VAN DER LINDEN LAB
Neurogenetics of Sleep and Aging
Lab Members
Alexander (Sander) van der Linden, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
I am an Associate Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno. I obtained my Ph.D. from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, and completed my postdoctoral work in the lab of Prof. Piali Sengupta at Brandeis University, MA, where I studied the salt-inducible kinase (SIK) pathway and circadian rhythms in collaboration with Prof. Michael Rosbash using the roundworm C. elegans as my favorite model organism. My lab has a deep interest in understanding the neural and molecular basis of sleep and aging in both health and disease.
Aja McDonagh, BSc
PhD Student
2016 - present
Integrative Neuroscience (INP) Ph.D. student
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (2016)
I obtained my B.Sc. in Neuroscience at the University of Nevada, Reno. I currently investigate the the role of diet and SIK3 signaling in the metabolic regulation of sleep.
Pearson McIntire, BSc
Ph.D. Student
2020 - present
Integrative Neuroscience (INP) Ph.D. candidate
I obtained my B.Sc. in Neuroscience with a minor in Mathematics at the University of Nevada, Reno. I currently investigate sleep-metabolic interactions with a focus on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which cells that store energetic reserves communicate with sleep-regulating neurons to promote sleep.
Hussam (Sam) Alshareef, MSc
Ph.D. Student
2019 - present
Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB) Ph.D. candidate
I obtained my B.S. in Medical and Molecular Biology at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University in Boston, MA, with a minor in Pre-Medicine and Health Psychology. I obtained my M.Sc. at UNR, and currently study the role of age-accumulated circular RNAs in transgenic C. elegans models for Alzheimers disease.
Recent Lab Alumni
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Brian Jorgensen - Postdoctoral Scholar (2020-21) - Currently a Postdoc at UNR Medical School
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Tatiana Nikooei - Undergraduate researcher (2018-2020)
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Jaffar Bhat - Postdoctoral Scholar (2019) - Currently an Assistant Professor at Govt Degree College Kupwara
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Ari Winbush - Postdoctoral Scholar (2013-2016) - Currently a Research Associate, Singh Lab at the University of Oregon
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Jeremy Fodor - Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ph.D (2019) - Postdoc, Raizen Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, but currently Life Scientist Specialist at L.E.K. Consulting in NYC
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Jeannette Crew - Undergraduate researcher (2018-2019) - Currently a medical student at the School of Medicine, UNLV
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David Viramontes - Undergraduate researcher, Biotechnology (2018-2019)
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Kendal Warner - Undergraduate researcher (2014-2019) - Currently a medical student at the School of Medicine, UNR
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Thoann Ngo - Undergraduate researcher (2017) - Currently in PA school at the New York Institute of Technology
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Matthew Gruner - Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ph.D. (2017) - Currently a postdoctoral fellow, Goga Lab at UCSF
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Alexandru-voda Loan - Undergraduate researcher, IURP Manchester University (2016-2017) - Currently a Ph.D. student at Oxford University, United Kingdom
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Kristin Lu - High school student, Sage Ridge School (summer 2017)