People

Moira Cornell (Research Scientist and Lab Manager) received earned her B.S in Biochemistry with a minor in Applied Mathematics from the University of Washington in 2022. As the lab manager, Moira manages the day to day operations of the lab. As a research scientist, Moira is involved in investigating TAOK1 protein structure and its evolutionary history. Her pet project is to understand how mutations in a kinase TLK2 linked with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) leads to brain developmental deficits. Her research interests include computational biology, protein structure modeling, biosensor and therapeutic development. Moira is an avid crafter and has made many knit items for members of the lab including knit neurons and a crochet microscope! She hopes to continue a career in research and is looking to applying for PhD program in the future.

Sarah John (Graduate Student) earned her master’s degree in biotechnology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), where she investigated the anti-tumor effects of disrupting the PI3K/AKT signaling axis in oral cancer cell lines. She worked with Dr. Kathryn Pepple at UW as a research scientist, focusing on cell-type specific inflammation in a mouse model of uveitis. Now as a graduate student in the Yadav Lab, Sarah is exploring how dysfunction in TAOK1, a gene strongly associated with autism, contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders. Using a combination of stem cell models and proteomics techniques, she is studying the disease phenotype of macrocephaly in patients with TAOK1-related NDDs. Sarah has employed iPSC-derived 2D neuronal and 3D organoid models to characterize this phenotype, and through proteomics, she has identified key signaling pathways disrupted by TAOK1 kinase dead mutations. She is now testing small molecule inhibitors to potentially restore these aberrant signaling pathways in TAOK1-associated NDDs. Outside of research, Sarah is a classically trained dancer who enjoys performing around Seattle.

Sydney Klucas (Graduate Student) earned a B.S. in Medicinal Chemistry and an additional major in Neuroscience from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2023. At UNO, she worked in Dr. Ryan Wong’s lab studying molecular mechanisms of anxiety in zebrafish. She joined the Yadav lab in 2024 where she works on an understudied autism-associated protein kinase. She has used the chemical genetic kinase labeling technique to identify novel kinase substrates and is investigating their role in neurodevelopment. She is also characterizing autism-associated variants with the end goal of developing a novel therapeutic to treat PAK1-associated neurodevelopmental disorder. Her project utilizes a variety of techniques including covalent capture mass spectrometry, primary neuronal cultures, computational biology, and biochemical enzymatic assays. Outside of the lab, Sydney enjoys reading, exploring the PNW, and spending time with her partner and cat.

Josie Sejd (Graduate Student) earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Idaho in 2017. Her post-baccalaureate work took her to San Diego, where she worked as a Research Associate at ActivX Biosciences and Johnson and Johnson. This work ignited her passion for research and led her to the Pharmacology PhD program at UW, where she joined the Yadav lab in 2021. She is working to identify the direct neuronal substrates of an understudied, autism-associated protein kinase. She has utilized the chemical-genetic kinase substrate labeling technique to identify high-confidence substrates of this kinase in the mouse brain. Her project utilizes a variety of techniques including covalent capture mass spectrometry, primary neuronal cultures, confocal imaging and biochemical enzymatic assays. Her research interests include assay development, signal transduction, and chemical biology.  When not in the lab, Josie enjoys cooking, painting, attending concerts, and spending time with her partner and two cats, Olive and Potato.

Dhriti Manjunath (Undergraduate Researcher)

Shreedevi Murugan (Undergradaute Researcher). Shree is a sophomore majoring in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Washington. She is working with Dr. Paul in the Yadav lab to understand the function of BRSK2 kinase.