CORINNE ASSELIN

Research Technician

I graduated from Elms College with a B.S. in Biotechnology in 2023. At the Zamore lab, I assist with mice genotyping and husbandry, as well as ordering supplies.  Location: AS4-2003

AYCA BAGCI

Graduate Student

I received my B.S in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Bogazici University in Turkey. During my first semester, here at UMass Med, I was introduced to small-RNA research and I have been enthusiastic about continuing that research ever since. My main interest is understanding the dynamics of piRNA precursor subcellular localization in cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) germ cells.  Location: AS4-2005

SHANNON BAILEY

Graduate Student

​I graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University in 2017. My interest in RNA and its pathways began during my undergraduate studies where I studied how codon usage affects mRNA decay rates. Currently, my work in the Zamore lab is focused on understanding the endogenous functions of prokaryotic Argonautes, specifically TtAgo.  Location: AS4-2002

MARIE BERNARD-COOK

Executive Assistant to Phillip Zamore

​I joined the RTI in 2021 & bring my twenty years of healthcare experience. In my current role I support Dr. Phil Zamore, Chair of the RTI. I have knowledge of executive calendar management, budgeting, special projects, provider support and other administrative tasks. I was Co-Chair of Diversity & Inclusion at my previous organization and led many extracurricular events from company talent shows to holiday events. Outside of work, I enjoy travel, the arts, shopping, cooking and spending time with friends, family.  Location: AS4-2045

SASHA-KAY CLARKE, PH.D.

Postdoctoral Associate - HHMI

I graduated with a BSc. from the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Kingston, Jamaica with a double major in Microbiology. In 2022, I received my PhD. in Molecular Biology from the UWI assessing the genetic diversity of an agriculturally significant insect pest, Diaphorina citri, across the Caribbean and investigating the potential role of RNAi as a high species-specific, low off-target management strategy in reducing this vector population. In Dr. Zamore’s Lab I am assessing the binding rules of mammalian Argonaute proteins.  Location: AS4-2005

ADRIANO BIASINI, PH.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow - Swiss National Science Foundation

I graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a B.Sc. in Biochemistry. Since completing my undergraduate studies, I have researched sRNA-dependent gene expression regulation: first in yeast, during my M. Sc. thesis in Dr. Marc Buehler's lab at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research in Basel, Switzerland, and next in mammalian cells during my PhD studies in Dr. Ana C. Marques's lab at the University of Lausannne, Switzerland. In Dr. Zamore's lab I am investigating the contribution of sRNA-dependent gene expression regulation in mammalian reproductive physiology.  Location: AS4-2003

JENNIFER BRODERICK, PH.D.

Instructor - HHMI

​My goal is to translate discoveries to the clinic. I am developing a new class of oligonucleotide drugs—miRNA tethers— an approach that promises to increase biodistribution and specificity of mRNA silencing. miRNA tethers silence by recruiting an Argonaute-bound miRNA to the target mRNA. Unlike antisense oligos, silencing does not occur without the miRNA. miRNA tethers may be useful for diseases associated with large increases in the abundance of specific miRNAs (e.g., inflammation, fibrosis, or cancer, ALS) or with infection by viruses that increase expression of host miRNAs or produce their own viral miRNAs.  Location: AS4-2006

KATHERINE CECCHINI

Research Technician III - HHMI

​I assist and coordinate the execution of all mouse projects in the Zamore lab.  My goal is to identify subfertility phenotypes in piRNA cluster mutant mice and, generally, to characterize the infertility phenotypes inherent in piRNA pathway mutants mice.  I received an M.S. in pathobiology from the University of Connecticut in 2006.  Location: AS4-2001

COLE DESROSIERS

Graduate Student

I received my B.S. in Computer Engineering from New York University and my M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, where I worked under Dr. Justin Pritchard to construct a long-read, duplex sequencing pipeline for detection of ultra-low frequency, distant cis mutations in breast cancer patients. I am currently engineering small, modified miRNAs to increase Argonaute-mediated mRNA cleavage. Location: AS4-2005

