Tina H. Lee

Tina H. Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), part of the Mellon College of Science. Her research focuses on understanding the structure-function relationships of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), particularly how proteins such as Yip1A and atlastin regulate its architecture and dynamics. Her work integrates cell-based RNA interference, biochemical assays, and microscopy to study ER organization's role in cellular physiology and neurological disorders like hereditary spastic paraplegia.

Education: Ph.D. from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), followed by a postdoctoral appointment at CMU.

Research Interests: ER membrane networks, protein-lipid interactions, GTPase-driven membrane fusion, and disease-linked ER structural defects. Her lab uses advanced microscopy and mutagenesis to dissect how ER-shaping proteins influence organelle function and human health.

Key Findings: Identified Yip1A’s role in ER dispersal and atlastin’s critical function in ER network connectivity. Her studies reveal how atlastin mutations disrupt ER structure, contributing to neurological diseases.

Scientific Recognition: Two publications highlighted as Faculty of 1000 Must Read/Recommended for their significance in the field.

Laboratory: Lee’s lab employs interdisciplinary approaches, combining genetics, biochemistry, and cell biology to advance understanding of ER biology. Her work bridges fundamental research and translational insights into ER-related pathologies.