Research Lab Members

Debra graduated from the University of Alaska with a BS in Biological Sciences. She has worked on a variety of studies exploring potential ALS therapeutics & understanding the molecular and genetic causes of ALS. Debra is currently assisting with projects focused on the effects of head trauma on dementia-related neurodegeneration, and the effects ALS mutations on PFN1 function.

Jack Constantine, an undergraduate research assistant from Scituate, Massachusetts, is joining Bosco Lab. Jack had experience as a certified nursing assistant and in pharmacology as a pharmacy technician. His research interest focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, particularly ALS to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying motor neuron degeneration. 

Jack shares, “My interest in neuroscience and medicine is deeply personal, my father was diagnosed with ALS, which has inspired my passion to contribute to research that could help advance understanding and treatment of this disease.” 

When Jack has free time, he enjoys coaching youth hockey and running marathons. 

Megan received her Bachelor of Science from Northeastern University in Boston where she studied Behavioral Neuroscience. Following graduation, she spent two years researching the role of chondrocytes and effect of lubricin deficiency on cartilage as a technician in the orthopedic department at Boston Children's Hospital. Megan joined the Bosco lab in 2021 to study the role and targets of TDP-43 and FUS in ALS and under conditions of stress.

Okoh graduated from UMass Amherst in 2023 with a dual degree in Biochemistry & Molecular biology, and in Microbiology. During his time there, he worked as a research assistant investigating the synaptic transmission and neural circuits underlying sensory information filtering. After graduation, he worked for two years as a research technician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute where, he studied off-target effects and resistance associated with PROTAC drug treatments in estrogen positive breast cancer models. Okoh joined the lab in 2025 as a medical student where he will be analyzing RNA foci in brain organoids derived from C9ORF72 patient iPSCs to understand ALS/FTD pathology.  

Dongsheng Guo, PhD, instructor, originally from China, earned his PhD from the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he investigated endocrine disorders using iPSCs. He completed his postdoctoral training in the Emerson Lab at the UMass Chan, Wellstone Center, and studied muscular dystrophies using hiPSCs. Dongsheng joined Bosco Lab in the summer of 2025 with over 15 years of experience in stem cell and disease research and is investigating pathological mechanisms of ALS, especially sporadic ALS, for therapeutic development by combining iPSC and 2D/3D neuron differentiation. He believes in working together to find a cure for patients with neurodegenerative diseases and has experience in bio-startup leadership in addition to collaborating with academia, industry, and patients. 

Outside the lab, he enjoys hiking and exploring nature with friends.

Jonathan graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a BS in Biomedical Engineering. Following graduation, he worked as a research technician in a variety of settings including UMass Chan Medical School and Biomodels LLC. Most recently, he studied microglia and its effects on synapse loss in the context of multiple sclerosis in Dr. Schafer’s lab at UMass Chan. Jonathan joined the Bosco lab in 2022 to study the effects of ALS-linked mutations on the function and role of microglia in the disease.

Adina graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2020 with a BSc in Human Health and Disease. Research internships and a capstone project sparked her early interest in neurodegenerative diseases. To further explore immune contributions to neurological conditions, she began a PhD in Physiology at Trinity College Dublin in 2020, where she investigated neuroimmune mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease using iPSC-derived astrocytes and peripheral immune cells.

Adina completed postdoctoral training at Yale University, where she focused on repurposing FDA-approved drugs for Parkinson’s disease, before joining the Bosco Lab in 2025. She now applies her expertise in neuroimmunology, stem cell models, and glial biology to study how glial responses contribute to ALS pathology, including in the context of TDP-43–related mechanisms and traumatic brain injury.

Kennedy graduated from Assumption University in 2021 with a BA in Biology and a concentration in Neuroscience and a BA in Italian Studies as well as an honors certificate. While in undergrad, she led as president of the Neurscience Club which inspired her to look for roles in biomedical research. Following graduation, she spent two years working as a research associate in the Esteves Lab at UMass Chan Medical School. Kennedy joined the Bosco Lab as a graduate student in 2024 and is excited to develop her project investigating traumatic brain injury. 

Melissa graduated from URI with a BA in English with a focus on publishing and writing in 2006. Before returning to get a BS degree in Microbiology and a minor in Chemistry, she earned a biotechnology Certificate in Manufacturing. Working in Bosco lab in 2015 allowed her to complete her PhD while studying wild-type SOD1 misfolding in the context of ALS. Melissa continued studying neurodegenerative diseases in her Post Docs at both Boston Children’s Hospital and Sanofi Inc utilizing proteomics to identify biomarkers. In 2018 she was hired as a Scientist at Gritstone Bio where she identified cancer-specific antigens for designing novel therapeutics. In 2023, Melissa returned to the Bosco lab to study head trauma and its link to neurodegenerative diseases. She is particularly interested in identifying and assessing aberrant protein interactions, PTMs/truncations, and localization in disease through proteomics and biochemistry techniques. When she is not in the lab you can find her rock climbing or hiking up a mountain. 

Clarice graduated from Haverford College in 2023 with a BS in Biology and a minor in Psychology. She first developed an interest in studying neurological diseases during her senior thesis at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she investigated the mechanisms of neural alterations in childhood epilepsy. After graduation, she worked for two years as a research assistant at the University of Pennsylvania, studying protein aggregation in ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. In 2025, Clarice joined the Bosco Lab as a medical student, where she continues to explore protein network interactions involved in ALS.