The Team
Aedes aegypti female drinking a saline meal from an artificial feeder (Photo credit: Alex Wild)
Note: to contact any member of the lab, add (at)columbia.edu to their UNI
photo credit: Trevor Sorrells
Laura B. Duvall, Phd
(Assistant Professor)
UNI: lbd2126
Laura received her B.A. in Biochemistry and Biological Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania in 2007. She then went on to complete a PhD with Paul Taghert at Washington University in St. Louis studying the neuropeptide regulation of circadian behavior in Drosophila. She conducted postdoctoral research with Leslie Vosshall at the Rockefeller University where she switched her studies to the Aedes aegypti mosquito and focused her research efforts on understanding the regulation of feeding and mating behaviors in the mosquito.
She started her own lab at Columbia University in 2019 where she is a member of the Department of Biological Sciences and an affiliate of the Zuckerman Institute. She is the recipient of a 2020 Beckman Young Investigator Award, a 2020 Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Award in Neuroscience, and she is a 2021 Pew Scholar in Biomedical Sciences.
Tom performing fieldwork in Maliau Basin
Tom Gabel
(Staff Associate)
UNI: tg2738
Tom has worked with a variety of invertebrate communities, in both field and laboratory settings. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he studied the impacts of climate change on the diversity and developmental stability of grasshopper assemblages in the Colorado Front Range. At California State University, East Bay, he investigated threats to native ant biodiversity in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the invasive Argentine ant, Linepithema humile. He then spent 3 years with the California Department of Fish & Wildlife on long-term monitoring projects studying the zooplankton and endangered planktivorous fish communities of the San Francisco Bay Estuary, including the endemic Delta Smelt, Hypomesus transpacificus. He joined the Duvall lab in 2019 as a Staff Associate, rearing and maintaining research colonies of Aedes aegypti for research into the neural mechanisms of blood-feeding behavior.
Chloe Greppi, Phd
(Postdoctoral Fellow)
UNI: cg3251
Chloe received her B.S. in Biology from Northeastern University in 2011. There, she participated in the cooperative education program and worked at two different biotech companies, gaining exposure to the fields of process development and x-ray crystallography. After graduating, she worked as a technician for three years in the lab of Jeffrey Macklis at Harvard University studying the molecular controls governing neuron subtype development and targeting. She then went on to pursue her PhD at Brandeis University with Paul Garrity, where she studied the thermosensory systems of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, and identified a cooling-sensitive receptor that surprisingly mediates heat-seeking behavior in the female mosquito. She joined the Duvall lab in fall 2020 as a postdoctoral fellow, where she studies the neural circuits that underlie host-seeking and feeding behaviors of Aedes aegypti. In her spare time she enjoys hiking and baking. Chloe is a 2021 Life Sciences Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow.
Yen-Chih Chen, PhD
(Postdoctoral Associate)
UNI: yc4555
Yen-Chih obtained his Bachelor’s degree from National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan. During his time there, he researched cancer cell motility in the lab of Dr. Hong-Chen Chen. He then pursued his Master's degree at the Institute of Molecular Medicine at National Taiwan University, focusing on the mechanism of temperature-dependent longevity in the lab of Dr. Chun-Liang Pan. Subsequently, he completed his PhD at NYU under the supervision of Dr. Niels Ringstad, where he made discoveries related to neuroactive natural products that target the neuromodulatory system and the regulation of reproductive behavior by sensory integration. He joined the Duvall lab as a postdoctoral researcher, studying the feeding and host-seeking behaviors of Aedes aegypti. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, reading novels, and spending time with his family.
Minsik Yun, PhD
(Postdoctoral Associate)
UNI: my2874
Minsik received his B.A. and Ph.D. from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST). His Ph.D. thesis, conducted in Professor Young-Joon Kim’s lab, studied the relationship between social context and the behavioral plasticity of female fruit flies, especially 'sperm ejection behavior'. He also proofread and analyzed fruit fly brain connectome databases to elucidate the key neural circuits regulating female sexual behavior. He joined the Duvall lab in Summer 2024 as a postdoctoral researcher, where he studies the neural circuit mechanisms underlying the sexual behavior of female mosquitoes. Outside of the lab, he enjoys digging and listening to old-school hip-hop music and Japanese city pop music.
