Principal Investigator
Debby Silver, Ph.D.
Professor, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Cell Biology, and Neurobiology
Program Director, Duke Developmental and Stem Cell Biology PhD Program
Co-Director, Duke Regeneration Center
Investigator, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
Google Scholar
Research Interest: Everything in our lab!
Hometown: Southboro, Massachusetts.
Hobbies: Hiking, biking, travelling, spending time with family and dog.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Jing Liu, Ph.D.
Broad Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow (2020-2021)
Research Interests: Mechanisms driving human unique brain development.
Hometown: Shandong, China.
Hobbies: Cooking and painting.
Lucas Serdar, Ph.D.
NIH F32 Postdoctoral Fellow (2022-current)
Research Interests: Understanding how RNA stability regulation impacts gene expression in the developing cortex.
Hometown: Perrysburg, Ohio.
Hobbies: Reading, cycling, and hiking with my wife and dog.
Nicole Moss, Ph.D.
Research Interests: Understanding the diverse roles of human-specific non-coding genomic sequences in the evolution of human brain development.
Hometown: Denver, Colorado.
Hobbies: Road biking and boardgames.
Senior Staff
Brooke D’Arcy, Ph.D.
Laboratory Research Analyst II
Ph.D. Silver lab, 2023
NSF Graduate Research Fellow (2018-2022)
Research Interests: Subcellular gene regulation in Radial Glial cells during cortical development.
Hometown: Elma, New York.
Hobbies: Crochet, Puzzles, and baking.
Ph.D. Graduate Students
Abby Poff
DSCB/MGM Graduate student
Research Interests: Understanding how pathogenic missense mutations in the X-linked RNA helicase DDX3X affect the developing mouse neocortex.
Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee.
Hobbies: Crafts/DIY, reading, and hanging out at home with my dog and partner.
Federica Mosti
CMB/Neurobiology Graduate student
Tricem fellow (2022-2023)
Research Interest: Epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation during neurodevelopment and human evolution.
Hometown: Tivoli (RM), Italy.
Hobbies: Reading, crocheting, and watercolors.
Davoneshia “Missy” Lollis
DSCB/UPGG Graduate student
NSF Graduate Research Fellow (2023-present)
Research Interests: Human-specific genomic changes involved in WNT signaling and their role in the evolution of human brain development.
Hometown: Mississippi.
Hobbies: Dog mom, reading, and advocacy for equal accessibility in education and mental healthcare.
Chia-Fang “Phoebe” Lee
Neurobiology Graduate student
International Chancellor Fellow (2023-present)
Research Interest: Understanding the functional role of RGC endfeet in orchestrating cortical development.
Hometown: Taiwan.
Hobbies: Running and reading.
Floyd Rubonal
Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate student
Research Interest: Organelle and RNA localization and function in radial glia cells during cortical development.
Hometown: Waipahu, Hawaii.
Hobbies: Cooking/baking, lifting weights, trying out new foods (I will try anything at least once!)
Research Technicians
Victoria Kapps
Research Interests: Regulation of neurodevelopment on a cellular and molecular level.
Hometown: Cary, North Carolina.
Hobbies: Reading, listening to music, and trying new restaurants/foods.
Emily Glidewell
Research Interests: How cellular and molecular mechanisms affect the developing brain.
Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina.
Hobbies: Reading and cooking.
Undergraduates
Stephany Perez-Sanchez
Major: Neuroscience
Class of 2025
Lab Mentor: Brooke D’Arcy
Research Interests: RNA localization and local translation in progenitor cells, and how this knowledge applies to future neuronal cell studies.
Hometown: Lancaster, South Carolina.
Hobbies: Photography, going to concerts, and going out to dinner with friends.
Katie Lam
Major: Evolutionary Anthropology
Class of 2025
Lab Mentor: Federica Mosti
Research Interests: Understanding the human-specific aspects of brain development and gene regulation in the brain.
Hometown: Roslyn, New York.
Hobbies: Painting, hiking, trying new restaurants, equestrian, and tutoring kids.