Michael Kubik began working as a Research Technologist in the Translational Neuroscience Department in 2016 after spending a year as an Assistant Animal Laboratory Technician at the Van Andel Institute. He holds a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences and a B.A. in Russian Studies from Grand Valley State University and has been a member of Dr. Caryl Sortwell’s lab since the fall of 2018.
Michael is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in the Translational Neuroscience program, within a year of completing his dissertation. His doctoral research focuses on testing a novel Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitor as a potential therapeutic in rodent models of synucleinopathy. He previously earned a Graduate Certificate in Medical Neuroscience and has served as the Graduate Student Representative for the Michigan Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience for two years. Michael was also one of the organizers of the Michigan State University–Van Andel Research Institute Neurodegeneration Summit and is a recent recipient of the John A. Penner Fellowship.
Outside of the lab, Michael enjoys baking, traveling, and spending time with his cat, Pushkin, and his dog, Puddles.