Monica Cramer
(PhD student)
UNI: mc5024
Monica earned her B.S. in Entomology from Cornell University in 2020. As an undergraduate she studied Ichthyopthirius multifiliis, an obligate parasite of freshwater fish. She joined the Duvall lab in fall 2020 as a research assistant, where she assisted with maintaining research colonies of mosquitoes and studying host-seeking rhythms in Aedes aegypti. In her free time, Monica enjoys exploring the outdoors, insect collecting, and listening to podcasts. She entered the Columbia PhD program in Biological Sciences in 2022 and returned to the Duvall lab as a PhD student in 2023.
Linhan Dong (Dong)
(PhD student)
UNI: ld2941
Dong received his Bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry from the University of Groningen (The Netherlands) and Jilin University (China). As an undergraduate student he studied a thermostable Pseudomonas transaminase and its application in the asymmetric synthesis of aliphatic amines. He also used molecular docking simulations to elucidate the structure-activity correlation and identified key residues affecting the enzyme’s substrate spectrum. He joined the Duvall lab in spring 2021 where he studies the role of the circadian system in controlling mosquito daily behaviors.
Elisabeth (Lizzie) Bradford
(PhD student)
UNI: efb2138
Lizzie earned her B.A. in Neuroscience from Kenyon College in 2021. As an undergraduate researcher in the Petersen Lab, she used zebrafish to study the ways in which developing Schwann cells and neurons interact with each other and with cues from the nerve environment to establish a properly functioning nervous system. In the fall of 2021, she began her PhD in the Biological Sciences Program and joined the Duvall Lab in 2022 where she studies mechanosensation in the mosquito gut. Lizzie volunteers with the organizations Project SHORT and BUMP as a mentor for students in STEM. She is originally from Connecticut and enjoys hiking, baking, and exploring the city.
Lena Kogan
(PhD student)
UNI: hvk2105
Lena earned her B.A. in Physiology and Organismal Biology from Barnard College in 2019. As a research assistant in the Kalderon Lab at Columbia, she studied stem cell niche development in the Drosophila pupal ovary. She then went on to work as a lab technician, studying proteasome inhibitor drug strategies for fungal infections in the honey bee gut microbiome at the Snow Lab of Barnard College. In the fall of 2021, she began her PhD in the Biological Sciences Program and joined the Duvall Lab in 2022 where she focuses on understanding how females provision their eggs depending on seasonal cues. Lena enjoys doing graphic design both in and outside of the lab. She has lived in Vermont and on Long Island, and spends her free time bird watching, taking long walks, and having strong opinions about maple syrup.
Johanna de la Cruz
(PhD rotation student)
Johanna grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina and earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences from Imperial College London. She then pursued a Master's degree in Computational Biology at Cambridge University, where she explored the intersection of biology and technology. After completing her Master's, Johanna joined the Yuste Lab at Columbia University as a technician, investigating how neurons communicate and form behaviors using hydra as a model organism. Currently, she is a PhD student in the Columbia Biological Sciences program, focusing on sensory systems and behaviors, combining wet lab and dry lab approaches. In her free time, Johanna loves hiking and spending time outdoors, as well as making music and drinking mate.
Lauren Subramaniam
(Work-study Lab Assistant/Independent Study student)
Lauren is an undergraduate student at Columbia hoping to study Environmental Biology on the Ecology and Evolution track. She joined the lab in Fall 2021 as a work-study student and lab assistant and currently works with Tom Gabel to characterize mating patterns within and between mosquito species. Lauren previously interned in the Gould Lab at North Carolina State University in the department of Entomology and Plant Pathology under Dr. Jennifer Baltzegar, researching the effects of releasing the Wolbachia bacteria in Ae.aegypti mosquitoes. She is originally from Western North Carolina, and enjoys hiking, kayaking, kendo, and crocheting in her free time.
