Martindale Lab - Current Members

Leslie Babonis, Ph. D.
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
babonis@hawaii.edu
ph: (808) 539-7326
office: KML 111
Research Interests: I am interested in the evolution of novel cell types. Specifically, I am working on understanding the mechanisms by which cnidocytes (stinging cells) acquire their identity using Nematostella vectensis as a model.

Anna Ada Dattoli
Visiting Graduate Student
a.a.dattoli@uva.nl
ph: (808) 539-7326
office: KML 111
Research Interests: I am interested in understanding the origins of triploblasty in the Bilateria using Nematostella vectensis as a model organism, and understanding the morphogenetic processes occurring during gastrulation..

Tim DuBuc
Graduate Student
tdubuc@hotmail.com
ph: (808) 539-7326
office: KML 111
Research Interests: The focus of my research is to describe the process of wound healing in an early evolved animal. I am using the cnidarian, Nematostella vectensis, which can undergo complete regeneration from small tissue fragments, as a comparable model to vertebrates, which lack regeneration, to discover the core set of genes necessary for the initiation of regeneration during wound healing.

Michael Layden, Ph. D.
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
layden@hawaii.edu
ph: (808) 539-7326
office: KML 111
Research Interests: My interest is the evolution of neural specification. The current focus is in understanding how proneural genes promote neurogenesis in the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis. Proneural homologs are critical in specifying neural fates in diverse bilaterians. The goal is to identify mechanisms up and downstream of cnidarian proneural genes and compare them to pathways acting in bilaterian neurogenesis.

Patricia Murata, Ph. D.
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
pmurata@gmail.com
ph: (808) 539-7309
office: KML 318
Research Interests: Investigating the evolutionary origins of embryonic polarity and innate immunity using the cnidarian, Nematostella vectensis.

Yale Passamaneck, Ph. D.
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
yale@hawaii.edu
ph: (808) 539-7326
office: KML 103
Research Interests: My research interests are in the evolution of developmental mechanisms in invertebrates. My primary projects focus on early patterning mechanisms in brachiopods and on regeneration in the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis

Rafael Peres
Visiting Graduate Student
peresrafaperes@aol.com
ph: (808) 539-7326
office: KML 111
Research Interests: I am interested in the regulation of circadian rhythms in Nematostella vectensis. Specifically, I am working on understanding the role of melatonin and clock genes in the development and the physiology of Nematostella vectensis.

Eric Roettinger, Ph. D.
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
rottinge@hawaii.edu
ph: (808) 539-7326
office: KML 111
Research Interests: My current work is focused on the evolution of endomesoderm gene regulatory networks (GRNs) and their role in metazoan body plan evolution. I am analyzing this question using Nematostella vectensis (Cnidaria) and Ptychodera flava (indirect developing Hemichordate) as experimental model systems.

David Simmons
Graduate Student
davidsim@hawaii.edu
ph: (808) 539-7326
office: KML 111
Research Interests: Attempting to understand the inner workings and evolutionary significance of the ctenophore nervous system.

Martindale Lab Members