Ramiz Somjee
Program: Computational and Systems Biology
Current advisor: Joseph C. Corbo, MD, PhD
Undergraduate university: Rhodes College
Research summary
Photoreceptor cells are highly specialized neurons that enable vision by detecting and responding to light. My research seeks to understand how these cells establish and maintain their unique identities throughout life. I study the molecular mechanisms that regulate photoreceptor gene expression, with a particular focus on the interplay between transcription factors, chromatin regulators, and intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDRs), which often mediate dynamic regulatory interactions that are difficult to explain through classical protein structure-function relationships. Using genomic, genetic, and computational approaches, I investigate the role of the photoreceptor-specific regulator SAMD7 in maintaining photoreceptor identity and function. By understanding how photoreceptor cell states are established and maintained, this work aims to advance our understanding of retinal biology and provide a foundation for future therapeutic strategies for inherited retinal degeneration.
Graduate publications