Candace Cochran
(Work-study Lab Assistant)
Candace is an undergraduate at Columbia College hoping to study either Evolutionary Biology or Biological Sciences on the premed track. She joined the lab in Fall 2022 as a work-study student and lab assistant. Candace is a member of Women in Medicine Society and the nonprofit Globemed. She also is volunteering at Columbia Irving Medical Center. She is originally from Chicago, and enjoys ice skating and studying languages in her free time.
Jord Barnett
(SRI Undergraduate Researcher)
Jord (they/them) is an undergraduate at Barnard College (class of 2025) studying Physiology and Organismal Biology. They joined the Duvall lab in the Summer of 2023 and work with Linhan Dong on characterizing molecular, cellular, and behavioral aspects of circadian rhythms in Aedes aegypti. They are passionate about queer and disability inclusion in the sciences and are a Co-Lead Mentor for the Barnard Center for Accessibility Resources and Disability Services. Previously, they worked in the Shirasu-Hiza lab at CUIMC studying metabolic effects of intermittent Time Restricted Feeding in D. melanogaster and in the Integrated Genomics Operation at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Outside of the lab, they enjoy crochet, baking, and playing Legend of Zelda.
Kyle Frank
(SURF Summer Undergraduate Researcher/Independent Study)
Kyle is an undergraduate at Columbia majoring in biology with a concentration in philosophy. He previously worked in the Bendesky Lab studying aggression in Betta Fish and joined the Duvall Lab as a SURF student in 2023. Kyle works with Dr. In Hae Lee characterizing how circadian clock genes affect development and diapause in Aedes Albopictus. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing the trombone and hiking with his dog when back home in Virginia.
Laura Ann Lesley
(Independent Study Undergraduate Researcher)
Laura Ann is an undergraduate at Columbia College studying Neuroscience and Behavior on the pre-medical track. She joined the lab in Fall 2023 and currently works with PhD candidate Lena Kogan to study the metabolic pathways behind the formation of diapause eggs in Ae. albopictus. Originally from South Mississippi, she previously worked as an intern in a local Neurology clinic and hospital. Laura Ann is also involved with the Columbia Witness and the Columbia Medical Review. In her free time, you can find her playing volleyball, cooking, and spending time outdoors.
KaEon Cho
(Work-study Lab Assistant)
Kaeon is a senior from Texas studying Neuroscience and Behavior on the pre-med track at Columbia College. She joined the lab as a work study and lab assistant under Tom Gabel. Kaeon previously worked as a lab assistant in the Haeusler Lab at the Columbia University Medical Center and studied the long term effects of the CYP2C gene on mice. In her free time, she enjoys playing the violin, reading webtoons, and walking her dog.
Jamilee Castro
(Work-Study Lab Assistant)
Jamilee Castro is an undergraduate at Barnard College majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior on the pre-med track. She joined the lab in the Fall of 2024, working under Tom Gabel, with aspirations to become a pediatric physician. On campus, she serves as a peer mentor for first-year students, helping them navigate college life. Previously, she worked at the Kang Miller Lab at Columbia Medical Center as a research assistant, investigating neural circuits at the single-cell level in models of neuropsychiatric illness and treatment. Outside of academics, she enjoys watching movies, spending time with friends and family, and traveling.
Claude
Claude works to find ways to maximize attention and treats for himself. He publishes as “Claude’s Riverside Papaya King”.
LAB ALUMNI
Luke Geiger
(PhD Rotation Student)
Luke graduated from Princeton University summa cum laude with an A.B. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology as well as a Certificate in Neuroscience in 2023. While at Princeton, he worked to study the evolution and neuromolecular basis of animal behavior in the labs of Dr. Catherine Peña and Dr. Sarah Kocher. At Columbia he is using a combination of computational, molecular, and behavioral methods to better understand how evolution has (and continues to) generate an amazing range of nervous system forms and functions in response to environmental challenges.
Alexa Oviedo
(Research Assistant)
Alexa received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As an undergraduate, she studied the involvement of the SRC Homology 3 (SH3) domain, which is a protein module of 60 amino acids, in the maintenance and control of the cellular proteostasis network in yeast cells, and analyzed the interactions between Hse1 and Unfolded Protein Response-regulation protein Ire1. She joined the Duvall lab in the summer of 2023 as a research assistant, where she works to identify how female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes detect changes in their mating status and where the receptors that detect mating signals are found in the female. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, playing piano, and spending time with her family.
