Vali Engles

Research Technician (September 2022 - present)

B.Sc. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California, Davis (2022)

vengles at caltech.edu

Current Members       Former Members       Former Group Photos

Prof. Dr. André Hoelz           

Mary and Charles Ferkel Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Ph.D. Structural Biology and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University (2004)

M.Sc. (Diplom) Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Freiburg, Germany (1997)

B.Sc. (Vordiplom) Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Germany (1993)

hoelz at caltech.edu     CV

Dr. Christopher J. Bley

Lab Manager and Staff Scientist (March 2012 - present)

Safety Officer

Ph.D. Biochemistry, Arizona State University (2011)

M.Sc. Biochemistry, Arizona State University (2008)

B.Sc. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California, Davis (2004)

cjbley at caltech.edu

Dr. George Mobbs

Senior Postdoctoral Scholar (December 2014 - present)

Ph.D. Structural Biology - The University of Sheffield (2014)

M. BiolSci. Biochemistry - The University of Sheffield (2010)

B. Sc. Medical Biochemistry - The University of Sheffield (2009)

gmobbs at caltech.edu



Staff



Graduate Students



Postdoctoral Scholars



Undergraduate Researchers

California Institute of Technology

Division of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering

1200 E. California Blvd.

Pasadena, CA 91125-7200

© Copyright Hoelz Laboratory

Back Row: Thibaud, Stefan, André, Taylor, Jonas, Giovani, Andrew

Middle Row: Chris, Ferdinand, George, Sho, Dipanjan

Front Row: Anna, Claudia, Sarah, Bonnie, Si, Xiaoyu, Margot

Dr. Songhao Zhao

Postdoctoral Scholar (September 2021 - present)

Ph.D. Cell Biology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, China (2020)

M.Eng. Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, China (2013)

songhao at caltech.edu

Dr. Stefan Petrovic

Graduate Student (April 2015 - present)

Ph.D Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Caltech (2022)

B.Sc. Cell Biology / Biochemistry, Bucknell University (2014)

spetrovi at caltech.edu

Anna Mortari, Undergraduate Researcher (June 2021 - present)

John Stauffer SURF Fellow (2023)

Sung-Hsien Chen Shih SURF Fellow (2022)

Robb and Eunice Rutledge SURF Fellow (2021)

California Institute of Technology, Chemistry Major, Fourth Year

Supervised by George Mobbs and Chris Bley

mortari at caltech.edu

Wentao (Tao) Zhang, Undergraduate Researcher (June 2021 - present)

John Stauffer SURF Fellow (2023)

Donald Voet and Jerome Vinograd SURF Fellow (2022)

Thomas C. Hays SURF Fellow (2021)

California Institute of Technology, Biology Major, Fourth Year

Supervised by George Mobbs and Chia-yu Chien

wzzhang at caltech.edu

Dr. Sema Ejder

Postdoctoral Scholar (July 2021 - present)

Ph.D. Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Newcastle University, UK (2021)

M.Sc. Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, Strasbourg University, France (2017)

B.Sc. Biomedical Sciences, Napier University, UK (2013)

sejder at caltech.edu

Dr. Narek Yousefian

Postdoctoral Scholar (September 2021 - present)

Double joint Ph.D. Biochemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany and University of Bordeaux, France (2020)

M.Sc. Biochemisty, University of Bordeaux, France (2016)

B.Sc. Microbiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Pau, France (2014)

narek at caltech.edu

Michael Gruhne

Graduate Student (October 2021 - present)

M.Sc. Chemistry, LMU Munich, Germany (2020)

B.Sc. Chemistry and Biochemistry, LMU Munich, Germany (2018)

mgruhne at caltech.edu

Chia Yu Chien

Graduate Student (March 2020 - present)

M.Sc. Plant Biology, National Taiwan University, Taiwan (2014)

B.Sc. Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taiwan (2012)

ccchien at caltech.edu

Dr. Joel Ehrenkranz

Visiting Associate (September 2021 - present)

MD Stanford University School of Medicine (1977)

A.B. Amherst College (1973)

jrle at caltech.edu

Margot Hoyt

Administrative Assistant

hoyt at caltech.edu



High School Researchers

Sofie Wong

High School Student Researcher (July 2023 - present)

High School Senior

Supervised by Chia-yu Chien

Sabrina Doerrich

Graduate Student (February 2023 - present) *Co-supervised with Alina Patke

Visiting Masters Student (December 2021 - July 2022)

M.Sc. Chemistry, LMU Munich, Germany (2022)

B.Sc. Chemistry and Biochemistry, LMU Munich, Germany (2020)

Frida Moreno

Undergraduate Researcher (April 2023 - present)

John Stauffer SURF Fellow (2023)

California Institute of Technology, Chemistry Major, First Year

Supervised by Chia-yu Chien

fmoreno at caltech.edu

Maeve Vogl

High School Student Researcher (November 2022 - present)

High School Senior

Supervised by Chia-yu Chien and Sabrina Doerrich

Adarsh Ganeshram

High School Student Researcher (July 2023 - present)

High School Senior

Supervised by Narek Yousefian

Prof. Dr. Alwin Köhler

Professor of Molecular Biology, Scientific Director Max Perutz Labs, Vienna

Moore Distinguished Scholar at Caltech (September 2023 - present)

MD University of Würzburg, Germany (2003)

Ph.D. Harvard Medical School (2000)

Mission Statement

The Hoelz group applies interdisciplinary structural cell biology to understand the molecular basis of nucleocytoplasmic transport. We are an internationally diverse community that leverages a broad range of expertise, teamwork, and curiosity to aim for the highest levels of scientific rigor and intellectual excellence. We foster a collegial and inclusive environment that celebrates individual and group successes where knowledge and ideas are freely shared through mentorship and collaboration. Our everyday efforts are dedicated to Caltech’s mission to “expand human knowledge and benefit society through research integrated with education.”

Asha Rollins

John Stauffer SURF Fellow (2022)

Edward W. Hughes SURF Fellow (2021)

Undergraduate Researcher (June 2021 - present)

California Institute of Technology, Chemical Engineering Major, Fourth Year

Supervised by Chiayu Chien

arollins at caltech.edu