Research Staff
Zachary Filliben - Research Assistant
I graduated from Moravian University with a degree in Neuroscience and a minor in chemistry. I decided to study neuroscience because I was interested in why so many individuals develop certain psychiatric disorders, and I wanted to further understand the underpinnings of certain diseases such as Parkinsons Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. My work in the Blakely lab focuses on investigating serotonin neurotransmission in various mouse models and how it can be impacted by either mutations in the serotonin transporter, or even peripheral inflammation. In doing so, we hope to identify unique targets within the serotonin system that can be utilized for the development of therapeutics for various serotonin-related conditions like depression and autism spectrum disorder. When I am not in the lab, you can find me reading a novel on the beach, or watching whatever sports event is on TV!
Anna Stauffer - Lab Manager
Anna Stauffer, a Pennsylvania native, joined the Blakely Lab in the summer of 2022. As lab manager, her goal is to ensure a safe, efficient and productive laboratory environment and to contribute to cutting-edge science. She provides orientation, training and lab administrative support for all lab members and serves as the liaison with the veterinary staff in the Division of Comparative Medicine for mouse colony management, cryopreservation and shipments. In addition to her administrative duties, she provides technical support to colleagues who use mouse models to investigate the neurological and behavioral consequences of altered neurotransmitter transporter expression and function.