Team
Iain Cheeseman
Principal Investigator
I guess we could call him "The Big Cheese". As our Principal Investigator, he is responsible for all the awesome things our lab does on a daily basis.
🧀 identity: Fromage Affinois
Email: icheese[at]wi.mit.edu
Ben Velez
Graduate Student
Ben is interested in studying how alternative translational start sites impact protein quality control across different cell states, cell types, and environments. In his free time, he enjoys watching American football, playing video games, and working to make MIT even better through the GSU.
🧀 identity: Cotija
Email: benvelez[at]wi.mit.edu
Brittania Moodie
Technician
Brittania's most recent publication studied alpha-satellite RNA transcripts in intact human cells, its variation across the cell cycle and cell lines. When not at the bench she enjoys doing outreach work with children to enhance their STEM education, with great focus on underserved communities and students who lack resources for healthy learning environments.
🧀 identity: Cheddar
Email: bmoodie[at]wi.mit.edu
Eric Smith
Post-doc
Eric enjoys skiing, hockey, and cooking in his free time. Eric's research focuses on understanding how cancer cells transform their proteome to support continued cell division.
🧀 identity: Mozzarella
Email: ericms[at]wi.mit.edu
Jimmy Ly
Graduate Student
Jimmy's research focuses on the control of gene expression during the cell cycle and is investigating mechanisms underlying differences in the meiotic and mitotic division. Jimmy likes to bake, bike and freeload on Ryan's roommate's Costco membership!
🧀 identity: Cheese curds a.k.a. poutine cheese
Email: jimmyly[at]wi.mit.edu
Kaitlyn Manzer
Staff Scientist
Kaitlyn's research is focused on using large-scale phenotypic screening approaches to uncover new cell biological insights. Outside of the lab, Kaitlyn loves to cook, hike, and spend time with friends and family.
🧀 identity: Babybel
Email: kmanzer[at]wi.mit.edu
Katya Khalizeva
Graduate Student
Katya research focuses on regulation of gene expression during the cell cycle. Outside of lab you can find Katya reading, doing craft, and going on walks to touch grass.
🧀 identity: Cheese Cake
Email: katya[at]wi.mit.edu
Kevin Cadieux
Undergraduate
Kevin is currently investigating the differences between kinetochore proteins in quiescent cells and cycling cells. Kevin also loves go to the beach, listen to live music and attempt to play music.
🧀 identity: Queso frito
Email: kcadieux[at]wi.mit.edu
Kuan-Chung Su
Staff Scientist
Kuan-Chung likes sports and uses CRISPR/Cas9 approaches to study mitosis. He is also our resident food detector, if you want to know good spots to get food, KC is the one to consult.
🧀 identity: Cream Cheese
Email: kc.su[at]wi.mit.edu
Matteo Di Bernardo
Graduate Student
Matteo is interested in applying machine learning approaches to image-based phenotypic screening data for novel biological and disease related discovery. Outside of the lab, Matteo is interested in global cancer disparities, skiing, and soccer.
🧀 identity: Provola Ragusana & pepato
Email: mdiberna[at]wi.mit.edu
Noah Taylor
Graduate Student
Noah's research focuses on defining the cellular biology of irreversible cell-cycle arrest, specifically focusing on the pathways that underlie the maintenance of senescent cell function. In his free time, you can find Noah running along the Esplanade, playing chess, or trying new restaurants.
🧀 identity: Parmesan
Email: noahjlt[at]wi.mit.edu
Océane Marescal
Graduate Student
Océane enjoys reading, climbing, and playing her violin. Her research focuses on understanding the role of proteasome subunits in spindle bipolarity.
🧀 identity: Comté, because obviously I had to pick a french one 🙂
Email: oceanema[at]wi.mit.edu
Roshan Kern
Undergraduate
Roshan likes turtles, reading, and going to the gym. His research focuses on developing the computational methods we use to understand cell biology.
🧀 identity: Aged cheddar
Email: rkern[at]wi.mit.edu
Ryan Kim
Graduate Student
Ryan studies how interactions amongst translational isoforms of components of the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint determine mitotic length. A self-proclaimed foodie, Ryan also likes to play football, bake, and freeload on his roommate's Costco membership.
🧀 identity: Ricotta because it is so versatile.
Email: rkkim[at]wi.mit.edu
Sarah Cady
Technician
Sarah is studying centromeric changes in oocytes and their role in female reproductive aging. She also enjoys painting and hiking.
🧀 identity: The online quiz I took told me I would be gorgonzola!
Email: slcady[at]wi.mit.edu
Sofia Haug
Undergraduate
In the lab I'm studying how protein extensions affect their localization and function. My favorite procrastination strategies include tidying my bench and expanding my Wall of Memes.
🧀 identity: Imeruli
Email: haug[at]mit.edu
Yi Fei Tao
Graduate Student
Yi Fei's research focuses on the rewiring of gene expression programs in quiescence, particularly at the levels of chromatin organization and transcriptional control. Her favorite things include her dog, her rollerskates, ice cream, and film photography.
🧀 identity: Cream cheese frosting on red velvet cupcakes
Email: yifeitao[at]wi.mit.edu