Can Selahattin Ozcan
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW, PhD
Uludag University, Turkey
Çan received his Ph.D. in biochemistry under the supervision of Prof. Abdullah Yalcin at Uludag University in Turkey. His research focused on the role of PFKFB enzymes in PDAC tumorigenesis and metastasis. He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher with Prof. Ceyda Acilan at Koc University, investigating centrosome amplification and aneuploidy in cancer. During this time, he gained experience in proximity labeling proteomics and CRISPR screens. Currently, his main research focus is PDAC metabolism and metastasis, and other than cancer, he has a keen interest in regulating hematopoiesis.
Fun fact: I have a big family with five furry members and love spending time with them. Cooking and baking are among my hobbies, and I also dedicate time to improving my piano skills. I cannot imagine a life without the joy of classical music. Additionally, I am a big snooker fan!
so2716@cumc.columbia.edu
Justin Powers
PhD CANDIDATE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
HBSc, Eastern Michigan University
As an undergraduate, Justin worked in Dr. Cory Emal’s lab to develop small-molecule inhibitors for treating thrombosis. Under the mentorship of Dr. James Hoeschele, Justin also led efforts to synthesize platinum complexes for cancer treatment. After his undergraduate studies, Justin went on to work in Dr. Nouri Neamati's lab, synthesizing small-molecule drugs for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Fun facts about Justin: “I have wrestled since I was eight years old and have practiced judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and mixed martial arts. Also, I was initially a graphics design major during my Freshman year. Instead of taking the Bio for Nonscience majors course, I took the Intro to Biology for STEM majors on a dare, intending to drop it after I failed the first exam. I did well, didn’t drop the course, and that is where my initial spark of interest in science led me here.”
Email: jap2301@columbia.edu
Geena Kim
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Geena is a prospective biology major at Columbia University. She is originally from Seoul, Korea, and graduated high school in the US. She previously worked in Dr. Ho Yun Lee’s lab at Samsung Medical Center, investigating lung adenocarcinoma.
Email: gk2584@columbia.edu
Liam Nguyen Stiles
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Liam is a prospective biochemistry student at Columbia University and is a native New Yorker. During high school, he interned with Vitara Biomedical. This company is developing an artificial womb biosystem to reduce comorbidities associated with preterm birth, specifically looking at the serum concentration of key electrolytes and their relationship to poor or favorable outcomes.
Fun fact: Prior to college, I trained in jiu-jitsu and wrestled competitively. I also love photography and am currently part of the Columbia multimedia team.
Email: lns2147@columbia.edu
Alice Yeon Kyeong Tellier
LAB TECHNICIAN, BSc
UC Berkeley, California
Alice was born and raised in South Korea and majored in Chemical Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. She transitioned her career from analytical chemistry in the food industry to cancer research due to academic curiosity and personal interest from the loss of her grandfather and aunt. Alice previously worked as a research associate for the I-SPY 2 breast cancer clinical trial in van 't Veer lab at the University of California, San Francisco.
Fun fact: Alice used to sing in a band and choir during her middle school and high school years. Listening and singing are her best ways to relieve stress. She is also a foodie and loves cooking and baking at home. She has two bookshelves full of cookbooks and loves trying new recipes in her free time.
Email: ykt2107@cumc.columbia.edu
Alex Chen
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Alex is a prospective biochemistry student at Columbia University. During his time in high school on Long Island, Alex researched the effects of reactive oxygen species on Alzheimer's disease using a nematode model for aging. He also conducted research at NYU Langone Health to evaluate the impacts of the microbiome on lifespan. Now, he is excited to explore how reactive oxygen species can act as signaling molecules to influence cancer.
Fun fact: Alex has trained and competed in kung fu and tai chi for a large part of his life. At Columbia, he is a member of the Columbia Wushu team where he can continue practicing the sport. The club is a great opportunity for Alex to do exercise, reduce stress, and make friends! Recently, he has been exploring other artistic hobbies, such as poetry and video-making.
Daniel the lab tree
Meet Daniel, our Yucca Elephantipes: Born on Christine's desk at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, he endured 5 years of Long Island postdoc drama, braved the I495 to Columbia University in NYC, and now stands a towering 10 feet tall. Through every challenge and triumph, he's been our lab’s steadfast leafy witness.
James Jungseung Nam
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW, PhD
Ilsan National University of Science and Technology, South Korea
JungSeung received his Ph.D. in chemistry from UNIST under the supervision of Prof.Tae-Hyuk Kwon. During his thesis studies, JungSeung developed photoactivatable chemical tools to enhance reactive oxygen species (ROS). Using these tools, James explored the mechanisms of aggregation-prone peptide modulation and developed a chemoproteomic method to characterize oxidative post-translational modifications (oxPTM) in proteins. JungSeung is approaching biomedical research in the context of chemistry.
