People
 |
|
Chris Carr Postdoctoral Associate (MIT)
Education B.S. and M.S., MIT; Sc.D., Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology
Interests Search for life on Mars, microfluidics, space suit design, bioenergetics of walking and running
My current research focus is on early instrument development of a life-detection instrument for Mars, in conjunction with planetary scientist Maria Zuber at MIT and molecular biologist Gary Ruvkun at the Massachusetts General Hospital. I completed my dissertation research related to space suit design and astronaut performance in the MIT Man-Vehicle Laboratory, and have also worked at the NASA/Caltech Jet-Propulsion Laboratory. Among other things, I enjoy mountaineering, paragliding, and foreign languages. |
 |
 |
|
Annie Lee Conery Research Associate
Education B.A., Pomona College; Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley
Interests Developing high-throughput high content screening methods to carry out RNAi and chemical compounds screens with C. elegans
I work with the Ruvkun and Ausubel labs, in collaboration with the Chemical Biology Platform and the Imaging Platform at the Broad Institute, to develop automated screening technology and methods to perform C. elegans RNAi and chemical compound screens. We use automated worm sorting, liquid handling, image acquisition and image analysis to carry out high throughput screens yielding high content data. We are currently exploring 1) RNAi screens to identify novel genes involved in metabolism and 2) chemical compound screens to identify novel anti-infectives as models to develop generally applicable methodologies to perform a wide range of screens using C. elegans as a model organism. When I'm not in lab, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I can't resist a beautiful day outdoors, I love to read and I'm always looking for my next favorite restaurant.
|
| |
 |
|
Sean Curran Research Fellow
Education B.S. and Ph.D. at UCLA
Interests Identifying novel molecular determinates of aging and age-related diseases
When not in the lab I enjoy watching whatever my Tivo has recorded for me, taking naps, and dreaming of the warm weather in sunny California. I strive to find "wicked awesome" snowboarding rides, I enjoy the quest to compile the perfect iTunes playlist, and I hope one day to reign as the DDR champion of the world, or the next American Idol (whichever comes first). |
| |
 |
|
Sylvia Fischer Research Fellow
Education M.Sc., Leiden University, The Netherlands; Ph.D., Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Interests Mechanism and function of small RNA-mediated processes in C. elegans
I am interested in how small RNAs silence their targets. Currently, using both genetic mutants and a genome-wide RNAi screen, I am analyzing the negative regulation of RNAi in C. elegans. Through these analyses I hope to gain more insight into the RNAi pathway and into the function of small RNAs in C. elegans. |
| |
 |
|
Harrison Gabel Graduate Student
Education A.B., Princeton University
Interests Genetic analysis of small RNA mediated processes in the worm
In the lab, I am employing genetic and functional genomic approaches in the nematode C.elegans to identify components of small RNA-mediated pathways, including RNA interference (RNAi) and microRNA-mediated gene silencing. Outside the lab, I enjoy skiing, biking, hiking, Red Sox games, and the occasional tasty cheeseburger from The Hill Tavern. |
| |
 |
|
Gabriel Hayes Research Fellow
Education B.A., Cornell University; Ph.D., Harvard University
Interests Control of developmental timing by microRNAs in C. elegans
My work has focused on the control of the timing of stage-specific developmental events by microRNAs, in particular let-7 and its paralog mir-84. I am currently studying a protein-coding gene that I identified in a screen for factors required for the precocious phenotype that results when mir-84 is overexpressed. Outside the lab I enjoy travel, exotic food, running, classical music and tennis. |
| |
 |
|
Sarah Stewart Johnson
Education
Interests
|
| |
 |
|
Natasha Kirienko Research Fellow
Education BS, MS, Rostov State University; PhD, University of Wyoming
Interests
I work in the Ausubel and Ruvkun labs, using C. elegans to study the conserved mechanisms of organismal defenses to stresses and infection with pathogens. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, hiking and swimming. |
| |
 |
|
Jonah Larkins-Ford Research Fellow
Education
Interests |
| |
 |
|
Justine Melo Research Fellow
Education A.B., Princeton University; Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco
Interests Behavioral and physiological adaptations to energetic cues in C.elegans
I am interested in how animals sense internal cues of nutritional status, and how these cues impact food-seeking behaviors. I am developing several experimental systems for dissecting food preference behaviors and animal physiology as a function of food quality. |
| |
 |
|
Taiowa Montgomery Research Fellow
Education PhD, Oregon State U.
