Lab Members
Lab Members
Nami Tajima, PhD, Assistant Professor (nxt193@case.edu)
Nami Tajima, PhD, Assistant Professor (nxt193@case.edu)
Nami received her PhD in Molecular Biology in 2011 in the laboratory of Dr. Jeremy Tame at Yokohama City University in Japan where she studied the secretion mechanism of pathogenic bacteria using X-ray crystallography. She then went to complete her postdoctoral training with Dr. Hiro Furukawa at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory where she expanded her expertise in mammalian membrane proteins, Cryo-EM, and electrophysiology. At Cold Spring Harbor Lab, she studied the pharmacology and molecular mechanism of NMDA receptors.
Nami received her PhD in Molecular Biology in 2011 in the laboratory of Dr. Jeremy Tame at Yokohama City University in Japan where she studied the secretion mechanism of pathogenic bacteria using X-ray crystallography. She then went to complete her postdoctoral training with Dr. Hiro Furukawa at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory where she expanded her expertise in mammalian membrane proteins, Cryo-EM, and electrophysiology. At Cold Spring Harbor Lab, she studied the pharmacology and molecular mechanism of NMDA receptors.
She started her research group at CWRU in January 2019 leading the neuro-receptor architectures and functions research group. Her current focus is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity, learning and memory formation.
She started her research group at CWRU in January 2019 leading the neuro-receptor architectures and functions research group. Her current focus is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity, learning and memory formation.
Ma. Guadalupe (Pita) Segura Covarrubias, PhD, Postdoctoral scholar (mgx147@case.edu)
Ma. Guadalupe (Pita) Segura Covarrubias, PhD, Postdoctoral scholar (mgx147@case.edu)
Pita realized her Master's degree in Molecular Biology in the laboratory of Dr. Samuel Lara at Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (IPICYT) in San Luis Potosí, where she studied the structure-function of the protein Xanthine Dehydrogenase from A. nidullans using X-ray crystallography and biochemistry assays. Pita received her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology in 2020 in the lab of Dr. Jorge Arreola at IPICYT in San Luis Potosi, Mexico where she studied the voltage activation of the calcium-activated chloride channel, TMEM16A using electrophysiological experiments.
Pita realized her Master's degree in Molecular Biology in the laboratory of Dr. Samuel Lara at Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (IPICYT) in San Luis Potosí, where she studied the structure-function of the protein Xanthine Dehydrogenase from A. nidullans using X-ray crystallography and biochemistry assays. Pita received her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology in 2020 in the lab of Dr. Jorge Arreola at IPICYT in San Luis Potosi, Mexico where she studied the voltage activation of the calcium-activated chloride channel, TMEM16A using electrophysiological experiments.
Pita joined the Tajima laboratory in July 2021 as a postdoctoral fellow where she uses electrophysiology and Cryo-electron microscopy to study the structure-function of glutamate receptor complexes, an interesting group of receptors and modulator proteins of great importance in the physiological processes of the human brain. Pita enjoys walking with her dog and practicing rock climbing.
Pita joined the Tajima laboratory in July 2021 as a postdoctoral fellow where she uses electrophysiology and Cryo-electron microscopy to study the structure-function of glutamate receptor complexes, an interesting group of receptors and modulator proteins of great importance in the physiological processes of the human brain. Pita enjoys walking with her dog and practicing rock climbing.
Changping Zhou, PhD, Postdoctoral scholar (cxz604@case.edu)
Changping Zhou, PhD, Postdoctoral scholar (cxz604@case.edu)
Changping obtained Ph.D in Biophysics in 2021 in the laboratory of Yihua Huang at the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences where he focused on the cryo-electron microscopy structure and function of ABC lipid transporter in Gram-negative bacteria.
Changping obtained Ph.D in Biophysics in 2021 in the laboratory of Yihua Huang at the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences where he focused on the cryo-electron microscopy structure and function of ABC lipid transporter in Gram-negative bacteria.
Changping joined the Tajima laboratory in October 2021 as a postdoctoral scholar where he combines cryo-electron microscopy and electrophysiology to study the structure-function of glutamate receptor involved in neuron signal transmission. In his spare time, Changping likes to play table tennis and tennis.
Changping joined the Tajima laboratory in October 2021 as a postdoctoral scholar where he combines cryo-electron microscopy and electrophysiology to study the structure-function of glutamate receptor involved in neuron signal transmission. In his spare time, Changping likes to play table tennis and tennis.
Tristan Carmeci, Graduate Student (tpc42@case.edu )
Tristan Carmeci, Graduate Student (tpc42@case.edu )
Tristan is a first year PhD student in the Biomedical Science Training Program and the Department of Physiology & Biophysics. He received his bachelors at the University of Portland in Oregon studying chemistry and a masters at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus studying Bioengineering. He has worked in a cardiovascular epigenetics lab at the Oregon Health & Science University while he was an undergraduate student under Dr. Fredrick Tibayan and an RNA Cryo-EM lab under Dr. Jeffery Kieft while working on his Masters.
Tristan is a first year PhD student in the Biomedical Science Training Program and the Department of Physiology & Biophysics. He received his bachelors at the University of Portland in Oregon studying chemistry and a masters at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus studying Bioengineering. He has worked in a cardiovascular epigenetics lab at the Oregon Health & Science University while he was an undergraduate student under Dr. Fredrick Tibayan and an RNA Cryo-EM lab under Dr. Jeffery Kieft while working on his Masters.
He joined the lab in January of 2022 and is interested in studying proteins that aid in regulating the activity of glutamate receptors in the brain. During his free time, he plays guitar, goes fly fishing, travels, and enjoys hiking.
He joined the lab in January of 2022 and is interested in studying proteins that aid in regulating the activity of glutamate receptors in the brain. During his free time, he plays guitar, goes fly fishing, travels, and enjoys hiking.
Past Lab Members
Past Lab Members
Nebojša Bogdanović, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar (2019-2023)
Nebojša Bogdanović, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar (2019-2023)
Current position: Research Scientist @ Florida State University
Current position: Research Scientist @ Florida State University
Lisa Zhang, Research Assistant (2019-2022)
Lisa Zhang, Research Assistant (2019-2022)
Current position: MD candidate @ The University of Toledo College of Medicine
Current position: MD candidate @ The University of Toledo College of Medicine
Adil Fazir, Undergraduate Research Assistant (2021-2022)
Adil Fazir, Undergraduate Research Assistant (2021-2022)
CWRU Facility Directors
CWRU Facility Directors
Kunpeng Li, EM facility manager
Kunpeng Li, EM facility manager
Yinghua Chen, Facility manager of the Protein Expression, Purification, and Crystallography Core
Yinghua Chen, Facility manager of the Protein Expression, Purification, and Crystallography Core