Jeremy Kay, Ph. D.
Associate Professor of Neurobiology & Ophthalmology
Associate Professor in Cell Biology
jeremy.kay [at] duke.edu
Ari Pendragon
Lab Research Analyst I
ariane.pereira [at] duke.edu
Lab manager and master of transgenic mouse lines.
Caitlin Paisley, Ph. D.
Postdoctoral scholar
(previously a Ph.D. student in the lab)
caitlin.paisley [at] duke.edu
Retinal astrocytes, developmental cell death, and how microglia shape the developing retina.
Mayur Dembla, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral scholar
mayur.dembla [at] duke.edu
Mayur is interested in learning how the directional selective (DS) circuit is formed and what are the key molecular players contributing in the formation of DS circuit synapses. Curious and passionate about science, loves sports and fitness.
Juan Valdez-Lopez
Postdoctoral scholar
juan.valdezlopez [at] duke.edu
Juan is interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying the astrocyte regulation of angiogenesis in the developing retina. He is working on developing screening methods to discover new astrocyte-expressed angiogenic genes.
Adam Miltner, Ph. D.
Postdoctoral scholar
adam.miltner [at] duke.edu
Adam studies early retinal astrocyte patterning and maturation using single cell sequencing, genetic mouse models, and histology. Outside of lab, he enjoys tackling the myriad projects that home ownership presents, and on a nice day can likely be found on his back patio.
Ekta Dembla, Ph. D.
Postdoctoral scholar
ekta.dembla [at] duke.edu
A science enthusiast who is trying to understand the mechanisms of degeneration in a mouse model of Crumbs-related retinal disease.
Sarah Hadyniak, Ph. D.
Postdoctoral scholar
sarah.hadyniak [at] duke.edu
Sarah is interested in how isoform differences impact cell fate in retinal bipolar cells using single cell, long-read sequencing and is supported by a fellowship from the Hartwell Foundation. Outside of lab, she’s likely hanging out with her dog Merlin.
Elise Edgar
Research Technician II
Eye Center microscope core facility manager
elise.edgar [at] duke.edu
In vivo screens for molecules that control retinal angiogenesis.
