Our People

Witold K. Surewicz, PhD

Robert F. Bennett MD Professor , wks3@case.edu

Witold received a Ph.D. degree in Biophysics from the University of Lodz, Poland and a postdoctoral training at McMaster University, Canada (laboratory of Dr. R. Epand). After a period of employment as a Research Officer at the National Research Council of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario), in 1994 he relocated to the U.S.A., first to the University of Missouri (Columbia) and then to Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio). He has published over 180 research papers, and has served on editorial boards of a number of journals, including Journal of Biological Chemistry, Biochemistry, Prion, and Pathogens. He loves outdoor activities, skiing, swimming, sailing and, most recently, pickleball.

Solomiia Boyko

Graduate Student, sxb1016@case.edu

I joined the lab in 2019. I got my Master's degree in Biochemistry from Ivan Franko National University, Ukraine. I am interested in liquid-liquid phase separation of tau. Outside of the lab I enjoy orchestra performance and modern art exhibitions.

Benjamin Dumm

Graduate Student, benjamin.dumm@case.edu

I joined the lab in 2018 after receiving my bachelors in Biochemistry from Grove City College. I am interested in the pathological mechanisms of neurodegeneration, in particular the role of amyloid aggregation and phase separation. Outside of the lab I love to watch and play sports, especially golf and college football! I also love to spend time with my two new nephews and the rest of my family.

Raza Haider

MD/PhD student, rxh376@case.edu

I joined the lab in 2018 after finishing the first two years of medical school as part of Case's MSTP program. My research centers on TDP-43 phosphorylation, specifically how site-specific phosphorylation modulates the phase separation behavior of the protein. When not at work, I like to play ping-pong and to travel.

Vitor Monnaka

PhD student, vxu10@case.edu

I joined the lab in 2018 after finishing the first two years of medical school as part of Case's MSTP program. My research centers on TDP-43 phosphorylation, specifically how site-specific phosphorylation modulates the phase separation behavior of the protein. When not at work, I like to play ping-pong and to travel.

Qiuye Li, PhD

Postdoctoral Scholar, qxl112@case.edu

I joined the lab in 2014 after receiving his bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Tsinghua University. I am interested in the structural study of infectious prions as well as other pathogenic amyloid fibrils. Outside of the lab, I practice fencing and represent CWRU in collegiate fencing tournaments.

Virender Singh, PhD

Postdoctoral Scholar, vxs321@case.edu


I joined the lab in February 2019 after finishing PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India. My research centers on Alzheimer's Disease, specifically how metal induces tau liquid-liquid phase separation and how tau aggregate polymorphs affect AD pathology. When not at work, I like to do nature photography.


Xiangzhu Xiao, PhD

Research Associate, xxx13@case.edu

I joined the lab in 2013. I'm interested in the LC-MS technique in proteomics, especially in proteins structural study and protein-protein interaction using Hydrogen Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry (HXMS).

Krystyna Surewicz, PhD

Senior Research Associate, kxs41@case.edu