Genetics & Molecular Biology Research

Research in the biology department utilizes manipulative approaches to study gene function and the genetics of disease in a variety of model systems, including C. elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, mice, rats, and mammalian cell culture. In addition, our research aims to elucidate the molecular basis of biological function, whether the emphasis is on aspects of cell physiology or structure, or on processes like the regulation of gene expression.

Faculty Conducting Research in Genetics & Molecular Biology

	Contact	Specialization
	Michael Akins Assistant Professor PISB 319 mra69@drexel.edu	Experience-dependent plasticity in the mammalian nervous system; post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in neurons
	Shivanthi Anandan Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education; Associate Professor PISB 320 anandans@drexel.edu	My research program uses molecular genetic and classical microbial genetics to study signal transduction pathways in marine and freshwater cyanobacteria. I focus on gene expression in cyanobacteria, and how this gene expression gives the organism an adaptive advantage.
	John Bethea Professor PISB 123.04 jrb445@drexel.edu
	Felice Elefant Professor, Director of the Biology Graduate Program PISB 317 fe22@drexel.edu	My research program is focused on understanding epigenetic mechanisms that govern higher order brain function via chromatin packaging in neurons.
	Denise Garcia Assistant Professor PISB 422 adg82@drexel.edu	Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
	Tali Gidalevitz Assistant Professor PISB 418 Tali.gidalevitz@drexel.edu	My lab aims to understand the mechanisms that maintain healthy protein folding environment in the cell, and how they fail in neurodegenerative diseases and aging. We use genetic and live imaging approaches in a genetically tractable organism, C. elegans, as discovery tools, and apply the findings to mammalian systems.
	Daniel Marenda Associate Dean of Research, Associate Professor PISB 421 daniel.marenda@drexel.edu	Developmental neurobiology and behavior. Modeling Alzheimer’s disease, CHARGE syndrome, and Pitt-Hopkins in Drosophila
	Nianli Sang Co-Director of the Cell Imaging Center; Associate Professor PISB 417 nianli.sang@drexel.edu	Molecular, Cellular and Biochemical Bases of Major Human Diseases
	Aleister Saunders Senior Vice Provost for Research; Professor 104 Left Bank Aleister.Saunders@drexel.edu	Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular/Cellular Biology

Contact

Specialization

Michael Akins

Assistant Professor
PISB 319
mra69@drexel.edu

Experience-dependent plasticity in the mammalian nervous system; post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in neurons

Shivanthi Anandan

Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education; Associate Professor
PISB 320
anandans@drexel.edu

My research program uses molecular genetic and classical microbial genetics to study signal transduction pathways in marine and freshwater cyanobacteria. I focus on gene expression in cyanobacteria, and how this gene expression gives the organism an adaptive advantage.

John Bethea

Professor
PISB 123.04
jrb445@drexel.edu

Felice Elefant

Professor, Director of the Biology Graduate Program
PISB 317
fe22@drexel.edu

My research program is focused on understanding epigenetic mechanisms that govern higher order brain function via chromatin packaging in neurons.

Denise Garcia

Assistant Professor
PISB 422
adg82@drexel.edu

Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology

Tali Gidalevitz

Assistant Professor
PISB 418
Tali.gidalevitz@drexel.edu

My lab aims to understand the mechanisms that maintain healthy protein folding environment in the cell, and how they fail in neurodegenerative diseases and aging. We use genetic and live imaging approaches in a genetically tractable organism, C. elegans, as discovery tools, and apply the findings to mammalian systems.

Daniel Marenda

Associate Dean of Research, Associate Professor
PISB 421
daniel.marenda@drexel.edu

Developmental neurobiology and behavior. Modeling Alzheimer’s disease, CHARGE syndrome, and Pitt-Hopkins in Drosophila

Nianli Sang

Co-Director of the Cell Imaging Center; Associate Professor
PISB 417
nianli.sang@drexel.edu

Molecular, Cellular and Biochemical Bases of Major Human Diseases

Aleister Saunders

Senior Vice Provost for Research; Professor
104 Left Bank
Aleister.Saunders@drexel.edu

Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular/Cellular Biology