Scientific Team
Shinichi Someya, Ph.D. ~ Principal Investigator
I am a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology and Aging and the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Florida. I received my BA from the University of California, Berkeley in 1991 and received my PhD from the University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan) in 2005. I then pursued my postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Tomas Prolla in the Department of Genetics at the University of Wisconsin in 2005 – 2011. I joined the faculty in the Department of Aging and Geriatric Research at the University of Florida as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in 2011.
I have a broad background in cell biology and specialized expertise in mitochondrial biology, aging, and auditory neuroscience. My long-term goal is to elucidate the conserved mechanisms that regulate the positioning, morphology, and activity of presynaptic mitochondria in cochlear hair cells, and to define how these mechanisms support auditory function under various forms of stress. We take a multidisciplinary approach that integrates electrophysiology, histology, molecular biology, and advanced imaging technologies with machine learning–based 3D data analysis. By defining the fundamental roles of hair cell mitochondria and ribbon synapses in auditory function, my research aims to uncover how various forms of stress, such as cytotoxic chemicals, noise exposure, and starvation, affect presynaptic mitochondrial health, synaptic integrity, and hearing performance across the lifespan. We also maintain a strong commitment to translational research, with a focus on developing novel therapeutic strategies to prevent cisplatin-induced hearing loss, a common and serious side effect experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. These findings will provide a foundation for developing pharmacological strategies that preserve hearing function in individuals exposed to prolonged stress. I have authored over 70 peer-reviewed research papers and book chapters, with several published in high-impact journals such as Cell, Science, PNAS, and the Journal of Neuroscience.
At the University of Florida, I currently direct six graduate courses: GMS 6486 Biology of Aging (fall/spring/summer), SPA5102 Auditory Anatomy and Physiology (fall), SPA6010 Basic Auditory Sciences (fall), SPA6581 Auditory Pharmacology (summer), SPA6581 Functional Human Neuroanatomy, and SPA6564 Communication and Aging (spring). I also teach 3 graduate courses as a lecturer, including GMS 6893 Clinical and Translational Science Institute Student Seminar (fall) and GMS 6622 Mitochondrial Biology in Aging and Disease (fall). In my courses, I take a student-centered and interactive approach. I encourage students to participate actively. A large part of my teaching effort is dedicated to mentoring students. I have served or currently serve as a committee member and/or mentor for 10+ doctoral students and 30+ undergraduate students. I truly enjoy mentoring, interacting with the students in the lab, and sharing my research questions and ideas with them.
Current Lab Members (as of 10/24/2025)
Visiting Scholars
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Taro Yamaguchi, PhD Visiting Scholar (Associate Professor, Setsunan University) |
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Shun Wakamori, MD, PhD Visiting Scholar (Assistant Professor, Tohoku University) |
Graduate Students
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Mason Palaga Graduate Student (AuD) |
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Jaclyn Colopietro Graduate Student (AuD) |
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Lianna Becker Graduate Student (AuD) |
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Taylor Tokos Graduate Student (AuD) |
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Elizabeth Feldman Graduate Student (AuD) |
Undergraduate Students
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Jesse Polsky Undergraduate Student |
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Zoe Sakellarios Undergraduate Student |
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Alisha Saeed Undergraduate Student |
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Kalley Waldrop ndergraduate Student |
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Shriya Jhaveri Undergraduate Student |
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Sara Sonnenblick Undergraduate Student |
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Bianca Macaluso Undergraduate Student |
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Cody Knecht Undergraduate Student |
Previous Lab Members (as of 10/24/2025)
Research Scientists / Postdoctoral Scholars
- Hyo-Jin Park, PhD – Assistant Research Scientist (Assistant Research Scientist, University of Arizona)
- Yohei Honkura, MD, PhD – Visiting Scholar (Associate Professor, Tohoku University)
- Yuichi Shimizu, MD, PhD – Visiting Scholar (Assistant Professor, Tohoku University)
- Chul Han, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow (Assistant Professor, Barrow Neurological Institute)
- Mi-Jung Kim, PhD – Graduate Student (PhD), Postdoctoral Fellow (Northwestern University)
Graduate Students (PhD / MS / AuD)
- Karessa White, PhD – Graduate Student (PhD) (Field Application Scientist, Halo Labs)
- Marcus Milani, MS – Graduate Student (MS) (University of Minnesota Medical School)
- Jonathan Hirst, AuD – Graduate Student (AuD) (Clinical Audiologist, UF Health)
- Elena Hoogland, AuD – Graduate Student (AuD) (Clinical Audiologist, Peninsula Hearing)
- Claire Dorey, AuD – Graduate Student (AuD) (Doctoral Program, University of South Florida)
- Hannah Eckdahl, AuD – Graduate Student (AuD) (Clinical Audiologist, First Coast Hearing Clinic)
- Lambert Lee, AuD – Graduate Student (AuD) (Clinical Audiologist, Landa Hearing Center)
- Elizabeth Rymer, AuD – Graduate Student (AuD) (Clinical Audiologist, AdventHealth)
- Daniella Fragnito, AuD – Graduate Student (AuD) (Clinical Audiologist, Rehder Balance & Hearing Clinic)
- Nathan Strom, AuD – Graduate Student (AuD) (Clinical Audiologist, WellMed)
- Samantha Erfe, AuD – Graduate Student (AuD) (Clinical Audiologist, UMass Memorial Health)
- Aimee Miller, AuD – Graduate Student (AuD) (Clinical Audiologist, Willow Lane Counseling)
- Laura Infante, AuD – Graduate Student (AuD) (Clinical Audiologist, HearingLife)
Research Assistants
- Christina Rothenberger – Research Assistant (University of Florida Doctoral Program)
- Kevin Boyd – Research Assistant (UCF College of Medicine)
- Peter Carmichael – Research Assistant
- Upal Bose – Research Assistant
- Shion Simmons – Undergraduate Student, Research Assistant
Former Undergraduate Students
- Logan Walker – UCF College of Medicine
- Kap Owen – UCF College of Medicine
- Austin Showers – UCF College of Medicine
- Anamaria Parus – UCF College of Medicine
- Zaimary Meneses – FAU College of Medicine
- Jiyeon Koo – USF College of Medicine
- Kaitlyn Evans – UF Physician Assistant School
- Aaron Gomez – FIU College of Medicine
- Cole Slade – Kansas City University College of Medicine
- John Acevedo – UF Accelerated BSN Program
- Peter Wahba – FIU College of Medicine
- Sydney Blimbaum – University of Florida Doctoral Program
- Emma Eng – FAU College of Medicine
- Emma Viola – USF College of Pharmacy
- Ibram Samuel – University of Colorado Anschutz Dental School
- Holly Vu – FSU College of Medicine
- Anthony Nguyen – UF College of Medicine
- Kishan Avaiya – Georgetown University College of Medicine
- Millie Rogers – Doctoral Program, University of Miami
- Daniella Boschi – Undergraduate Student
- Ariella Cohn – Undergraduate Student
- Rahi Patel – UMass Chan College of Medicine
- Ryan Husain – FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
- William Ross – UF Medical Honors Program, Class of 2027
- Loryn Smith – MS in Speech-Language Pathology, Vanderbilt University