Hoelz Lab: Current Lab Members
Hoelz Lab: Current Lab Members
Vali Engles
Research Technician (September 2022 - present)
B.Sc. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California, Davis (2022)
vengles at caltech.edu
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