About the PI - Josh Currie
I'm a cell biologist fascinated with how cells and tissues can work together to perform extreme acts of regeneration.
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I hail from the beautiful Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee, USA. I grew up totally enamored with animals and the living world, which lead me to study biology at Tennessee Technological University. Afterwards working as a Research Assistant in the lab of Alissa Weaver at Vanderbilt University, I got my first glimpse of moving cells under a microscope and developed a somewhat overzealous appreciation for the molecular cytoskeleton. For a PhD, I ventured to an epicenter of cytoskeletal cell biology (and college basketball), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At UNC I studied microtubule plus tip proteins (+TIPs) with Steve Rogers, dissecting the structural components of Drosophila +TIPs that regulate microtubule dynamics during processes like cell migration.

At the end of my PhD, I decided to make a leap far afield from the climate and topic of my graduate work to study axolotl limb regeneration in the lab of Elly Tanaka at the Center for Regenerative Therapies in Dresden, Germany. It was a great match of expertise and question, since the axolotl system was poised to benefit from cutting edge molecular tools to study the cell biology of regeneration. 

Graduate Lab Members

Tim Curtis

Jacob Barrett

Undergraduate Lab Members

Elena Singer-Freeman

Harry Panagopoulos

Sophie King

Baylor Goldthwaite

Zinn Amos
 
I grew up in the breathtaking Blue Ridge mountains of Roanoke, Virginia. My journey led me to Roanoke College for my undergraduate studies. While there, I had the incredible opportunity to work alongside Dr. Christopher Lassiter in their lab. I Investigated the profound impact of estrogenic compounds on tail fin regeneration in zebrafish. As I delved into this research, I found myself captivated by the intricate process of regeneration and the cues that coax cells into reshaping lost structures. This fascination set me on a path toward a PhD in the Currie lab. I'm now dedicated to unraveling the secrets behind signals that guide cells back to a "progenitor" state. This state is vital for orchestrating the development of all cell types in a regrown appendage. Beyond the lab's walls, I'm passionate about nurturing curiosity in the upcoming generation of scientists. Through engaging community outreach events, I aim to showcase the remarkable axolotl as a potent model for studying regeneration. When I'm not immersed in my research, you can find me scaling rock walls, exploring new literary worlds, playing videogames, or tending to my beloved garden.

Lab Alumni

Teija Bily
4th year project student
MD/PhD student, Western University, Canada
Anastasia Liu
​4th year project student
Medical student, Western University, Canada
​Qiuyuan Zhu
​4th year project student
 
Christine Shan
Co-supervised Master's student in Biomedical Communications
Professional Science Illustrator (Portfolio website)
Adline Metayer, MSc. 
Research Assistant
 
Julio Garcia
Senior undergraduate researcher
Clinical Technician, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Rylee Kopchak
Senior undergraduate researcher
PhD student, Mayo Clinic
Landon Bradshaw
Senior undergraduate researcher
Medical student, Stanford University
Sean Jones
Senior undergraduate researcher
Technician, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Tommy Mehaffey
Senior undergraduate researcher
PhD student, Vanderbilt University
Sam Leslie
Senior undergraduate researcher
PhD student, Brandeis University
Halle Stump
graduate student
PhD student, Johnson lab @ WFU Biology
Tuokai Zhang
graduate student
PhD student, WFU Biology

We're hiring!

If you're excited about regeneration research, get in touch! We're looking for diverse, interdisciplinary group members at all levels - undergraduate, Masters, PhD, postdoctoral, and research technicians.