We welcome a broad group of students from all backgrounds and a variety of disciplines. Current lab members have roots from all over the world and join us at different levels of training ranging from Undergraduate to Master's, Ph.D and Pharm.D. The projects of lab members includes biochemistry, structural biology, cell culture, drug discovery and science-community outreach.
Prior to joining USC, I was a Ruth Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellow at UCLA in the laboratory of Dr. David Eisenberg where my research focused on atomic-resolution structure determination of protein aggregates, and the development of structure-based inhibitors to block prion-like spread of protein fibrils. In my time at UCLA, I was recipient of awards from the Turken Foundation for studies on Alzheimer's disease, BrightFocus Foundation, a 2019 award from the UCLA Department of Energy (DOE) for scientific productivity, and a Young Investigator Scholarship from the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) in 2018 and 2019. Prior to that, I earned my Ph.D. in Structural Biology from the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute where I studied chaperone proteins and structure-based inhibitor design. When I am not in the lab I enjoy cycling and running (both for sport, and chasing after my very active 4 year old daughter).
Angela Albanese, PhD candidate
My passion for research and desire to grow as a pharmaceutical scientist brought me from a small town in Southern Italy to California, where I earned my Bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology at California State University, Monterey Bay. During internships at biotechnology companies, I developed a strong interest in neurodegenerative diseases while learning about the molecular mechanisms that drive disease. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Medical Biophysics, where my research focuses on proteasomal impairment in Alzheimer's disease and strategies to restore proteasome function. Looking ahead, I hope to contribute to the development of new therapeutics by building a career in pharmaceutical research.
Marina Fayzullina, PhD candidate
I am a second year PhD student at USC School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Track. In 2018, I got my B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology, with Neurobiology concentration, from University of California, Berkeley. As an undergraduate, I worked as a research assistant in Dr. Lance Kriegsfeld’s lab. My research project focused on the pathophysiological impacts of chronic stress on the female reproductive system in early pregnancy in mouse models. After graduation, I started working as a lab technician in Dr. Hong-Wei Dong’s lab at USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, where I contributed toward mapping all neuronal connections within the mouse brain through anatomical and computational methods. My passion for neuroscience research has led me to Dr. Paul Seidler's lab where I am currently working on determining the process and the end product of microglial degradation of tau protein. In my free time, I enjoy playing with my daughter and exploring the city.
Amanda Tse, PhD candidate
I am a third-year PhD candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences. I graduated from USC in 2024 with B.S. degrees in Pharmacology and Drug Development from USC Mann and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies from Keck School of Medicine, with a minor in Forensics and Criminality. I have worked in Dr. Seidler’s lab since 2021, identifying and characterizing small molecule tau disaggregases. My research now focuses on monoaminergic neurotransmitters as modulators of tau aggregation. When I am not in the lab, I enjoy lifting, swimming, exploring national parks, and trying new restaurants (follow me on Beli!).
Bliss Aguirre, PhD candidate
I am currently a fifth-year PhD candidate at the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. I received my undergraduate degrees in Biochemistry and Forensic Science from California State University, Los Angeles. As an undergraduate, I conducted photochemical research in Dr. Matthias Selke’s lab, where I investigated the ability of resveratrol and its derivatives to act as antioxidants against reactive oxygen species, specifically singlet oxygen.
In Dr. Seidler’s lab, my research focuses on the design and synthesis of chemical analogs targeting tau aggregation, with the goal of identifying compounds that can effectively bind to and reduce tau fibril formation. My research has also ventured into utilizing a LAT1 transporter-dependent uptake of novel compounds to ensure effective BBB penetration.
When I’m not in the lab or working on my research, you can usually find me playing with my cats or watching a random documentary.
Nader Mostowfi, PhD candidate
I recently graduated from UC Riverside as a Biochemistry major as part of the class of 2021. It has been a very exciting experience taking my next step as a Master’s student studying Pharmacology and Toxicology. As an undergrad, I found the Biochemistry lectures that focused on aggregate mutations in the brain to be fascinating. This inspired me to research in Dr. Seidler’s lab, where I will be studying cyclic peptides and observing their potential in inhibiting the mutated proteins responsible for Alzheimer’s. I look forward to this challenging but fruitful experience as my first step in pursuing drug discovery.
Rachel Khoury, PhD candidate
I am a second-year PhD student at USC School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences track. I received my B.S. in Chemistry, with an emphasis in Biochemistry, from San Diego State University, where I studied enzyme kinetics in Dr. Christal Sohl's lab as part of the NIH Initiative for Maximizing Student Development program. I then joined the LEAP Postbacc Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, working under Dr. Yu Xin (Will) Wang, where I developed a method for 3D light-sheet imaging of mouse skeletal muscles to better understand disruptions in muscle innervation in aging and cachexia. In Dr. Seidler's lab, my research focuses on identifying and validating small-molecules that disaggregate amyloid-beta. When I'm not in the lab, I'm dancing and trying new restaurants around LA!
Nathan Ha, Undergraduate candidate
I am a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Human Biology at USC Dornsife. My passion for Alzheimer’s disease and medicine inspired me to join the Seidler Lab in 2024, where I developed an interest in the molecular pathology underlying neurodegeneration. My current research investigates the use of small-molecule disaggregases to amplify detectable peripheral tau seeding activity as a novel approach to early detection of Alzheimer's disease. I aspire to earn an M.D. while advancing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases as a physician-scientist. Outside of the lab, you can find me cutting hair, fishing, or playing sports
Lab Alumni
Jinliang Wang, Postdoctoral Fellow
Jinliang is originally from Shandong, China. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Hainan University, then master’s degree at University of Science and Technology of China. He then moved to the United States for his PhD work. At the University of Texas El Paso, he immersed himself into the beauty of the inner workings of heat shock protein structure at atomic scale and spent many glorious hours on the microscope. Completely obsessed with figuring out atomic-sale mechanisms of how membrane proteins function under normal and diseased states, he turned his attention to understanding how this process works by using Cryo-EM and did his first postdoctoral work at University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Jinliang started his second postdoc journey at Seidler’s lab in 2021, still trying to figure out atomic-sale mechanisms of disease, especially the Alzheimer’s disease, and aiming to screen drugs to block spread of protein fibrils based on the structure. Besides microscope, Jinliang is a big fun of soccer and strongly supports Lionel Messi. If you also like soccer and are a Messi supporter, feel free to stop by, say hi, and chat!
Monna Wei, Undergraduate student
I am a first-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Pharmacology and Drug Development at the Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy as well as Neuroscience at Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. I joined the Seidler lab in the spring of 2023 with a curiosity about the intersections of pharmacy and neuroscience, specifically understanding the characteristics of neurodegenerative diseases through drug discovery. My particular research involves researching mechanisms of catalpol as a potential candidate for inhibiting Alzheimer's onset while developing benchwork techniques and skills. I hope to be using my time at this lab as valuable experience to pursue an MD/PhD program focusing on molecular pharmacology in the future. Aside from academics, I love to spend my time cafe-hopping!
Yong Yu, PharmD
Yong carried out her PharmD Scholarly Project in 2021 on proteasome inhibitors and their effects on inhibiting seeding by Alzheimer's tau and Parkinson’s and MSA alpha synuclein.
Madison Crutcher, PharmD
Madison carried out her PharmD Scholarly Project in 2021. She created COVID-19 infographics and ran a study on the effects of patient education at USC vaccine clinics. Her work was published in the journal Vaccines.
Anna Zargaryan, PharmD
Anna worked with Arineh Abram on her PharmD Scholarly Project in 2021 to run a COVID-19 information campaign aimed at educating students about COVID-19 and vaccines.
Arineh Abram, PharmD
Anna Zargaryan worked with Arineh Abram on her PharmD Scholarly Project in 2021 to run a COVID-19 information campaign aimed at educating students about COVID-19 and vaccines.
Bryan Ceballos, PharmD
Bryan obtained a bachelor's in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley and worked with Dr. Seidler on infographics to explain how limitations of Aduhelm open the door for more successful AD therapies.
Andrew Levy, Undergraduate student
Andrew is a sophomore majoring in Pharmacology and Drug Development, with minors in Biopharmaceutical Business and Artificial Intelligence Applications. He is now working in computer science research.
Haley Jun, Undergraduate student
Haley Jun completed undergraduate research majoring in Pharmacology and Drug Development at the USC School of Pharmacy. In the Fall of 2022, she joined Dr. Seidler's research lab and upon graduation, she attended Cedars Sinai for her PhD studies.
Halina Santos, Undergraduate student
Halina completed undergraduate research majoring in Pharmacology and Drug Development at the USC School of Pharmacy. Halina is now pursuing a PhD degreee.
Xinmin Chang,
MS in Pharmacology & Toxicology
Research Scientist
Xinmin completed a M.S. from USC in molecular pharmacology and toxicology. Xinmin is now a PhD candidate at Cornell.