Current Lab Members

Jordan Aoyama

Jordan was a Research Associate at several companies before joining the lab as a graduate student in the Molecular Biology Ph.D. program of the University of Maryland.  In April he successfully defended his thesis on dual-function RNAs, both natural and synthetic, that have both base pairing activity and encode a small protein.  

NIH, Building 49, Room 1A-35
49 Convent Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-4417
Telephone:  301-496-6811
FAX:  301-480-0975
Email: Jordan.aoyama@nih.gov

Aisha Burton

During her graduate studies with Prof. Daniel Kearns at Indiana University, Aisha studied an intriguing sigma factor homolog called SigN encoded by the pBS32 plasmid of Bacillus subtilis.  Aisha is continuing to pursue her interest in regulatory mechanisms by characterizing small proteins hypothesized to modulate two-component networks.  

NIH, Building 49, Room 1C-20
49 Convent Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-4417
Telephone:  301-480-8321
FAX:  301-480-0975
Email: aisha.burtonokala@nih.gov

Kyle Rekedal

Kyle obtained his B.S. in Biology from University of California, Merced. He is working together with Rilee to obtain and screen extremely high-density Tn-seq libraries for mutations in small protein genes. Kyle plans to apply to graduate school this fall.  Graduate programs take note!  

NIH, Building 49, Room 1A-35
49 Convent Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-4417
Telephone:  301-496-6811
FAX:  301-480-0975
Email: kyle.rekedal@nih.gov

Tiara Tillis

Tiara Tillis recently graduated from Swarthmore College with a B.A. in Biochemistry.  She is working together with Aisha to obtain a high-density small protein overexpression library to identify new small proteins, particularly those that act to modulate two-component systems.

NIH, Building 49, Room 1C-20
49 Convent Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-4417
Telephone:  301-480-8321
FAX:  301-480-0975
Email: tiara.tillis@nih.gov

Narumon Thongdee

Narumon obtained her Ph.D. in Applied Biological Sciences from the Chulabhorn Graduate Institute in Bangkok, Thailand.  During her thesis work with Prof. Mayuree Fuangthong, Narumon studied the role of the TrmB methyltransferase in regulating catalase levels as part of the oxidative stress response.  Narumon is applying her expertise in RNA modification to examine the contribution of methylation and pseudouridylation to sRNA function as well as the role of base pairing within coding sequences.

NIH, Building 49, Room 1A-35
49 Convent Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-4417
Telephone:  301-496-4783
FAX:  301-480-0975
Email: narumon.thongdee@nih.gov

Lauren Walling

Lauren studied protein-protein interactions and RNA target specificity of toxin-antitoxin systems as a graduate student in Prof. J. Scott Butler’s group at the University of Rochester Medical Center.  She has characterized the 3´ UTR-derived sRNA GlnZ and is collaborating with the groups of Dr. Kai Papenfort and Dr. Konrad Förstner to examine small RNA evolution in enteric bacteria.

NIH, Building 49, Room 1A-35
49 Convent Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-4417
Telephone:  301-451-3296
FAX:  301-480-0975
Email: lauren.walling@nih.gov

Aixia Zhang

Aixia has worked on nearly every aspect of small RNA identification and characterization; assisting many projects in the Storz lab as well as in other labs. Over the years, she has carried out much of the seminal work on the Hfq RNA chaperone protein.  Contact Aixia for any questions about protocols and reagents!

NIH, Building 49, Room 1A-35
49 Convent Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-4417
Telephone:  301-402-0967
FAX:  301-480-0975
Email: zhanga@mail.nih.gov

Aoshu Zhong

As a graduate student with Prof. Hung-wen Liu at the University of Texas at Austin, Aoshu studied the biosynthesis of oxetanocin A, a nucleoside antiviral agent produced by Bacillus megaterium. Aoshu’s expertise in enzymology and protein purification is a big asset in his characterization of proteins encoded by overlapping genes, particularly a novel toxin-antitoxin system.

NIH, Building 49, Room 1C-20
49 Convent Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-4417
Telephone: 301-480-8323
FAX:  301-480-0975
Email: aoshu.zhong@nih.gov

Rilee Zeinert

After completing an undergraduate research project in the lab of former Storz lab alum Prof. Laurie Waters, Rilee carried out Ph.D. work with Prof. Peter Chien at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The Tn-seq screens he carried out and followed up have led into new insights into physiological consequences of proteolysis. Rilee’s project to learn more about the function and regulation of small proteins will capitalize on this expertise.

NIH, Building 49, Room 1A-35
49 Convent Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-4417
Telephone:  301-496-4581
FAX:  301-480-0975
Email: rilee.zeinert@nih.gov

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