Chad Dashnaw, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
I was born and raised in upstate New York. In 2018, I moved to Texas to earn my Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Baylor University. My graduate research focused on characterizing the heterotypic interactions between wild-type and mutant superoxide dismutase 1 within soluble and amyloid forms of the protein. As a part of the Joachimiak lab, I will expand upon my knowledge of protein aggregation as I begin working with designing tau amyloid.
Klaudia Jaczynska, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
I am originally from Poland, where I studied biotechnology at the University of Warsaw. I earned my PhD working with José Rizo-Rey at UT Southwestern, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter release. Currently, in the Joachimiak lab, I research how cells regulate amyloid formation to mitigate neurodegeneration, with a particular interest in substrate recognition by molecular chaperones. I appreciate beautiful things, such as NMR spectra and visual arts. In my free time, I volunteer at the Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth and enjoy following modern and contemporary art.
Daniel Kieffer
Graduate Student: Molecular Biophysics
I grew up in Wisconsin and earned my B.S. in Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After working three years in industry, I joined the Joachimiak lab where I work on understanding how disease mutations convert RNP granule proteins from their biologoically relevant interactions to their pathological states. Outside the lab, I enjoy backpacking and disc golf.
Nabil Morgan
Research Assistant I
Born and raised in Palestine, I moved to the United States in 2017. I earned my bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Texas at Arlington. In the Joachimiak lab, I provide organizational as well as technical support. Outside the lab, I love traveling, hiking, and cardio.
Simran Rastogi
Graduate Student: Neuroscience
I was born and raised in India, completed my BS in Life-Sciences from University of Delhi, and MS in Biophysics from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi India. In Joachimiak's lab, I study about the J-domain proteins interactions with TDP-43 using cellular system and in-vitro approaches. Apart from this, the complexities of temporal and spatial of memory as well as molecular machinery fascinates me. Outside of lab, I read Urdu poetry, and get excited about Sufi music. My favorite free time activities are playing badminton, exploring places, and hiking.
Ruhar Singh, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Originally from Allahabad, India, I received my master’s in bioinformatics from the University of Allahabad, and my Ph.D. in computational biology and bioinformatics at Jawaharlal Nehru University. In my graduate work, I studied non-equilibrium and equilibrium dynamics simulation, pH- and temperature-dependent protein unfolding, and simulations of large biomolecular systems. In the Joachimiak lab, I focus on structure modeling of fibrils in neurodegenerative diseases. In my free time, I enjoy reading, hiking, biking and dancing Kathak.
Victoria Wiernikouskaja
Graduate Student Assistant
Born and raised in Belarus, I earned my B.S. and M.S. in Biotechnology from the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG&MUG in Gdańsk, Poland. In the Joachimiak Lab, I study the aggregation of TDP-43 and hnRNPA2 proteins.
Paweł Wydorski, M.S.
Graduate Student: Molecular Biophysics
I am from Poland and earned my B.S. in neurobiology and my M.S. in biotechnology from Jagiellonian University. I use biophysical and structural tools to characterize interactions between chaperones and different conformations of tau protein. I am also interested in whether pathological amyloid formation is affected by breakdowns in how chaperones recognize misfolded proteins. Outside the lab, I often get overexcited about food.