McLaughlin Lab

Current Members

Rebecca Bluett

I’m a first year grad student in the IGP rotating in the McLaughlin lab. My project will be to help characterize the neural abnormalities underlying the phenotype of CHIP deficient mice. I majored in Neuroscience at Vanderbilt and spent three years working across enemy lines in the Stanwood lab attempting to ascertain the functional importance of 5-HT₆ receptors in mice. I am particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms of neural dysfunction, but have trouble narrowing my interests further (addiction, autism, movement disorders, anorexia, and more).  I am loving the challenge of grad school, of working in the McLaughlin lab, and am excited to revolutionize…something. 

Jessica Cohen 

Jessica Cohen is our "Ubber-Go-To Ubber Geek" (??) extraordinaire.  The bosses official 'right hand chick" Jessica shows maturity, humor and a willingness to take on any challenge that we all adore.  But since the boss adored her first, she mostly gets to kidnap her.  Jess is working on a project looking at the effects of standard medical therapies for clot busting in stroke on bioenergetic homeostasis and neuronal stress set points following short and long term exposures.  While we know folks have a number of predisposing factors making them vulnerable to having strokes (diabetes, hypertension for example), we don't do a great job of modeling that in labs.  Jess is going to fix that.  Before she goes to college.

Jess says:  In the McLaughlin lab, my work focuses on the effects of long term exposure to medical management for clotting disorders on neurodegeneration induced by acute strokes.  I love spending time in lab and the bossmeister often kidnaps me because I'm almost as OCD as she is, and her files, protocols and editing keep the lab humming along, so I do my best to keep it all together.  I plan on studying either Special Education or Environmental Sciences and in my free time, I enjoy sports, going to the movies, reading and going to concerts.  My trip to Guatemala this past summer has brought out my love of new cultures and passion for the Spanish language.  La ciencia es divertida!  

Kim Grelli

Kim is a great addition to our post graduate student posse in the lab having come on board in the fall of 2010.  Cited by her mentors at Emory as a spit-fire and serious competitor, she recognized the immediate wisdom of not shooting the boss in laser tag (take note Jake "Kitten" Martin).  She is part of a great initiative to integrate research into medical student training.  We're looking forward to bringing her over to the dark side of pipetting.

Kim says: I am a recent graduate of Emory University where I received a B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology (NBB) as well as a B.A. in Chemistry. At Emory, I played left defense for the women’s varsity soccer team and volunteered with the Emory EMS squad. When I am back home in Northern California, I enjoy water skiing and snow skiing. Currently, I am beginning my first year as a medical student at Vanderbilt, and I am excited to be working in Dr. McLaughlin’s lab for my Emphasis project.

Cozette Kale

When we tell Cozette we want her to check the water baths, she takes it very seriously! Kidding, Cozette is a Jill-of-All trades and in-demand student who is experiencing a custody battle between the ubber German Jeannette, and the ubber-boss McLaughlin who love her organizational skills, dedication and gung-ho nature.

Cozette says:  I am a senior undergraduate student at Vanderbilt.  I'm studying to be a History major, but I'm also a pre-med student.  I work on projects related to the E3 ubiquitin ligase CHIP.  When I'm not in the classroom or studying, I love to travel and be outdoors.  I enjoy hiking, running, scuba diving and snowboarding during the winter.  Also, I love to play soccer and continuing to play her at Vanderbilt on the women's club team.  In addition to soccer, I am also involved in an a cappella group on campus called Voice and I am a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.  After I graduate, I would like to work with Doctors Without Borders or a similar program.

Amy Kleman Palubinsky

Amy is a tour de force in the lab and our newest dissertation student.  She comes from Pennsylvania and is a Phillies fan, passing the Stanwood boys screening criteria.  She also talks smack with the best, is great for a 'oh snap' and kills it at the bench.  At some point, the boss suspects she may actually need some of her guidance, but up until now she just keeps busting it out growing killer cells, making excellent staining and recovering from the beatings of the insane bavarians'. 

Amy offers life advice here

Amy Says:  I received my B.S. in Biochemistry from Susquehanna University in 2004 and my M.S. in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 2008. After working at Hopkins for 6 years, I decided to return to school to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience. I met Dr. McLaughlin and her lab during my initial interview at Vanderbilt and upon completing a rotation in the lab pretty much fell in love. My project focuses on mitochondrial metabolism as it relates to ischemia and neurodegeneration, something close to my heart and I’m sure close to the hearts of many of you reading this as the prevalence of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases is constantly on the rise. 