Interests RNA silencing pathways
I am interested in how small RNA are routed into distinct RNA silencing pathways and the mechanisms they use to silence their targets. |
| |
 |
|
Eyleen O'Rourke Research Fellow
Education B.S., National University of Misiones, Argentina ; Ph.D. University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
For millions of years, animals with genes predisposing them to eat a lot and gain weight, as well as to distinguish nutritious from deficient diets, and to endure starvation, would have survived famines and enjoyed an evolutionary advantage. The shared ancestry of Caenorhabditis elegans and humans supports our search for genes that control eating, food choices, and fat accumulation. I aim to discover and characterize novel conserved genes that regulate the selection, intake, and storage of nutrients in C. elegans. |
| |
 |
|
Devin Parry Research Fellow
Education BS, Stanford University; PhD, University of California, San Francisco
Interests Control of gene expression by miRNAs
I am utilizing the powerful functional genomic tools available for C. elegans to explore how a newly-discovered class of tiny RNAs functions to control, well, just about everything... When not in lab, I enjoy hiking, skiing, rock climbing, watching movies, cooking and eating fabulous meals and losing Scrabble games to my wife. |
| |
 |
|
Christian G. Riedel Research Fellow
Education Diploma in Biochemistry, Eberhard-Karls U., Tuebingen, Germany; PhD, U. of Vienna
Interests
I am interested in the molecular mechanisms that control aging. Outside the lab I enjoy various sports and photography. |
| |
 |
|
Sascha Russel Graduate Student
Education B.A., Biology, Brown University; M.A., Science Education, NYU
I am interested in understanding how molting is regulated in C. elegans. Normally worms molt only four times during larval development; however, I have isolated mutants that continue to molt as adults. The study of these mutants should give insight into how the worms coordinate molting with other developmental and physiological inputs. When I’m not being productive in lab, I like to: distract the people around me (especially Sean in my bay), try new foods (like grasshoppers in Oaxaca), and do artsy-crafty things (knitting, casting resin backgammon pieces, thrifting...), and play poker, smoke cigarettes, and recycle everything. |
| |
 |
|
Diane Sacchetti Administrative Assistant
Interests Enjoying the simple pleasures of life, especially my family, home and friends
I came to MGH to work for Dr. Gary Ruvkun in the Department of Molecular Biology in 1998. In March of 2005 I was asked to take on a second lab, that of Dr. Joshua Kaplan. It is a pleasure to work with such wonderful, intelligent and caring people. Before my arrival at MGH I was the proprietor of an ice cream franchise in Newton, MA. My husband and I also own a catering business called Boston Festive Concessions.
|
| |
 |
|
Andrew Samuelson Research Fellow
Education B.S., Pennsylvania State University; Ph.D., State University of New York at Stonybrook
Interests Molecular mechanisms of aging
I use functional genomic approaches in C. elegans to identify novel genetic components that influence lifespan and the aging process. I am also aging through full-time fatherhood, and am enjoying every minute. Outside of studying and actively practicing aging, I enjoy real-time strategy online gaming, ancient Roman and Greek military history, ice hockey, golf, white water canoeing, Penn State football, and the Dallas Cowboys.
|
| |
 |
|
Zhen Shi Research Fellow
Education
Interests
|
| |
 |
|
Yuval Tabach Research Fellow
Education Tel Aviv University; MSc and PhD, Weizmann Institute
Interests
I am interested in the evolutionary conservation pattern of RNAi machinery, and in employing bioinformatic and systems biology approaches to the understanding of small-DNA-mediated pathways. |
| |
 |
|
Meng Wang Research Fellow
Education B.S., Peking University; Ph.D., University of Rochester
Interests Aging and human lifespan
Aging is a universal phenomenon in living organisms ranging from yeast to human. Many physiological activities such as energy metabolism, reproductive probabilities and tissue repair are disturbed with advancing age. Using C. elegans as a model, I am interested in investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying late-onset obesity, age-associated reproductive senescence and late defect in wound healing.
