Jaeda Coutinho-Budd, PhDPrincipal Investigator
Dr. Coutinho-Budd graduated from Oberlin College with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience. She received her Ph.D. in Neurobiology from the University of North Carolina working on lipid binding and lipid signaling in cortical development and nociceptive signaling with Drs. Franck Polleux and Mark Zylka. In her postdoctoral training in Dr. Marc Freeman’s lab at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, she continued to delve into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of nervous system function, but switched from mice to Drosophila, and neurons to glia. Her work explores glial development, the importance of glial interactions at neuronal cell bodies, and how a breakdown in this relationship can lead to nervous system dysfunction.
Thaddeus Weigel
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Dr. Thaddeus Weigel is a postdoctoral researcher. He graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. in Molecular Biology, after which he worked at the National Institutes of Health in the lab of Dr. Miles Herkenham, where he studied the responses of microglia to social stress in mice. He received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Virginia, where he worked in the lab of Dr. Heather Ferris studying alterations to circadian behavior in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. In the Coutinho-Budd lab, he is researching the role of glia in Alzheimer’s disease using Drosophila models. In addition to research, he works as a lecturer in the Psychology Department. In his free time he enjoys rock climbing, backpacking, reading, and knitting.
Allison Beachum Graduate Student (Cell & Developmental Biology Program)
Allison graduated from East Carolina University with a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology and a M.S. in Biology. At East Carolina University she fell in love with working with fruit flies as a model organism, working in Dr. Elizabeth Ables’ lab studying oogenesis. Allison joined the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at University of Virginia in summer 2021 and is currently working in the Coutinho-Budd lab investigating glial interactions at neuronal cell bodies.
Paulina Rybkowska Graduate Student (BioLab Program)
Paulina is a Visiting Research Graduate Student at the University of Virginia through the Fullbright BioLAB Program, and a 3rd year Ph.D. student at Mossakowki Medical Research Institute in Poland. She is interested in neurobiology, especially in the molecular basis of neurodegeneration in diseases such as Alzheimer’s. In the Coutinho-Budd lab, she’s currently investigating tau protein spreading in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer’s disease. Outside of the lab, she travels, plays guitar, and spends time with friends.
Hannah Klose
Research Technician
Hannah is a technician in the lab working on the functional aspects of glia-glia interaction. In undergrad she studied biochemistry but began to develop a great interest in molecular and cell biology. Up until this point, she has explored very little of neuroscience and she’s excited to grow in her knowledge of it. In the future she hopes to attend graduate school in a biology-related field. In her free time she enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, trailing, bird-watching and basically anything that lets her explore the outdoors!
Kathleen ReuwerResearch Technician
Kathleen graduated from Virginia Tech in 2023 with a B.S. in Experimental Neuroscience and a B.S. in Public Health. During her undergrad, she worked in Dr. Michelle Olsen’s lab studying astrocytes. She is now taking her love for glia to work in the Coutinho-Budd Lab as a research technician investigating mitochondrial function in neuron-glial interactions. Although she is new to working with Drosophila, she is eager to learn this alternative animal model system. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in a neurobiology-related field and can’t wait to see first-hand how fruit flies can be used as a powerful tool in neuroscience.
Kate Meyer
Undergraduate Researcher
Kate is a 3rd year student at the University of Virginia, majoring in Neuroscience on the pre-medical track. She is interested in learning about how adaptive responses of glia cells can be applied to therapeutics and minimize symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases. Kate hopes to pursue a career in neuropsychiatry and research. Outside of her coursework and the lab, she enjoys baking, tutoring high school students in math and science, and attending UVA athletic events.
Amelia Nachbar
Undergraduate Researcher
Amelia is a 4th year majoring in Human Biology. She is interested in learning about the role glia play in maintaining the CNS, specifically with regard to how glial dysfunction contributes to neurodegenerative diseases. In the Coutinho-Budd lab, she’s currently helping with the project on glia-glia interactions. When she’s not studying, Amelia enjoys cooking, playing piano, and hanging out with her cats.
Kevin Krause
Undergraduate Researcher
Kevin is a 3rd year majoring in Neuroscience on a pre-health track. He is interested in learning about glia-glia interactions using drosophila as a model system; specifically, he hopes to contribute to projects ranging from how changes in glial morphology affect CNS functionality to how glial dysfunction impacts the progress of neurodegenerative disorders. In the Coutinho-Budd lab, he’s currently helping with the project on glia-glia interactions. When he is not at the lab, Kevin enjoys going to the gym, watching the latest anime, and hanging out with his friends.
Jeremiah Clyburn
Undergraduate Researcher
Jeremiah is a 2nd year student at the University of Virginia who plans to double major in Neuroscience and Behavioral Neuroscience with minors in Bioethics and Psychology. He is interested in the cellular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, and their associated disorders, and how the related biological structures can be studied in order to unlock unknown pathologies. Outside of the lab, he enjoys being a member of the University Singers, playing volleyball, having movie nights with friends, and performing in the cast for First Year Players productions.
Hayes MillerPostbac Researcher
Hayes is a current Master’s student completing her MPH with focus in Research in Practice on UVA’s 3+1 track. With aspirations of attending medical school, and a passion for understanding not only patient, but disease narratives and pathology, Hayes joined a project in the Coutinho-Budd lab in Fall of 2022. Interested specifically in MS and Alzheimer’s disease presentation, she endeavors to explore pathways to glial cell regeneration and compensation utilizing Drosophila models. When not in lab or the library, she can be found in one of the campus gyms, interpreting at the local free clinic, or cooking a cardiac-event-inducing Southern meal for friends.
Stefi OlkinUndergraduate Researcher
Stefi is a 3rd year majoring in biology with a minor in Russian and East European studies. She is interested in learning about the role of glia in neurodegenerative diseases, specifically in Multiple Sclerosis. Outside of lab, she loves to run, learn new languages, and TA for physics.
Aryana BellamkondaUndergraduate Researcher
Aryana is a 2nd year student at the University of Virginia planning on majoring in Cognitive Science. She is interested in studying the cellular processes behind neurological diseases.
Ainsley SadlerUndergraduate Researcher
Ainsley Sadler is a 1st year student at the University of Virginia with intended majors of Biochemistry or Neuroscience on the pre-med track and aspires to become either an Orthopaedic Surgeon or Anesthesiologist. She is interested in learning more about the role of glia and their interactions within neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. When she is not in lab, Ainsley enjoys singing with the Virginia Women’s Chorus, riding with the Virginia Eventing and Dressage Team, and coaching equestrian vaulting.
Join the lab!
We’re looking for curious, creative, motivated, and fun people at all levels to join the lab! If you’re interested in glia, neuroscience, cell biology, genetics, development, disease, Drosophila, or just learning more about what we do, please get in touch!
If you’re interested in applying to graduate school here at UVA then check out our Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program and Neuroscience Graduate Program!
Previous Lab Members
Graduate Students
Hannah Boyd
Technicians
Gabby Salazar Lopez
Dina Alter
Briana Castellano
Undergraduate Students
Toby Lanser
Sarah Johnson
Zoë Paige
Grace Ross
Conor Dickson
Ariana Maserejian
Ellie Furr
Olivia Budington
Harrison Pollack
Catherine Xu