Thomas B. Shea

Prof. Thomas B. Shea is a Professor and Director of the Center for Cellular Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. A UMass Boston alumnus, he relocated his entire laboratory from Harvard Medical School to UMass Lowell to prioritize student interaction and collaborative research. His work emphasizes team-based research with students and faculty across diverse disciplines.

• Education: Alumnus of UMass Boston

His research focuses on Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, basic brain development mechanisms, and brain-computer interface innovations. He highlights UMass Lowell's collaborative environment where students actively engage in research, citing his former PhD advisee Dr. Sangmook Lee as a key collaborator over ten years. The lab’s interdisciplinary approach merges neuroscience, neurobiology, and robotics.

No scientific awards or grants are explicitly mentioned in the text, though his relocation reflects institutional commitment. The Center emphasizes neurodegenerative research and technology integration, fostering a dynamic research ecosystem.