Current Lab Members

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Greg completed his Ph.D. at Stanford University in the lab of Bruce Baker. His thesis research investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of X chromosome dosage compensation in Drosophila. He found that the master splicing regulator Sex-lethal inhibits the formation of the dosage compensation complex in female flies through translational repression of the Male-specific lethal 2 gene (Msl-2). From Stanford, Greg moved across the bay for a postdoctoral fellowship in developmental neurobiology in the lab of Corey Goodman at UC Berkeley. In the Goodman lab, Greg began his studies of the molecular mechanisms that control axon guidance in the embryonic Drosophila CNS. His work in the Goodman lab focused on the signaling mechanisms downstream of the conserved axon guidance receptors Frazzled and Robo. He showed that differential attractive and repulsive responses are encoded in receptor cytoplasmic domains and identified several signaling components that act downstream of the Robo receptor to regulate axon repulsion. Greg started his lab at the University of Pennsylvania in 2001 where he is currently a Professor of Neuroscience.

Mikaela completed her bachelor's in biology at Susquehanna University, where she fell in love with Drosophila and developmental biology in Dr. Pavithra Vivekand's lab, studying EGFR signaling during the development of the wing and midline glia. She then became a research technician in Dr. Scott Lindner’s lab at Penn State, where she maintained a colony of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes and investigated malaria transmission. Mikaela earned her PhD from the Cell Biology, Stem Cells, and Development Program at the University of Colorado – Anschutz in the lab of Dr. Emily Bates. Her thesis project investigated how SNARE proteins regulate BMP signaling during early wing development in Drosophila. As a new postdoc in the Bashaw lab, Mikaela is interested in axon guidance receptor signaling during early embryogenesis. Outside of the lab, Mikaela loves hiking, camping, climbing, riding her bike, and her cat Dr. Anthony Meowci, and she's learning to master sourdough baking.

Camila completed her BA in Philosophy and in Biology at Grinnell College, where she was a Posse Foundation scholar. Following her tenure as an AmeriCorps Urban Education Fellow, she was PREP scholar in Abe Palmer's lab at the University of Chicago where she studied the epistatic effects of the Akita mouse mutant allele on physiological and behavioral phenotypes in a panel of F1 mice. She then completed her PhD in Jim Schwob's lab at Tufts University, where she studied the activation of the dormant neural stem cells of the olfactory epithelium. As a postdoc in the Bashaw lab, she is studying how the ICD of the Fra receptor orchestrates the transcriptional networks involved in axonal midline crossing. Outside of lab, she enjoys cultivating her fermentation hobby, trying new hot sauces, playing board games, exploring the world on her bike, and spending time with her dog BamBam.

Tessa graduated from the University of Denver (DU) with a BS in Biology. While at DU, she worked with Dr. Sunil Kumar on designing and testing synthetic protein mimetics in modulating amyloid protein aggregation. She also worked as a research tech at Harvard Medical School with Dr. Leo Kim on investigating mitochondrial dysfunction in age-related macular degeneration. Tessa is excited to have joined the Bashaw lab and looks forward to developing a thesis project related to studying protein interactions that modulate axon guidance and the establishment of neural circuitry.

Sarah earned her BSc and MSc in cell biology from McGill University, Canada, where she studied intracellular trafficking and small RNAs in C. elegans. She then moved to Philly and made the jump to flies to pursue her interest in developmental biology and axon guidance. Her thesis work investigates how axons change their responsiveness to midline-derived cues as they approach, cross, and grow away from the midline.

Maya earned her BS and BA at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her research explores the molecular mechanisms of axon guidance in the mammalian central nervous system. More specifically, she is investigating the regulation of Robo receptors via E3 ubiquitin ligase-mediated degradation in the developing spinal cord and during the development of the corpus callosum.

Diego earned his BA in biological sciences from Cornell University in 2021, where he studied mitochondrial DNA mutagenesis in the lab of Dr. Zhenglong Gu. He then spent two years as a post baccalaureate research fellow in Dr. Karen Usdin’s lab at the National Institutes of Health, where he used mouse models of Huntington’s Disease and Fragile X Syndrome to study the expansion mechanism of the repeat expansion disorders. In the Bashaw lab, Diego is interested in studying the transcriptional regulation of axon guidance receptors.

Chloe earned her undergraduate degree in Animal Sciences from Cornell University. Since then, she has worked with the mouse model in ophthalmology and developmental biology research labs before coming to the University of Pennsylvania. She is excited to apply her technical knowledge to neuroscience and develop new skill sets as well as help maintain a well functioning, proficient laboratory.

Ashlee graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in biochemistry and neuroscience. While at UNC, she worked in a biophysics lab studying macromolecular crowding and protein stability. She then transitioned to a role at a biotech start-up investigating the use of PROTACs in agriculture, in which she worked on projects researching the ubiquitin-proteasome system for targeted protein degradation.

Joshua Kouassi earned his BA in Political Science with a focus in Environmental Inquiry at Penn State University Park, PA. Following graduation, Joshua’s passion for equitable learning and STEM education led him to become an Outreach Coordinator for the Perelman School of Medicine working under the BioEyes Project in tandem with the Bashaw Lab. In the lab Joshua simulates the modules, coordinates the outreach schedule, and prepares the necessary resources for successful class experimentation.

Emily is currently an undergraduate student in the class of 2028 at the University of Pennsylvania, pursuing a double major in neuroscience and biochemistry. In the Bashaw Lab, she is interested in studying the effects of transcription factors on axon guidance and development, and she hopes to attend medical school in the future. In her free time, she enjoys figure skating, baking, painting, and exploring new restaurants with friends.

Victoria is an undergraduate in the University of Pennsylvania's Class of 2028, majoring in neuroscience with a minor in healthcare management. In the Bashaw Lab, she enjoys studying the molecular mechanisms that shape neural development, with a particular interest in axon guidance. She hopes to pursue an MD–PhD and have a career that combines research and medicine. Outside the lab, she likes snowboarding, playing the violin, spending time with family and friends, and teaching herself to crochet.