University of Maryland-College Park · BiologyCenter for Cell Communication and Fusion Studies
William J Snell · College Park, Maryland
Research Focus
Dr. William Snell's lab at the University of Maryland explores how cells communicate and fuse during fertilization using the green alga Chlamydomonas as a model system. The lab investigates the molecular mechanisms behind ciliary signaling and cell adhesion, contributing to our understanding of processes that are critical in both basic biology and potential applications in treating diseases such as malaria.
ciliary signalinggamete fusionChlamydomonascAMP signalingcell adhesionmalaria transmissionfusion proteinscell communicationbiochemical analysiscell biology
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of ciliary signaling in gamete fusion.
AIM 02Identify the molecular mechanisms that link ciliary receptor engagement to cellular responses.
AIM 03Characterize the function of the HAP2 fusion protein in membrane fusion during fertilization.
AIM 04Explore the interactions between adhesion proteins involved in gamete adhesion and fusion.
AIM 05Develop strategies to inhibit malaria transmission by targeting ciliary signaling mechanisms.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturefluorescence microscopybiochemical assaysprotein purificationgenetic manipulationimmunofluorescenceimaging techniquesdata analysismolecular cloningbioinformatics
Output against the department
Publications104bottom 36% of dept.659th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations5.4kbottom 40% of dept.618th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.