Ankita Khanda

Inspite of what her picture would have you believe, we have no, in fact, made Ankita hang upside down from the lab.  She does, however, excel in all other areas of lab work.  Shes' learning the ropes (get it? The hanging off things analogy?) and crushing her project on protein oxidation status in CNS during development.  We are looking forward to having her smiling face and super fast thinking skills around for a long time to come. 

Ankita says: This year is my second year at Vanderbilt, but my first in the McLaughlin lab! I am currently hoping to double major in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Medicine, Health and Society with a minor in Religious Studies. I have an older brother who raised me on science fiction and comic books, so I'm the biggest nerd ever, but I also have a huge passion for dance. I've been a learning a style of Indian classical dance called Odissi since I was four years old and I'm on board for Remix Movement, a club that teaches free hip hop classes to the Vanderbilt and Nashville community. In the future I want to work in global health and open an Odissi dance school of my own! 

Britney Lizama Manibusan

Oh Britney, you crazy scamp! Who in their right mind actually works out with The Boss? NO ONE! And yet this is why we love you. After a rocking first year in the IGP, Britney is set for greatness. She crushes experiments, thinks outside the box and is pathologically Type A. She'll call you on your crap, has a big arse sword (yes, that is what she's holding) and slays experiments. What's not to love??

Britney says: I’m a first year graduate student in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP) and currently doing a rotation in the McLaughlin Lab. I received my B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona, and supplemented my spare time there with equal doses of lab experience through the MARC program and social life through Delta Chi Lambda. I’m originally from Guam, but – although very different from both Guam and Tucson – I enjoy Nashville and all it has to offer. As far as a career, I plan to stay in academia and find cures for the neurodegenerative diseases that haunt your nightmares.

Ari Oppenheim

Serving as the only male of the lab, Ari is looking forward to working with Britney in investigating neuronal mechanisms of neuroprotection. When not working on this project, you can usually find him cleaning the lab and saying all the wrong things to the Boss. Setting his expectations high this semester, his main goals are to never say “right”, know the Kreb’s Cycle in and out and recognize it as the absolute center of the universe. In addition, he hopes to become adept at dodging any projectiles that may be thrown at him. We wish Ari luck, because he will certainly need it.

Ari Says: I am a junior Neuroscience major at Vanderbilt. I chose Neuroscience as my major because I am fascinated with the complexity of the human mind, and there is so much that we do not know about the brain. This is my first time working in an academic lab setting and I am looking forward to helping to advance stroke research. In my free time I enjoy playing sports, hanging out with friends, and singing in an A Capella group here on campus. My future plans are unclear, but somehow I want to work in a career related to Medial Science.

Ama Jean Winland

Ama's WAS the quiet one.  Now she's the break out lab rebel who cut her hair, pulled feathers out of birds (which ended up in her hair - go figure) and got tatoo'd.  And that was just in the first 3 months of college.  Needless to say, we are saving for bail.

Ama says: I’m a freshman undergraduate here at Vanderbilt. I plan on majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society. I’m also on a Pre-Med track. I enjoy playing soccer, cycling, and discovering new places both on and off campus. On campus I plan on getting involved in club or intramural soccer, musical theatre, and Honor Council. I’m very excited to join the team and get involved in undergraduate research.

Stacy Yankofsky

Stacy was universally recognized as Trouble (note the capitol T) at the undergraduate job fair last year, and yet.... Having renounced ties to lesser parts of New England and shared a love for busting out a good crump to bust up a day, she has proven just insane enough to succeed wildly (or kill us all, not sure yet). Stacy is not only our most senior undergrad work study student, she rocked it and is now going to be doing research for credit starting in 2012.  The Nobel committee is put on notice!

Stacy Says: This year will be my second year working in the McLaughlin lab, as a sophmore at Vanderbilt. I am hoping to major in neuroscience and pursue a career in scientific research. Apart from neuroscience, I am also interested in dance, music, and foreign languages. I have been a hip-hopper for years, now on the VIBE hip-hop team at Vanderbilt, and naturally I plan to incorporate that skill into the lab (but if I don't come up with the promised lab routine soon, my job might be in jeopardy). Foreign languages have also become quite a passion of mine: I am currently part of the international house on campus. I hope to connect my love of languages with my love of neuroscience in my future studies at Vanderbilt by studying the way language and speech are created and processed by the brain.

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Labbies take in a Vibe Dance show featuring Stacy Yanofsky.  "We can see you Stacy!!"  Oddly, we haven't been invited back to anymore shows since Amy made such a spectacle of herself.

Occasional Guest Stars:

Jake Martin

Jake is currently working in the lab of our buddy Robert Singer full time after completing his honors thesis in the lab under the combine mentorship of Dr. McLaughlin, Dr. Terry Page and Dr. Robert Singer.   His current project involves blood brain barrier disruption.

