Lab Members

Aussie Suzuki, PhD: Principal Investigator

Associate Professor of Oncology, McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, UW Madison
Genetic & Epigenetic Mechanisms Member – UW Carbone Cancer Center
Faculty in Cancer Biology Graduate Program, MCP (Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology), Biophysics, and CMB (Cellular and Molecular Biology) at the UW-Madison
Steering Committee Member – University of Wisconsin Imaging Core
Committee Member – Cancer Biology Graduate Program Admission Committee, Biophysics Graduate Program Admission Committee, Biophysics Graduate Program Curriculum  Committee, Cancer Biology Graduate Program Curriculum  Committee, and Cancer Biology Seminar Committee
New Investigator Program Grantee – Wisconsin Partnership Program

Education

Postdoctoral Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
PhD, Genetics, National Institute of Genetics, Japan
BS, Pharmacy School at Kyushu University, Japan

Graduate Students

• Yu-Chia Chen: Graduate Student  (2021 Dec- 2026 Aug)

  4 year 9 months to obtain his Ph.D.

  Current: Postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Adrian Saurin Laboratory (co-mentored by Drs. Andrea Musacchio (Max Planck, Dortmund) and Tony Ly (Dundee))

  Graduate Program: Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (MCP), University of Wisconsin – Madison

  Publications

  • • • • Bakshi, DD., Chen, YC., Wuerzberger-Davis, SM., Ma, M., Waters, BJ., Li, L., Suzuki, A.,  Miyamoto, S. Ectopic CH60 mediates HAPLN1-induced cell survival signaling in multiple myeloma. Life Science Alliance, Vol 6, no 3, e202201636, (2022).
        • Wu, C., Balakrishnan, VK., Parihar, PS., Konovolov, K., Chen, YC., Merrill, RA., Wei, H., Carragher, B., Sundaresan, R., Cui, Q., Wadzinski, BE., Swingle, MR., Musiyenko, A., Honkanen, R., Chung, W., Suzuki, A., Strack, S., Huang, X., Xing, Y. Extended regulation interface coupled to the allosteric network and disease mutations in the PP2A-B56 holoenzyme.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 121 (1) e2310727120, 2024
        • Chen, YL., Chen, YC., Suzuki, A.* ImmunoCellCycle-ID: A high-precision immunofluorescence-based method for cell cycle identification. Journal of Cell Science, 15, November 2024; 137 (22): jcs263414.
        • Norman, R.†, Chen, YC.†, Recchia M., Loi, J., Rosemarie, Q., Lesko, S., Patel, S., Sherer, NM., Takaku, M., Burkard, M., Suzuki, A.* One step 4x and 12x 3D-ExM enables robust super-resolution microscopy of nanoscale cellular structures. Journal of Cell Biology , 224 (2): e202407116, 2025. († co-first author)
        • Chen, YC.†, Takada M.†, Nagornyuk, A., Yu, M., Yamada, H., Nagashima, T., Ohtsuka, M., DeLuca, JG., Markus, S., Takaku, M., Suzuki, A.* “Inhibition of p38-MK2 pathway enhances the efficacy of microtubule inhibitors in breast cancer cells“, eLife, 13:RP104859. 2025. († co-first author)
        • Chen, YC., Kilic, E., Wang, E., Rossman, W., Suzuki, A.* “CENcyclopedia: Dynamic Landscape of Kinetochore Architecture Throughout the Cell Cycle“, Nature Communications, 16, 7676, 2025.
        • Li, D., Wuerzberger-Davis, S.M., Chen, Y., Phan, F.P., Yu, M., Lisiero, D.N., Aguilar, C.C., Cleven, T., Tejera, M.M., Khatri, P., Medina, N., Chen, YC., Wang, N., Tsourkas, P., Ong, I., Bednarski, J.J., DinH H.Q., Hoffman, A., Sleckman, B.P., Suzuki, A., Roopra, A., Suresh, M., Wang, D., Miyamoto, M.  “NF-κB/RelA signaling required for CD40-induced humoral immunity depends on specific NEMO lysine residues in mice“, EMBO Journal, 2026

Award/Fellowship

• • • • MCP (Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology) Symposium Poster Award 2024
      • Cancer Biology Student&Postdoc Seminar Series Presentation Award  2024
      • Poster Award from Molecular Biology Society of Japan (MBSJ) annual conference 2025

Roshan Norman: Graduate Student (Burkard Lab, co-mentored, 2018 Sep-2023 Nov)

5 years and 2 months to obtain his Ph.D.

Graduate Program: Biophysics, University of Wisconsin – Madison

Publications

• • • • Norman, R.†, Chen, YC.†, Recchia M., Loi, J., Rosemarie, Q., Lesko, S., Patel, S., Sherer, NM., Takaku, M., Burkard, M., Suzuki, A.* One step 4x and 12x 3D-ExM enables robust super-resolution microscopy of nanoscale cellular structures. Journal of Cell Biology , 224 (2): e202407116, 2025.

