Difference between revisions of "Members"
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[[Chaolin Zhang|Personal page (old!)]] | [[Chaolin Zhang|Personal page (old!)]] | ||
− | Chaolin is currently an Associate Professor with joint appointments in [http://systemsbiology.columbia.edu Department of Systems Biology], [http://www.biochem.cuimc.columbia.edu Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics], and [http://www.vagelos.columbia.edu/departments-centers/motor-neuron-center Motor Neuron Center] at [http://www.cuimc.columbia.edu Columbia University Irving Medical Center]. Before he joined Columbia, he performed PhD studies at [http://www.cshl.edu Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory] in computational biology and then Postdoc work on computational and molecular biology at [http://www.rockefeller.edu Rockefeller University]. Before that he obtained bachelor's degree studying Automation at [http://www.tsinghua.edu.cn Tsinghua University] (Beijing). As an engineer-converted biologist, he has a deep interest in understanding gene regulatory logics. From the beginning of his academic endeavor, he decided to tackle the RNA code, i.e., how specific protein-RNA interactions determine the gene output in health and disease conditions, which remains the focus of the lab. Chaolin is a winner of | + | Chaolin is currently an Associate Professor with joint appointments in [http://systemsbiology.columbia.edu Department of Systems Biology], [http://www.biochem.cuimc.columbia.edu Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics], and [http://www.vagelos.columbia.edu/departments-centers/motor-neuron-center Motor Neuron Center] at [http://www.cuimc.columbia.edu Columbia University Irving Medical Center]. Before he joined Columbia, he performed PhD studies at [http://www.cshl.edu Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory] in computational biology and then Postdoc work on computational and molecular biology at [http://www.rockefeller.edu Rockefeller University]. Before that he obtained bachelor's degree studying Automation at [http://www.tsinghua.edu.cn Tsinghua University] (Beijing). As an engineer-converted biologist, he has a deep interest in understanding gene regulatory logics. From the beginning of his academic endeavor, he decided to tackle the RNA code, i.e., how specific protein-RNA interactions determine the gene output in health and disease conditions, which remains the focus of the lab. Chaolin is a winner of Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00, 2011) and Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA/R35, 2022) from NIH, and Scientific Innovations Award from the Brain Research Foundation (2023). |
Revision as of 22:01, 20 January 2023
Zhang lab photo, 2022 @ Columbia University Irving Medical Center (not in picture: Dan Moakley and Tim Yeh) |
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Chaolin Zhang Associate Professor, Department of Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Motor Neuron Center Chaolin is currently an Associate Professor with joint appointments in Department of Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, and Motor Neuron Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Before he joined Columbia, he performed PhD studies at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in computational biology and then Postdoc work on computational and molecular biology at Rockefeller University. Before that he obtained bachelor's degree studying Automation at Tsinghua University (Beijing). As an engineer-converted biologist, he has a deep interest in understanding gene regulatory logics. From the beginning of his academic endeavor, he decided to tackle the RNA code, i.e., how specific protein-RNA interactions determine the gene output in health and disease conditions, which remains the focus of the lab. Chaolin is a winner of Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00, 2011) and Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA/R35, 2022) from NIH, and Scientific Innovations Award from the Brain Research Foundation (2023).
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Current Lab Members
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Georgia Dermentzaki (09/2021-), Postdoc
Email: gn2267 (at) cumc (dot) columbia (dot) edu
Georgia joined the Zhang lab as an Associate Research Scientist in September 2021 after working as a Postodoctoral Research Scientist in Serge Przedborski’s and Francesco Lotti’s lab in the Motor Neuron Center at Columbia Medical Center. There she focused her research in studying mechanisms of motor neuron degeneration in ALS and SMA with particular interest in RNA modifications / RNA metabolism. In addition, she worked in the Project ALS Therapeutic Core as the Lead Scientist for the Viral Unit where she developed and optimized novel assays for AAV production targeting the CNS and PNS in ALS mice models for preclinical studies. Her current research is focusing on the functional impact of neuron-type specific alternative splicing in the brain and RNA-based therapeutics for brain-related disorders. She also enjoys cooking Greek food (being Greek), long walks in Central Park, and yoga/pilates.
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Jessica Estrada (11/2022-), Technician
Email: je2673 (at) cumc (dot) columbia (dot) edu
Jessica received her B.A from Stony Brook University in Chemistry and is a Technician in the Zhang Lab. She assists on various projects in the lab while developing a research focus, and plans on pursing a PhD in the biomedical sciences. In her free time, she likes to go on hikes and cook for friends and family.