SEONG HYEON HONG, PH.D. - HHMI

Postdoctoral Associate

I graduated from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) College in 2015 with a B.S. in Biology. I received my Ph.D. degree in 2022 under the guidance of Dr. Chunghee Cho in the School of Life Sciences at GIST. During my Ph.D. courses, I studied functions of testis-specific long noncoding RNAs in spermatogenesis. With my knowledge and experimental skills in RNA biology and male reproduction, I want to investigate functions of PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) during male germ cell development.  Location: AS4-2004

MIKHAIL KLENOV, PH.D.

Research Scientist, Sr

I graduated from Moscow State University and received my Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Russian Academy of Sciences. At the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow, I led a research group that investigated the silencing of transposable elements by piRNA pathway and chromatin proteins in Drosophila. My current research is mainly focused on understanding the regulation of ribosomal RNA synthesis in flies, particularly the role of small RNAs in this process. Location: AS4-2002

YONGJIN LEE, PH.D.

Postdoctoral Associate

As a graduate student in the lab, I am interested in piRNA biogenesis in Drosophila. My research focuses on how piRNAs are generated and processed in germ cell nucleus.  Location: AS4-2004

CHRISTINA MINNITI - HHMI

Lab Manager

​I received my B.S. in biochemistry and B.S. in microbiology from Arizona State University. I've since gained experience in scientific publishing, science communication, aquatic husbandry, and conservation, particularly in marine and coastal ecosystems. I am now applying my diverse skill set to serve as a resource for investigators using live animals in research and teaching, and to support their teams.  Location: AS4-2001

GRACE SCHIEFELBEIN

Graduate Student

I graduated with a B.S. in biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame in 2022. There, I was involved in RNA triple helix research, sparking my interest in noncoding RNAs. As a joint graduate student with the Li Lab, I am currently developing a method to understand the biochemical mechanism of RNA cleavage by PIWI proteins. Location: AS4-2003

RUN SUN

Graduate Student

I graduated from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology with BS degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology in 2023. Currently, I am a graduate student in Dr. Zamore's lab, and I will be working on how small RNAs (especially piRNAs) are involved in the regulation of transposon-containing ribosomal DNA expression. Location: AS4-2003

CINDY TIPPING

Research Technician III - HHMI

​I graduated from Saint Anselm College with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. I am interested in looking at the localization of piRNA proteins using electon microscopy. Also, I assist graduate students and post-docs on their projects while serving as the lab fly technician.  Location: AS4-2002

ALOK TIWARY, PH.D.

Postdoctoral Associate

I got my PhD in 2022 from Indian Institute of science Education and Research, Mohali (IISER Mohali) in India. For my PhD, I studied the effects of different Wolbachia supergroup infections on the life-history traits of its arthropod hosts. My model system was a parasitoid wasp named Nasonia vitripennis. In the Zamore lab, I am trying to investigate the role mammalian PIWI proteins in spermatogenesis and oogenesis

NNAEME UKABIALA

Graduate Student

I graduated with a B.S. in Neuroscience from Baylor University and an M.S. in Neuroscience from Georgetown University. I am working on elucidating the protein binding profile of piRNA clusters in Hi5 and exploring how this profile can help us better understand what exactly destines transcripts expressed from piRNA clusters to the piRNA Biogenesis cascade. Location: AS4-2003

JOEL VEGA-BADILLO, PH.D.

Research Specialist

​I am a Biotechnology Engineer who studied at National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City. After receiving my Sc.B, I attended the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) for graduate studies in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Biotechnology Institute and National Institute of Genomic Medicine. I completed my Ph.D. in 2016 and joined the Zamore lab the same year. My interests include the study of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), liver fibrosis and its relationship with microRNAs, as well as the study of molecular mechanisms of target recognition by small RNA-guided Argonaute proteins.  Location: AS4-2004