Sonya Neal

Sonya Neal is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of California, San Diego's School of Biological Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of the rhomboid protein superfamily, which play critical roles in membrane-related processes including protein quality control, sphingolipid homeostasis, and cellular stress responses. She maintains an active laboratory in Tata Hall (4401 Tata Hall, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0329) and was officially tenured on July 1, 2023.

Dr. Neal's research program employs a multi-scale approach, leveraging yeast, human cells, and zebrafish as experimental systems to characterize rhomboid proteins at molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. Her work aims to uncover fundamental mechanisms that can be harnessed to tackle rhomboid-related diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, immune disorders, cancer, and infectious diseases. She has discovered that rhomboid Dfm1 is required for the removal of misfolded membrane proteins from the ER, answering a long-standing question in the protein quality control field that has persisted for 3 decades.

Her recent publications reveal groundbreaking discoveries about rhomboid proteins, particularly Dfm1's dual roles in membrane protein quality control and sphingolipid regulation. These studies demonstrate that Dfm1 possesses a chaperone function for disaggregating misfolded membrane proteins separate from its retrotranslocation function, and controls ER removal and degradation of Orm2, a negative regulator of sphingolipid biosynthesis. Her work spans cell biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of her research program.

Dr. Neal has received numerous prestigious awards including:

• HHMI Freeman Hrabowski Scholar (2023)
• ASCB Women in Cell Biology Junior Investigator award (2023)
• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) (2025)
• Mentoring Keynote Award (2024)
• CZI Science Diversity Leadership award (2022)

As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Neal has established the Biology Undergraduate Master's Mentorship Program (BUMMP), which has been featured on the front cover of Journal of Cellular Physiology. She also launched a DEI graduate course on 'Social Issues in Biology' and initiated a research module for Miramar Community College students. Her laboratory includes a diverse team of postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers, with several trainees receiving prestigious awards including HHMI Gilliam Fellowships and Burroughs Wellcome Fund fellowships.

Dr. Neal's laboratory is funded by significant grants including the NIH R35 MIRA Award (renewed February 1, 2025 for another 5 years), NSF CAREER Award, Pew Trust Award, and Burroughs Wellcome Fund. Her lab is known for its inclusive and diverse environment, with a mission dedicated to promoting research excellence through the cultivation of a diverse and inclusive community.