Fun fact: I finished a full marathon, and now I’m running to be a foodie. Also, I enjoy playing the piano, particularly the works of Frederic Chopin, although I have been told I do not look like a musician. Good food and good music are two things that keep me grounded!
Email: jn2837@cumc.columbia.edu
Claire Sung Shin Ahn
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW, PhD
Konkuk University, South Korea
Sung Shin received her Ph.D. in biological sciences under the supervision of Dr. Soon Young Shin from Konkuk University. During her doctoral research, Sung Shin focused on studying the transcriptional regulation of genes associated with the development of cancer and skin diseases, conducting experiments involving mice. Sung Shin developed techniques to effectively confirm the recruitment of protein complexes to the promoters of target genes under inflammatory conditions. She is passionate about unraveling the mechanisms that govern genetic factors in pancreatic tumorigenesis and metastasis.
Fun fact: I enjoy relieving stress through exercise. I have been practicing yoga for over four years and going to the gym for the past few months. I like cute things, and nowadays, I’m a big fan of FuBao, a baby panda born in South Korea.
Email: sa4395@cumc.columbia.edu
Maya Dixon
RESEARCH TECHNICIAN, HBSc
Queen’s University, Canada
During her undergraduate studies, Maya focused on identifying genes associated with floral phenology in the invasive purple loosestrife species under Dr. Robert Colautti's supervision. After completing her undergrad, she worked for Performance Plants Inc. as a research assistant to help create drought and heat-tolerant crops.
Fun fact: She grew up doing ballet and many other dance styles, including tap, jazz, and acrobatics, while also being an avid ice hockey player.
Email: msd2216@cumc.columbia.edu
Jack O’Sullivan
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Jack is a research assistant at the Chio Lab and a major in Biological Sciences at Columbia University. He was born in Washington, D.C., earned a B.A. in Japanese language from the University of Maryland, and worked as a translator and paralegal in Los Angeles before rediscovering a childhood love of science and returning to school to study biology.
Jack’s interest in cancer biology stems from the loss of a close friend and the illness of his father and was focused and reignited by the excellent book The Emperor of All Maladies by Columbia's own Siddhartha Mukherjee.
In his free time, Jack loves reading books in his languages, knitting, climbing, running, hiking, and camping when he can get out of the city.
Email: jo2652@columbia.edu
Pardis Ahmadi
RESEARCH ASSISTANT, PharmD
Pardis received her PharmD under the supervision of Dr. Jaleh Varshosaz. She focused on drug delivery to pancreatic cancer cells via exosomes during her thesis studies.
Fun fact: Pardis enjoys water coloring during her free time.
Email: pa2719@cumc.columbia.edu
Christine Chio
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, PhD
University of Toronto, Canada
Dr. Christine Chio is an Assistant Professor of Genetics at the Institute for Cancer Genetics at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Chio earned her PhD at the University of Toronto, where she studied the interplay between innate immunity and cancer development under the mentorship of Dr. Tak Wah Mak. Subsequently, she joined the lab of Dr. David Tuveson at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to pursue her postdoctoral training. Since then, her research has focused on understanding the role of cellular redox regulation, particularly in the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). For her work, Dr. Chio has received the Human Frontiers Fellowship Award, the Damon Runyon Fellowship Award, the DoD Career Development Award, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Catalyst Award, the V-Foundation Scholar Award, the Paul Marks Scholar Award, the Ruth Leff Siegel Award for Excellence in Pancreatic Cancer Research, and most recently, the Pershing Square Sohn Award for Young Investigators.
Email: ic2445@cumc.columbia.edu
ALUMNI
Dana Kapellar-Liberman: Technician (2018-2019). Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo (2019-2023). Current: Emory University School of Medicine Residency.
Karina Chan: Technician (2018-2020). Current: Medical Student at California North State University College of Medicine, class of 2026.
Michael Mendelsohn: Master’s student (2019-2020). Current: Field Scientist at Molecular Devices
Belen Sundberg: Technician (2019-2021). Current: Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University, Integrated Program
Charles Laurore: Technician (2021-2022). Current: Medical Student at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt Sinai, class of 2027.
Aster Yang: Technician (2021-2023). Current Position: Ph.D. Candidate at Rutgers University
Marina Perera: Postdoctoral fellow (2018-2023). Current Position: Research Scientist, CRUK
Jordan Jacquelin Lu: Undergraduate student (2019-2023). Current: Clinical Scientist at Icahn School of Medicine, Mt Sinai
Sean Bae: Technician (2023-2024). Current Position: Medical Student at Georgetown University Medical School, class of 2028.
Huijin Feng: Technician (2021-2024). Current Position: GenScript representative.
Lela Devine: Barnard SRI student (Summer 2023 and Summer 2024).
Shu Ichimiya: Postdoctoral fellow (2021-2024). Current Position: GI Surgeon, Fukuoka, Japan