People

In this lab…

we are diverse, creative, rigorous, compassionate, and interested in the world around us. Science is real. Black lives matter. Love is love. Feminism is for everyone. Immigrants are welcome. And zebrafish are super cool.

Gerald (Gerry) Downes

Principle Investigator

Gerry Downes is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at UMass Amherst. Originally from Kingston Mass., he obtained a B.S. in Biology from Johnson C Smith University in Charlotte North Carolina and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis. At Wash U., Gerry worked on heterotrimeric G proteins in the lab of Narasimhan Gautam. He conducted his postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania working in the lab of Michael Granato, which is where he first began working with zebrafish. In 2005, Gerry came back to his home state and joined the faculty of UMass Amherst.

Fun fact: Gerry was a breakdancer- a long time ago.
E-mail: gbdownes_bio.umass.edu

Caroline Martin

Fish Facility Manager- Also an Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Masters Student in the Blanchard Lab 

Fun fact: Caroline is ambidextrous.
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
E-mail: carolinemart_umass.edu

Gregory Teicher

Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Student

Originally from Newton, MA, Gregory Teicher received his B.S. with an emphasis in Biology from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. He received his M.S. in Medical Science from Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts, where he completed his master’s thesis on the roles of purinergic signaling in regulating cytoskeletal rearrangements during wound healing in the cornea. Now a Ph.D. Student in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program at UMass Amherst, his research in the Downes Laboratory currently focuses on amino acid metabolism and mTOR signaling in nervous system development and epilepsy. Gregory maintains an active interest in the application of computational methods toward understanding biological systems and processes. He also has a strong interest in educational theory and reform.

Fun fact: Gregory has at various points played guitar, piano, and violin, and has recently started making electronic music.
E-mail: gteicher_mcb.umass.edu

Wayne Barnaby

Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Student

Wayne Barnaby is a Neuroscience and Behavior student at UMass Amherst. Born in Boston and raised in Stoughton Ma., Wayne went on to earn his B.S. in Biology at Westfield State University. There, he became involved both in his field of study and with various volunteer organizations around his community. This included working at the local homeless shelter, becoming a Student Ambassador, leading the Black Student Union and more. He previously worked in the Downes Lab as summer student, investigating the role of the GABAA receptor subunits in Zebrafish. In September 2017, Wayne returned to the Downes Lab as an Neuroscience and Behavior Ph.D. student. For his project, he is examining how GABAA receptor diversity controls swimming behavior.

Fun fact: At one point, Wayne was able to run a mile in 4:35 minutes
E-mail: wbarnaby_umass.edu

Madison Riffe

Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Student

Madison Riffe is a Neuroscience and Behavior student at UMass Amherst. Originally from Charleston, West Virginia, Madison went on to earn a B.S. in Biology at West Virginia University. Her thesis is project is to establish a zebrafish model of TBCK Syndrome, and use this model to better understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie this disease.

Fun fact: Madison is one of the two martial art black belts in the lab. You have to guess the other one.
E-mail: rriffe_umass.edu

Vasudha Sharma

Masters in Applied Biotechnology Student

Fun fact: Vasudha can make 10 different types of vegetarian sandwiches.
Hometown: Chandigarh, India
E-mail: vasudhasharm_umass.edu

Chelsea Amadi

Undergraduate Student, Public Health Major 

Fun fact: Chelsea worked on a farm until she was 20.
Hometown: Amaeze Obibiezena, Owerri North, IMO State, Nigeria, by way of Attleboro, MA
E-mail: ccamadi_umass.edu

Julia DiFazio

Undergraduate Student, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major

Fun fact: Julia used to be slap hitter in softball.
Originally from: Wakefield, MA
E-mail: jdifazio_umass.edu

Emily Knowlton

Undergraduate Student, Biology 

Fun fact: Emily’s dream pet is a bearded dragon.
Originally from: North Salem, NY
E-mail: eknowlton_umass.edu

Sydney O’Malley

Undergraduate Student, Biology Major

Fun fact: Sydney is an avid surfer.
Originally from: Freehold, NJ
E-mail: saomalley_umass.edu

Colin Wood

Undergraduate Student, Biology Major

Fun fact: Colin placed 1st in Central Massachusetts and 4th in the US for the 2018 Brain Bee neuroscience competition.
Originally from: Grafton, MA
E-mail: colinwood_umass.edu

