Webb Lab

Dr. Webb received her PhD from the University of Washington and did her postdoctoral work with Dr. Anne Brunet at Stanford University. She started her laboratory at Brown University, where she was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure and became the Associate Director of the Center on the Biology of Aging. Dr. Webb joined the Buck Faculty as an Associate Professor in 2023.

Dr. Webb has received awards for her work in the aging field, including a Glenn Award for Research on Mechanisms of Aging, and a junior faculty award from the American Federation for Aging Research. Her lab is funded by the NIH National Institute on Aging and the National Science Foundation. Dr. Webb is a member of the AFAR National Advisory Council and the Board of Directors for the American Aging Association. She serves as reviewer for the Glenn Foundation and is a member of the NIH’s Cellular Mechanisms of Aging and Development study section.

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  Kelsey Babcock  Brown University, Neuroscience graduate student

  Kelsey Babcock is a neuroscience PhD candidate who joined the Webb Lab at Brown University. She received her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Wheaton College MA in 2016 and worked in Dr. Ian Wickersham’s Genetic Neuroengineering Group at MIT before pursuing graduate school. Kelsey’s research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the loss of neurogenesis in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. She utilizes in vivo approaches alongside molecular biology and genomics techniques to elucidate defects in hippocampal neural stem cells in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. The overarching goal of Kelsey’s research is to identify targets to improve neurogenesis and alleviate cognitive symptoms in the Alzheimer’s mouse model. Outside of the lab, Kelsey enjoys hiking, camping, and trying new recipes.

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  Harry Bevir  Lab Manager

  Harry Bevir completed his B.S. at UC Davis. He studied the role of neurotransmitter receptor subunits in synaptic specificity at UCLA before completing his M.S. at Cal State LA. His thesis examines dynamic patterns of subcellular localization of circadian proteins in cyanobacteria. Harry is currently interested in exploring the mechanisms of circadian disruption in neurodegenerative disease and aging models. Outside of the lab Harry enjoys hiking and backpacking in local parks and the Sierra Nevada and playing tabletop board and roleplaying games.

  HBevir@buckinstitute.org

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  Adele Finch  Brown University, Neuroscience graduate student

  Adele Finch is a neuroscience PhD candidate at Brown University, and is currently a visiting student at The Buck Institute in the Webb Lab. She completed her B.A. in biology at Bard College in May of 2020. She is primarily interested in the molecular mechanisms that underlie the decline in hippocampal neurogenesis that occurs with age. Specifically, she is studying how mitochondrial turnover influences neural stem cells with the goal of identifying new targets for enhancing neurogenesis in the aged brain. When Adele isn’t at the bench, she enjoys learning how to play new musical instruments, knitting oversized sweaters, and hanging out with her cat, Vanya.

  AFinch@buckinstitut.org

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  Kaitlyn Hajdarovic, PhD  Postdoctoral Associate

  Dr. Kaitlyn Hajdarovic is a postdoctoral researcher in the Webb Laboratory. She is interested in the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying decline in the hypothalamus. Her long term goal is to understand how hypothalamic energy- balance circuits can be manipulated to enhance lifespan and healthspan. Currently, she is working to model aged hypothalamic neurons in vitro. When not in lab, she enjoys embroidery and hanging out with her two cats.

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  Angelina Holcom  PhD Candidate, USC-Buck Biology of Aging Program

  Dr. Angelina Holcom is a postdoctoral researcher in the Webb lab. She received her doctoral degree from USC while working in the lab of Dr. Gordon Lithgow, where she studied Alzheimer's disease using C. elegans. She is currently interested in understanding the role of mitophagy in neural stem cells and conducting a high-throughput screen to identify modulators of mitophagy in NSCs. Outside the lab, Angelina enjoys baking and going to the beach.

  AHolcom@buckinstitute.org

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  Doudou Yu  Brown University, MCB graduate student

  Doudou Yu is a MCB PhD candidate at Brown University, and is currently a visiting student at The Buck Institute in the Webb Lab. She is interested in understanding how the hypothalamus changes in brain aging and Alzheimer's disease. She uses single-cell ‘omics and computational approaches to characterize these biological trajectories. Outside of the lab, Doudou enjoys running and exploring various kinds of restaurants and foods.

  DYu@buckinstitute.org