Tori Saltz
(PhD Rotation Student)
Tori received her B.A. in neuroscience and psychology from Williams College in 2022 where she worked as an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Dr. Shivon Robinson studying neural circuits that mediate reward-seeking behavior. She then worked for a year in the lab of Dr. Ishmail Abdus-Saboor at Columbia University characterizing the behavioral and molecular signatures of phantom limb pain in a rodent model. She rotated in the Duvall lab as a first year PhD student in the Biological Sciences Program. In her free time, Tori loves running, hiking, and trying new fruits!
Laura Sophie Balske
(Work-study Lab Assistant)
Laura is a junior in the School of General Studies at Columbia University studying Neuroscience and Behavior on the pre-medical track. Originally from Germany, Laura moved to New York in 2020 and began studying at a local community college before transferring to Columbia in the fall of 2021. She joined the Duvall lab in the summer of 2022 and supports the lab by setting up mating experiments, rearing and feeding mosquito larvae, collecting eggs, and maintaining a clean environment in the lab. Laura is a state-certified EMT and hopes to enter an MD-PhD program upon graduation. In her free time, Laura bakes for her local community in Westchester county by running a home bakery business, takes long walks with her way to energetic one-eyed puppy Odin, and spends too much time on Zillow dreaming about her future home.
Anthony Lee
(Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)/Independent Study student)
Anthony is a senior from the Bay Area studying biology on the pre-med track at Columbia College. He enjoys playing the flute and is a member of the orchestra at Columbia. In his free time, Anthony likes to take up new hobbies (most recently the guitar). He worked with Dr. In Hae Lee to develop tools to study seasonal rhythms in Ae. albopictus mosquitoes.
Takuya Uehara, PhD
(Visiting JSPS Scientist)
Takuya received his B.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Tsukuba. His Ph.D. thesis in Professor Hiroshi Honda’s lab studied ecological and biochemical aspects in the sex pheromone communication system of hawk moths. Since April 2015, he is a research scientist in the Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, NARO, where he studies behavioral manipulation technics via chemicals or lights for beneficial and pest insects with Dr. Masami Shimoda. He joined the Duvall lab in Fall 2022 with the support of Fostering Joint International Research of JSPS. Outside of the lab, he enjoys watching insects in the field, brewing coffee and collecting surrealistic design t-shirts.
In Hae Lee, PHD
(Postdoctoral Associate)
In Hae received her B.S. in Neurobiology from the University of Washington in 2011. As an undergraduate researcher in Daniel Marks and Robert Steiner’s labs, she studied metabolic and hormonal regulation of feeding behavior and fertility in rodents. After working as a research assistant in the Steiner lab, In Hae went on to pursue her PhD at the Rockefeller University with Shai Shaham, where she studied how stress-induced neural plasticity mediates adaptive behavior in C. elegans. She identified a glial GPCR, REMO-1, which drives structural remodeling of sensory neuron and associated glia, priming animals to respond efficiently to favorable conditions. She joined the Duvall lab in winter 2021 as a postdoctoral fellow, where she studies how seasonal patterns regulate physiological, metabolic, and behavioral alterations in diapause state mosquitoes.
Isabelle Seckler
(Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)/Independent Study student/EEEB senior thesis student)
Isabelle (Izzy) is a senior at Columbia studying Environmental Biology and Sustainable Development on the pre-med track. Originally from South Florida, she volunteered as a marine educator at a sea turtle rehab facility and gained a passion for the intersection of nature and society. She is inspired by unique adaptations in nature to solve sustainability challenges and enjoys writing for the Biomimicry Institute about evolution-driven innovation. Isabelle is very involved with Sustainable Columbia and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, working to create new pathways in education for sustainability. She joined the Duvall Lab as a SURF Summer 2021 fellow where she worked with Dr. Chloe Greppi to understand host-seeking regulation in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes and continued her work as an independent study student and then as an EEEB senior thesis student. In her free time, you can find Isabelle playing with her bulldogs, playing soccer, or snorkeling in the ocean. Isabelle graduated in 2023 and is currently pursuing a PhD at The Rockefeller University.
