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Meet our lab members 

  • Hannah Brown

    Hannah Brown

    Research Associate

    B.S. from University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI; Joined the lab in March, 2022  

    What do you research? I study how temperature impacts maternal gene regulation
    How did you get into science? Various experiments and projects from middle school biology, including using a light microscope for the first time to view protists in pond water.
    Favorite Molecule? Acetone. It looks like a person!
    What do you do for fun? Art and Dungeons & Dragons. 

    Lab Location: LRB 970W
    Phone: 508-856-3718
      

  • Peren Coskun

    Peren Coskun

    Postdoctoral Associate

    B.Sc. Sabanci University, Instanbul, Turkey; Ph.D. UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA; Joined the lab in October, 2016  

    What do you research? I study the mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation in the germline and the embryo. 
    How did you get into science? I used to read science and technology journals for kids when I was in primary school and got interested in science.
    Favorite Molecule? Water because water is life.
    What do you do for fun? I read, listen to music, go to concerts and meet with my friends. 

    Lab Location: LRB 970X
    Phone: 508-856-3718
     

  • Christable Darko

    Christable Darko

    Graduate Student

    B.S. University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; Joined the lab in May, 2024  

    What do you research? I study genes that regulate maternal mRNA during oogenesis
    How did you get into science? Various experiments and projects during and after college got me interested in science,
    Favorite Molecule? RNA
    What do you do for fun? Cook and spending time with family and friends.

    Lab Location: LRB 970W
    Phone: 508-856-3718
     

  • Sharon Noronha

    Sharon Noronha

    Research Associate

    B.S. from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; Joined the lab in October, 2021

    What do you research? I study genes that control oocyte maturation.
    How did you get into science? A combination of middle school chemistry and popular science books I read when I was younger.
    Favorite Molecule?  Glucose is pretty neat. 
    What do you do for fun? A variety of crafts but especially knitting and crochet.

    Lab Location: LRB 970X
    Phone: 508-856-3718
     

  • Sean Ryder

    Sean Ryder , Ph.D.

    Professor & Vice Chair for Outreach

    B.S. University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH; Ph.D. Yale University, New Haven, CT

    What do you research? My bench work tends to focus on making new mutants, writing data analysis pipelines, and purifying proteins to support others in the lab. I like to start new projects and hand them off to new lab members.
    How did you get into science? Isaac Asimov's science fiction writing and his essays to the layperson on particle physics.
    Favorite Molecule? RNA
    What do you do for fun?  I write songs and perform live music in a variety of contexts.  

    Lab Location: LRB 970W
    Phone: 508-856-3718
     

  • Haik Varderesian

    Haik Varderesian

    Research Associate

    B.S. from College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA; Joined the Lab in June, 2022 

    What do you research? I study maternal transcripts required for anterior-posterior axis specification in the embryo  
    How did you get into science? Science Fair projects in the 5th and 6th grade and a special interest in botanics which developed into an interest in biochemistry.  
    Favorite Molecule?  Ghrelin
    What do you do for fun? Read and workout

    Lab Location: LRB 970W
    Phone: 508-856-3718