Current Team Members
Yongjie Yang
Professor of Neuroscience
BA, Marine Biology, Ocean University of China
MS, Genetics, Ocean University of China
PhD, Neuroscience, Iowa State University
Postdoctoral Training, Johns Hopkins University
Yongjie.Yang@tufts.edu
Marcela Bertolio
Post-Doctoral Scholar
PhD, Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, National University of San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Marcela.Bertolio@tufts.edu
Astroglia plays active and diverse roles in modulating neuronal/synaptic functions in the CNS. How these astroglial functions are regulated, especially by neuronal signals, remains largely unknown. My research focus on investigating the exosome RNA and non-exosome RNA-mediated neuron to astroglial communication mechanisms and how alteration of these mechanisms may contribute to neurological diseases.
Xuan Chen
Post-Doctoral Scholar
MD, PhD, Neurology, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Changsha, China
Xuan.Chen@tufts.edu
After graduation from Medical College, I practiced as a neurologist at clinic for 5 years. To fulfill my curiosity in the mystic brain network, I switched my interests from clinic to neuroscience. I’m fascinated by the smart soldiers—Microglia and their multifaceted roles in maintaining the homeostasis or triggering the disease progression in the brain. My research mainly focuses on understanding the signal transmission via exosomes between microglia and other neural cells of the brain in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.
Kathryn Reynolds
Post-Doctoral Scholar
BSc, Biomedical Science, University of Guelph, Guelph ON, Canada
MSc, Molecular and Cellular Biology (Collaborative Neuroscience Specialization), University of Guelph, Guelph ON, Canada
PhD, Neuroscience, McMaster University, Hamilton ON, Canada
Kathryn.Reynolds@tufts.edu
I received my PhD in Neuroscience from McMaster University in 2021, where I studied astrocyte purinergic signalling in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). I am continuing my FXS research in the Yang lab by investigating developmental Fmr1 isoform-specific regulation of translation and behaviour, as well as astroglial-specific changes in microRNA levels. Outside of the lab, you’re most likely to find me exploring New England with my camera.
Caroline Reynolds
Neuroscience Ph.D. Student
BS, Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC
Caroline.Reynolds@tufts.edu
After studying Biology, Public Health and Sustainability at GW, I worked as a Research Assistant at UTHealth Science Center Houston and next as a Lab Technician at Cleveland Clinic. I am currently completing my PhD in Neuroscience in Dr. Yang’s lab at Tufts University. Here, I am investigating how astrocytic exosomes are able to efflux from the brain and enter the periphery’s circulation as well as determining how these vesicles are able to stimulate the peripheral immune system, and how these pathways are altered in late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease animal models.
Jon Hacker
Neuroscience Ph.D. Student
BA, Neuroscience, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY
Jonathan.Hacker@tufts.edu
Jon started his Ph.D. work in the Yang Lab in the spring of 2023. He is interested in the mechanisms of exosome biogenesis within the CNS and uncovering defects in exosome production in the context of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. After working in neuroscience and immunology laboratories, he is interested in uniting the fields during his thesis work.
Elly Keum
Senior Research Technician
BS, Biochemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Kyoeun.Keum@tufts.edu
Elly graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in December of 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with the highest distinction in the curriculum. After graduation, she worked as a research intern at Dr. Hee Jung Chung’s lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before arriving at the Yang lab. She wants to run her research lab in the future, and she is planning to apply for the Ph.D. program. Outside of the lab, she likes to bake cookies and bread.
Jingwen Hu
Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology Ph.D. Student
B Eng, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
MS in Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA
Jingwen.Hu@tufts.edu
Glial cells are essential for maintaining brain function, playing important roles in regulating synaptic activity, supporting neurons. miR-124 which is a highly conserved and brain-enriched microRNA is not only critical for neuronal differentiation but also serves as a key component of neuronal-glial communication, influencing how these two cell types interact and function together. While miR-124’s role in neurons is well established, its influence on glial development remains underexplored. My thesis project focuses on uncovering how miR-124 regulates function of glial cells. By combining molecular techniques and morphological analyses, I aim to elucidate miR-124’s role in shaping glial cells during development and how its dysregulation may contribute to disorders like FXS. This research will advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving neuronal-glial interactions and could open the door to novel therapeutic approaches for glial-related diseases.
Morgan Heileman
Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology Ph.D. Student
BS, Biomedical Science, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Morgan.Heileman@tufts.edu
After studying Biomedical Science and Public Policy at the University of Notre Dame, Morgan worked as a Research Assistant in the Koch Institute for Cancer Research at MIT before coming to Tufts in the fall of 2023. She is currently completing her PhD in the Genetics, Molecular, and Cellular Biology (GMCB) program. She is interested in studying astrocytic exosome signaling in the context of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration using mouse models of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Sophia Chung
Tufts Undergraduate Student
Majors: Community Health and Biology
Minor: Urban Studies
Sophia.Chung@tufts.edu
Sophia started in the Yang Lab in January 2024, working with Dr. Kathryn Reynolds on Fragile X Syndrome research. Her interest in neurodevelopmental disorder research stems from her experience as a Direct Support Professional at a day program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) and her prior public health research on barriers to mental health care for adults with IDDs. In her spare time, Sophia enjoys painting and spending time with her sisters.
Stephanie Tranduc
Tufts Undergraduate Student
Majors: Biopsychology and Chemistry
Stephanie.Tranduc@tufts.edu
Stephanie began working in the Yang Lab with Caroline Reynolds in the summer of 2024, investigating the role of the glymphatic system in Alzheimer’s Disease. She also works in a neurodiversity research lab at the Tufts Medford campus and volunteers at a senior home memory care unit. She plans to further explore research and clinical opportunities before applying to MD/PhD programs with an interest in neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of her professional interests, Stephanie enjoys crocheting and music.