Meet our team!
Elena Ezhkova, PhD
Lab Head
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.
Meng-Yen Li, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Meng-Yen received his Ph.D. 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
Pooja received her PhD at University at Albany in Dr. Rangan's lab. She joined the Ezhkova lab at September 2018. In the lab, she is interested in skin regeneration and wound healing. Outside the lab, she is an avid reader. Her favorite genre is fantasy fiction. She is also fascinated by true crime shows.
Carmit Bar, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Carmit received her BSc from Tel-Aviv University and MSc from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. She entered the graduate program at Mount Sinai in August 2014 and joined the lab in July 2015. She graduated in 2020 and stayed in the lab as a postdoctoral fellow. Carmit is interested in mechanisms controlling the development of the epidermis and the oral epithelium. Outside the lab, Carmit is interested in Illustration, photography and playing the guitar.
Madison Weber
Graduate Student
Madison is 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 enjoys dance, creative writing, and sewing
Meagan Branch
Graduate Student
Meagan received her B.S. 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.
Sergei Ezhkov
Laboratory Technician
Sergei joined the lab in April 2016. He is helping with genotyping and lab upkeep.
Alumni
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 (Mexico City, Mexico)
Carolina Perdigoto
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2012-2016
Current Position: Assistant editor, Nature Communications (London, UK).
Francis Santoriello
Laboratory Manager, 2014-2015
Current Position: Graduate student, UC Denver, Colorado.
Evan Bardot
Laboratory Manager, 2011-2014
Current Position: Graduate Student, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Jisheng Zhang
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2011-2013
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, China