Through my RNA-sequencing dataset I have identified novel genes and pathways that may be involved in the earliest time points during glaucomatous progression. I am currently working on strategies to test these genes through targeted knockouts, by using the John Lab’s vast database of ENU G1 mutant mice and by novel drug therapies. Through this I am learning to use a range of genetic and genomic tools to dissect the mechanisms of complex neurodegenerative disease.
I work closely with another Post Doctoral Fellow, Jeffrey Harder, with whom I manage two research assistants. Simon’s lab is providing me with the skills to help me become an independent scientist, involving me with all aspects of lab planning.
Jeffrey Harder, Ph.D. Data Scientist, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
I graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science at Pennsylvania State University and developed a strong interest in human disease research. This led me to enroll in a graduate program at the University of Rochester called Pathways of Human Disease. As part of my Ph.D. research I defined genes responsible for retinal ganglion cell death during development, after mechanical optic nerve injury, and in DBA/2J glaucoma. I joined the John Lab in the spring of 2013 excited by the opportunity of working with Dr. Simon John. The John Lab’s record in mentoring and the success of Simon’s former postdocs in obtaining faculty positions and funding was very attractive. The support of other John Lab members and the intellectual and technical expertise at The Jackson Laboratory, including excellent scientific services that would allow me to get more science accomplished, was also important in my decision. The John lab has excellent resources, expertise and organizational structure. Although glaucoma is a complex age-related disease, this environment allows me to run multiple projects. It also allows me to use a multidisciplinary approach.
Using DBA/2J mice as a model of glaucoma, my current research focuses on axon degeneration, the role of innate immunity in the central nervous system, and the role of diet in neurodegeneration. This includes studying the role of JNKs in glaucomatous injury and working to identify early signaling events that may initiate injury. For another project, I am collaborating with faculty from Dalhousie University working on defining human genes responsible for exfoliation syndrome glaucoma. I also work closely with Pete Williams and help direct two research assistants in the lab. This opportunity to collaborate and manage while working through complex projects with the mentorship of Simon is extremely valuable. It is broadening my conceptual thinking abilities both scientifically and managerially. Importantly, I am improving the array of skill sets necessary for running a lab