Aubrey Weigel

Aubrey Weigel is a Project Scientist at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus, where she leads the CellMap Project Team. The team’s mission is to demonstrate the power of FIB-SEM data to advance biological discoveries by enabling detailed exploration of the 3D architecture and subcellular structures of cells in tissues. The open science platform fosters collaboration within Janelia and the broader scientific community.

Aubrey’s academic background includes a Ph.D. in Bioengineering (Biophysics) from Colorado State University and a B.S. in Physics from Fort Hays State University. Her research focuses on biophysics and advanced microscopy techniques. During her graduate studies, she co-discovered ergodicity breaking in cellular environments, reshaping how diffusion processes in living cells are understood.

In her postdoctoral work with Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz, Aubrey used her physics and microscopy expertise to study the structure and dynamics of the endoplasmic reticulum, uncovering new aspects of cellular organization and protein trafficking.

As the leader of the COSEM (Cellular Organelle Segmentation in Electron Microscopy) Project Team, she developed a deep learning-based analysis pipeline for segmenting and reconstructing cellular organelles from volumetric electron microscopy data. This work has contributed to more comprehensive studies of cell biology at the ultrastructural level.

Aubrey applies her multidisciplinary experience to guide collaborative projects addressing complex biological questions while promoting data sharing and resource accessibility across the research community.