Members

Matthias Blanc, Postdoctoral Fellow
mblanc@stanford.edu
PhD, Universitat Pompeu Fabra; MS & BS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie

Matthias obtained his PhD from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra of Barcelona, where he studied the spatial and temporal drivers of hindbrain neuronal diversity under the supervision of Dr. Cristina Pujades. During his PhD he leveraged genetic and computational techniques in order to analyze neuronal populations across multiple modalities, effectively linking lineage, fate, time and neuronal activity in hindbrain development. He is now interested in applying his knowledge of spatio-temporal patterning to tissue culture and hopes to bridge the gap between fate and function in order to create individual functional units in a dish. During his spare time, Matt enjoys bouldering and tinkering away with his 3D printer and soldering iron, when he's not out and about with his friends or family.

Amir Dailamy, Postdoctoral Fellow (joint with Brendan Visser's lab)
amir3@stanford.edu
PhD, UC San Diego; BS, UC Los Angeles

Amir earned his PhD in Bioengineering from UCSD, where he conducted his research under the mentorship of Dr. Prashant Mali. During his time in the Mali lab, he focused the development of innovative methods for creating vascularized organ tissues and contributed to the advancement of genome engineering tools and high-throughput screening techniques. Now, in the Loh Lab, he is eager to pursue his passion for developmental biology and apply his biotechnology-focused training towards clinically relevant problems. Outside of the lab, Amir enjoys surfing, listening to music, and spending time with his doggy.

Rayyan Jokhai, MD/PhD Student
rtjokhai@stanford.edu
BA, Johns Hopkins University

Rayyan is from Queens, New York and is pursuing an M.D./Ph.D. from Stanford School of Medicine. He is fascinated by the complexity of the central nervous system, consisting of the brain and spinal cord, and is interested in understanding how it develops. He hopes to apply this knowledge clinically to inform neuroregenerative treatments and create new platforms for disease modelling. Rayyan completed his undergraduate degree in chemistry at the Johns Hopkins University, where he worked in the lab of Dr. Thomas Lectka to develop novel fluorination methods for biologically-relevant compounds. Outside of lab, Rayyan enjoys doing Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Rayyan's support comes from the Stanford Medical Scientist Training Program and Stanford Medical Scholars Research Program, and he has been recognized by the Stanford Chi-Li Pao Foundation-AOA Student Research Fellowship.

Rachel Sunwoo Kang, Research Professional
rskang@stanford.edu
BA, Mount Holyoke College

Rachel received their B.A. in Neuroscience and Behavior at Mount Holyoke College, where they researched the effects of glial tauopathy using Drosophila melanogaster (go flies!) under the guidance of Dr. Kenneth Colodner. Her study in neurodegenerative diseases sparked a further interest in better understanding cellular and molecular frameworks of neurobiology, as well as investigating how neural stem cells could be used as a potential therapeutic. During their free time, Rachel enjoys baking, going to farmers’ markets, and exploring new restaurants.

Ella Soohee Kim, Undergraduate Student
ellakim@stanford.edu

Ella is an undergrad interested in developmental and regenerative biology. In the past, she studied transgenesis in Seung Kim's lab at Stanford characterizing novel enhancer-trap lines in Drosophila melanogaster. Ella is hoping to apply her research background to a future in medicine. In addition to taking her pre-med science courses, Ella is exploring her interests in anthropology, modern languages, and education. Outside of the classroom, she is inspired by music, food, hiking and her cats.

Hunter King, PhD Student
hunterk@stanford.edu
BA, Columbia University

Hunter is from Bend, Oregon and is presently a PhD student in Developmental Biology at Stanford. He previously received a BA in Computer Science and Biology from Columbia University, where he performed undergraduate research in Itsik Pe'er's lab studying bacterial dynamics in the gut microbiome using machine learning, and in Songtao Jia's lab investigating the mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance in fission yeast. Currently, Hunter is interested in the transcriptional and signaling networks that drive differentiation as well as role of cell lineage in cell type specification. Outside of the lab, Hunter enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, making specialty coffee, and watching the 49ers (this year we're winning the Super Bowl for real this time).

