OUR TEAM
KAREN K. HIRSCHI
Alumni Professor of Cell Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine
​
Director, UVA Developmental Genomics Center
Associate Director for Scientific Programs, UVA Medical Scientist Training Program
Adjunct Professor, Yale University School of Medicine & Baylor College of Medicine
ELIZABETH NELSON
Lab Manager & Lab Specialist Sr.
​
MS in Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University (2010)
BS in Biology, James Madison University (2008)
Research interests: human pluripotent stem cell differentiation.
ZOE CHAVKIN
Research Coordinator
​
BS in Biological Sciences, University of Southern California (2010)
Research Interests: developmental defects & diseases, translational genomics
​
GAEL GENET
Assistant Professor
​
PhD in Cardiovascular Research, Paul Sabatier University, INSERM (2013)
Former Postdoc at Yale University (2019)
​Research Interests: understanding the role of cell cycle control in arterial vs venous endothelial cell identity, deciphering how dysregulation of endothelial cell cycle leads to arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and whether the use of cell cycle modulators can be explored as a therapy to correct AVM.
UMA PAILA
Research Assistant Professor
​
PhD in Computational Biology, Center for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (2010)
MS in Biochemistry, Andhra University (2002)
Former Postdoc and Research Instructor at UVA Center for Public Health Genomics (2017)
Research Interests: genomics, transcriptomics, human disease & genetic variation, oncogenomics, developmental genomics, data science and translational science.
NAFIISHA GENET
Research Assistant Professor
​
PhD in Pulmonary Vascular Physiology, University of Bordeaux, INSERM (2014)
Research Interests: determining the role of NSC-EC gap junctional interactions via connexin 43 in the regulation of NSC behavior in vivo and in vitro under normal brain homeostasis conditions and in an injury-induced neuro-regeneration model.
JORDON ARAGON
PhD Candidate
​
BS in Microbiology, Colorado State University (2019)
Research Interests: discovering the regulation of developmental pathways to better understand the formation of vasculature and use this to investigate new, potential treatments for cardiovascular disease
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SHELBY CAIN
PhD Candidate
​
BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, minor in Mathematics, University of Richmond (2018)
Research Interests: the role of endothelial cell cycle control during both normal vascular development and tumor pathogenesis
ALEKSANDRA CWIEK
PhD Candidate
​
MS in Medical Biotechnology, University of Lodz (2021)
BS in Biotechnology, University of Warsaw (2019)
Research Interests: placental vascularization and development
MADDIE JACKSON
PhD Candidate​
MS in Biomedical Engineering - Regenerative Medicine, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (2022)
BS in Biomedical Engineering, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (2020)
Research Interests: the role of cell cycle control in lymphatic valve specification and development
ZANETA MARKOWSKA
Graduate Student
​
MS in Biochemistry, Jagiellnian University (2023)
BS in Biochemistry, Jagiellnian University (2019)
Research Interests: the role of Hedgehog signaling in endothelial cell specification and vascular malformations
ALUMNI
TYLER VARGAS
Lab Specialist​
MS in Pharmacology: Forensic Science, University of Florida (2022)
BA in Spanish/ BS in Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University (2018)
Research Interests: Genetic diseases, forensic toxicology, biochemical interactions
NICHOLAS CHAVKIN
Research Assistant Professor
​
PhD in Bioengineering, University of Washington (2016)
MS & BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California (2011)
Research Interests: elucidating mechanisms of endothelial cell cycle state that mediate vascular development and cardiovascular disease.
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Assistant Professor at Seattle Children's Research Institute in the Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine
DANYA SANKARANARAYANAN
Research Lab Technician
​
MS in Biology, Medical Microbiology, Long Island University (2021)
Research Interests: infectious diseases, zoonotic diseases, cancer biology and cell biology
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Graduate Student at Oklahoma State University
YINYU WU
Post-Doctoral Researcher
​
PhD in Genetics, Yale University (2022)
Research Interests: microRNA-223 in hemogenic endothelial cell generation and function
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Scientist at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
CORINA MARZIANO
Post-Doctoral Researcher
​
PhD in Physiology, University of Virginia (2019)
Research Interests: understanding the mechanisms by which cell cycle regulates lymphatic endothelial cell specification and overall lymphatic development.
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Analytical Chemistry Scientist at Medpace
BIPUL ACHARYA
Post-Doctoral Researcher
​
PhD in Biotechnology, University of Calcutta (2011)
​​
CURRENTLY (2024): Project Scientist and Program Lead at Cedars-Sinai
MAHALIA HUBA
Research Lab Technician
​
BS in Biology, Mary Baldwin University (2020)
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Medical student at Medical University of South Carolina
STEPHANIE MCDONNEL
Research Lab Technician
​
BS in Biology, William & Mary (2015)
​
CURRENTLY (2024): PhD Candidate at University of California, Davis
Valentin Delobel
Research Associate​
PhD in Cell Biology and Physiopathology, University of Bordeaux (2024)
Research Interests: Lymphatic valve specification and formation
KAREN K. HIRSCHI
Alumni Professor of Cell Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine
​
Director, UVA Developmental Genomics Center
Associate Director for Scientific Programs, UVA Medical Scientist Training Program
Adjunct Professor, Yale University School of Medicine & Baylor College of Medicine
ELIZABETH NELSON
Lab Manager & Lab Specialist Sr.
