Lab members

Hyun Kyoung Lee, MS, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

I received my B.S in Bioengineering major from the Dong-A University, Busan, Korea. I completed my master's and Ph.D at Dong-A Medical School in Physiology in the laboratory of Dr. Hwan Tae Park, where I studied peripheral nerve regeneration after injury in adults. For my post-doc studies, I shifted my focus to developmental gliogenesis in the central nervous system and worked in Dr. Benjamin Deneen’s laboratory at the Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Cell and Gene Therapy. During my post-doc, I identified novel glial regulators that contribute to developmental gliogenesis and related disease mechanisms. In March 2016, I started my laboratory at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital and the Department of Pediatrics at the Baylor College of Medicine. I am interested in developmental and regenerative glial biology, and our lab actively explores new areas of research surrounding these topics. I hope to instill persistence, respect, collaboration, and confidence in all my trainees.

Juyeon Jo, Ph.D.

Instructor

I did my Undergraduate and Master's degree at the Chonnam National University in South Korea, where I studied the nociceptive neural circuit in Drosophila, working with Dr. Changsoo Kim. I moved to Houston and joined the Genes and Development program at MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, where I investigated TNF alpha induced nociceptive sensitization in Drosophila, working with Dr. Michael Galko. Here in Dr. Lee's lab, I study molecular and genetic mechanisms that regulate morphology and functions of astrocytes during development and in disease models. When I am not in the lab, I like cooking, reading, crocheting, and petting my cat if my 6 years old son gives me time to do so.

Qi Ye, Ph.D.

K99 Awardee/Postdoctoral Fellow

I received my Ph.D in Pharmaceutical Science from Northeastern University, Boston, MA under the guidance of Dr Jonghan Kim in 2018, and my major research focus in Kim lab was to investigate the effects of early-life brain iron loading, due to either genetic or environmental factors, on behavior phenotype as well as epigenetic regulation of neurochemical signaling in the brain. After graduation I started to working as post-doc fellow in the Lee lab. My primary research interests in Dr. Lee’s lab are to study the role of glia-specific regulators in stroke and glioma. The Lee lab is a great place for me to grow as an independent, thoughtful and motivated scientist for my future scientific endeavors. When I am not doing science, I love cats, dog and all fur babies.

Jiangshan (John) Zhan, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

I received my bachelor’s degree in medicine from Peking University, China in 2017. During my undergraduate training, I joined a laboratory studying the function of astrocytes under the supervision of Prof. Albert Cheung Hoi Yu. Thereafter I became fascinated by the mysterious roles of glial cells in the brain. Following my interest, I joined Prof. Markus Kipp’s lab and finished my Ph.D. training at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), Germany in 2021. My PhD thesis focused on mechanisms underlying oligodendroglia death and functional consequences by using different animal models as well as post-mortem samples from Multiple Sclerosis patients. After graduation, I joined Peking University as a postdoctoral researcher investigating the essential genes for oligodendroglia survival by using CRISPR-based functional genomics screening. Intrigued by the common research interest in glial cells and the prestige reputation of Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, I started my work in the Lee Lab as a postdoctoral research associate in 2023. My primary project is to investigate molecular regulation of oligodendroglia development and remyelination. Outside the lab, I love swimming, jogging, hiking, movies, and German beer. Prost!

Tiffany Choy

Graduate Student

I received my B.S. in Bioengineering (Biotechnology) at UCSD in sunny San Diego, California. I enjoyed the hands-on work in my lab classes, so I dove straight into the biotech industry after graduating. In my first company position, I aided in improving the delivery efficiency of siRNA-GalNAc conjugates to the liver. After that, I moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area (my hometown!) to work at a precision oncology company focused on developing small molecule inhibitors to treat RAS-mediated cancers. I helped the biology team better understand the downstream signaling mechanisms and in vitro drug profiles across various cancer cell lines harboring RAS mutations. My fascination with the complexity of the human brain and my passion for cancer research led me to join the Cancer & Cell Biology program at BCM and subsequently the Lee lab in March 2022. I hope to learn a lot from all the amazing people here! In my free time, I enjoy photography, binge-watching true crime documentaries, or playing mind-numbing mobile games.

