Julian P. Whitelegge, PhD
Laboratory Director & Professor
Professor Whitelegge’s research and teaching are focused on the application of biological mass spectrometry to the study of structure/function relationships of integral membrane proteins, understanding protein misfolding and the relationship to neurodegenerative disease, elucidating radiation insult and mitigation biomarkers, exploring inter-relationships of metabolism and molecular mechanisms of diabetes, as well as other systems biology projects in peptidomics, lipidomics, and proteomics.
Gazmend Elezi, PhD
Associate Director
Postdoctoral Scholar
Dr. Elezi’s research integrates biomedical, environmental, and archaeological mass spectrometry to enable multi-omics characterization of molecular systems across diverse contexts. Leveraging LC–MS and GC–MS platforms, his work spans applications from elucidating metabolic pathways and bioactive compounds in biological systems to detecting pollutants and molecular markers in environmental samples and identifying ancient biomolecules preserved in archaeological materials. By bridging analytical chemistry with questions of human health, environmental processes, and cultural heritage, his research advances interdisciplinary discovery across modern and ancient systems.
Michele Spinelli
Visiting Graduate Researcher
Michele is a Visiting Graduate Researcher from the University of Naples, Italy, and a PhD candidate in Medical Sciences with over eight years of expertise in high-resolution mass spectrometry and analytical chemistry. Currently completing his research residency at the Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, he is focusing on advanced proteomics to elucidate the molecular drivers of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). By integrating a strong background in metabolomics with sophisticated LC- MS/MS workflows, Michele aims to identify novel biomarkers and bridge the gap between complex instrumental analysis and clinical nephrology.
Nathan Dewan
Undergraduate Student Researcher
Daniel Castaneda
Undergraduate Student Researcher
Daniel is a student volunteer (assistant) with a strong interest in pursuing a career in analytical chemistry. He is currently majoring in chemistry, where he has built a solid academic foundation through coursework such as quantitative analysis and advanced analytical chemistry. These courses have strengthened his skills in data interpretation, laboratory techniques, and precise measurement methods.
As part of his academic and volunteer experience, he has been involved with PMSL at UCLA, where has has contributed his time while further developing technical and collaborative abilities in a research-oriented environment. This experience has reinforced his interest in applying analytical methods to solve real-world scientific problems.
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