Lauren joins the lab as a member of the Emphasis

program exploring the metabolic dysfunction and compensation that occurs in response to ischemia.   She's a smart multi-tasking machine and tells some really horrific stories reminding basic scientists why medicine is super oogy at times :-) 

Lauren says: I am originally from sunny Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and have slowly been working my way up north since birth. I graduated from Tulane University in 2007 where I chose a rather eclectic course of study - resulting in a double major in Molecular Biology and Communications, with a concentration in film studies.  I’m currently a fourth year medical student here at Vanderbilt and am in the process of applying and interviewing for neurology residency positions.  Eventually, I would like to practice in either neuro-oncology or stroke and I plan to stay in academics.  I have previous research experience in the mechanisms of cell death including apoptosis and autophagy and I am very excited to be able to apply some of what I learned to neurology. Off campus, I’m busy wedding planning and “training” for a marathon (or at least talking about training for a marathon.)  I also enjoy eating my way around Nashville and visiting New Orleans as often as possible.

Stumpy and Lengthy

We have two new additions to the lab: Stumpy and Lengthy. While they vary in size, thickness, and length, they are quite the pair of trustworthy companions for Amy Kleman and have been officially named as members of the Amy Kleman Clan. However, they do have a quite a feud emerging between the two of them and sources had determined that it is all Amy Kleman’s fault. She tends to neglect Lengthy (nicknamed humpy by Sour Kraut) often, while Amy’s mouth and teeth attend to Stumpy entirely too often as if it were her puppy’s chew toy! The latest news on the rift, however, is that the tides of attention have turned! Amy has beautifully polished Lengthy with a French manicure and left Stumpy dull, spurned, and desperate for an opportunity to grow and live his life as a normal fingernail. Bless Stumpy’s heart.

Alums

Gail Ingle - Retired 2012

Ms. Gail is a Vanderbilt veteran, with 39 years on the job.  She's a great source of humor, support and Titans information to everyone on the 8th floor and a wonderful person to boot.  The only one who can stomp down BethAnn with a simple "Hush!", she is the envy of all for this great power she yields.  She retired to spend more time at home yelling at her husband Johnnie. See pictures of her retirement party here

Erin Albers, M.D. 2010 Graduate

Erik Musiek, M.D., Ph.D. 2009 Graduate

(Vanderbilt University, 2007) Bound by a Skull and Bones covenant to provide a home to those who have left the oppressive regime of the Hanover New Hampshire, Dr. Musiek sought asylum and neurobiology research in the McLaughlin lab from 2005-2007 during his MSTP years with his mentor Jason Morrow. 

At a young age, Dr. Musiek's fate was sealed to the McLaughlin Dynasty by Bernadette McLaughlin, elementary school principal, who saved Erik from a pack of roving fifth graders while he was serving time at the Bernice A. Ray School.   These experiences molded Dr. Musiek into a bright and independent scientist who is one of the best writers we have had the pleasure of working with in the lab.  Dr. Musiek and his much better half Dr. Amy Musiek are currently living in Philadelphia where they are doing fellowships at The University of Pennsylvania in Neurology and the far more lucrative Dermatology departments.  In spite of his efforts to channel a grumpy and pessimistic 80-year old man, Erik's outlook will surely be more up-tempo with the birth of the tremendously cute Emma Musiek. 

• Jeannette is the most recent graduate  of our team having joined the lab in 2006.  She is irrepressible, intense and an outstanding role model for graduate students.  Known for her love of gangster rap, freakish knowledge of all things MTV and CHIP as well as intense love of family and science, we are planning on riding her coat tails to glory and a Nobel Prize which she believes will be awarded to us for her project in 2012.

Jeannette's LIFE ADVICE can be found here!

Jeannette Says:

I received my bachelor’s degree from Drew University in 2004 and came to Vanderbilt in the summer of 2005. I am in my forth year of graduate school and am a member of the Neuroscience graduate group. I am very intrigued by neurodegenerative diseases and Parkinson’s disease in particular. I joined Dr. McLaughlin’s lab, because I knew I would be able to pursue interesting questions about this devastating disease. My thesis project investigates the role of the E3 ubiquitin ligase, CHIP, in determining cell fate following acute vs. chronic neurological diseases. The goal of my project is to answer the question why CHIP can be protective in chronic neurological disease yet be detrimental following acute neurological injury. I hope that my research will provide new insight into the field of neurological disorders and will ultimately help us to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

In my free time I like to work out, go for runs and go skiing in the winter. I also enjoy driving fast, but I preferentially live out this hobby of mine whenever I am back in Germany and have the Autobahn to my deposition. In addition, I love to watch soccer, especially the World – and Eurocup. During those times, I particularly enjoy dressing up in my Germany gear trying to convince the world – or at least everyone in the lab – that Germany is going to win. Whenever I am not actively or passively involved with sports, I enjoy talking to my family on the phone, reading, learning languages and watching movies. I am also a big fan of traveling and learning about new cultures and customs, which also includes trying out new cuisines and different types of food. My ultimate travel destination is Australia, and I think that I will treat myself to this wonderful trip after I graduate from Vanderbilt University.  Friends can apply here.

