Principal Investigator

Jung-Bum Shin, PhD. Associate Professor

I received my PhD in the lab of Gary Lewin at the Max Delbrueck Center in Berlin, Germany. I then moved to the lab of Peter Barr-Gillespie at the Oregon Health Science University in Portland for my postdoctoral studies. In 2010, I joined the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Virginia.
I enjoy all kinds of sports (active and passive), my favorite being soccer. I am trying to keep up with the undergraduate and graduate students in pickup games, but it is getting increasingly difficult. I also used to read a lot, but recently have become lazy and have resorted to binge-watching Netflix and Amazon Prime shows. 

Graduate Students

Katherine (Kat) Nimchuk, NGP graduate student

I am a student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program. I received my BS in neuroscience from Furman University in 2019. My project focuses on afferent synaptic development and refinement in the cochlea. Outside of lab I like reading, knitting, running, and taking care of my crazy cat Hugo!

Henry (Hank) De Hoyos, MSTP student

​​I grew up in San Antonio, Tx and came to UVa for undergrad. I graduated with a degree in Biology and Art History in 2021. During my time as undergraduate researcher, I had the privilege of being in the labs of Todd Stukenberg, Ph.D. (UVa BMG) and Kenneth Hargreaves DDS/Ph.D. (UTHSA Dept of Endodontics). I matriculated into the UVA Medical Scientist Training Program in the fall of 2021 and came over from med school to the Shin Lab in February 2023. Outside of lab I enjoy playing guitar and being active around Charlottesville.

Alyssa Luz-Ricca, NGP graduate student

​I’m a student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program. I graduated from William & Mary in 2020 with a B.S. in Neuroscience. My project investigates how damage to the actin core of hair cell stereocilia is sensed and repaired. Outside of lab, I love to cook, bake, and spend time in the great outdoors!

Andrew Paquette, NGP graduate student

​I am a graduate student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program. I received my B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Northeastern University in 2017. I currently focus on investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying cochlear stereocilia actin core bundling, damage, and repair and the role of Myosin 7a in tip-link tensioning.

Takesha Foster, NGP graduate student

I'm a first-year Ph.D. student in the Shin Lab at the University of Virginia. My research focuses on Myosin7a recovery in inner hair cells, with the goal of better understanding auditory function and potential paths to hearing restoration.
I earned my B.S. in 2019 from the University of Mary Washington and went on to complete a three-year post-baccalaureate position at Randolph-Macon College. There, I worked in an immunology lab studying the impact of malnutrition on T cell circadian rhythms.
Outside the lab, I enjoy reading mystery and psychological thrillers, tending to my ever-growing plant collection, and searching for the best coffee and shopping deals. I share my space with a very opinionated Maine Coon named Sebastian.

Postdocs

Sihan Li, PhD, postdoc

Professional gamer (???)

Undergraduate Researchers

Emma Kim

I grew up in Columbus, OH and am now studying cognitive science (neuro concentration) and bioethics on the pre-med track. Outside the lab, I am an avid reader, involved in my Christian fellowship, and work as a caregiver for the elderly around Charlottesville

Ayathi Gogineni

I am an undergraduate student majoring in BA Chemistry. My postdoc is Sihan, and I hope to learn from him how to properly dissect the inner ear and cochlea and take great cochlea hair cells images using the scanning electron microscope. In my free time, I enjoy Bollywood and Classical Indian dancing, making Youtube videos through WUVA News, and volunteering in the pediatrics unit at the UVA Hospital!

Shinya Li

I'm a student in the UVA biochemistry majors program. My hobbies include swimming, tennis, making ceramics, and being a huge foodie (​​“I love eating good food”)

Nikhil Amin

I’m an undergraduate student on the pre-med track. Aside from research in the lab, I enjoy playing basketball, going to the gym, and playing FIFA with my friends.

Navya Mandava

I am an undergraduate student majoring in neuroscience on the pre-med track. In my free time, I love reading, running, listening to Lana del Rey, and staying up to date on current events. ​

Aisha Hasan

I am an undergraduate student majoring in chemistry with a minor in bioethics on the pre-med track. My hobbies include going to the gym, reading,  and watching 20th century Arab Cinema!

Lab pictures 

The lab (plus some visitors!), summer 2025

Takesha's impromptu white coat ceremony -- welcome to the lab, Takesha! (April 2025)

ARO 2025!

Mentorship in action! Who is mentoring whom?

Besties at work <3

White coat ceremony for Alyssa, Andrew and Hank (April 2023)

Sihan's graduation! (Dec 2022)

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Sihan and Tobey at the scope

Kat's white coat ceremony (April 2022)

Lab safety day

Alyssa posing in front of MR4

Lab lunch

ARO 2023!!!

Alyssa and Tobey (and Sihan) at the SEM

Kat preparing for Qual!

Hiking at Crabtree Falls

Beth's graduation Dec 2021

Past Lab pictures

2013 From left: Shimon Francis, Jim Pagana, Sonali Nanda, Brian Nicholas, Jung-Bum Shin

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2016 Back, from left: Doug Ruhl (neurotology fellow), Elizabeth Wagner (grad student), Jung-Bum Shin (PI) Front, from left: Somang Paeng (volunteer), Tingting Du (postdoc), Sibo Zhang (research assistant), Nelson Barrientos (undergrad)

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2019 From left to right: Beth Wagner, Sihan Li, Mark Rudolf (Corwin lab), Robin Singleton (Corwin lab), Saman Hussain, Mikolaj Kozlowski (Corwin lab), Jeong-Hwan Choi (visiting professor), Ting-Ting Du

Past members:

Graduate students:
- Sihan Li
- Beth Wagner

Postdocs:
- Junsub Im 
- Tingting Du (now Ass. Prof. at Jiao Tong University, Shanghai)
- Saman Hussain (now at NIH)
- Shimon Francis (now at Akouos)

ENT Neurotology fellows and residents:
- Betsy Szeto (ENT resident)
​- Garrett Casale (ENT resident)
- Ted Imbery (neurology fellow)
- Doug Ruhl (neurotology fellow)
- Bobby Reed (ENT resident)
- Jeong-Hwan Choi (visiting ENT scholar)
- Brian Nicholas (neurology fellow)
- Will Dougherty (ENT resident)
- Hyunseo (David) Jung (ENT resident)
- Dan Morrison (Neurotology fellow)
- Rachel Jonas (ENT resident)

Undergraduate researchers and technicians:
David Lee, Tobey Phan, Izzy Seka, Annika Suh, Prachi Joshi, Sonali Nanda,  Jim Pagana, Josh Katz, Michael Lacy, Sibo Zhang, Maura Nakahata, Jin-Sik (Terry) Song, Dasam Jeong, Jeewoo Kim, Nelson Barrientos, Kurren Gill, Will Butler, Yeonji Kim, Danny Chen (did I forget anyone? let me know if I did!)