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Brian Joseph (11/2021-), Postdoc (joint with Hynek Witchterle lab)
Email: bj2468 (at) cumc (dot) columbia (dot) edu
A native Pakistani, Brian is obsessed with cricket and biryani. He is also an avid runner who still believes the PRs are yet to come.
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Suvrajit Maji (07/2022-), Postdoc
Email:sm4073 (at) cumc (dot) columbia (dot) edu
Suvrajit is received his Bachelor's and Master's degree in Mathematics and Computing from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India. He then received his Ph.D. degree in computational biology from Carnegie Mellon University under the mentorship of his thesis advisor Dr. Marcel P. Bruchez. His thesis topic was single-molecule localization microscopy and super-resolution reconstruction of biological structures using generative models. He moved to Columbia University to continue his postdoctoral research work under the mentorship of Dr. Joachim Frank, when he focused on developing advanced mathematical, computer vision, and machine learning techniques for studying the structure and dynamics of molecular machines such as the Ribosomes and determining high-resolution 3D structures from 2D cryo-EM image datasets. His current research focuses on computational methods development, application, and analysis to study RNA-protein binding interactions using CLIP sequencing datasets. He is also involved in developing and applying machine learning & deep learning methods to study RNA-protein complex structures. |
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Daniel Moakley (06/2018-), Graduate Student
Email: dfm2129 (at) cumc (dot) columbia (dot) edu
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Paola Rinchetti (05/2022-), Postdoc (joint with Francesco Lotti lab)
Email: pr2485 (at) cumc (dot) columbia (dot) edu
Paola's research career started in 2014 in Prof. Stefania Corti's lab at University of Milan. During her studies in Italy, she maximized her knowledge in the field of cellular biology and in particular in the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and 2D models to study neurodegenerative diseases such as SMA and ALS and the development of potential treatments. During her PhD, she mainly focused on the generation of new 3D models to investigate the pathological mechanism underlying SMA and ALS. During this time, she was also involved in exchange programs with the laboratory of Prof. Prezdborsky and Prof. Lotti at Columbia University where she was able to deepen her knowledge in the field of in vivo models. In the Zhang lab, she is working on RNA-based medicine for neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Yocelyn Recinos (06/2018-), Graduate Student
Email: yr2330 (at) cumc (dot) columbia (dot) edu
Yocelyn received her B.S. in biological sciences from the University of California, Irvine and is a Ph.D. candidate in the Integrated Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical program at Columbia University. For her thesis research, she is focused on developing high-throughput screening technologies to understand the role of RNA regulation in the context of alternative splicing and disease. Her work is supported by the NSF GRFP (2019). She also enjoys running in Central Park and practicing hot yoga.
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Xiaojian Wang (06/2016-), Lab manager
Email: xw2006 (at) columbia (dot) edu
Before coming to work at Columbia, Xiaojian earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Beijing Medical University and the Ohio State University, respectively. At CUIMC, she worked as supporting staff and lab manager in several labs. She joined the Zhang lab in 2016, and has been providing support on both molecular biology experiments and mouse work, as well as daily lab operations. In her free time, Xiaojian enjoys cooking, watching baseball games, and spending time with her family. |
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Yuchen Xu (02/2022-), Master Student
Yuchen received his B.E degree in bioengineering from Northeastern University (China) in 2018. During his undergraduate study, he was previously involved in research work to study the relationship between TDP-43 protein and Lactoferrin treatment for the Alzheimer’s Disease. He is now a master student biostatistics at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. In the Zhang lab, Yuchen studies spatial regulation of alternative splicing in the brain. In leisure times, Yuchen likes hiking or visiting coffee shops in NYC. |
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Tim Yeh (09/2022-), Postdoc
Tim received his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Columbia University (2022). Throughout his scientific career, he has been interested in understanding how the brain works and developing treatment. His graduate research focused on auditory processing in the brain and sensorimotor interaction. As a postdoc in the Zhang lab, Tim hopes to investigate the roles of RNA splicing in normal brain functions and neurological diseases using novel research methods such as gene editing tools and sequencing technologies. When he is not doing science, he likes to play tennis and ping pong. He is also a foodie who enjoys eating pizza! |