Who We Are
Natasha Snider, PhD Principal Investigator
Natasha Snider, PhD Principal Investigator
Natasha Snider, PhD Principal Investigator
Natasha Snider is a tenured Associate Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology and a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Snider serves as co-Director of Graduate Studies for the Cell Biology and Physiology (CBP) Curriculum at UNC and is co-Principal Investigator for the Cellular Systems and Integrative Physiolo
Natasha Snider is a tenured Associate Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology and a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Snider serves as co-Director of Graduate Studies for the Cell Biology and Physiology (CBP) Curriculum at UNC and is co-Principal Investigator for the Cellular Systems and Integrative Physiology (CSIP) T32 graduate training program. Dr. Snider completed graduate training in Pharmacology (2004-2009) and postdoctoral training in Molecular & Integrative Physiology (2009-2014) at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and joined UNC-CBP in 2015.
Xi Yang, Lab Manager
Natasha Snider, PhD Principal Investigator
Natasha Snider, PhD Principal Investigator
Xi Yang is a lab manager and research associate with almost 30 years of research experience. She is an expert on physiological models of human diseases and oversees research projects on mouse models of GAN. Xi is responsible for training lab members with general protocols, and maintains laboratory compliance records.
Audrey Smith, Graduate Student
Natasha Snider, PhD Principal Investigator
Gabriel Offenback, Research Technician
Audrey Smith is a PhD student in the Neuroscience Curriculum. Her thesis project seeks to uncover early effects of gigaxonin loss that impact neurodevelopment and behavior. She is also studying how pharmacologic modulation of retinoic acid signaling impacts GAN disease development and progression at the molecular level. Audrey completed h
Audrey Smith is a PhD student in the Neuroscience Curriculum. Her thesis project seeks to uncover early effects of gigaxonin loss that impact neurodevelopment and behavior. She is also studying how pharmacologic modulation of retinoic acid signaling impacts GAN disease development and progression at the molecular level. Audrey completed her undergraduate studies in Neuroscience at Indiana University.
Gabriel Offenback, Research Technician
Gabriel Offenback, Research Technician
Gabriel Offenback, Research Technician
Gabe completed his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Richmond in 2022. He has extensive experience with advanced microscopy techniques to characterize various cytoskeletal components. His project is aimed at characterizing the phenotypes of all known AxD-causing GFAP variants and the effects o
Gabe completed his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Richmond in 2022. He has extensive experience with advanced microscopy techniques to characterize various cytoskeletal components. His project is aimed at characterizing the phenotypes of all known AxD-causing GFAP variants and the effects of novel kinase inhibitors on GFAP phosphorylation and filament organization.
Dhruv Garg, Undergraduate Student
Gabriel Offenback, Research Technician
Samuel Jiang, Undergraduate Student
Dhruv is a junior majoring in Biostatistics in the Gillings School of Public Health, with a minor in Chemistry, and will continue to medical school in the future. Dhruv is fascinated by everything about neurodegenerative diseases and is using AI-based tools to predict the effects of PTMs and disease-causing point mutations on GFAP structure and folding.
Samuel Jiang, Undergraduate Student
Gabriel Offenback, Research Technician
Samuel Jiang, Undergraduate Student
Samuel is an undergraduate at UNC studying biology and looking to pursue a career in medicine and public health. In the past, he has worked on soft tissue sarcoma at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Samuel is particularly interested in pediatric cancer and neurodegenerative disease. He is using cellular models of AxD and GAN to
Samuel is an undergraduate at UNC studying biology and looking to pursue a career in medicine and public health. In the past, he has worked on soft tissue sarcoma at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Samuel is particularly interested in pediatric cancer and neurodegenerative disease. He is using cellular models of AxD and GAN to investigate disease mechanisms and test the effects of small molecule compounds.
Siya Patel, Undergraduate Student
Siya Patel, Undergraduate Student
Siya Patel, Undergraduate Student
Siya is a UNC sophomore majoring in Neuroscience, Pre-Public Health, on the Pre-Med track. She is interested in neurodegenerative diseases and plans to go to medical school with a research intensive focus along the way. She is studying molecular changes in the brain and spinal cord tissue in humanized mouse models of GAN.