Research Scientists and Assistant Professors

Christa Montgomery, PhD

I have been the Lab Manager and a Research Scientist in the Simon John Lab since January of 2019. I earned my interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry with a co-discipline Cell Biology and Biophysics from the University of Missouri at Kansas City in 2011. I have experience with protein biochemistry and metabolism, transformed and primary cell culture and assays, and have studied mouse and rat models of autoimmune optic neuritis, metabolic syndrome/diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and glaucoma. My current project is developing nanoCT imaging protocols to charactreize the ocular draanage structures and as a replacement/complement for conventional histology.

Chi Zhang, PhD

I am an associate research scientist in John Lab. I earned my Ph.D. in Developmental Biology from Fudan University in 2012 where I used different mouse models to investigate heart, kidney and retinal diseases. Since joining the John lab, my focus has been on developing inducible glaucoma mouse models as well as molecular mechanism of neural damage in glaucoma. My research is cenetered on single cell transcriptomic characteriztion of glaucoma and the role of enothelial cell dysfunction and metabolism in RGC degeneration I am also evaluating the importance of specific axon degenertaion pathways.

Revathi Balasubramanian, PhD

I am a research scientist in the John laboratory. I have a Ph.D in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester. During my Ph.D., I studied the role of LIM transcription factors in development of retina using mouse genetics. My postdoctoral research aimed at understanding the role of signaling molecules during early specification of the optic cup using mouse genetics, single cell sequencing and human and mouse organoids. In the John lab, I am studyng development of the ocular draiange tissues and dissecting the role of various pathways in glaucoma using mouse genetics and high throughput genomics. I live in NYC and have been an active member of the Columbia University Postdoc Society. I love everything the city has to offer: theater, opera, dining, public transport, and world-class institutions for collaborations.

Qing Wang, MD, PhD. Glaucoma Specialist and Assistant Professor

I am an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and a clinician-scientist specializing in the medical and surgical management of glaucoma. I graduated from Yale University with a BS and MS in Molecular Biophysicis and Biochemistry. I subsequently earned my MD and PhD through the Medical Scientist Training Program at Columbia University. My PhD research was on the molecular programs that distinguish different subpopulations of retinal ganglion cells during development in the laboratoryof Dr. Carol Mason. I completed my ophthalmology residency and postdoctoral research fellowship on optic nerve studies at the Stein Eye Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles. Before returning to Columbia, I completed a glaucoma clinical fellowship at Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

My surgical expertise includes cataract and both minimally invasive and traditional glaucoma surgeries. My research aims to understanding the mechanisms causing retinal ganglion cells loss in glaucoma and developing new treatments to protect and restore these cells. My major focus in on the role of opitc nerve head astocytes, and I am leading projects to trascriptionally profile and dissect the roles of this glial cell type. I am delighted to collaborate closely with Simon, gaining from his laboratories environment and learning from his research mentorship. Reciprocally, I serve as a bridge to clinical expertise and human studies.