​
MS in Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University (2010)
BS in Biology, James Madison University (2008)
Research interests: human pluripotent stem cell differentiation.
ZOE CHAVKIN
Research Coordinator
​
BS in Biological Sciences, University of Southern California (2010)
Research Interests: developmental defects & diseases, translational genomics
​
GAEL GENET
Assistant Professor
​
PhD in Cardiovascular Research, Paul Sabatier University, INSERM (2013)
Former Postdoc at Yale University (2019)
​Research Interests: understanding the role of cell cycle control in arterial vs venous endothelial cell identity, deciphering how dysregulation of endothelial cell cycle leads to arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and whether the use of cell cycle modulators can be explored as a therapy to correct AVM.
UMA PAILA
Research Assistant Professor
​
PhD in Computational Biology, Center for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (2010)
MS in Biochemistry, Andhra University (2002)
Former Postdoc and Research Instructor at UVA Center for Public Health Genomics (2017)
Research Interests: genomics, transcriptomics, human disease & genetic variation, oncogenomics, developmental genomics, data science and translational science.
NAFIISHA GENET
Research Assistant Professor
​
PhD in Pulmonary Vascular Physiology, University of Bordeaux, INSERM (2014)
Research Interests: determining the role of NSC-EC gap junctional interactions via connexin 43 in the regulation of NSC behavior in vivo and in vitro under normal brain homeostasis conditions and in an injury-induced neuro-regeneration model.
JORDON ARAGON
PhD Candidate
​
BS in Microbiology, Colorado State University (2019)
Research Interests: discovering the regulation of developmental pathways to better understand the formation of vasculature and use this to investigate new, potential treatments for cardiovascular disease
SHELBY CAIN
PhD Candidate
​
BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, minor in Mathematics, University of Richmond (2018)
Research Interests: the role of endothelial cell cycle control during both normal vascular development and tumor pathogenesis
ALEKSANDRA CWIEK
PhD Candidate
​
MS in Medical Biotechnology, University of Lodz (2021)
BS in Biotechnology, University of Warsaw (2019)
Research Interests: placental vascularization and development
MADDIE JACKSON
PhD Candidate​
MS in Biomedical Engineering - Regenerative Medicine, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (2022)
BS in Biomedical Engineering, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (2020)
Research Interests: the role of cell cycle control in lymphatic valve specification and development
ZANETA MARKOWSKA
Graduate Student
​
MS in Biochemistry, Jagiellnian University (2023)
BS in Biochemistry, Jagiellnian University (2019)
Research Interests: the role of Hedgehog signaling in endothelial cell specification and vascular malformations
Valentin Delobel
Research Associate​
PhD in Cell Biology and Physiopathology, University of Bordeaux (2024)
Research Interests: Lymphatic valve specification and formation
ALUMNI
TYLER VARGAS
Lab Specialist​
MS in Pharmacology: Forensic Science, University of Florida (2022)
BA in Spanish/ BS in Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University (2018)
Research Interests: Genetic diseases, forensic toxicology, biochemical interactions
NICHOLAS CHAVKIN
Research Assistant Professor
​
PhD in Bioengineering, University of Washington (2016)
MS & BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California (2011)
Research Interests: elucidating mechanisms of endothelial cell cycle state that mediate vascular development and cardiovascular disease.
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Assistant Professor at Seattle Children's Research Institute in the Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine
DANYA SANKARANARAYANAN
Research Lab Technician
​
MS in Biology, Medical Microbiology, Long Island University (2021)
Research Interests: infectious diseases, zoonotic diseases, cancer biology and cell biology
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Graduate Student at Oklahoma State University
YINYU WU
Post-Doctoral Researcher
​
PhD in Genetics, Yale University (2022)
Research Interests: microRNA-223 in hemogenic endothelial cell generation and function
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Scientist at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
CORINA MARZIANO
Post-Doctoral Researcher
​
PhD in Physiology, University of Virginia (2019)
Research Interests: understanding the mechanisms by which cell cycle regulates lymphatic endothelial cell specification and overall lymphatic development.
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Analytical Chemistry Scientist at Medpace
BIPUL ACHARYA
Post-Doctoral Researcher
​
PhD in Biotechnology, University of Calcutta (2011)
​​
CURRENTLY (2024): Project Scientist and Program Lead at Cedars-Sinai
MAHALIA HUBA
Research Lab Technician
​
BS in Biology, Mary Baldwin University (2020)
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Medical student at Medical University of South Carolina
KAREN K. HIRSCHI
Alumni Professor of Cell Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine
​
Director, UVA Developmental Genomics Center
Associate Director for Scientific Programs, UVA Medical Scientist Training Program
Adjunct Professor, Yale University School of Medicine & Baylor College of Medicine
ELIZABETH NELSON
Lab Manager & Lab Specialist Sr.
