@ Brown University
ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Alexandra obtained her undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science an Art, and then her doctoral degree in Molecular Biophysics from The Rockefeller University. She conducted postdoctoral studies in the group of HHMI investigator, Dr. Niko Grigorieff, first at Brandeis University and later at the HHMI Janelia Farm Research Campus as a Damon Runyon Fellow. She is the recipient of a At the Interfaces Award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a Medical Research Award from The Rhode Island Foundation, a Salomon Faculty Research Award from Brown University, and awards from the German Society of Biochemistry, The International Brain Organization and Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. She is excited about structural biology, responses to stress and DNA damage, microtubules and things biochemical.
E-mail: alexandra_deaconescu[at]brown.edu
Phone: (401) 863-3215
Alexandra Deaconescu,
B.E., Ph.D.
MEMBERS
Christiane Brugger, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
E-mail:
christiane_brugger[at]brown.edu
Phone: (401) 863-6729
Christiane is a native of Austria, where she obtained both a bachelor's and master's degree in Biotechnology from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Vienna). She then completed her doctoral degree in structural biology at the University of Geneva (Switzerland), where she worked on chromatin remodelers in the group of Thomas Schalch. Her scientific interests in the lab center on the regulation of transcription-repair coupling factors. Christiane is co-author on our papers published in Genes & Development (2019) and Protein Science (2021), and a first author on our papers in Nature Communications (2020) and Bio-protocol (2021).
Hannah Brown, B.S.
Research Assistant
E-mail:
Phone: (401)863-6729
I’m originally from central Massachusetts and I currently attend the University of Rhode Island where I am studying for my B.S. in Marine Biology and my B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology with a focus in Biochemistry. I have an interest in the unique molecular mechanisms present in marine organisms. In my free time I enjoy birding and drawing and I’m very excited to make contributions to the lab!
Alannah Clarke
Undergraduate Researcher
E-mail:
allanah_clarke[at]brown.edu
Phone: (401) 863-6729
Originally from New Jersey, Alannah is a Senior Undergraduate Student at Brown studying Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Additionally, she is pursuing a Master’s in Public Health in the Health Services concentration as part of the 5 year UG/MPH program at Brown. Alannah has conducted research on a project examining a novel clinical target for cancer treatment as well as a project focused on biofouling prevention in the Narragansett Bay. Outside of research, Alannah is a teaching assistant in Organic Chemistry, Co-president of Providence Youth Advocacy, leader of the BiochemDUG and Communications Director of Umeed at Brown. In her free time, she enjoys writing poetry and playing with her two poodles. Alannah is overjoyed to be a part of the exciting research occurring in the Deaconescu lab!
Jacob Schwartz
Research Assistant
E-mail:
jacob_schwartz[at]brown.edu
Phone: (401) 863-6729
Originally from Boston, Jacob earned his B.A. in Biochemistry at Carleton College in Minnesota. There, he developed a deep interest in Structural Biology, particularly that of protein-nucleic acid interactions. More broadly, he loves biological macromolecules and is excited for the opportunity to play with them every day at work! Jacob is first author on our paper in Protein Science (2021).
Adela Herce
Undergraduate Researcher
E-mail: adela_herce[at]brown.edu
Phone: (401) 863-6729
Coming soon.
Richard Waugh
Administrative Assistant
E-mail:
richard_waugh[at]brown.edu
Phone: (401) 863-7446
Originally from Fort Pierce Florida, Richard moved to Providence Rhode Island in August of 2018. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts from Florida International University. While in Florida, he also enjoyed a career as an occasional television actor – having appeared on network shows such as The Glades, Burn Noticeand Magic City. In the past three years, Richard has had the distinct privilege of working as an administrator for both the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and the University of Missouri Kansas City. This wide range of experiences has provided Richard with a unique perspective of administration that he hopes to impart upon Brown University. Richard is key to the lab and we could not do without him!