Christine Madamba

Graduate Student

I earned my B.S. in Microbiology from Texas A&M University where I studied the impact of fungal endophytes on the volatile chemical profiles of cotton plants. My interest in cancer therapies grew during an internship at a cancer diagnostics company, prompting me to pursue an M.S. in Technical Entrepreneurship and Management at the University of Rochester focused on bio-manufacturing and therapeutic development. There, I optimized GMP processes and manufactured clinical-grade immunotherapies for cancer patients. Later, I contributed to research & development efforts at a company in Austin, TX where I designed, produced, and purified novel immunotoxins for targeted cancer therapy. Now, I am pursuing a graduate degree in Cancer and Cell Biology at BCM. I joined the Lee lab in 2023 and am excited to dive into the mechanisms driving malignant glioma. In my free time, I enjoy crocheting, traveling, and trying new foods.

Roshan Ailani

Graduate Student

I received my B.S. in Biology from Florida State University. During my time there, I was a research assistant in the Kumar lab studying the effects of NMDA receptor subunits on epilepsy. After this, I then joined the Eckel lab, also at FSU, where we studied the effects of neuroinflammation in disordered eating models. Now, I am pursuing a graduate degree in Neuroscience at BCM. I joined the Lee lab in 2023 and am excited to study the mechanisms of myelination in injury and development. In my free time, I enjoy playing and watching soccer and hockey. I also like spicy food.

Carly Adamson

Graduate Student

I earned my B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior from UC Davis, where I studied neural crest cells in developing chicken, quail, and peafowl in the Rogers lab. These embryonic stem cells, which produce elements of the peripheral nervous system among other diverse derivatives, opened my eyes to the fascinating intersection of my neurobiology studies and developmental biology. My love of science communication led me to publish a 2nd author manuscript and two 1st author literature reviews, as well as present at two conferences with the Rogers Lab. Seeking some adventure outside of my California hometown, I then made the leap to pursue a PhD in Development, Disease Models, and Therapeutics at BCM. I'm not sure why I keep picking degrees with painfully long names, but I am so excited to have joined the awesome folks of the Lee lab in March 2023 to study myelination of the central and peripheral nervous systems in development and disease. In my free time, I love to sing, cook, and crush loved ones and/or unsuspecting strangers online in Mario Kart.

Juan Cerda III

Graduate Student

As an undergraduate at Houston Christian University, I worked on a variety of research projects that included organisms such as planaria and zebrafish, eventually receiving my B.S. in Biology. While at HCU, I worked as a summer research intern at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the Post lab, studying an oncogenic RNA-binding protein that drives certain hematologic malignancies when dysregulated. After graduation, I joined the Wythe lab at Baylor College of Medicine as a research technician. There, I got to work on projects investigating the role of NOTCH3 signaling in CADASIL and, separately, determining the functional consequences of gain of function RAS-MEK proteins within the brain vasculature. I decided to pursue a graduate degree at BCM in the Cancer & Cell Biology program. Having joined the Lee lab, I am excited to learn about glial biology and answer fundamental questions in vascular dementia. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing instruments, sports, and taking care of my pet dogs and chickens. As a native of the city, I am all about H-Town. Go ‘Stros!

Kate Wheeler

Graduate Student

I earned my B.S. in Biology from the University of Oklahoma in 2023. During my undergraduate years, I worked as a laboratory technician in Dr. Courtney Griffin’s lab at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, where I studied vascular regression in the mouse kidney using the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) injury model. I also worked as an Honors undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Laura-Isobel McCall’s lab at the University of Oklahoma, investigating parasite load in the heart during chronic T. cruzi infection. After graduation, I moved to Houston to begin my graduate studies at Baylor College of Medicine in the Development, Disease Models, and Therapeutics PhD program. I joined the Lee lab in April 2024 and am now investigating the impact of astrocyte stimulation on glioma. In my free time, I enjoy running, watching sports, and spending time with friends.

