Department of Cell Biology - Emory University School of Medicine

Chair’s Welcome and Departmental Vision Statement

Dr. Gary J. Bassell — Gary J. Bassell, PhD, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Cell Biology and Department Chair

I am delighted to have this opportunity to work with an outstanding group of faculty, as we make new discoveries at the frontiers of cell biology, developmental biology and neurobiology. We conduct basic biomedical and translational research with an emphasis on the study of diverse aspects of cellular dynamics in health, disease and therapeutic intervention using modern methods in microscopy and imaging. Our research employs multidisciplinary approaches with genetically tractable animal models and human patient cells. We are committed to provide an exemplary level of research training, teaching and mentorship of future scientists and physicians. We continue to establish new partnerships and collaborations across several academic and clinical departments within Emory University, the School of Medicine and several research centers. I look forward to supporting the research and teaching mission of our faculty, and our vision to have a transformative impact on understanding basic science to advance human health.

Commitment to Research Excellence and Engagement:

Emory University and the School of Medicine provide resources to individuals and groups to foster a culturally aware environment, promote wellness, and maintain legal compliance (3, 4, 5).

News Highlights

2025 SOM Educator Appreciation Day

In celebration of Educator Appreciation Day, the Recognitions Committee at Emory School of Medicine sent out a call for nominations for educators across the school who go above and beyond the call of duty as teachers and mentors. Emory educators were nominated by their peers and colleagues for their passion and skills to educate, encourage and support scholars and learners across the university.

Edward Pettus, PhD Assistant Professor of Cell Biology

For over 15 years, Dr. Edward Pettus has provided outstanding leadership in education as Course Director of Human Anatomy in the Physician Assistant Program of Emory University School of Medicine. In this capacity, Dr. Pettus gives over ten lectures per year and over 70 contact hours of laboratory instruction.

Maureen Powers, PhD Associate Professor Cell Biology

Dr. Maureen Powers has served for ten years as Director, Discovery Phase of Emory SOM Medical Curriculum. In this capacity, Dr. Powers has played a pivotal leadership and mentorship to medical students engaged in scholarly research.

2025 Educator Appreciation Day

Sampson Lab

Dr. Timothy Sampson, Assistant Professor in Cell Biology, was featured in Nature for his research that links gut bacteria to Parkinson’s Disease. The story discusses how growing evidence suggests a link between the debilitating neurological illness and the microbes that live in our intestines.

Nature article

Faculty Promotions

Drs. Matthew Rowan and Timothy Sampson are being promoted to Associate Professor of Cell Biology, effective September 1, 2025.

Emory URC Grant Recipients

Three faculty in Cell Biology have received an Emory University Research Committee (URC) grant for 2025: Francisco (Paco) Alvarez, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair; Jie (Jay) Jiang, PhD, Associate Professor; and Marie-Claude Perreault, PhD, Associate Professor.

Lerit Lab

Temitope Adebambo, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Lerit Lab, was featured in The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News, for his work advancing neurodevelopmental research.

Shekhar Lab

Shashank Shekhar, PhD, Assistant Professor of Physics, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry at Emory University, published a paper in Nature Physics titled, “Cooperative hydrodynamics accompany multicellular-like colonial organization in the unicellular ciliate Stentor”. Their work uncovers novel insights into how physical forces shape the evolution of multicellularity and was featured in New York Times.

Dr. Shekhar was also named “Cell Scientist to Watch” by the Journal of Cell Science. The journal conducted an in-depth interview with Dr. Shekhar, highlighting his academic journey and his lab’s latest research.

Read Interview at Journal of Cell Science

Nikki Boon and another female athlete with award 2025 — National Pentathlon Champion Nikki Boon (right)

Ward Lab

National Champion: Nikki Boon in the Ward Lab Made NCAA Division III History

Graduate student Nikki Boon from the Ward Lab made history on March 15, 2025 as she became the first-ever national champion in the indoor pentathlon in Emory University history as the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships got underway at the Golisano Fieldhouse in Rochester, New York.

Boon set a Division III national record as well as a championship meet record as she became the first woman ever at the Division III level to reach 4,000 points in the indoor pentathlon. Boon also became the second-ever Emory student-athlete to win an indoor national championship, joining Annika Urban who won the mile crown in 2023.