People

Astra S. Bryant, PhD
Principal Investigator

Pronouns: she, hers

Astra is a sensory neuroethologist and a parasitologist. She entered the fields of nematode neuroscience and parasitology as a postdoc in the lab of Dr. Elissa Hallem at UCLA. She received her B.A. in Biology from Bryn Mawr College, and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Stanford University.

Outside of the lab, Astra enjoys cycling, playing softball, and painting the Pacific Ocean. Astra is aromantic and asexual; she usually describes her orientation as "a hard nope."

Link to CV.
Link to publications.
Email: astrab@uw.edu

Ben Gregory
Lab Manager (Research Scientist/Engineer I)

Pronouns: he, his

As the lab manager for the Bryant Lab, Ben pokes a lot of worms and provides moral support to Dr. Bryant. His interest in nematode research started while earning his marine biology degree at the UW and has since skyrocketed as he catches up on every C. elegans and Strongyloides study to date.

Before moving indoors to work in the Bryant Lab, Ben was a member of the Team USA at the 2018 Sprint Canoe Kayak Junior World Championships. He also attended high school in a zoo. He now spends his time trying new recipes, practicing Mandarin, and bouldering at SBP.

Email: btg13@uw.edu

German Rojas
Postdoctoral Scholar

Pronouns: he, his

German is a cellular and molecular neuroscientist. His deep love and appreciation for nematode research began in the lab of Dr. Elizabeth Glater at Pomona College where he received his B.A. in Neuroscience. Since then, he's never looked back. He received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Washington where he studied neuron-glial interactions in C. elegans in the lab of Dr. Aakanksha Singhvi at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center.

German enjoys playing board games, hanging out with friends, going camping, going to concerts, and playing baseball. He also enjoys cuddling and playing with his two cats: Hotdog and Bella. Fun fact: if you ask nicely enough, German can be convinced to try most things like pickleball or skydiving.

Email: rgerman@uw.edu

Paula Martinez-Feduchi
Graduate Student (M3D)

Pronouns: she, hers

Paula grew up in Barcelona, Spain, and moved to Atlanta to study Biology and Neuroscience at Georgia Tech. She's now a graduate student in the Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease (M3D) program. Paula is new to parasitic nematodes and is excited to learn more about their biology and behavior!

When she's not in the lab, she collects cookbooks, explores the city on her bike, or learns glassblowing at the hot shop.

Email: pfeduchi@uw.edu

Yi Zhang
Graduate Student (GPN)

Pronouns: she, hers

Yi is a graduate student in the Neuroscience PhD program. She started with a BS degree in psychology from UW and is now interested in behavioral neuroscience. Being new to the nematode neuroscience field, she is looking forward to studying everything there is to learn.

You won’t catch Yi in the wild out of the lab. She is probably staying at home with her cats, doing crafts or baking.

Leah L. Major
Undergraduate

Pronouns: she, hers

Leah is a Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology student with a passion for all things biology and a growing interest in worms! Outside of lab she is an avid reader, and loves painting and photography.

Luna Boulanger
Undergraduate

Pronouns: she, hers

Luna is an undergraduate student pursuing a future in healthcare, global health, and maybe even law. She’s new to the world of parasitic nematodes, and is loving learning something new every day.

Luna loves going to the gym, playing basketball and volleyball, cooking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. She’s always on the lookout for new food to try — the more unique, the better.

Hyun Cho
Undergraduate

Pronouns: she, hers

People

Astra S. Bryant, PhD
Principal Investigator