Gulcin Pekkurnaz

Gulcin Pekkurnaz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurobiology at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). Her research focuses on understanding how mitochondrial function is coupled with neuronal metabolism, particularly in the context of neurological diseases. Her lab employs interdisciplinary approaches including molecular biology, mouse genetics, metabolic flux analysis, and advanced imaging techniques like super-resolution microscopy.

Key research interests include mitochondrial dynamics, energy homeostasis at synapses, and the role of mitochondria in neurodegenerative diseases. She investigates how metabolic requirements vary across neuronal subtypes and how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to disease pathogenesis. Her work integrates systems biology modeling with experimental methods to study mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contact sites and calcium signaling.

Her lab utilizes cutting-edge tools such as deep learning-based super-resolution imaging and computational modeling to unravel novel metabolic pathways. Current projects explore O-GlcNAcylation's role in mitochondrial plasticity, glycolytic metabolon assembly, and glucose-dependent mitochondrial trafficking mechanisms.

Contact: gpekkurnaz@ucsd.edu