Lab Members

Jeff Mumm, Ph.D.

Helen Larson & Charles Glenn Grover Chair in Ophthalmology
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Neuroscience, and Human Genetics
Director, High-Throughput Phenotypic Screening (HPS) Core
Co-director, Functional Investigations in Zebrafish facility

Jeff is originally from Waterloo, Iowa. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa, investigating the regulation of olfactory receptor neuron regeneration in Dr. Anne Calof’s lab. He became interested in the Notch signaling pathway as a potential regulator of new neuron production, joining Dr. Raphael Kopan’s lab (Washington University in St. Louis) for his doctoral training. As a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Rachel Wong’s lab, he developed methods for long-term in vivo imaging of neural circuit formation in the zebrafish retina. During this time, he also adapted an inducible targeted cellular ablation methodology to the zebrafish system, enabling studies of cell-specific regeneration. This approach is a central component of his work on retinal regeneration at Johns Hopkins University where the lab uses a customized large-scale phenotypic screening system for unbiased discovery initiatives and high-resolution imaging methods for hypothesis-driven inquiries into how regenerative potential is regulated in the vertebrate retinal stem cell niche. Outside the lab, Jeff enjoys barbecueing, hiking/biking, gardening and beersbie.

Fun fact: Jeff is in a “Dad Band” that plays songs from the 60s – 20s. “We rock, dudes”

Senior Research Specialist/Lab Manager
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Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, Meera completed her undergraduate degree in the biological sciences at Northwestern University and earned her Ph.D in developmental biology from Washington University in St. Louis. Following her PhD, she joined the Mumm lab at it’s initiation and has been on ever since, currently working as a Senior Research Specialist, Lab Manager, and de facto editor for everyone’s papers. Outside of the lab, Meera enjoys eating, going for walks, watching movies, and occasionally tries her luck playing the lottery.

Fun Fact: Meera likes to go to grocery stores as her entertainment.

Assistant Professor
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Liyun earned her medical degree from Beijing Medical University (Peking University Health Science Center) in China and became an ophthalmologist at the Beijing Tongren Hospital Eye Center. Following this, she completed her PhD at The Chinese University of Hong Kong where she studied genetics of the eye. In June of 2014, she joined the Mumm lab for her postdoctoral research. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanism of retinal degeneration and identifying the new therapeutic avenues. Specifically, she is using zebrafish to make a human retina disease model and conduct high-throughput drug screenings to treat the retina degeneration. Outside of the lab, Liyun enjoys movies, music and traveling.

Manager HPS Core Facility
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Originally from New York, George completed his undergrad at SUNY Albany and his PhD from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He joined the Mumm lab is July of 2022 as the manager for the new High-throughput Phenotypic Screening Core. In his free time, George enjoys taking walks, learning new science, and occasionally reading science fiction or history.

Fun fact: George won most inconsistent golfer award at the 4,123,456,789th annual Archaea Golf Tournament hosted by Prof. Carl Woese.

Laboratory Coordinator
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Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Frazer earned his Bachelors of Science in Biology University of Maryland College Park. He joined the Mumm lab in 2017 where he serves as the zebrafish facility manager. Outside the lab, Frazer enjoys hiking, cycling, and volunteering at the National Aquarium.

Post Doctoral Fellow
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A native of Baltimore, Jay found a interest in how broad the field of biology is, as one can study anything from birds to biochemistry and still call themselves a biologist. He has tried to investigate as many of these sub-fields as possible to make sure he ended up in the right one, but along the way he discovered that he might not actually have to choose. DNA is the universal code for life, so the study of genetics naturally connects to every field that calls itself biology. So while he has worked in labs studying enzymes, bacteria, yeast, plants, fish, and mice, and focused on a broad array of topics including epidemiology, evolution, metabolism, and ophthalmology, he has been able to use genetics as a common thread to connect these disparate fields. Jay received his Bachelors of Science in General Biology at UMD College Park and his Ph.D. at Hopkins in Biology. He joined the Mumm lab in May of 2021 where he focuses on the genetics of age-related diseases of the eye, and developing new techniques to help us understand how our DNA influences the aging process. Outside the lab, Jay enjoys backpacking, playing disc golf, and doing whatever his baby daughter wants to do.

Fun fact: Jay worked as an organic farmer in France before grad school.

Post Doctoral Fellow
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Description Coming soon.

Fun fact: Shreya is from Kolkata India and has always had a fascination with biology. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Life Science and Biochemistry from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai, India and completed a Master’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Baroda, India. She then went on to graduate with her Ph.D. in Anatomy and Cell Biology in 2022 from Wayne State University where she studied the visual and myelin abnormalities in a genetic leukoencephalopathy zebrafish model using imaging and behavioral approaches. Following her Ph.D., she joined the Mumm lab in April 2023 to study the role of microglia and the immune system in retinal regeneration using the cone photoreceptor cells. Outside the lab, Shreya enjoys reading, listening to music, and cooking.

Fun fact: Shreya learned how to write her non-dominant hand (left) after an injury to her right hand in high school – it’s not pretty but legible!