Preston Sheng
(PhD rotation student)
Preston received his B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University in 2019. As an undergraduate, he studied the effects of tissue specific knockdown of the exosome complex in Drosophila melanogaster in the Corbett lab, as well as the effects of post-stroke physical rehabilitation neural plasticity in the Ganguly lab as an Amgen Scholar. After he graduated, he worked for two years in the Ahmed lab characterizing the long-term persistence of Sars-COV-2 antibodies. He is currently a rotation student in the Duvall lab studying the genetic and behavioral differences in diapause mosquitoes. Outside the lab, he enjoys jazz, cocktails, and buying board games he can't afford. He joined the Abdus-Saboor lab as a PhD student in 2023.
Demi Fortson
(PhD rotation student)
Demi earned her B.S/M.S from the University of Maryland in 2019. During her time at Maryland, she performed plant pathology diagnostic research identifying the various viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and other pathogens found in greenhouses and fields. After completing her degrees she then worked at Johns Hopkins University where she performed molecular neuropathology research under the African American Neuroscience Initiative. Demi loves yoga, playing with her two cats, and long outdoor runs. Demi performed her spring/summer rotation in the Duvall lab and joined the Barnhart lab as a PhD student in 2022.
Emily Makowicz
(PhD rotation student)
Emily earned her B.A./M.A. in Biology from Hunter College in 2020. During her time at Hunter, she did research on post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA in Drosophila in the Bratu lab. She then worked at New York University to study synaptic plasticity using electron microscopy in the Aoki Lab. In 2021, she began her PhD in the Neurobiology and Behavior program at Columbia. Emily is a local from Queens and outside of the lab she enjoys reading psych thriller novels and live music. Emily rotated in the Duvall lab in the winter of 2022 and joined the Sulzer lab as a PhD student.
Andy Paige
(PhD student)
Andy received a B.A. in Biology from New College of Florida in 2018. He completed his honors thesis research working with Dr. Barry Alto at the University of Florida’s Medical Entomology Laboratory. There, he investigated the impact of larval nutrition on the ability of adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to become infected with and transmit the Zika virus, identifying a link between nutrient stoichiometry and the infection/transmission potential. He then worked as an IRTA research fellow in the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. With Dr. Eric Calvo, he studied the role of arthropod salivary gland proteins in blood feeding and disease transmission. Specifically, his work identified the binding site of a unique protein, which evolved to enhance mammalian blood feeding in Culex mosquitoes, by solving the crystal structure to 1.97Å resolution using X-ray diffraction (PDB = 6V4C). He is a recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP) for 2020 and volunteers as a consultant for PhD admission applications with Project SHORT. He joined the Duvall lab in Spring 2021. He enjoys making people laugh, riding his bike, traveling, and playing with dogs.
Shawn Muhr
(AMGEN Summer Undergraduate Researcher)
Shawn is a 2023 Amgen Scholar and a senior at Colorado School of Mines where he is majoring in Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering. He works with Dr. Chloé Greppi where he is studying NPYLR7's effect on embryonic development and the peptides that bind to NPYLR7 in Aedes aegypti. He plans to pursue a PhD in Biological Sciences after he graduates. Outside of research, he enjoys to ballroom dance, ski, and host outreach events to elementary, middle, and high school students.
Emi Gaçaj
(Work-Study Lab Assistant)
Emi Gaçaj is an undergraduate at Columbia College passionate about exploring the intersections between medicine, social justice, and holistic care. She joined the lab in Winter of 2023 as a work-study student and laboratory assistant. Her field of study is the Evolutionary Biology of the Human Species, which she hopes to translate into a future as a reproductive healthcare provider. On campus, she’s working with the Osteology Society, Gynecology Journal, and as a Naloxone trainer, to unite her captivation with science to supporting the communities around her. She’s also a Full Spectrum Birth Doula working with her organization The Body Org, to provide wellness products and peer education to youth nationwide. Emi finds joy in fermenting kombucha, exploring different styles of movement, and finding new places to eat in her hometown of Minneapolis.