Michael Stowell

Our lab investigates the molecular and supramolecular machinery that enables neurons to communicate at chemical synapses—and how these assemblies are disrupted in neurological disease. We focus on the spatial organization of macromolecular complexes, tracking how they assemble, rearrange, and function during synaptic transmission and plasticity. Leveraging cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) and cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) with subtomogram averaging, we capture structures from individual proteins to intact synapses in situ. By integrating these multi-scale data, we aim to build a dynamic architectural map of the chemical synapse that informs mechanisms of synapse formation, modulation, and dysfunction.