Meet the Gronert Lab!
Spring 2023
Principal Investigator
Karsten Gronert, MS, PhD
Karsten joined the University of California, Berkeley Faculty in 2007, was tenured in 2011 and promoted to Professor in the School of Optometry in 2014. He was Chair of the Vision Science Graduate Program (2014-2018). He is also a member of the Infectious Diseases and Immunity Program at UC Berkeley. His research interests are focused on elucidating the role and regulation of intrinsic lipid circuits that control healthy & routine execution of ocular surface immune responses and maintain homeostasis & neuroprotection in the retina.
Post-Docs
Shubham Maurya, PhD
I completed my undergraduate degree in Biotechnology from MNNIT Allahabad, India, and Ph.D. in Gene Therapy from IIT Kanpur, India. Continuing my scientific hues, my work at Gronert Lab aims to understand the role of neuroprotective pathways and the effect of pre-resolving lipid mediators in ocular hypertension models of glaucoma. I love exploring the mountains and beaches in the Bay Area.
Shruthi Karnam, PhD
I did my Postdoctoral Research at Duke University and obtained my Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 2018 from National Institute of Nutrition, India. I joined John Flanagan and Gronert labs in Oct 2020. My research interests are to characterize a neuroprotective network in the retina, define its mechanisms of action and explore the efficacy of amplifying the astrocyte lipid circuit as a novel target for preventing or treating glaucoma using an established mouse model of ocular hypertension, primary cell culture of astrocytes, various molecular and lipidomics approaches. In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music, gardening, and traveling.
Graduate Students
Matangi Kumar
I graduated from UC Davis in 2021 with a degree in Genetics and Genomics and I am currently a PhD student in the Vision Sciences program. My research interests are to understand the mechanisms of damage and neuroprotection in Glaucoma and my current project is to understand the mechanism of muller glia reactivity and the role of lipid mediators for neuroprotection. In my free time I love art, crocheting, music, and trying new activities!
Visiting Scholar
Jan Auswitz
I am a last-year MD student from Germany, where I previously worked in a lipid mediator-orientated research group. I joined the Gronert lab in June 2023 for a research year in the framework of my German doctoral thesis. My project is linked to glaucoma. With an in vitro and in vivo approach, I aim to elucidate cell signal transduction components of Lipoxin A4 and B4 pathways in retinal ganglion cells and other neuronal cell lines. In my free time, I love to run the Bay Trails, hike around Lake Anza, experience the US-American (university) culture, and enjoy Berkeley vegi burritos.
Emily Ward
At Tulane University, I pursued majors in cell/molecular biology & neuroscience and a minor in chemistry. I then completed my MSc by Research at the University of London through a project relating to eicosanoids, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. Next, I worked as a medical writer in New York City (pharmaceutical industry). Currently, I am a second-year PhD student of the Vision Science program and I (together with my great lab colleagues) research the role of lipid mediators in glaucoma. I also continue to work as a freelance medical writer. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing, hiking, painting, and cooking/baking.
Hye Kyung (Hayley) Moon
I am a second year optometry student who joined the Gronert Lab through a NIH-funded T-35 summer research opportunity. Prior to UC Berkeley, I graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in Neuroscience and Behavior from Wesleyan University with a thesis on adult neurogenesis in zebra finch songbirds. Currently in the Gronert Lab, I am interested in exploring the PGD pathway in the layers of the retina and optic nerve using various models and techniques.
Undergraduate Students
Maggie Lin
Hello! My name is Maggie Lin (she/her), and I'm currently a fourth-year undergraduate student, pursuing a double major in MCB and Computer Science. In my spare time, I enjoy playing volleyball, hiking, and trying out new foods!
Arzin Thobani
My name is Arzin Thobani. I’m currently a Junior majoring in Chemical Biology. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, baking, and exploring new places to eat!
Tanirika Singh
My name is Tanirika and I'm currently a Junior majoring in Molecular & Cellular Biology. Outside of research, during my downtime I enjoy exploring local hiking trails, visiting history museums, playing tennis, and cooking!
Maria Duda
Hi, my name is Maria! I’m a sophomore majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology and The Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program. Outside of the lab, I enjoy travelling, skiing, and playing golf!
Maggie Lin
Hi, my name is Claire Lin and I’m a second-year undergraduate majoring in Chemistry. In my free time, I love rock-climbing and drawing.
Claire Lin
Arzin Thobani
Amodini Choudhary
Hi, my name is Amodini! I’m a sophomore majoring in French and Molecular and Cellular Biology, with an emphasis in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. Outside of the lab, I enjoy climbing, cooking, and exploring the bay!
Amodini Choudhary
Tanirika Singh
Trisha Devchoudhury
Hello! My name is Trisha Devchoudhury, and I'm currently a first-year undergrad student, pursuing a double major in Molecular and Cell Biology (Neurobiology emphasis) and Public Health. In my free time, I love reading, hiking, and exploring new places and foods!
Trisha Devchoudhury
Maria Duda
My name is Sydney Adcook and I am currently a sophomore majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology with an emphasis in Infectious Disease. In my free time, I enjoy baking, swimming, and listening to music.
Sydney Adcook
Collaborating Investigators
John G. Flanagan, PhD, DSc, FCOptom, FAAO, FARVO
John the eighth and inaugural Dean and Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley. He is also a member of the American Glaucoma Society, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. His research areas are molecular and cellular biology. His research interests are focused on the Pathophysiology of glaucoma, Glial cell activation, and Cellular models of glaucoma, capable of manipulating biomechanical stretch and ischemia.
Jeremy Sivak, PhD
Dr. Sivak completed his Ph.D. in 2001 at Tufts University/New England Medical Center, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Cambridge. He then joined Novartis in 2005 as a project lead, where he led multidisciplinary ophthalmic drug discovery teams. Dr. Sivak returned to academics in 2010 to establish a research program that examines the mechanisms controlling retinal injury responses and to design new treatment and drug delivery strategies. The success of this work is reflected in concurrent funding from federal and non-profit granting agencies, industry collaborations, consistent publications in prominent journals, and broad lecturing internationally.
Lab Alumni
Former Post-Docs
| Name | Time in Lab | Current Position |
|---|---|---|
| Becca Flitter, PhD | 2017-2019 | Senior Scientist, Vaxart Inc. |
| Yuan Gao, PhD, MD | 2012-2015 | Associate Professor, Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military University, China |
| Alexander Leedom, MD, PhD | 2009-2011 | Medical Affairs, Research and Development, Jazz Pharmaceuticals |
| Elvira Liclican, PhD | 2008-2010 | Project Manager, University of California, Los Angeles, Clinical and Translational Science Institute |
| Baiyan Dong, PhD | 2007-2008 | Pharmacist |
Former Graduate Students
| Name | Time in Lab | Current Position |
|---|---|---|
| Julian Ho | 2020-2022 | |
| Thao Yeh | 2016-2019 | Associate Medical Director, Alcon |
| Jessica Wei | 2014-2019 | Postdoctoral Scholar Yale University, School of Medicine |
| Kaleb Asfaha | 2014-2018 | Founder & CEO, Merso Labs |
| Marjan Nabiollah* | 2016-2016 | Kite Pharma *visiting student from Utrecht University, Netherlands |
| Di Wu* | 2013-2015 | Optometrist *visiting student from Tianjin Medical University, China |
| Samantha Wang | 2009-2013 | Scientist, Boehringer Ingelheim |
| Melanie Zhang | 2009-2012 | Staff Optometrist, United States Airforce |
| Alexander Leedom | 2007-2009 | Medical Affairs, Research and Development, Jazz Pharmaceuticals |
| Iram Hassan* | 2004-2009 | Inspector, Food Drug Administration *New York Medical School, Pharmacology PhD Program |
Former Undergraduate Students
*Denotes students who completed an Honors Thesis
| Name | Time in Lab |
|---|---|
| Eileen Wang* | 2018-2022 |
| Lily Yang* | 2019-2022 |
| Elainna Ng* | 2019-2022 |
| Jason Huang | 2021-2022 |
| Annie Zhang* | 2019-2021 |
| Christine Cheung* | 2017-2020 |
| Karthik Mouli* | 2017-2020 |
| Franco Faucher* | 2018-2019 |
| Kimberly Tang* | 2018-2019 |
| Nicole Rossi* | 2016-2018 |
| Henry Kilgore* | 2014-2015 |
| Kyungji Min* | 2013-2015 |
| Katy Ong* | 2010-2012 |
| Vincent Le | 2019-2020 |
| Pranav Bhimani | 2019-2020 |
| Rose Li | 2018-2019 |
| Ishita Aggarwal | 2017-2017 |
| Sharon Chen | 2015-2017 |
| Ju Yeon Han | 2015-2017 |
| Julia Yoo | 2015-2017 |
| Victoria Ly | 2014-2017 |
| Katharine Spack | 2014-2017 |
| Allison Chan | 2014-2016 |
| Wang Qi Chen | 2014-2016 |
| Madaleine Nemchek | 2014-2016 |
| Jasmine Nguyen | 2014-2016 |
| Jun Hyung Sin | 2014-2016 |
| John Su | 2014-2015 |
| Yibing Zhang | 2014-2015 |
| Katherine Spack | 2014-2017 |
| Sundeep Bekai | 2013-2013 |
| Panda Kreidler | 2013-2014 |
| Sam Nguyen | 2013-2014 |
| Patrick Salveston | 2012-2013 |
| Vinay Raghuram | 2012-2013 |
| Brian Xieu | 2012-2013 |
| Sean Li | 2012-2014 |
| Jonathan Jong | 2012-2014 |
| Jeremy Lai | 2012-2014 |
| Erick Lu | 2012-2014 |
| Kyle Seamon | 2010-2012 |
| Vinidhra Mani | 2010-2012 |
| Yangdi Chen | 2010-2012 |
| Yuning Annie Wang | 2010-2013 |
| Haemin Hong | 2011-2012 |
| David Lin | 2011-2014 |
| Kyle Hu | 2009-2012 |
| Clifford Bielenski | 2008-2008 |
| Van Nguyen | 2008-2012 |
| Ray Zhang | 2008-2008 |
| Denise Lau | 2008-2009 |
| Nancy Quach | 2008-2009 |
| Hasiao-Yin Cheng | 2009-2012 |
| Eric Zhu | 2008-2009 |
| Kari Lam | 2008-2012 |