Kyle Loh, Faculty
kyleloh@stanford.edu
PhD, Stanford University; BA, Rutgers University (CV)

Kyle enjoys learning about developmental biology and using this knowledge to exert control over stem cells. He was a beneficiary of public schools (County College of Morris and Rutgers University) and conducted research at the Genome Institute of Singapore (with Bing Lim) and Stanford University (for his Ph.D., with Irv Weissman), with fellowships from the Hertz Foundation, U.S. National Science Foundation and Davidson Institute for Talent Development. He then continued as a Siebel Investigator and later, as an Assistant Professor and The Anthony DiGenova Endowed Faculty Scholar, at Stanford. Kyle is a Packard Fellow, Pew Scholar, Human Frontier Science Program Young Investigator and Baxter Foundation Faculty Scholar, and has been recognized by the NIH Director's Early Independence Award, Forbes 30 Under 30, Harold Weintraub Graduate Award, Hertz Foundation Thesis Prize and the A*STAR Investigatorship. In his spare time, Kyle goes road biking, enjoys science fiction, and indulges his new fascination with biosafety level 4 viruses.

Anastasiia Masaltseva, PhD student
masalts@stanford.edu
BS & MS, Lomonosov Moscow State University

Ana received her BS and MS in Biophysics at Lomonosov Moscow State University in Russia, and she is currently pursuing a PhD degree in Bioengineering at Stanford. During her time at MSU she conducted research in the Nechipurenko lab, where she used high-performance computational modeling and microfluidic assays to study how the formation of blood clots is shaped by individual platelets receiving and interpreting external signals. Currently, Ana is interested in the decision-making underlying cell fate specification and how the developmental trajectory of cells informs their eventual tissue-specific identity. Outside of the lab, she enjoys photography, music and organizing social events. Ana is supported by the Stanford Graduate Fellowship.

Aaron McCarty, Laboratory Services Manager (joint with Irv Weissman's lab)
mccartya@stanford.edu
BS, University of California, Davis

Aaron received his BS in Animal Science & Aquaculture from University of California, Davis (GO AGS!!). He then went on to cut his teeth in molecular biology and transgenic mouse production and management at several Bay Area biotech companies (Anergen, Deltagen, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals). In 2008, he joined the Stanford Veterinary Services Center before taking a position in Dr. Irving Weissman’s lab in 2012. He now splits his time as Lab Manager for Dr. Kyle Loh’s lab and Colony/in vivo resources manager for the Weissman lab. Aaron is a Bay Area native having been born and raised in San Carlos. He loves his Bay Area sports teams and is an unapologetic Dodger “disliker”. In his free time, he can be found exploring San Francisco with his family, attending his kids’ numerous school and sporting events, or working on his short game at the golf course.

Valerie Park, Laboratory Coordinator (joint with Lay Teng Ang's and Phil Beachy's labs)
valpark@stanford.edu
BS, Boston University

Valerie received a B.S. in Health Science from Boston University. Her passion for biology and human health grew at Boston Children’s Hospital and Broad Institute where she supported clinic and lab operations, respectively. She enjoys baking, fiber arts, and spending as much time as possible outdoors.

Andrew Petkovic, Research Professional
andrewp4@stanford.edu
BS, University of California, Davis

Andrew received his BS in biotechnology from UC Davis and began a new journey to pursue his master's degree at San José State University as a Stem Cell Internships Laboratory-based Learning (SCILL) student after discovering his passion for stem cells. He started his internship in Dr. Loh's lab as a CIRM intern to further his knowledge about neural stem cells under the guidance of Rayyan Jokhai. Andrew's interests include skiing, finding cafés to study at, and eating. Also be careful about mentioning Metal Gear Solid, he might not stop talking about it for a while. Andrew was formerly supported by the CIRM Bridges Program.

Crystal Qian, Undergraduate
cqian814@stanford.edu

Crystal is an undergrad majoring in Human Biology. Previously, she studied induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in the Parikh Lab at Stanford and disease vector range expansions in the Mordecai Lab at Stanford. She is fascinated by the signaling mechanisms involved in cell fate specification and the potential for stem cell-driven regenerative medicine. Beyond her primary focus on human health and disease, Crystal is also interested in ethics and moral philosophy, particularly in relation to modern bioethical dilemmas. Outside of the lab, she enjoys fencing, watching the 49ers, and trying new adrenaline activities. She was recognized by the NCAA Elite 90 Award and MPSF All-Academic Award.