|
| |
 |
|
Xiaoyun Wu Research Fellow
Education B.S., Fudan University; Ph.D., Wadsworth Center
Interests Soma-germline distinction and its connection with RNAi
In metazoans, soma and germline carry distinct functions. Recently, our lab showed that this distinction requires the worm homologue of the Retinoblastoma gene, lin-35. lin-35/Rb mutants misexpress germline-specific markers in the soma. These worms are also more efficient at RNAi and show abnormal RAS activation. I wish to use genetic as well as functional genomic methods to understand how Rb prevents soma from germlinizing, and whether there is any connection between germlinization, RNAi and RAS signaling. |
| |
 |
|
Chi Zhang Research Fellow
Education Bachelor of Medicine, Peking University Health Science Center; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins
My research interest is focused on characterization of the negative regulation of the RNAi pathway using C. elegans neurons as a model system. I plan to carry out a drug-based selection screen and an RNAi-based enhancer screen to systematically identify negative regulators antagonizing the RNAi response, and then characterize their functions by genetic and biochemical means. My passions outsidethe lab are gardening, reading books and spending time with my family and friends. |
| |
 |
|
Ting Zhu Graduate Student
Education M.S. Mechanical Engineering, MIT; HST (MEMP) Program
Interests Protocell division mechanisms
I hope that basic engineering principles can help to retell a legend billions of years old.
|
|
Former Postdocs (in order of departure)
|
| Alison Frand |
|
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, UCLA |
| Ho Yi Mak |
|
Assistant Investigator, Stowers Institute |
| John Kim |
|
Assistant Professor, Life Sciences Institute at U. of Michigan |
| Ilya Ruvinsky |
|
Assistant Professor, Dept. Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago |
| Patrick Hu |
|
Assistant Professor, Life Sciences Institute at U Michigan |
| Weiqing Li |
|
Assistant Professor, Dept of Biological Structure, U Washington |
| Scott Kennedy |
|
Assistant Professor, Dept of Pharmacology, U Wisconsin |
| Tom Isenbarger |
|
University of Wisconsin School of Law |
| Sylvia Lee |
|
Assistant Professor, Dept of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University (Searle) |
| Kaveh Ashrafi |
|
Assistant Professor, Dept of Physiology, UCSF (Burroughs Wellcome Award) |
| Amy Pasquinelli |
|
Assistant Professor, Dept of Biology, UC San Diego (Searle, Rosalind Franklin Award) |
| Cathy Wolkow |
|
Assistant Professor, National Institute of Aging, Baltimore (Ellison Scholar) |
| Sarah Pierce |
|
Senior Research Associate, King lab at University of Washington |
| Raymond Lee |
|
Curator, C. elegans database, Caltech |
| Frank Slack |
|
Associate Professor, Biology Dept, Yale University (Ellison Scholar) |
| Oliver Hobert |
|
Professor of Biochemistry and HHMI at Columbia University P&S (Searle) |
| Ji Ying Sze |
|
Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Albert Einstein School of Medicine |
| Ilho Ha |
|
Professor of Biochemistry, Inje University, Korea |
| Scott Ogg |
|
Director of Project Management, Arresto Biosciences, Palo Alto |
| Koutarou Kimura |
|
Assistant Professor, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan |
| Garth Patterson |
|
Assistant Dean at Rutgers University |
| Ralf Baumeister |
|
Professor, University of Freiburg, Germany |
| Ann Sluder |
|
Director of Biology, Scynexis, Research Triangle Park |
| Shoshanna Gottlieb |
|
School teacher in Philadelphia |
| David Greenstein |
|
Associate Professor of Genetics, Univ of Minnesota |
| Prema Arasu |
|
Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine, U North Carolina |
| Thomas Bürglin |
|
Associate Professor, Karolinska Institute, Södertörns högskola, Stockholm |
| Michael Finney |
|
Former Chief Scientist & Principal, MJ Research, now venture capital |
| |
|
|
|
Former Graduate Students (in order of departure)
|
| Duo Wang |
|
Strategic Decisions Group, New York |
| Gisela Sandoval |
|
Resident in Psychiatry at Univ of Chicago |
| Brenda Reinhart |
|
Postdoctoral research with Kathy Barton at Stanford |
| Suzanne Paradis |
|
Assistant Professor, Brandeis University |
| Heidi Tissenbaum |
|
Associate Professor, U. of Massachusetts at Worcester (Burroughs Wellcome Award) |
| Jason Morris |
|
Assistant Professor, Fordham University, NYC |
| Allison Koweek |
|
Personal organizer |
| Bruce Wightman |
|
Associate Professor of Biology, Muhlenberg College |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
