Mentor Areas
Students can join our ongoing work, which currently focuses on:
- Transport of melanosome resident proteins within melanocytic cells
- Role of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome-associated gene products in regulating transport of residents of melanosomes and lysosomes within melanocytes
- Interplay between lysosome and melanosome biogenesis and the impact of altered lysosomal function on melanosome biogenesis
- Role of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome-associated gene products during dense granule formation during megakaryocytic differentiation into platelets
Description:
Our laboratory studies how intracellular membrane transport mechanisms regulate the formation of tissue-specific subcellular structures called “lysosome-related organelles” (LROs). Specifically we study melanosomes (pigment LROs in the skin and eye) and related LROs in platelets and immune cells. Defects in LRO formation underlie albinism, bleeding disorders, and immunodeficiency among other symptoms. We use molecular, genetic, biochemical, morphological, and cell biological approaches to dissect how LROs form and how products of disease-associated genes regulate LRO formation. In addition, we have an interest in understanding the roles of specific transmembrane transporters in LRO function; many such transporters are defective in diseases of pigmentation, hemostasis and immunity, and we are studying how several transporters shape the internal milieu of their respective LROs. Finally, we are collaborating with Sarah Tishkoff's laboratory at Penn to understand the cellular mechanisms by which genetic variants influence skin pigmentation in people with distinct skin tones.
*Willing to mentor a student virtually.*
Preferred Qualifications
Students must have taken introductory biology and chemistry courses, and at least one advanced course in cell biology, molecular biology, and/or biochemistry. Freshmen are not eligible unless they have prior lab experience. The student will assist a post-doctoral fellow, technician, or graduate student on a specific aspect of their research. The depth of involvement will depend upon the amount of time to be committed by the student.
Project Website
Learn more about the researcher and/or the project here. Marks Lab
Details:
Preferred Student Year
Second-Year, Junior, Senior
Academic Term
Fall, Spring, Summer
I prefer to have students start during the above term(s).Volunteer
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to volunteers.Paid
No
Yes indicates that faculty are open to paying students they engage in their research, regardless of their work-study eligibility.Work Study
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to hiring work-study-eligible students.