Our Research Team

We are a diverse group of scientists studying cell surface receptors and their downstream signaling networks.

Ferguson Lab — Members

Kate Ferguson, Ph.D.

Dr. Ferguson’s research focuses on extracellular control of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), aberrant activation of which can drive cancer and other diseases.  Dr. Ferguson obtained her Ph.D. from Yale in 1996, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.  She transitioned to an independent faculty position in the Department of Physiology at UPenn in 2003, returning to Connecticut in 2015 to join the Yale Cancer Biology Institute and Department of Pharmacology. Email Dr. Ferguson at kathryn.ferguson@yale.edu

Pouyan Rahmani

Pouyan is the Institute Coordinator for the Cancer Biology Institute. In his free time he enjoys photography, traveling and hiking. Email Pouyan at pouyan.rahmani@yale.edu.

Yuhong Zuo, Ph.D.

Yuhong is a biochemist/structural biologist working in Dr Ferguson’s lab. He focuses on mechanistic understanding of receptor tyrosine kinases activation upon ligand association from structural aspects by X-ray crystallography and cryo electron microscopy. Email yuhong.zuo@yale.edu.

Victor Nunez

Victor is an undergraduate at Yale University majoring in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and is hoping to pursue a PhD in the future. His research focuses on gaining a better understanding of the activation of the TAM family of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases. Outside of lab, he enjoys watching Formula 1, going on walks, and collecting sneakers. Email Victor at victor.nunez@yale.edu

Kahlil Walker

Kahlil was born and raised in Jamaica and is currently pursuing his bachelors in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University. He aims to develop a career in scientific research at the intersection of rational drug design and biochemistry. Along with being a car enthusiast, he enjoys learning from and having philosophical discussions, playing basketball, cooking and listening to music. He is also a part of Christian Union Lux, where he acts as a bible course leader.

Lab Alumni

Atrish Bagchi / Senior Scientific Lead, Loxo Oncology @ Lilly, South San Francisco CA Ryan Emptage / Biochemist/Enzymologist, FMC Corporation, Newark, DE Yu-San Huoh / Instructor in Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA Shawn Li / Senior Counsel, Berger Montague, Philadelphia, PA David (Chun-Chi) Lin / Associate Director, Passage Bio, Philadelphia, PA Judith Kikhney (Schmiedel)/ CEO, MoKi Analytic; Research Associate, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany Jerry Madukwe / Editor-in-chief, Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, Cambridge, MA Jason Moore / Principal Scientist, Center for Breakthrough Medicines, King of Prussia, PA Karl Schmitz / Assistant Professor, University of Delaware, Newark, DE Chrystal Starbird / Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC