Anthony J. Koleske is the Ensign Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and of Neuroscience at Yale University School of Medicine, where he also serves as Deputy Dean for Research (Basic Science). He has held joint appointments in the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry (primary) and the Department of Neuroscience (secondary) since joining Yale in 1998. Previously, he served as Director of the combined PhD programs in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Yale (2014-2019) and Director of the China Scholarship Council-Yale World Scholars Program (2014-2019). Dr. Koleske's research focuses on understanding the biochemical mechanisms that regulate neuronal dendrite and synapse development, with particular emphasis on cytoskeletal structure and dynamics. His lab investigates how growth factor and adhesion receptors control cell shape, structural stability, and movement, applying these principles to understand cancer cell invasion and neuronal circuit stability in the adolescent brain. Current research initiatives explore how stress and psychostimulant abuse disrupt neuronal structure and connectivity, with translational goals for treating breast cancer, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. His recent publications reveal significant findings in several key areas: TRIO protein variants linked to autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders Mechanisms of synapse maturation involving laminin α5 stabilization Abl2 kinase regulation of microtubules and actin dynamics NMDA receptor dysfunction in cognitive impairment Dr. Koleske has received numerous prestigious awards including: Jane Coffin Childs Postdoctoral Fellowship Special Fellowship and Scholar Awards from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Young Investigator and Established Investigator Awards from NARSAD Established Investigator Award from the American Heart Association With extensive experience in graduate education, Dr. Koleske has served on numerous review panels including as Chair of the Basic Science Study Section for the American Heart Association and the Neurodifferentiation, Plasticity, Repair, and Rhythmicity Study Section of the NIH. His lab maintains active collaborations across Yale and beyond, with a strong record of mentoring students who go on to distinguished careers. The Koleske Lab is currently recruiting postdoctoral fellows with expertise in protein biochemistry, single molecule biophysics, animal behavior, and electrophysiology to advance research on cytoskeletal mechanisms in neurodevelopmental disorders.