​
MS in Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University (2010)
BS in Biology, James Madison University (2008)
Research interests: human pluripotent stem cell differentiation.
ZOE CHAVKIN
Research Coordinator
​
BS in Biological Sciences, University of Southern California (2010)
Research Interests: developmental defects & diseases, translational genomics
​
GAEL GENET
Assistant Professor
​
PhD in Cardiovascular Research, Paul Sabatier University, INSERM (2013)
Former Postdoc at Yale University (2019)
​Research Interests: understanding the role of cell cycle control in arterial vs venous endothelial cell identity, deciphering how dysregulation of endothelial cell cycle leads to arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and whether the use of cell cycle modulators can be explored as a therapy to correct AVM.
UMA PAILA
Research Assistant Professor
​
PhD in Computational Biology, Center for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (2010)
MS in Biochemistry, Andhra University (2002)
Former Postdoc and Research Instructor at UVA Center for Public Health Genomics (2017)
Research Interests: genomics, transcriptomics, human disease & genetic variation, oncogenomics, developmental genomics, data science and translational science.
NAFIISHA GENET
Research Assistant Professor
​
PhD in Pulmonary Vascular Physiology, University of Bordeaux, INSERM (2014)
Research Interests: determining the role of NSC-EC gap junctional interactions via connexin 43 in the regulation of NSC behavior in vivo and in vitro under normal brain homeostasis conditions and in an injury-induced neuro-regeneration model.
JORDON ARAGON
PhD Candidate
​
BS in Microbiology, Colorado State University (2019)
Research Interests: discovering the regulation of developmental pathways to better understand the formation of vasculature and use this to investigate new, potential treatments for cardiovascular disease
SHELBY CAIN
PhD Candidate
​
BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, minor in Mathematics, University of Richmond (2018)
Research Interests: the role of endothelial cell cycle control during both normal vascular development and tumor pathogenesis
ALEKSANDRA CWIEK
PhD Candidate
​
MS in Medical Biotechnology, University of Lodz (2021)
BS in Biotechnology, University of Warsaw (2019)
Research Interests: placental vascularization and development
MADDIE JACKSON
PhD Candidate​
MS in Biomedical Engineering - Regenerative Medicine, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (2022)
BS in Biomedical Engineering, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (2020)
Research Interests: the role of cell cycle control in lymphatic valve specification and development
ZANETA MARKOWSKA
Graduate Student
​
MS in Biochemistry, Jagiellnian University (2023)
BS in Biochemistry, Jagiellnian University (2019)
Research Interests: the role of Hedgehog signaling in endothelial cell specification and vascular malformations
Jay Wolfe
Laboratory Technician
Research Interests: Wildlife biology in weasels and muscalids
Valentin Delobel
Research Associate​
PhD in Cell Biology and Physiopathology, University of Bordeaux (2024)
Research Interests: Lymphatic valve specification and formation
ALUMNI
TYLER VARGAS
Lab Specialist​
MS in Pharmacology: Forensic Science, University of Florida (2022)
BA in Spanish/ BS in Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University (2018)
Research Interests: Genetic diseases, forensic toxicology, biochemical interactions
NICHOLAS CHAVKIN
Research Assistant Professor
​
PhD in Bioengineering, University of Washington (2016)
MS & BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California (2011)
Research Interests: elucidating mechanisms of endothelial cell cycle state that mediate vascular development and cardiovascular disease.
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Assistant Professor at Seattle Children's Research Institute in the Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine
DANYA SANKARANARAYANAN
Research Lab Technician
​
MS in Biology, Medical Microbiology, Long Island University (2021)
Research Interests: infectious diseases, zoonotic diseases, cancer biology and cell biology
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Graduate Student at Oklahoma State University
YINYU WU
Post-Doctoral Researcher
​
PhD in Genetics, Yale University (2022)
Research Interests: microRNA-223 in hemogenic endothelial cell generation and function
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Scientist at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
CORINA MARZIANO
Post-Doctoral Researcher
​
PhD in Physiology, University of Virginia (2019)
Research Interests: understanding the mechanisms by which cell cycle regulates lymphatic endothelial cell specification and overall lymphatic development.
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Analytical Chemistry Scientist at Medpace
BIPUL ACHARYA
Researcher Assistant Professor
​
PhD in Biotechnology, University of Calcutta (2011)
​​
CURRENTLY (2024): Project Scientist and Program Lead at Cedars-Sinai
MAHALIA HUBA
Research Lab Technician
​
BS in Biology, Mary Baldwin University (2020)
​
CURRENTLY (2024): Medical student at Medical University of South Carolina
STEPHANIE MCDONNEL
Research Lab Technician
​
BS in Biology, William & Mary (2015)
​
CURRENTLY (2024): PhD Candidate at University of California, Davis