Postdocs & Project Scientists
Ting Fu
Ting was born in Wuhan, China, and came to the United States in 2014 for her M.S. studies. She earned her M.S. in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Southern California in 2015 and completed her Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology at UCLA in 2022. During her Ph.D., she developed a new massively parallel reporter assay, MapUTR, to uncover functional variants in the 3′ UTRs of cancer driver genes. She is now a postdoctoral fellow co-mentored by Grace Xiao and Bennett Novitch at UCLA, where she studies the functions of RNA editing in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases using brain organoids. Outside of the lab, Ting enjoys playing with her cats, working out at the gym, and shopping.
Sankmok Kim, Ph.D.
I'm a neuroscientist with over two decades of research experience spanning molecular biology, neurodevelopment, and synaptic plasticity. My academic journey began with undergraduate and master’s training in biochemistry in Korea, where I developed a strong foundation in molecular and cellular biology. After working as a research associate and visiting scientist in Korea and the U.S., I pursued a Ph.D. in neuroscience at UCLA in the lab of Dr. Kelsey Martin, followed by postdoctoral research under Drs. Martin and Bennett Novitch. In Dr. Novitch’s lab, I focus on the molecular mechanisms governing neural development and disease. My long-standing commitment to neuroscience, combined with extensive training in both experimental and collaborative research environments, has shaped me into a well-rounded and innovative scientist with a deep passion for uncovering the complexities of the nervous system.