Find Jeannette's CV Here.

Stephanie Hayden Zeiger, Ph.D.  

Dr. Zeiger graced us with her humor, science and turtle for 3 years as a fellow in the lab leaving in 2010 to pursue outreach and education work on behalf of Vanderbilt through the Office of Research.  Currently an Research Assistant Professor of Medicine, she is poised to make science interesting and accessible to those who may not have otherwise gotten the opportunity.

Honorary Neurosciency Degrees to: Jennifer McKenzie, Ph.D. in Chemistry 2011 

• Jennifer received her B.A in Chemistry from Hendrix College and came to Vanderbilt in 2006 and began collaborating with our lab in 2009. She is currently in Miami for her post doctoral degree after completing her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry.  Jennifer specializes in bioanalytical electrochemistry. Interested in instrumental and novel technique development, Jennifer joined David Cliffel’s laboratory to develop new methods to measure real-time metabolic changes to cells in vitro. The multi-analyte microphysiometer (MAMP) allows for simultaneous, real-time measurement of glucose, lactate, oxygen, and acid. Recently, Jennifer began studying preconditioning in the MAMP with mixed cultures and neurons from Jacquelynn and Stephanie, focusing on the effects of glucose deprivation on neuron survival.
  

Vanderbilt graduates Class of 2010. 

Summer 2009

Evan Cohen

aka "The E-Meister" Evan came to the lab serendipitously while a sophomore in high school.  His good nature, willingness to help and maturity beyond his years made him a lab favorite.  We  are working hard to 'bring Evan to the dark side' and make him a full out science geek (preferably at Vanderbilt!).  And, just for the record, not everyone needs to mow the McLaughlin/Stanwood lawn to join the lab (but it sure doesn't hurt either!).

Evan is currently enrolled in USC and will be working with an up and coming young investigator, Dr. Pat Levitt.

Evan Says:

I have been lucky enough to work in the McLaughlin lab since 2006. I came in as a 16 year old and interned each summer learning basic methods and experiments involved in research. This job has fed my strong desire to learn as much about medicine and research as I can. I now come into the lab every day to assist. This fall I began working with Jeannette Stankowski on her project involving the role of CHIP as a source of protection in chronic neurological disease and a source of damage in acute neurological disorders. I hope my role in lab research can help find cures for neurological conditions.

In my free time I enjoy playing sports, visiting my friends, mowing Dr. McLaughlin’s grass, or enjoying music whether it be listening or playing it. I play basketball for my school and have been an active athlete all my life but also like football and baseball. I enjoy playing the guitar, bass, piano, and drums as well. I like to travel and plan on taking a trip to either Europe or Australia this summer. I will be attending college next year and am looking at schools with opportunties for undergrads to participate in basic science research. In the future, I want to combine clinical work and research.

Janie Hettinger  CHECK OUT JANE'S LIFE ADVICE HERE

I am a third- year undergraduate at the University of Georgia, pursuing majors in Biology and Psychology.  I am particularly interested in studying neuroscience to learn more about how the brain works.  I was lucky enough to be placed in Dr. McLaughlin's lab, my first choice, for the summer as part of the Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy, a program for undergraduates interested in biomedical research.  I think my time is the lab will be a great opportunity for me to pursue my interests and, of course, to learn as much as possible.  I look forward to becoming a part of this lab and getting to know its accomplished members.  I am a native of the Nashville area and have always been a Vandy fan, despite my current UGA status.  In my free time, I like to read, to watch all sorts of movies, to listen to music, and to enjoy the outdoors. 

Jocelyn Howard

I just graduated from the IB program at St. Pete High School in Florida.  I began working at Vanderbilt two years ago in the Morrow lab helping with research on isoprostanes and oxidant stress.  I'm looking forward to joining the McLaughlin team this summer!  I'll be starting at Columbia in the fall an dplan to major in biology/premed.  I want to eventually become a doctor/researcher.

In my free time, I enjoy reading, going to concerts, running and rooting for the Rays.