Principal Investigator
Lynne received her PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For her graduate thesis, she uncovered the mechanisms of how amino acids signal within cells to promote growth. As a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School, she developed rapid biochemical methods to profile neuronal organelles as well as deduced how decision making is regulated by multiple key neurotransmitters in the striatum.
BA/MA Student
Justin is a BA/MA student at BU majoring in biochemistry & molecular biology. He is interested in how neurotransmitters interact during decision-making. In his free time, he enjoys skiing, playing with his dog, and hanging out with friends.
Research Technician
Tina is a recent BA/MA graduate from Boston University, who majored in Cellular Biology, Molecular Biology, and Genetics. She is interested in understanding the molecular basis of how neural signaling contributes to the fundamental processes necessary to meet an organism’s daily needs. Outside of lab, she enjoys playing piano and hanging out with friends.
Graduate Student, MCBB Program
Anne received her BS in Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology from UC Santa Barbara in 2022. At UCSB, she utilized stem cell derived retinal organoids to study key mutations implicated in retinitis pigmentosa. She was also involved in studying the early pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes through investigation of glucose metabolism. Now, Anne is studying neuromelanin and its lifecycle in dopaminergic neurons. In her free time she enjoys cooking, playing the bass, and crocheting.
Graduate Student, Dept of Biology Neurobiology Program
Elif received her BA in Cell Biology & Neuroscience from Rutgers University. As an undergraduate researcher, she studied the effect of partitioning defective polarity proteins on dendritic spines in learning and memory. Following her graduation, Elif was a post-baccalaureate research assistant examining how mutations in Shank3, a postsynaptic scaffolding protein, influence dendritic spine development and synapse formation. Currently, she is exploring how core lysosomal-dependent signaling pathways are remodeled in neurons. Outside of the lab, she enjoys going bouldering and playing the piano.
Undergraduate Student
Etiene is a junior at BU studying neuroscience. She is interested in understanding the production and effects of neuromelanin in dopaminergic neurons. She enjoys exploring the city, reading, and hanging out with friends in her free time.
Graduate Student, MCBB program
Suraj received his Integrated M.Sc. in Biotechnology from SPPU, Pune, in 2022. He then worked as a research technician at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), focusing on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized N-linked glycosylation pathway, specifically the enzyme Alg10 in fruit flies. Suraj is interested in exploring the diverse interactions within neuronal cell biology. Outside the lab, he enjoys reading non-fiction books and cooking.
Undergraduate Student
Saku is a sophomore at BU majoring in neuroscience. She is interested in studying the cellular mechanisms that protect from neurological degeneration. In her free time, Saku enjoys climbing, reading, and hanging out with friends!
We are actively recruiting curious, creative, and motivated scientists of all levels to join our team!
We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and strive to create an environment of inclusiveness and respect.
Please reach out to Lynne via email: lchantra@bu.edu
Michelle Wen (Visiting Fellow, 2024-2025)