What led you to the USC Leonard Davis School and to your research focus?
Maxim Averbukh PhD in Biology of Aging ’26: I became deeply interested in aging research during my early undergraduate years. When I was applying to PhD programs, USC Leonard Davis clearly stood out as one of the most focused and interdisciplinary institutions in the field, and it was a place where I could truly see myself growing as a scientist. While searching for a rotation lab, I came across the Sanabria Lab and was immediately intrigued by its focus on the actin cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is so central to nearly every aspect of cellular function, yet it remains relatively understudied in the context of aging. That gap in knowledge made the project especially exciting to me and ultimately shaped the direction of my dissertation research.
During the course of your PhD research, have you reported findings that are striking or unexpected in some way?
One of the most exciting findings from my PhD research has been showing that while actin structure and function become disrupted with age, we can actually modulate the cytoskeleton in ways that either accelerate or decelerate aging-related processes. This suggests that the actin cytoskeleton is not simply deteriorating as a passive consequence of aging, but may actively contribute to the regulation of aging itself. Moving forward, I am particularly interested in identifying the molecular mechanisms that drive age-related actin disruption, as well as exploring tissue-specific differences and interactions between the cytoskeleton and organelles such as mitochondria. I believe these directions could provide important insights into how cellular architecture influences longevity and age-associated decline.
What are some other meaningful experiences that you’ve had during your time here?
One of the most meaningful parts of my experience at USC Leonard Davis has been being part of such a close-knit and collaborative community at GERO. I have especially appreciated how interdisciplinary the program is. It is not unusual to hear a social science talk immediately followed by a deeply mechanistic biology presentation, and I think that creates a uniquely holistic way of thinking about aging. Being exposed to so many different perspectives has broadened the way I approach scientific questions and has made my training experience especially rewarding.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I am defending my dissertation this summer! After my defense, I hope to join either an academic or industry research lab where I can continue developing as a scientist in the aging field.
