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. 

Lab Members

Halle Stump

Tim Curtis

Jacob Barrett

Tuokai Zhang

Sam Leslie

Elena Singer Freeman
Halle’s academic journey started deep in the Nantahala National Forest of North Carolina, where she discovered her budding passion for the local, rare and endangered salamander populations. She went on to receive her Bachelors in Biology and Psychology from Western Carolina University. To enhance her training as a researcher and scientist, Halle completed a Masters in Biotechnology from Indiana University while also doing research in the lab of Dr. Heather Hundley. After her time at IU, Halle decided it was time to bring her journey back full circle, not only by returning to North Carolina, but also by applying her molecular training toward the small animals that she loves so much. Halle’s project will center around understanding how cells are recruited and coordinated in the regenerative limb blastema. In the future, Halle’s goal is to apply her training to introduce a new generation of budding Appalachian scientists to salamanders and the massive impact they have, not only our ecosystems, but also toward regenerative medicine. Outside of the lab, Halle’s interests include video games, Twin Peaks, Lord of the Rings, and listening to true crime podcasts.

 

Lab Alumni

Teija Bily
4th year project student
MD/PhD student, Western University, Canada
Anastasia Liu
​4th year project student
Matriculating 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
Researcher, Genentech
Sean Jones
Senior undergraduate researcher
Technician, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Tommy Mehaffey
Senior undergraduate researcher
PhD student, Vanderbilt University

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.