Bulut lab is interested in:

Understanding how metabolic dysfunction remodels cellular ecosystems across tissues using genomics, single-cell technologies, and systems biology approaches.

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Cellular Plasticity

My long term research interest has been on understanding the cellular plasticity using molecular and genomic methods. I have worked previously on perivascular cell plasticity. My future independent work focuses on cell-state transitions during disease and how to study them at the cellular heterogeneity level revealed by single-cell sequencing.

Cellular remodeling during metabolic disease

My laboratory investigates how metabolic stress drives cellular remodeling and intercellular communication across tissues, using single-cell genomics, metabolomics, and systems biology approaches to identify mechanisms and therapeutic targets in chronic disease. How does metabolic stress rewire cellular ecosystems?

Immune–Stromal Crosstalk

My current genomics based questions explore

Macrophage heterogeneity
Inflammation
Vascular cells
Adipose tissue
Liver immune responses
Brain-leptin projects

We are trying to answer: "Which cells are talking to which cells? and what are they saying?"

Multi-Omics Integration

We have collaborative work trying to connect:

scRNAseq
metabolomics and
connecting the dots to understand
clinical associations and
interactions.

Translational biomarkers and precision medicine

Future goals include utilizing UK Biobank data to continue exploring metabolic disease via examining imaging, disease progression status, clinical biomarkers and genomic data.

Mentored Student Research Projects

Isabella Napoli

Isabella is 3rd year student at VCU, majoring in Bioinformatics with a concentration in Genomics. She graduated with an Associate of Science from Northern Virginia Community College in 2025, and is planning to pursue Genetic Counseling after graduation. Isabella worked on adipose tissue macrophages heterogeneity project.

Johana Johnson

Johana is a sophomore majoring in Bioinformatics, Genomics concentration and minoring in Biology and Chemistry. She is currently on track to complete an Accelerated Master’s degree in Bioinformatics. She is interested in pursuing a career in genomic and pharmaceutical medicine. Johana worked on adipose tissue macrophages heterogeneity project.

Ajay Manohar

Ajay graduated from VCU recently and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Northeastern University. Ajay is looking into improving cell type annotation methods in single cell RNAseq.

Riya Khanna

Riya will investigate cellular crosstalk in the brain from and to leptin receptor expressing cells in response to insulin resistance and obesity

Sanjana Varghese

Sanjana is helping draft the manuscript on macrophage heterogeneity in adipose tissue stromavascular fraction in Summer 2026.

Lavanya Sharma

Lavanya and Sanjana are drafting the manuscript for adipose tissue macrophages.

Looking for a reseach opportunity in bioinformatics?

You are in the correct place!
Email GB with your interest and highlight your current experience to get started:

gbbulut at vcu.edu

Research Mentoring at William & Mary

Beryl Jiang

Beryl is a Biology and Computer Science double major at WM. She will work to investigate macrophage heterogeneity within the adipose tissue stromovascular fraction. She will compare the macrophage types in lean vs obese condition to understand changes in response to obesity.

Yuqi Pang

Yuqi is a fourth year student majoring in B.S. Statistics at UVA. She will work with Beryl on the macrophage heterogeneity project in adipose tissue using scRNA seq datasets.

Caelen Grange

Caelen is a senior from Northern Virginia, majoring in Biology and minoring in Finance. He works as a personal trainer and as Co-President of the W&M Cycling Club. He likes to cook, swim, read, and watch movies. Caelen will work on the lymphatic smooth muscle cell project.

Anna Sepulveda

Anna is a Kinesiology and Neuroscience major junior at WM. She joined our research group to investigate vascular cell heterogeneity in the adipose tissue and changes upon obesity diet. Anna and Caelen are working on understanding lymphatic vasculature and how it changes with obesity.

Previously mentored students

Jason LaPierre, Melanie Jimenez, Morgan Montana (undergrad at WM)

Tehya Niide, Kritihika Layagala (undergrad at WM)

Lillian Waller, Medical Resident at VCU

Ana Tsiskarishvili, District Manager at Vector Marketing

Sophia Kirmani, UVA graduate.