Patent

• • • • “KITS AND METHODS FOR SUPER-RESOLUTION MICROSCOPY”

Inventors: Aussie Suzuki, Mark Burkard, Roshan Norman, Emma Recchia

Jon Loi: Graduate Student (2020 Oct- 2023 August, Ph.D.) 2 years and 10 months to obtain his Ph.D.

Graduate Program: Biophysics, University of Wisconsin – Madison

Publications

• • • • Loi, J., Qu, X., Suzuki, A*. Semi-automated 3D fluorescence speckle analyzer (3D-Speckler) for microscope calibration and nanoscale measurement.  Journal of Cell Biology, 222, (4), 2023.
      • Loi, J., Ghone, D., Qu, X., Suzuki, A*. 3D-Aligner: An advanced computational tool designed to correct image distortion in expansion microscopy for precise 3D reconstitution and quantitative analysis. Communications Biology, 7, 1325, (2024).
      • Norman, R.†, Chen, YC.†, Recchia M., Loi, J., Rosemarie, Q., Lesko, S., Patel, S., Sherer, NM., Takaku, M., Burkard, M., Suzuki, A.* One step 4x and 12x 3D-ExM enables robust super-resolution microscopy of nanoscale cellular structures. Journal of Cell Biology , 224 (2): e202407116, 2025

• •  

Postdocs and Technicians

Chang Yong Oh: Post-doc (2024 Apr –  2024 Sep)

Current: Mandatory Military Service in South Korea

Sungjin Park, PhD: Postdoc (2020 July-2022 Feb)

Current: Senior Scientist, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Ozge AL, PhD: Post-doctoral Fellow (2021-2022)

Current: Assistant Professor, Dept. of Anatomy, Erciyes University, Turkey

Ebru Guver, MS: Research Technician (2022 July-2022 Oct)

Master of Science, Konstanz University, Germany, 2022
BS, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Turkey, 2020

Emma Recchia: Associate Research Specialist

Current: Research Assistant at UW-Madison

Publications

• • • • Norman, R.†, Chen, YC.†, Recchia M., Loi, J., Rosemarie, Q., Lesko, S., Patel, S., Sherer, NM., Takaku, M., Burkard, M., Suzuki, A.* One step 4x and 12x 3D-ExM enables robust super-resolution microscopy of nanoscale cellular structures. Journal of Cell Biology , 224 (2): e202407116, 2025.

Patent

• • • • “KITS AND METHODS FOR SUPER-RESOLUTION MICROSCOPY”

Inventors: Aussie Suzuki, Mark Burkard, Roshan Norman, Emma Recchia

Undergraduates

Kaelyn Stephenson: Undergraduate Research Student (2022 Sep-2026

Major: Genetics, University of Wisconsin – Madison

Current: Ph.D. student at the University of Pennsylvania (Cancer Biology graduate program)

          Award/Fellowship

• • • • PennState PROMISE (Penn State Research training in Oncology and Medicine to Inspire Student Engagement) Program 2023
      • Hilldale Sophomore Research Fellowship 2023
      • Genetics & Genomics Undergraduate Distinguished Research Fellowships 2024
      • Hilldale Undergraduate Research Fellowship 2025
      • Promega Summer Internship 2025

•  

Publications

• • • • Ghone, D., Evans III, EL.,  Bandini, M., Stephenson, KG., Sherer, NM.*, Suzuki, A.* “HIV-1 Vif disrupts phosphatase feedback regulation at the kinetochore leading to a pronounced pseudo-metaphase arrest“, eLife, 13:RP101136, 2025

• • •  

Evelyn Wang: Undergraduate Research Student (2023 Jun-2026)

Publications

• • • • Chen, YC., Kilic, E., Wang, E., Rossman, W., Suzuki, A.* “CENcyclopedia: Dynamic Landscape of Kinetochore Architecture Throughout the Cell Cycle“, Nature Communications, 16, 7676, 2025.

• •  

Ainslie Homan: Undergraduate Research Student (2021 Sep-2025 May)

Major: Biology, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Current: Nursing Assistant at UW Health

Award/Fellowship

• • • • Mayo Clinic Summer Lab Science Program (SLSP) 2024
      • Biochemistry Undergraduate Summer Research Award 2024

Ece Kilic: Undergraduate Research Student (2021 Dec-2024 May)

Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Current: Ph.D. student (MCDB&G) at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Publications

• • • • Chen, YC., Kilic, E., Wang, E., Rossman, W., Suzuki, A.* “CENcyclopedia: Dynamic Landscape of Kinetochore Architecture Throughout the Cell Cycle“, Nature Communications, 16, 7676, 2025.