Post Doctoral Fellow
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Huanhuan is orginally from Weihai, China. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Qingdao Agricultural University, her Master of Science at the Ocean University of China, and her Ph.D. at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She joined the Mumm lab in June, 2023 and works with Liyun performing drug screens for compounds that can stop the progression of retinitis pigmentosa and study its cell death mechanism in zebrafish model. She is also interested in exploring of the critical molecular chaperones for cellular protein quality control and the health of cells in neurodegenerative diseases. When she is not in lab, Huanhuan enjoys cooking, going shopping, and exploring special food with her little child.

Fun fact: Huanhuan dreams every day when sleeping and enjoys it.

PhD Candidate, Human Genetics
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A Maryland native, Kevin earned his Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Maryland-College Park. He is now a PhD candidate in the Human Genetics PhD program at Johns Hopkins University where he joined the Mumm lab in June of 2019. In the lab, Kevin is studying the genetic factors that drive cell-type specific regeneration in zebrafish, specifically focusing on retinal ganglion cells. Currently, he is using Crispr/Cas9 and single-cell RNA sequencing and a novel model of inducible cell death to study the transcriptomics of regeneration. Outside of the lab, Kevin enjoys visiting different restaurants and breweries in Baltimore, as well as participating in sports and hanging out with his cats, Fig and Newton.

Fun Fact: Kevin dislikes all foods with chocolate except oreos.

PhD Candidate, CMM
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Anneliese is originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin. She earned her Bachelors of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis before starting her Ph.D at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in the Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program. In the program, she joined the Mumm lab in May of 2022 and studies the mechanisms underlying cone photoreceptor regeneration in zebrafish and how this regenerative potential can be harnessed for use in restoring mammalian vision loss. Outside the lab, Anneliese enjoys baking, hiking and exploring the Baltimore area.

Fun fact: Anneliese’s family keeps bees and has a yearly honey harvest.

PhD Student, Human Genetics
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JUche is from Lagos, Nigeria and studied Biochemistry at the University of Maryland. As an undergraduate, he interned at David Segal’s Lab at UC Davis where he studied transcription factors that activate the ube3a gene implicated in Angelman Syndrome. Post-graduation, he worked at Hopkins in Mollie Meffert’s lab before applying to grad school. As a graduate student, Uche joined the Mumm lab in June of 2023. Outside the lab, Uche enjoys rooting for Manchester United in the English Premier league, playing soccer, traveling, hiking, enjoying nature, and hanging out with family and friends.

Fun fact: Uche can bend his thumb backwards up to 90 degrees.

Research Technologist
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Originally from Kerala, India, Nimisha received her B.Tech in Biotechnology from Vellore Institute of Technology, India, in 2019. Shortly after graduation, she was introduced to the world of zebrafish when she worked as a project assistant at the Indian Institute of Science. There, she studied the adverse effects of anti-psychotic drugs on the zebrafish nervous system. In the fall of 2021, she began pursuing her MS in Biotechnology with a concentration in regenerative and stem cell technologies at Johns Hopkins University where she joined the Mumm lab. She graduated in May of 2023, after studying microglial interactions with neuronal arbors in zebrafish larvae as well as working on the intersectional targeting project. Outside of lab, Nimisha enjoys visiting beaches and baking.

Fun fact: Nimisha can sing in seven languages.

Gianna Graziano

Research Technologist
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A Maryland native, Gianna graduated from Goucher College with a Bachelors of Arts in 2021. Shortly after graduation, Gianna joined the Mumm lab in January of 2022 where she works on developing a more selective method of targeting specific neural cell types via intersectional targeting. She also works on rescuing silenced transgene expression through targeted demethylation of regulatory sequences. Outside the lab, Gianna enjoys bike riding, rock climbing, hiking, playing board games with friends, and hanging out with her pets.

Fun fact: Gianna rode horses for 15 years.

Research Technologist
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Originally from Fishers, Indiana, Darren recently finished his undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University pursuing his Bachelors of Science in Molecular Science and Cellular Biology. He joined the Mumm lab as an undergraduate in May of 2021 and has stayed on working as a research technologist working on developing a zebrafish model of glaucoma through a tissue-specific cellular senescence inducible line. In his free time, he likes to exercise, play rhythm games, and hang out with friends.

Fun fact: Darren plays the trombone and piano.

Research Technologist
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Stefano is from Andover, New Jersey. He is a recent graduate of Johns Hopkins University where he studied Neuroscience and Spanish. He joined the Mumm lab in August of 2021 where he works on the Intersectional Targeting Project, and is designing his own project involving the optimization of biological tools that alter macrophage expression in zebrafish. After his time at JHU, he hopes to attend med school. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends as well as exploring the outdoors, running, traveling, watching sports, and anything adventurous.

Fun fact: Stefano is currently learning Italian and Portuguese.

Research Technologist
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Randi is from Martinez, California and received a B.A. at Goucher College. After studying Muller Glia reactivation in zebrafish at Goucher, Randi joined the Mumm/Zhang lab in June of 2023. In the lab, Randi screens drugs for an ability to delay retinosis pigmentosa progression. Outside the lab, Randi enjoys knitting, crocheting, and arts and crafts.

Fun Fact: Randi played golf for 8 years.