Chair’s Welcome and Departmental Vision Statement
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.
News Highlights
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.
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.
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.