Lab Alumni

Hanna Dorman Barclay Hanna was our lab manager in 2015-2021. She is currently working as a lab technician at TickReport.
Ben Clayton Ben was an undergraduate in the lab in 2019-2021. He is a Ph.D. student at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.
Sophia Gutierrez Sophia was an undergraduate in the lab in 2018-2021. She is currently working as an Emergency Medical Technician.
Akanksha Nagarkar Akanksha was an undergraduate in the lab in 2018-2021. She is currently a medical student at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.
Chinemerem Nwokemodo-Ihejirikia Chinemerem was an undergraduate in the lab in 2018-2020. He is currently a clinical research coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Gabi Martin Akanksha was an undergraduate in the lab in 2017-2019. Gabi worked as a lab technician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital before enrolling as a medical student at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.
Sarah Danforth Sarah was an undergraduate in the lab in 2017-2019. She is currently a medical student at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.
Ana Dolan Ana was an undergraduate in the lab from 2017-2019. She is currently enjoying a gap period while applying to medical schools.
Bahati Nkera Bahati was an undergraduate in the lab in 2018. He is currently a Neuroscience PhD student at Brown University.
Sean Doherty Sean was an undergraduate in the lab from 2015-2017. He is currently a medical student at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.
Abby Case Abby was an undergraduate in the lab from 2016-2017. After graduation she worked as a lab technician at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. She is currently a medical student at Quinnipiac University Medical School.
Yuval Biran Yuval was a Biotechnology Master’s intern in the lab from 2015-2016. After working in the Biotech industry, she is currently a medical student at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Marie Abate Marie was an undergraduate in the lab from 2015-2017. She is currently a Physician Assistant student at LIU Brooklyn.
Courtney Poon Courtney was a Biotechnology Master’s intern in the lab from 2015-2016. She is currently an Associate Scientist at AbbVie in Worcester, MA.
Christopher Huenneke Chris was an undergraduate in the lab from 2015-2016. He is currently a medical student at Harvard University Medical School.
Dr. Meghann Zapcic Meghann was an undergraduate in the lab from 2013-2016. She earned her M.D. from Temple University Medical School and is now in an emergency medicine residency program at Baystate Medical Center.
Dr. Elena Drews Elena was an undergraduate in the lab from 2013-2016. She earned her M.D. from Duke University Medical School and is now in an interventional radiology residency program at Emory University Medical Center.
Pelagia Candelas Pelagia was an undergraduate in the lab from 2014-2016. After working as a lab technician, she is currently an M.S. student at Boston University.
Dr. Schyla Wante Schyla was an undergraduate in the lab from 2013-2015. She earned her M.D. from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and is now in an emergency medicine residency program at UMass Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Steven Omansky Steve was an undergraduate in the lab from 2013-2014. He is earned his M.D. from the University of Connecticut Medical School and is now in an internal medicine residency program at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, NY.
Dr. Adam McSherry Adam was an undergraduate in the lab from 2013-2014. He earned his D.O. from the University of New England and is now in a family medicine residency program at Samaritan Medical Center, NY.
Laura Stapler Laura was an undergraduate in the lab from 2010-2013. After participating in AmeriCorps she became a Chemistry and Engineering Teacher at Sizer School.
Dr. Sruthi Satishchandran Sruthi was an undergraduate in the lab from 2009-2012. She earned her DDS from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and is currently an intern at Emory University School of Medicine.
Dr. Alexandra Nowlan Ally was an undergraduate in the lab from 2009-2010. After working as a technician at Harvard University Medical School, she then earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Cold Spring Harbor Labs. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Erin Parker Erin was an undergraduate in the lab from 2008-2009. After participating in Teach for America, she became a Chemistry Teacher (and Field Hockey Coach) at Revere High School.
Dr. Bryan Monesson-Olson Bryan was an NSB graduate student in the lab from 2007-2013. He performed at Postdoctoral Fellowship at Amherst College. He is currently a the Assistant Director of Professional Development in the Graduate School of UMass, Amherst.
Dr. Timo Friedrich Timo was an MCB graduate student in the lab from 2007-2012. He performed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Monash University, Australia and is currently a technical support engineer for Bauer Kompressoren, in Germany.
Dr. Elizabeth Oler Liz was an undergraduate in the lab from 2006-2008. She earned her M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine and performed a residency at Johns Hopkins U. She is currently an OB/GYN at Mercy Medical Center- Roseburg Oregon.
Dr. Kelly Anne McKeown Kelly Anne was an MCB graduate student in the lab from 2006-2011. She is currently an Associate Professor of Biology at Westfield State U.