Meet our team!
Elena Ezhkova, PhD
Lab Head
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Elena carried out her PhD studies on epigenetics and chromatin in Dr. Bill Tansey’s lab at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (NY, USA). For her postdoctoral studies, she moved to Dr. Elaine Fuchs’s lab at the Rockefeller University (NY, USA), where she learned the skin stem cell system. At Mount Sinai, Dr. Ezhkova's lab is part of the Black Family Stem Cell Institute and the Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology.
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Meng-Yen Li, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow (SBDRC Transition-to-Independence Awardee)
Meng-Yen received his PhD from the Institute of Biochemistry at National Taiwan University under the supervision by Dr. Guang-Chao Chen. During his PhD, he studied the function and molecular regulation of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase in lung cancer. Meng Yen joined the Ezhkova lab in February 2018. In the lab, he is interested in skin cancer.
Pooja Flora, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow (K99/R00 Awardee)
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Pooja received her PhD at University at Albany in Dr. Rangan's lab. She joined the Ezhkova lab in September 2018 and is interested in uncovering how epigenetic regulators control hair follicle stem cell function in the adult skin. Outside of the lab, Pooja is an avid reader and enjoys fantasy fiction. She is also fascinated by true crime podcasts and documentaries.
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Madison Weber
Graduate Student (F31 Awardee)
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Madison earned her BA in biology and philosophical studies from Bard College at Simon's Rock. She joined the lab in December 2019 and is interested in skin cancer. Outside the lab, she stays busy with sewing, crafts, and creative writing, and she loves to dance!
Meagan Branch
Graduate Student (F31 Awardee)
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Meagan received her BS in Biochemistry at Elon University in North Carolina, and after graduation she went on to participate in the NIH’s post-baccalaureate research education program (PREP) at the Medical University of South Carolina. She joined the lab in 2020 and is interested in wound healing. Outside of lab, Meagan enjoys trying new foods and restaurants as well as hanging out with friends.
Maria Mercedes
Graduate Student (T32 Awardee)
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Maria received her BA/BS in Spanish Literature and Biology at Brooklyn College (CUNY). She has a master’s degree in Biomedical Science from Drexel University. She joined the lab on Fall 2021 and is interested in epigenetic regulators in epidermal stem cell control. As a first-generation student, she advocates for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in STEM.
Megha Padubidri
Master's Student
megha.padubidri@icahn.mssm.edu
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Megha received her BS (Honors) in Biology at Azim Premji University in Bangalore, India. She joined the lab in Fall 2023 and is interested in studying the role of stem cells in wound healing. She is also interested in studying epigenetic modifications in cells damaged by UV exposure. Outside the lab, she enjoys wildlife photography, doodling and is an avid reader.
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Yudong Zhou
Master's Student
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Yudong received his Bsc from Imperial College London studying biomedical sciences. His research interests have been focused on studying iPSC-derived organoids in hydrogels as well as stem cell differentiation in development. He joined the lab in October 2023 to study Merkel cells' decrease and regeneration. Outside of the lab, he enjoys singing, running, longboarding, gaming, and playing chess.
Sergei Ezhkov
Laboratory Technician
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Sergei joined the lab in April 2016. He is helping with genotyping and lab upkeep.
Alua Zhanuzakova
High School Scholar
Alua is a high school senior at the High School for Math, Science and Engineering and a part of the Center for Excellence in Youth Education (CEYE) program at Mount Sinai. She is interested in epigenetic regulators involved in embryonic skin development. In her free time, she likes to read historical fiction, volunteer, and garden!
Tasnim Sumaita
Undergraduate Scholar
Tasnim is pursuing her BA in human biology and public health at Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College (CUNY). She is a student from the Center for Excellence in Youth Education (CEYE) at Mount Sinai. She joined the Ezhkova lab in July 2022 and is interested in UVB radiation’s epigenetic changes in the skin. Outside the lab, Tasnim explores different mediums of art, such as graphite and inks. She recently started embroidering and is learning to thread paint.
Alumni
Minh Nguyen
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2017-2023
Current position: Senior Scientist, Erini Papapetrou Lab, Mount Sinai
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Carmit Bar
PhD Candidate, 2015-2020
Current position:​ Scientific Associate, IMPRINT Publication Science
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Idan Cohen
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2014-2019
Current position: Assistant Professor, Ben-Gurion University, Israel
Katherine Dauber
PhD Candidate, 2012-2017
Current position: Senior research coordinator, Northwell Health
Julian Valdes
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2012-2017
Current Position: Assistant professor, UNAM Mx
Carolina Perdigoto
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2012-2016
Current Position: Chief Editor, Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
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Francis Santoriello
Laboratory Manager, 2014-2015
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Princeton University
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Evan Bardot
Laboratory Manager, 2011-2014
Current Position: Associate Editor, Nature Communications
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Jisheng Zhang
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2011-2013
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, China
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