Yimiao Qu, Postdoctoral Fellow
yimiao.qu@stanford.edu
PhD & MS, Peking University; BA, Shandong University

Yimiao obtained her Ph.D. from Peking University where she discovered a molecular mechanism whereby a cell evaluates and keeps a memory of its environment to make a better decision for when to subsequently proliferate. From then on, she has been fascinated by the molecular mechanisms underlying how a cell’s environmental history could reprogram its behavior. A cell’s environmental history also shapes its identity during development. She is now beginning to study whether and how the history of environmental signals can direct the trajectory of the cell differentiation over time during mammalian development. Yimiao believes her research will unveil the molecular mechanisms underlying the landscape of cell differentiation trajectories during early mammalian development. Outside of the lab, she enjoys watching movies (Marvel movies are the best) and travelling around. Yimiao has also developed a new hobby of observing wild animals since she moved to the Bay Area. Yimiao is supported by the Stanford School of Medicine Dean's Postdoctoral Fellowship and Stanford MCHRI Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Katie Schaukowitch, Instructor
kschauk@stanford.edu
PhD, University of Texas, Southwestern; BS, University of California, San Diego

Katie earned her PhD at UT Southwestern in Tae-Kyung Kim’s lab where she became interested in understanding how neurons integrate information from the external environment, focusing on mechanisms underlying activity-dependent gene expression. She did her postdoc in Marius Wernig’s lab at Stanford University, where she utilized imaging approaches to visualize transcription factors influencing the direct conversion of fibroblasts to induced neuronal cells. Now in the Loh lab, Katie hopes to apply her knowledge of gene regulation to elucidate mechanisms underlying neuronal differentiation and neurodevelopmental disorders. Outside of the lab, Katie enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

Alicia Wong, Research Professional
awong12@stanford.edu
BS, University of California, Los Angeles

Alicia received her B.S. in Biochemistry at the University of California – Los Angeles. Since her undergrad, she has been trained as a molecular biologist with a focus on cancer biology. In her previous lab, she worked on creating genetically defined models of bladder cancer that better recapitulated human disease. She really enjoys learning about new research fields and different experimental techniques and is excited to pursue a new interest in stem cell biology and virology. During her spare time, she enjoys beer tasting and attempting to garden.

Qingqing Yin, Postdoctoral Fellow
qingqyin@stanford.edu
PhD, Peking University; BS, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University

Qingqing received her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics at Peking University, where she focused on cancer nanomedicine. Mentored by Yiguang Wang, she developed a binary ratiometric nanoreporter that converts pH changes during cellular endocytosis into digitized signal output, enabling the quantitative imaging of nanoparticle internalization in vivo. As a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford, she first worked in Tanya Stoyanova's laboratory, where she learned about cancer biology. Now, she is excited to start a new journey in molecular biology and virology. Outside of the lab, Qingqing enjoys cooking Chinese cuisine and playing Lego. Qingqing is supported by the Stanford School of Medicine Dean's Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Affiliates

Jacqueline Chang, Clinical Research Coordinator (joint with Brendan Visser's lab)
cjackie@stanford.edu
BA and BS, Boston University

Jackie was born and raised in the Bay Area and received a dual B.A. in Psychology and B.S. in Health Science from Boston University. During her time in university, she worked with Dr. Margaret Lee at Boston Medical Center studying the effects of interdisciplinary psychodermatological care in pediatric dermatology patients. Presently, she works as a Clinical Research Coordinator Associate in the Division of General Surgery at the Stanford School of Medicine, jointly mentored by Dr. Brendan Visser and Dr. Kyle Loh alongside Amir Dailamy studying the effects of cytokines and hormones on weight loss in patients undergoing surgery. In her free time, Jackie enjoys sewing, rock climbing, and spending time with her family in the great outdoors.

Jadis Chen, Clinical Research Coordinator (joint with Brendan Visser's lab)
jadis@stanford.edu
BA, Brown University

Jadis received her dual B.A. in Public Health and Music from Brown University, where she examined the relationship between dietary inflammatory index and depressive symptoms in young adult women, as well as the effect of BRCA gene mutations on ovarian reserve. She is currently a clinical research coordinator in the Department of General Surgery at Stanford, supporting several clinical trials focused on chest wall injuries, short bowel syndrome, intraoperative nerve illumination, and insurance access among low-income trauma patients. An initial collaboration with Dr. Loh and Dr. Visser on a study investigating the effects of hormones and cytokines on body weight has sparked her interest in experimental techniques and neural stem cells. Outside of work, Jadis enjoys playing the piano, going to new cafés, and practicing latte art.

Alumni (and where they went next)

Tim Chai
Internal Medicine Resident, Stanford Hospital
Stanford Medical Scientist Training Program

Carolyn Dundes
Postdoctoral Fellow, Genentech
Stanford Graduate Fellowship, Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship, Stanford DARE Fellowship, Stanford VPGE Academic Achievement Award

Alyssa Holman
Ph.D. Student, UC San Diego

Alana Nguyen
Ph.D. Student, UC Davis
CIRM Bridges Program

Mitheera V
Ph.D. Student, MD Anderson Cancer Center