Yung-Wen Chen

Graduate Student

I earned my B.S. in Chemistry from National Taiwan University where I optimized the synthetic efficiency of anti-influenza agents. My interest in neuroscience prompted me to work on developing next-generation optogenetic tools for controlling neurotransmission with high spatial and temporal precision at Academia Sinica, Taiwan, after graduation. I am now pursuing a graduate degree in Development, Disease Models and Therapeutics Program at BCM. I joined the Lee lab in 2025 and am excited to explore astrocytic calcium activities in developmental disease models. In my free time, I enjoy movies and nature.

Miko Liu

Graduate Student

I earned my B.S. in Biology at the University of Washington. After completing my undergraduate studies, I moved to the East Coast, where I completed my master’s studies in Biotechnology at the University of Pennsylvania. During my time at Penn, I worked as a graduate student researcher under the supervision of Dr. Constantinos Koumenis, studying the role of the Integrated Stress Response in regulating cell fate under melanoma. Now, I am pursuing a graduate degree in Cancer and Cell Biology at Baylor College of Medicine. I joined the Lee lab in 2025, and I am excited to learn the mechanistic interplay between development and cancer neuroscience. In my free time, I enjoy dancing, singing, eating, and playing with my cat. As I am originally from Chongqing, China, I love spicy foods and all hotpot.

Shiyu Wang

Technician

I received my B. Eng. in Pharmaceutical Engineering at Jiangsu Normal University in China. During my time at school, I conducted research on the lanthanide and actinide series and published two papers. After obtaining my bachelor's degree, I became a high school chemistry teacher and taught chemistry for five years. Later, I came to the United States and joined Dr. Lee's laboratory to learn about mouse experiments and PCR techniques. When I'm not busy with lab work, I enjoy reading, particularly detective novels and mystery stories.

Ryan Atienza

Technician

I earned my B.S. in Biology from the University of Houston in 2022 with the goal of pursuing a career in medicine. After graduation, I gained hands-on clinical experience as an emergency room technician and as a scribe for emergency medicine physicians. To further expand my perspective and contribute to research, I worked as a Lab and Clinical Research Assistant at UTHealth Houston. I aided in projects that gauged the efficacy of early blood transfusion during helicopter transport, attempted to identify a protein marker for traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients, and measured effectiveness of various medications. In December 2024, I joined the Lee lab to deepen my understanding of academic research as well as develop my skills in a wet lab setting. When I am free, I enjoy going to the movies, playing board games, and driving around town with my friends.

Seojin Kwon

Student Helper

I am an undergraduate student at Rice majoring in Neuroscience. I joined the Lee Lab because of my interest in understanding the molecular mechanisms of the brain at the microscopic level. I am excited to learn more about the influence of DAAM2 in glial biology and developing my technical lab skills. In my free time, I enjoy going on spontaneous boba runs with friends, playing tetris until my eyes dry out, and binge-watching movie analyses that read too far between the lines, when I’m not busy catching up on sleep.

LAB ALUMNi

Aaron Lindeke-Myers, M.D. - Former Technician
Resident, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC

Xiaoyun Ding, Ph.D. - Former Graduate Student
Postdoctoral Fellow, Matthew Rasband Lab, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX

Diego Cortes - Former Technician
Emergency Medical Technician, Houston TX

Joshua Smith, M.D./Ph.D. - Former Postdoctoral Fellow
Clinical Faculty, Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children, Huntsville AL

Ajay Thomas, M.D./Ph.D. - Former Postdoctoral Fellow
Clinical Neurophysiology Fellow, Texas Children’s Hospital / Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX

Carlo Cristobal, Ph.D. - Former Graduate Student
Consultant, Boston Consulting Group, Washington DC

Chih-Yen Wang, Ph.D. - Former Postdoctoral Fellow
Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan

Heavin Oh - Former Technician

Kyoungin Kim, Ph.D. - Former Postdoctoral Fellow

Leslie Sapon - Former Technician