Meet the PI!

Hi, I am Dr. Sankalp Shukla. I started my lab after completing my postdoctoral training at UC Berkeley, where I was a BrightFocus Foundation Fellow working on lysosomal membrane repair mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease. My scientific journey began with a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, where I investigated the mechanics of asymmetric membrane remodeling. My research bridges the fields of membrane biophysics, protein biochemistry, and neurodegenerative disease, combining quantitative in vitro reconstitution with cell-based approaches to understand how protein aggregates like tau seeds escape from intracellular compartments and trigger toxic cascades. I am deeply committed to mentoring researchers at all levels and fostering an inclusive lab culture that values diverse perspectives. Whether you’re curious about tauopathies, excited by the physics of lipid membranes, or eager to develop real-time fluorescence assays and biophysical tools, there’s a place for you here. We welcome motivated students and postdocs to join us in uncovering the membrane-centric mechanisms of disease and identifying new therapeutic targets for brain health.