Ken Nguyen
Rotation Student
k.y.nguyen[at]wustl.edu
Ken is a first-year student in the Neuroscience program. Ken graduated from Rice University with a B.A. in Neuroscience and did his undergrad and postbac research at Baylor College of Medicine. He is interested in studying the molecular, genetic, and circuit level changes that underlie complex disease pathologies and how they can be contextualized in the aging human brain. If he’s not in lab, he can usually be found on his bike, at the nearest museum/library, or in his kitchen working on a new recipe.
David O’Leary
Rotation Student
davido[at]wustl.edu
David is a first year student in the Cancer Biology program. He is a native of St. Louis and graduated with a BS in Biology from Truman State University where he researched cyclophilin proteins in sensory neurons of Drosophila melanogaster in the lab of Dr. Brett Berke. Moving back to St. Louis, David joined the lab of Dr. Abby Green as a research assistant where he investigated mechanisms of DNA damage and repair and synthetic lethal interactions. Outside of lab, David enjoys reading, cooking, playing tennis, and training for triathlons.
Seth Wallerstein
Rotation Student
s.e.wallerstein[at]wustl.edu
Seth is a student in the Molecular Cell Biology program. Seth received his B.S. in Biochemistry and Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development from the University of Minnesota, where he investigated mechanisms of DNA double-strand break repair. His research passion is to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms cells deploy to maintain the integrity of their genome in response to endogenous and exogenous stressors. Outside of the lab, Seth enjoys singing, climbing, and attending live sporting events.
Oliver Krentzman
Rotation Student
krentzman[at]wustl.edu
Oliver is a student in the neuroscience program. Oliver graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in Cognitive Science. Oliver is interested in taking a cellular and molecular approach to identify mechanisms of psychedelic drug action in the nervous system. Oliver is also interested in longevity-promoting behavioral interventions and supplements. When not in the lab, Oliver enjoys working out, long-distance running, and listening to audiobooks.
Yongjoon Shin
Rotation Student
s.yongjoon[at]wustl.edu
Yongjoon is a student in the Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology program. His research passion is to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases as well as aging in general. In his free time, Yongjoon enjoys watching sports, movies and TV shows.
Xilin Hou
Rotation Student
h.xilin[at]wustl.edu
Xilin is a first year student in the Molecular Cell Biology program. Xilin received her B.S. in Bioscience from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in June 2023. After a brief experience studying novel histone modifications in Drosophila melanogaster, she worked on centromeric chromatin regulation at the Institute of Biophysics, CAS. She is broadly interested in epigenetics and chromatin regulation in the context of development, neuroscience and human diseases. Outside of lab Xilin enjoys taking walks in parks, listening to music, and eating/cooking spicy food.
In the Pollina Lab, we are honored to have the privilege to train the next generation of scientists and are committed foremost to the success of our members. We are thinkers, dreamers, doers, talkers, and friends. We believe the best science emerges from diverse viewpoints and training paths. We are committed to generating an environment where each person’s passion and individual character synergize to strengthen our team. Our core values are curiosity, generosity, resilience, integrity, and humor, and we celebrate the process of scientific discovery as much as the discoveries themselves. We are eager to recruit individuals to help shape this culture of inclusion and support.
Come join us! We are looking for talented post-docs, students, and bioinformaticians. Please send your cv and three reference letters to pollina[at]wustl.edu.