I was born and raised in Kenya, and received my bachelor’s degree at Colby College in Maine, where I was introduced to biomedical research at Dr. Tariq Ahmad’s lab. After graduating from Colby, I joined Dr. Catherine Nutt’s lab at Massachusetts General Hospital as a research assistant to study the effects of IDH mutations on formation and progression of secondary gliomas, an experience that cemented my interest in biomedical research. I received my PhD at Washington University in Saint Louis, where I worked with Dr. Zhongsheng You to understand DNA and RNA surveillance mechanisms in normal physiology and disease. I particularly focused on an RNA surveillance mechanism known as nonsense mediated RNA decay (NMD). We successfully performed a genome-wide CRISPR KO screen to identify novel factors that promote NMD and identified NMD as a novel target for developing therapies for cancers harboring mutations in key splicing factors that seem to promote NMD. I joined the Schaffer lab in June 2020 as a postdoctoral research fellow to study the role of translation regulation in normal metabolism and diabetes. Outside the lab, I enjoy reading, cooking, and many outdoor activities, such as running, hiking, canoeing, wine-tasting, apple-picking, and sightseeing. 

I come from the middle of China, near the Yellow River. After receiving my degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in China, I began studying diabetes at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. In 2014, I was recruited to the University of Montreal as an Invited Researcher. There, I ultimately obtained a PhD degree in Biomedical Science related to diabetic kidney disease. I joined the Schaffer Lab as post-doctoral Research Fellow in April 2022, where I am studying the role of RNASET2 in lipotoxicity. Outside of lab, I like writing, reading and exercising.

I was born in Puerto Rico, where I studied Biology at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus (UPRM). I then transferred to the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City, where I finished my bachelor's degree. There, I worked under the supervision of Dr. Soledad Funes at the Institute of Cellular Physiology studying the interplay between mitochondrial stress response and longevity in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. I did my Ph.D. at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Cologne, Germany working under the mentorship of Prof. Adam Antebi. For my doctoral thesis, I worked with the nematode C. elegans studying the role of the MondoA/Myc transcriptional network effects in metabolism and organellar communication during aging. I joined the Schaffer Lab in January 2024 as a postdoctoral fellow with the aim of furthering our understanding of snoRNA regulation of mitochondria under lipotoxic stress employing cell culture and mouse models. Besides science, I enjoy crochet, video games, and traveling.

I was born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria, where I was first introduced to research by Dr. Christian Happi and Dr. Onikepe Folarin, studying gene mutations that lead to resistance to anti-malaria drugs in Plasmodium falciparum. I received my bachelor's degree from Newcastle University, United Kingdom, where I performed undergraduate research on telomerase and aging with Dr. Gabriele Saretzki at the Institute for Aging and Health. For my undergraduate thesis project, I studied the effects of self-assembling peptide amphiphiles on the growth of mesenchymal stem cells in Dr. Che Connon's laboratory at the Institute of Biosciences. I received my Ph.D. in Cancer Pharmacology in the Fall of 2023 at Auburn University, USA, working in Dr. Alexei Kisselev's laboratory, where I determined that some Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors inhibit the mammalian proteasome. During this project, I also discovered that snoRNAs are involved in the response of cancer cells to proteasome inhibition. I will join the Schaffer Lab in the Spring of 2024 as a postdoc. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, exploring, and working out at the gym.

Santos NAvarro, Graduate Student

I grew up in Denver, Colorado, and earned my bachelor’s in Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado Boulder. As an undergraduate, I studied the role of an ancient non-functional myosin gene, Myh7b, in the heart in Leslie Leinwand’s Lab. We discovered the Myh7b gene was repurposed to produce the lncRNA, lncMyh7b, which affects the balance of alpha and beta myosin protein expression in the heart and has implications for the pathogenesis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I am pursuing my PhD at the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in the Systems, Synthetic, and Quantitative Biology Program. In the Schaffer lab, I am studying the effects of sustained high glucose exposure on mRNA translation in pancreatic beta-cells and the potential role for nutrient induced ribosome remodeling. These studies could reveal novel therapeutic targets to further the fight to treat diabetes. Outside of the lab, I enjoy volleyball, stargazing, board games, space/astronaut science, and science outreach.

Jay FAzioli, Graduate Student

I was born in Chicago and raised in Los Altos, California. My journey in the life sciences began at Purdue University, where I earned my B.S. in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology. At Purdue, I joined Dr. Jonathan Pasternak’s lab in the Department of Animal Science. My undergraduate honors thesis focused on understanding the role of hypothyroidism in porcine liver physiology, particularly its impact on the development of fatty liver disease and liver toxicity. Beyond this, I broadened my research experience through internships, including projects on engineering filamentous fungal strains for industrial protein production and using focused acoustics to isolate proteins from diseased brain tissue. For my PhD in the Biological Sciences in Public Health program at Harvard, I am focusing on mechanisms that drive conditions like diabetes, obesity, and fatty liver disease, with the ultimate goal of developing therapeutic strategies to mitigate these prevalent metabolic disorders. Outside of research, I enjoy camping, cooking, weightlifting, fishing, and cheering for Chicago and Purdue sports teams.

I grew up on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and will complete a bachelor’s degree in biology and applied-math economics at Brown University in 2022. As an undergraduate student, I joined Dr. Elena Oancea’s Lab as a research assistant and technician. The project I worked on involved the interactions of receptors in the hypothalamus and their impact on energy intake and metabolism. I will be joining the Schaffer Lab as a post-bac in the summer of 2022. Outside of science, I enjoy collecting coins, playing the euphonium and cooking.

I was born and raised in Vietnam before moving to Boston in high school. I recently graduated from Tufts University with a degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology. At Tufts, I was a part of Dr. Mali Raman’s lab where I studied the role of the AAA-ATPse p97 in regulating protein quality control as a part of the ubiquitin proteasome system and autophagy. I joined the Schaffer lab in the summer of 2024 as a research assistant where I began studying translational regulation in pancreatic beta cells. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing board games, going to cute cafes with friends, trying new food, running, and traveling.

I grew up in New Jersey and am a rising sophomore at Harvard. Although I have not yet declared a major, I have a strong interest in the life sciences and intend to pursue a career in healthcare, perhaps in the U.S. Army Medical Department (I am part of the ROTC program at MIT and will commission upon graduation). In the Schaffer Lab this summer, I am studying how translation of RNAs is impaired by sustained high glucose in pancreatic beta cells. In my free time, I enjoy triathloning (I am currently training for a half-Ironman later this summer), going for walks, trying new foods, and spending time with friends and family.