Dr. Buraei's Research Lab
Meet our team​
Dr. Zafir Buraei
Dr. Zafir Buraei
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Dr. Buraei is an Assistant Professor at Pace University focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular and neurological disease. He completed his B.Sc. and M.Sc. at Belgrade University, a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Tulane University, and postdoctoral studies at Columbia University.
Dr. Buraei is an Assistant Professor at Pace University focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular and neurological disease. He completed his B.Sc. and M.Sc. at Belgrade University, a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Tulane University, and postdoctoral studies at Columbia University.
Current Researchers
Salma Allam
Salma is currently a senior at Pace University majoring in biology with a minor in neuroscience. Her research project focuses on the involvement of two voltage-gated calcium channel mutations in epilepsy. Salma is a member of the Pforzheimer Honors College, National Society of Leadership and Success, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Sigma Honor Society, and Tri-Beta Honor Society. She is also a recipient of the Pforzheimer Honors College Research Grant.
Paris Hanson
Paris is a current senior at Pace and will graduate from the Pforzheimer Honor College with a Bachelor's of Science in Biology and minors in psychology and Neuroscience in May 2017. She is a third year Resident Assistant, interning at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and has been a part of Dr. Buraei’s research group since 2015. Her main project focuses on Presenilin 1 mutations implicated in Alzheimer's Disease. She is a two time recipient of the Provost’s Undergraduate Research Grant and recipient of Pace University’s Opportunity Grant.
Laura Yorke
Laura is a current junior at Pace University. She will graduate with a Bachelor's of Science in Biology and a minor in Neuroscience in May 2018. Laura has interned for the Entrepreneurship Lab, working as a research associate for a biotech company. She is studying the effects of mutations on voltage gated calcium and potassium channels in relation to conditions with other members of the lab and will soon be starting an independent project. Laura has been on the Dean's List for three consecutive semesters. She is a member of Kappa Delta sorority and volunteers with the American Heart Association during her free time.
Morgan Franke
Morgan is Morgan Franke is a junior/senior at Pace University and is in the joint degree pre-optometry program with SUNY Optometry. She hopes to specialize in pediatric optometry in the future. Morgan is also the Vice President of the Pre Professional Medical Society (PPMS).
Bryan Cernuda
Bryan is currently in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Master’s program at Pace University. For the last two years, I have been conducting research on the human ether-á-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channel and its interaction with the drug R-roscovitine. His research aims to identify the residue(s) involved in the release of R-roscovitine and use this knowledge to modify drugs that cause arrhythmia. Being part of Dr. Buraei’s lab team has given him experience in vector cloning, DNA and RNA purification, RNA synthesis, and electrophysiology. Within the next couple of months, he will defend his thesis and attempt to publish this research. Ultimately, he plans to continue this project at the doctorate level and use the techniques to pursue a career in electrophysiology.
Gabrielle Suppa
Gabrielle is currently working towards the completion of her M.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Pace University. She holds a B.S. in Biology, also from Pace University. As an undergraduate, she began her work cloning previously identified mutations of the low-voltage activated T-type calcium channel, mutations of which were linked to the etiology of human epilepsy and other neuropsychological disorders. As a graduate student, she took on an additional project to analyze mutations in the β3 subunit of high-voltage activated calcium channels. In addition to her research, she worked for three years as a Laboratory Technician in Pace University’s Department of Biology and Health Sciences, and served on the Executive Board of Pace University’s chapter of Tri-Beta, the National Biology Honor Society.
Emily Hirowski
Emily is a sophomore student at Pace University majoring in Biology. Her research project studies the effects of mutations on voltage-gated calcium ion channels found in neurological disorders, such as epilepsy. Emily Hirowski is a member of the Pforzheimer Honors College, Pre-preofessionaly Medical Society, and the Chemistry club.
Past Researchers
Zuleen Chia
Zuleen Chia is a recent graduate with a Biology major and Neuroscience minor from Dyson and Pfozheimers Honors College at Pace University. She has been part of Dr. Bureai’s research group since 2014. Her research focused on studying the function of a truncation mutant in the PQ-type voltage-gated calcium channels and its association with epilepsy. At the recent undergraduate and graduate Neuron conference in March to she presented her research and received the Cheryl Frye Pioneering Research Award.