Curriculum Vitae:

Postdoctoral biologist in Biological Sciences at Columbia University with comprehensive undergraduate biochemistry instruction and research mentorship experience. Doctoral research focused on high-throughput optical pooled CRISPR/Cas9 screening and spatial transcriptomics to investigate regulators of ferroptotic cell death in cancer. Strong interdisciplinary background spanning molecular biology, microscopy, and computational analysis. Committed to rigorous experimental design, inclusive curricula and course design, and translational research in the field of molecular biology.

EDUCATION

Columbia University, New York, NY

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, conferred February 2026

Dissertation: “Development of an Optical Pooled Screen to Investigate Regulators of Ferroptosis Sensitivity”

Advisor: Prof. Jellert Gaublomme

• Chinweike Okegbe Service Award, Columbia University Arts and Science Graduate Council

• Dean’s Fellow, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

• Member, Sigma Xi Honor Society for Scientists and Engineers

• Honorable Mention, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

B.A. in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Emphasis in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, 2015–2018

Departmental Honors Thesis: “Investigation of Itk’s PHTH–module membrane recruitment and PIP3–dependent Itk activation”

Advisor: Prof. John Kuriyan

• Edward Teller Scholarship, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

• Pedrozzi Foundation Scholarship

RESEARCH

Doctoral Researcher, Gaublomme & Stockwell Labs, Columbia University

2019 – Present

• Developed and optimized novel pooled screening method integrating spatial transcriptomics and high–content imaging.

• Implemented high–throughput CRISPR–Cas9 optical screen and imaging pipeline to identify ferroptosis regulators via spatial phenotype scoring.

• Investigated genetic regulators of ferroptosis sensitivity in mesenchymal cancer models.

• Coordinated interdisciplinary collaborations between labs for molecular, computational, and imaging skills and expertise.

Publications

1. (1st author manuscript in progress) Aubrianna Decker, Abhishek Iyer, Ben Wesley, Jiacheng Gu, Julia Unas, Ruoyu Gu, Alina Chouloutte, Zane Bekheet, Brent Stockwell, Jellert Gaublomme. “Optical Pooled CRISPR Screen Reveals MT1A to be a Regulator of Ferroptosis.”

2. Jiacheng Gu, Abhishek Iyer, Ben Wesley, Angelo Taglialatela, Giuseppe Leuzzi, Sho Hangai, Aubrianna Decker, et al. “Mapping Multimodal Phenotypes to Perturbations in Cells and Tissue with CRISPRmap.” Nature Biotechnology, October 7, 2024.

3. Tian Hua, Presha Rajbhandari, Jay Tarolli, Aubrianna Decker, Taruna V. Neelakantan, Tina Angerer, Fereshteh Zandkarimi, et al. “Multi–Modal Mass Spectrometry Imaging Reveals Single–Cell Metabolic States in Mammalian Liver.” bioRxiv, September 28, 2022.

4. Hirabayashi, Yusuke, Tommy L. Lewis, Yudan Du, Daniel M. Virga, Aubrianna Decker, Giovanna Coceano, Jonatan Alvelid, et al. “Most Axonal Mitochondria in Cortical Pyramidal Neurons Lack Mitochondrial DNA and Consume ATP.” bioRxiv, February 13, 2024.

5. Silvia Affo, Ajay Nair, Francesco Brundu, Aashreya Ravichandra, Sonakshi Bhattacharjee, Michitaka Matsuda, LiKang Chin, Aveline Filliol, Wen Wen, Xinhua Song, Aubrianna Decker, et al. “Promotion of Cholangiocarcinoma Growth by Diverse Cancer– Associated Fibroblast Subpopulations.” Cancer Cell, April 29, 2021.

6. Feng, Huizhong, Kenji Schorpp, Jenny Jin, Carrie E. Yozwiak, Benjamin G. Hoffstrom, Aubrianna Decker, Presha Rajbhandari, et al. “Transferrin Receptor Is a Specific Ferroptosis Marker.” Cell Reports 30, no. 10. March 2020.

Collaborative Research Projects

• Gaublomme & Polleux Labs (2019–2025): Visualized mitochondrial DNA distribution in cortical neurons via DNA labeling and confocal microscopy.

• Gaublomme & Stockwell Labs (2021–2022): Multiplexed immunofluorescence and spatial transcriptomics (smFISH) in mouse and human liver tissue for the HuBMAP Consortium.

• Gaublomme & Schwabe Labs (2020): Visualized fibroblast subtypes in cholangiocarcinoma using smFISH.

SKILLS

Laboratory & Technical Skills:

Confocal microscopy and immunofluorescence • High–throughput assay development • Spatial transcriptomics • RNA extraction • Library preparation • CRISPR screening • Tissue preparation and processing • Mammalian cell culture • Protein purification • Flow cytometry

Data Analysis & Visualization:

Image analysis (Python, ImageJ/FIJI, CellPose, CellProfiler) • Spatial transcriptomic data handling and integration • Intermediate Python (pandas, scanpy, scikit–image) • R (Seurat, ggplot2) • GraphPad Prism

Research & Communication Skills:

Experimental design and optimization • Protocol development and documentation • Scientific writing • Figure and data visualization

Mentorship & Collaborative Skills:

Inclusive mentorship of undergraduate and graduate trainees and research assistants • Laboratory instruction and onboarding, safety liaison • Peer training in tissue culture and imaging techniques • Community building and engagement in academic department • K–12 STEM outreach program founding and development

TEACHING & MENTORSHIP EXPERIENCE

Graduate Student Instructor, Columbia University

Biochemistry I (UN3501) – Structure/Metabolism, 2019–2020

• Wrote midterm exams, led recitation lectures and review sessions for two years.

• Created original instructional materials and practice problem sets.

• Held weekly office hours and coordinated 60+ one-on-one consultations for final project designs.

Mentor to Undergraduate Researchers, Gaublomme Lab

2020 – Present

• Supervised 6 early–career researchers in experimental design, data analysis, and presentation preparation.

• Supported individualized training in confocal microscopy, molecular techniques, and scientific writing.

• Emphasized inclusive, confidence–building mentorship practices.

Lab Management and Training, Gaublomme Lab

2018 – 2025

• Served as first graduate student and lab safety liaison; established protocols for new equipment and compliance.

• Trained incoming members in imaging, tissue culture, and biosafety practices.

STEM OUTREACH & LEADERSHIP

Founder & Co–Director, STEM Starters Outreach Program, Columbia University

2018 – 2024

• Co–founded and led outreach program delivering hands–on STEM activities to over 900 K–12 students through over 40 events.

• Recruited and managed over 80 graduate/postdoc volunteers, developed training materials, and coordinated logistics.

• Designed “STEMinars,” a virtual learning series during COVID–19 lockdown.

• Ensured sustainability through leadership succession planning, compliance, and institutional partnerships.

Outreach Chair & Board Member, Women in Science at Columbia (WISC)

2019 – 2024

• Organized science communication panels and mentoring events for early–career scientists.

• Led graduate research symposium programming and outreach partnerships.

STEM Outreach Volunteer, Columbia University

2018 – 2022

• Delivered live science demonstrations for public audiences through the Zuckerman Institute's Saturday Science program.

• Participated in Columbia Researchers Against COVID to create a public database of active COVID–19 research.

Health & Social Services Volunteer, Suitcase Clinic, UC Berkeley

2016 – 2018

• Provided outreach and resource access to unhoused and LGBTQ+ youth in Berkeley.