Principal Investigator
Crystal S Conn, PhD (AKA Crys; they/them)
Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology
CV; Training: PostDoc- UCSF Cancer Center, PhD- Cornell MBG 2013, BS- PennState BMB ‘07
UPenn Graduate Group Affiliations: Cell and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, & Pharmacology;
2024 Michael P. Nusbaum Graduate Student Mentoring Awardee
Member: Trainee Advocacy Alliance (TAA) ; founding member - Radiation Oncology Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
Outside Lab-> live music/concerts, running, hiking, food explorations, house restoration
Nora Kiledjian, CAMB PhD Candidate -Genetics & Epigenetics
BS: Cell Biology & Neuroscience; Rutgers University 2020; interest in all things RNA
rotated Fall 2021; Joined July 2022!
Outside Lab-> hiking, skiing, puzzling, cooking, baking, trying to keep plants alive
Morgan McGrath, CAMB graduate student -Cancer Biology
BS: Biological Sciences; Fordham University, 2022; Ψ focused
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship honoree 2022; rotated ‘22 joined April 2023!
Outside Lab-> Crocheting, Concerts, Spending time with friends
Dr. Sayantani Das, Postdoctoral Scholar
PhD: University of Calcutta, India 2023 -> working with miRNA mediated regulation of metastasis and cellular death in breast cancer cells. I am fascinated with post-transcriptional gene regulation & RNA-regulatory elements instrumental in cancer progression.
Outside Lab-> Reading fiction, dancing, painting & amateur nature photography
Marissa Howard, Research Specialist
BA: Biology, Minor(s): Education; Arcadia University 2023
Outside Lab-> Hiking, crafting, baking, & traveling
Contact: Marissa.Howard@Pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Ashley (Qihua) Yang, MS
MS: Biotech @UPenn 2023; BA: Biology, Minor(s): Japanese & Archaeology; Bryn Mawr College 2022
Outside Lab-> Dancing, traveling, watching musicals, reading detective fiction, & trips with friends
Ian Yannuzzi, Rotation Student January 2024, 1st year Cancer Bio
BS: Biology of Global Health; Georgetown University 2021
Outside Lab-> Nature walks, swimming, audiobooks, anime, trying new restaurants, & playing with my cat
Lab Almuni::::
Brian Hochstuhl, Lab Assistant ‘21
Next position- Business Manager @CHOP
Pratibha Srivastava, Postdoctoral Scholar
Next position- @CHOP Google Scholar
Caleb Lines, SUPERS Scholar ‘21; Research Specialist 2022
Next position- MD/PhD program @WashU
Tanis Dorwart, Research Specialist, Lab Manager
Next position- CAMB CB Graduate Student
Summer Scholars:
SUIP Scholar 2021
Next position- Biology Junior @Farrmingdale State University; intern Stanford ‘22
Mariaassumpta Ezedimma, SUPERS Scholar 2022
Next position- Biochemistry & Mol. Bio, rising Senior @Fisk University
Lucy Kamlewechi, SUPERS Student Summer 2023
Major: Biomedical Engineering @Alabama State Univ. in Junior year
2022-2023 Rotating Graduate Students:
Romie Azor, BMB PhD candidate
Joined- Stoffers Lab
Ellen Lavorando, BMB PhD candidate
Joined- Lui Lab
Maya Foster, Cancer Biology PhD candidate
Joined- Murphy Lab
Ashvathi Raghavakaimal, Cancer Biology PhD candidate
Joined- Chodosh Lab
Eleanor Sams,
G&E graduate student
Joined- Paralkar Lab
Anna Thickens Cancer Biology graduate student
BA: Biology, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison
Growing Team -Join Us!
The lab is looking to expand with passionate researchers including postdocs, graduate students, undergraduate and research technicians.
Please review Open Positions below and contact Dr. Conn if interested.
Graduate Students
We accept graduate students from Cell and Molecular Biology (CAMB), Biochemistry (BMB), & the Pharmacology programs. Students in other programs are also encouraged to reach out & rotate with us.
PostDocs
We are looking for Postdoctoral researchers in molecular and RNA biology with an interest in cancer or metabolic research. Post highlighted here. Please send a cover letter and your CV to CSConn
Research Specialist
It all begins with a goal. If you are interested in molecular & cell biology, learning translational concepts for applied science, e-mail me to share your interest & apply now to open positions. In the meantime, you should check out our research page to get a better idea of ongoing projects.
