People

Head of the laboratory

Gustavo is a biologist, who obtained his undergraduate and PhD degrees from the University of Sao Paulo, and had his postdoctoral training in the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology at New York University. His research interests revolve around the role of protein ubiquitination in cell fate, aging, and neurodegeneration.

Beyond science, Gustavo enjoys listening to music, playing/watching soccer/combat sports, cooking and trying new flavors, and reading sociology. He tries to do at least three of the items at a time.

Scholars@Duke profile

contact: gustavo.silva[at]duke[dot]edu

Lab manager

Vanessa received her bachelor’s in Biology and her Master’s degree in Genetics and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Sao Paulo.  She interned as a Research Affiliate at New York University, and before joining the Silva lab at Duke, she worked as a commercial and marketing manager at R-Crio, a stem cell biotech company. She manages the scientific and organizational operations of the lab and is interested in cellular response to oxidative stress.

Outside lab, Vanessa likes cooking, traveling, outdoor activities, and also enjoys craftwork.

contact: vanessa.simoes[at]duke[dot]edu

Undergraduate Student

Julia is a rising sophomore at Duke University, majoring in biology and minoring in psychology. Her interests in biology primarily lie within the realm of molecular and cellular biology. She plans on going to graduate school and pursuing a career in biological research. She joined the Silva lab as a research assistant as part of the Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Fellowship (BSURF). She’s interested in learning how to conduct molecular techniques and learning about signaling pathways of ubiquitination in response to oxidative stress.

Postdoctoral Associate

Nate conducted his undergraduate studies at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, and received his doctoral degree from Johns Hopkins University. He is interested in identifying the proteins and mechanisms involved in translational regulation through polyubiquitination during stress response.

Nate is an avid reader of science fiction novels and comic books, and he has a large collection of all forms of media related to Star Wars. He is also very fond of giraffes.

contact: nathan.snyder[at]duke[dot]edu

Graduate Student

Shannon received her bachelor’s degrees in Molecular Biology and Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and is a pursuing a doctoral degree through the Duke University Biology Department. She is currently interested in using mass spectrometry to monitor ribosomal ubiquitination during oxidative stress.

Outside of the lab, you are likely to find Shannon taking hikes with her dog, exploring Durham with friends, or curled up on the couch with a good book.

MD/PhD student

Lab technician

Lab technician

Undergraduate Student