Award/Fellowship

• • • • Hilldale Undergraduate Research Fellowship 2023

Will Rossman: Undergraduate Research Student (2023 Feb-2024 May)

Current: Optometric Technician

Publications

• • • • Chen, YC., Kilic, E., Wang, E., Rossman, W., Suzuki, A.* “CENcyclopedia: Dynamic Landscape of Kinetochore Architecture Throughout the Cell Cycle“, Nature Communications, 16, 7676, 2025.

Aneena Kalarithara: Undergraduate Research Student (2024 Sep-2025 May)

 

Jennifer Qu: Undergraduate Research Student (2019-2022 Aug)

Current: Graduate Student at the Johns Hopkins University – Bioengineering (2022)

Publications

• • • Loi, J., Qu, X., Suzuki, A*. Semi-automated 3D fluorescence speckle analyzer (3D-Speckler) for microscope calibration and nanoscale measurement.  Journal of Cell Biology, 222, (4), 2023.
    • Loi, J., Ghone, D., Qu, X., Suzuki, A*. 3D-Aligner: An advanced computational tool designed to correct image distortion in expansion microscopy for precise 3D reconstitution and quantitative analysis. Communications Biology, 7, 1325, (2024).

• •  

Ananya Damodare: Undergraduate Research Student (2021-2022)

Current: Life Science Consulting Firm, Florida

Alex Li: Undergraduate Research Student (2019-2022)

Current: Ph.D. student (Biomedical Engineering) in the Johns Hopkins

Research Award: 2021-2022 Wisconsin Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowship

Smit Patel: Undergraduate Research Student (2019-2021, Graduate early)

Current: Ph.D student (Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology) at University of Texas Austin

Publications

• • • • Norman, R.†, Chen, YC.†, Recchia M., Loi, J., Rosemarie, Q., Lesko, S., Patel, S., Sherer, NM., Takaku, M., Burkard, M., Suzuki, A.* One step 4x and 12x 3D-ExM enables robust super-resolution microscopy of nanoscale cellular structures. Journal of Cell Biology , 224 (2): e202407116, 2025. Original bioRxiv version is available here.

Jacob Massonet: Undergraduate Research Student (2021 Jan-Dec, Graduate early)

Current: Principal Research Associate at Invenra, Inc, WI,  M.S. in Biotechnology Program at UW-Madison (Class of 2026)

Jihua Liu: Undergraduate Research Student (2019-2021, Graduate early)

Current: Ph.D. (Biomedical Data Science) student  at UW-Madison

Research Award: Biochemistry Summer Research Fellowship
M.S. at University of Pennsylvania (Biostatistics) 2022
Current: Biomedical Data Science Ph.D. program at UW-Madison

Ángel Alvarado: Master’s student Researcher (2020-2021)

Current: Research assistant at MIT

Sophia Liu: Visiting Undergraduate Fellow/Intern, Summer 2019

Home Institution: Columbia University, New York; Second year student
Current: Medical school (MD) student at UW-Madison
Research Award: Columbia University Scholars Program Summer Enhancement Fellowship and Columbia Engineering Internship

Katelynn M. Granger: Undergraduate Research Student (2016-2017)

After graduation: PharmD student at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Sarah K. Long: Undergraduate Research Student (2016-2018)

After graduation: UNC Environmental Sciences and Engineering and City and Regional Planning (M.S.)

Publications

• • • • Suzuki, A., Long, SK., Salmon, ED. An Optimized Method for 3D Fluorescence Co-Localization Applied to Human Kinetochore Protein Architecture. eLife, 7, (2018).
        -This article is recommended by “Faculty of 1000”.

Benjamin L. Badger: Undergraduate Research Student (2012-2016)

After graduation: Ph.D. student at the University of Cambridge, UK

Research Award: SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship) program

Publications

• • • • Suzuki, A., Badger, BL., Haase, J., Ohashi, T., Erickson, HP., Salmon ED., Bloom, K. How the kinetochore couples microtubule force and centromere stretch to move chromosomes. Nature Cell Biology, 18, 382-392, (2016).
        -This article is recommended by “Faculty of 1000”.
      • Suzuki, A., Badger, BL., Salmon, ED. A Quantitative Description of Ndc80 Complex Linkage to Human Kinetochore. Nature Communications, 6, 8161, (2015).
      • Suzuki, A., Badger, BL., Wan, X., DeLuca, JG., Salmon, ED. The architecture of CCAN proteins creates a structural integrity to resist spindle forces and achieve proper intrakinetochore stretch. Developmental Cell, 30, 717-730, (2014).
        -Featured in Previews entitled “How Kinetochores CCAN Resist Force” in Developmental Cell, 30, 637-638.
        -Featured on Developmental Cell’s top website page.