Hou Research

Thomas Christian, MS
Senior Research Associate

I am interested in understanding the molecular and structural mechanisms of tRNA methyltransferases. I would like to determine how specific methyltransferases recognize their tRNA targets and to explore strategies that these enzymes catalyze methyl transfer.

Isao Masuda, PhD
Research Instructor

I am interested in the mechanism of translational frameshifting, a non-standard phenomenon in decoding genetic codes into proteins. I am going to examine how the tRNAs and ribosomes are involved in frameshifting using both molecular biological and biochemical approaches.

Sunita Maharjan, PhD
Research Associate

I am interested in mitochondrial biology associated with tRNA mutations and neurodegenerative disease.

Yuka Yamaki, PhD
Post-doctoral Fellow

I am interested in the function of the post-transcriptional modifications in RNAs. I would like to clarify the interaction between molecules that changes depending on the presence or absence of modifications.

Henri McGuigan
PhD Candidate
Jefferson College of Life Sciences

I am interested in developing cell-permeable, potent, and selective inhibitors that target bacterial tRNA methyl transferases. I am interested in using these inhibitors to regulate tRNA-dependent gene expression.

Thomas Grant
Research Technician
MS Student, Cell & Developmental Biology at Jefferson College of Life Sciences

I am interested in the fundamental biology of tRNA and their post-transcriptional modifications.

Xinglin Jia, PhD
Post-doctoral Fellow

Interested in data analysis genome-wide tRNAseq, RNAseq, and ribosome profiling.

YenChun Huang
PhD Student

Interested in the cellular state of bacteria in dormancy

Hanako Murayama, PhD
Post-doctoral Fellow

Interested in localized tRNA modifications.

Yehong Qiu, PhD
Post-doctoral Fellow

Interested in Type II tRNA activity on the ribosome.

Matthew Gage
MD Student
Sidney Kimmel Medical College

Interested in neurodegeneration associated with autism spectrum disorder and with C9-ALS/FTD.