Wang Lab

Members

Xindan Wang

Principal Investigator

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School
  • D.Phil., University of Oxford

I am a biologist fascinated by the beauty and complexity of the microscopic world. To a large degree, cells are like tiny black boxes, and genetic materials (DNA molecules) are like super long threads of Christmas lights stuffed into a box thousands of times smaller. I am excited to understand the strategies cells use to fold their DNA molecules. This is like finding a way to turn on the Christmas lights inside the tiny black box, learning the folding pattern of the thread, then figuring out the approaches cells take to accomplish this task. Outside of the lab, I enjoy walking everywhere, cooking new dishes, reading books, solving Rubik’s cubes, and hula hooping.

Farouk Allababidi

Undergraduate Student

I am an undergraduate student majoring in Molecular Life Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. I am interested in the molecular mechanisms that regulate chromosome folding, gene expression, and cellular function. I am excited to explore how these processes contribute to human health and disease. After completing my undergraduate studies, I plan to attend medical school. In my free time, I enjoy climbing, working out, playing chess, soccer, and basketball, as well as watching soccer with my friends and spending time with my family.

Marcus Amador

Graduate Student

  • B.Sc., Kent State University

I am a graduate student in the Microbiology program. Early in my undergraduate degree, I was introduced to the unique world of chromosome biology. I was utterly amazed by the ability of the large DNA molecule to faithfully segregate within such a tiny cell. Entering graduate school, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to uncover the exciting molecular details of chromosome segregation. Outside the lab, I love playing basketball, watching sports, and hanging out with friends.

Ryan George

Undergraduate Student

I am an undergraduate student majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry. I am excited to learn about chromosome biology and how it affects DNA replication and cell development. I hope to use this knowledge to help advance the field of medicine. After completing my undergraduate education, I plan to attend medical school. Outside the lab, I enjoy playing sports, working out, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends.

Hannah Groeneweg

Undergraduate Student

I am an undergraduate student majoring in Biology and minoring in Spanish. I am excited to learn about chromosome structure and segregation, and with the mechanisms that assist in these processes. After college, I plan to attend medical school and apply my scientific knowledge to the healthcare system. In my free time, I enjoy watching movies and TV shows, listening to music, and reading.

Rylan Hollingsworth

Undergraduate Student

I am an undergraduate student majoring in Molecular Life Sciences and Chemistry. I have loved science since I was a kid and have always been curious about how the world works. Growing up, I have found a special interest in biology, especially in chromosome biology. I am fascinated by how chromosomes fold to store DNA and enable all the complex processes to function together in living cells. After college, I plan to go to medical school and pursue a career in healthcare. In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing guitar, and playing pickleball.

Ngoc Khanh Lai

Graduate Student

  • B.A., College of Wooster

I am a graduate student in the Microbiology program with a keen interest in exploring three-dimensional genome architecture. I am fascinated by the intricacies of chromosome organization and segregation and by how these principles contribute to the complexity of cellular functions. In my free time, I enjoy digital painting and playing guzheng.

Ram Sanath Kumar

Graduate Student

  • B.Sc., Michigan State University

I am a graduate student in the Microbiology program. I am excited to learn how bacterial chromosomes are structured and how those structures provide bacteria with their unique “personalities.” I have always loved the amazing diversity of microorganisms and the variety of strategies that bacteria use to survive in a harsh world. I strive to understand how chromosomes, the basis of all living things, adapt and evolve over time, and perhaps even manipulate their environment to meet their needs. Outside the lab, I love working out, crocheting, and traveling around the world to try new foods.

Emma Wiesler

Graduate Student

  • B.Sc., Indiana University

I am a graduate student in the Microbiology program. I became interested in microbiology during high school and studied Microbiology with a minor in Informatics during college. In the Ph.D. program, I am interested in learning more about how bacteria operate and how coding can be used to streamline data analysis in the lab. In my free time, I like reading, photography, collecting plants, and taking walks with my dog.