Lee Lab: People

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Jeannie T. Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Genetics and Pathology, Harvard Medical School
Molecular Biologist, Massachusetts General Hospital
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Dr. Lee received her AB degree at Harvard University, where she trained with Dr. Nancy Kleckner, and her MD and PhD degrees from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where she worked with Dr. Robert Nussbaum. She did her clinical training at Massachusetts General Hospital, served as Chief Resident in Pathology, and then became an HHMI Physician Postdoctoral Fellow with Dr. Rudolf Jaenisch at the Whitehead Institute before assuming her present position. Dr. Lee has also been a Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar (March of Dimes) and a Pew Scholar.

RESEARCH FELLOWS

		Montserrat Anguera, Ph.D. I received my BA in Environmental Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego and then traveled across the country to Ithaca, NY to begin graduate studies at Cornell University. I obtained my PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular, and Cellular Biology from Cornell, and I am currently working as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Jeannie Lee's lab. My current research interests include studying X-linked genes involved in meiotic sex chromosome inactivation using mouse embryonic stem cells and knock-out mouse technologies.
		Brian Del Rosario , Ph.D. I received my bachelor's degree in molecular and cell biology from Cornell University. Then I completed my PhD in microbiology at the University of Virginia. At UVA, I was mentored by Dr. Lucy Pemberton and studied the molecular mechanisms of the histone chaperone Nap1. My current research interests include determining how chromatin associated factors function as molecular switches to regulate gene dosage.
		Yesu Jeon, Ph.D. I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Seoul National University in Korea, where I spent most of my time working on DNA replication and cell cycle regulation until I joined the Lee Lab. I am currently interested in chromosome dynamics during and after X-chromosome inactivation (XCI).
		Daniel Kim, Ph.D. Upon completing my BS at the California Institute of Technology, I joined the lab of Dr. John Rossi at the Beckman Research Institute/City of Hope National Medical Center, where I did my PhD on mammalian RNAi and its therapeutic applications against HIV/AIDS. My research in the Lee Lab is focused on investigating a role for RNAi in X-chromosome inactivation and heritable gene silencing using mouse embryonic stem cells.
		Verena Maier, Ph.D. Having completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Witten/Herdecke in Germany, I became a PhD student in Peter Becker’s lab at the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, studying ATP-dependent remodeling of chromatin fibers. In the Lee lab, I’m investigating the contribution of non-coding RNAs to X chromosome inactivation.
		Bernhard Payer, Ph.D. After I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Vienna, Austria, I moved to the University of Cambridge, UK, where I did my PhD on germ cell specification in mice. During my PhD I became interested in the field of epigenetics and therefore joined the Lee Lab for my PostDoc. My current research is aimed at elucidating the mechanisms of X-chromosome re-activation during early embryogenesis. Outside the lab I can be usually found on my bicycle exploring the surroundings of Boston.
		Stefan Pinter, Ph.D. I obtained my PhD in Molecular Biology from Princeton University where I studied helicase function in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA replication and repair. In Dr. Jeannie Lee's lab, I am primarily interested in using genomic tools to examine how sequence context directs trans-acting factors in specifying chromatin states over large chromosomal domains. What role do non-coding RNAs play in this process and can we link specific factors to regulation of somatic or germline development?
		Dagmar Pommereit, Ph.D. I received my PhD from the Georg-August University of Göttingen in Germany where I undertook live-cell imaging of neurons. My current research focuses on live-cell imaging of the X-chromosome.
		Kavitha Sarma, Ph.D I received my PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. During my graduate studies in Dr. Danny Reinberg's lab, I worked on the identification and characterization of histone methyltransferases and their associated proteins. I joined the Lee Lab to continue my studies in the field of chromatin biology. My current interests include mechanisms of Xist RNA silencing and spreading. When not in the lab, I enjoy oil painting, embroidery and gardening.
		Sha Sun, Ph.D. I received my BS from Peking University in China and obtained my PhD from the University of Chicago, where I studied gene evolution and male reproduction in Drosophila. I then went to UC Berkeley for postdoctoral research on sex determination and female reproduction in Drosophila. Attracted by the commonality and difference between mammalian and fruit fly sex-linked traits, I joined the Lee Lab as a postdoctoral fellow to pursue research in X-chromosome counting.
		Attila Szanto, M.D., Ph.D. I received my MD and PhD from the University of Debrecen, Hungary. After spending a few years on studying a transcription factor, PPARg in macrophages and dendritic cells and its function in lipid metabolism and innate immunity I became interested in basic gene expression regulation and non-coding RNAs. Therefore I joined the Lee Lab and my current research is focused on non-coding RNA-driven epigenetic regulation in differentiating embryonic stem cells.
		Di Tian, M.D., Ph.D. After receiving my MD (Beijing Medical University), PhD (Northwestern University), and a residency training (Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School), I joined Dr. Lee's laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow. My research is on the dynamic regulation of the mouse Xist gene.
		Eda Yildirim, Ph.D. After receiving my BSc degree in Biology from the Middle East Technical University in Turkey, I joined the laboratory of Dr. Lutz Birnbaumer at the University of California, Los Angeles where I had my PhD training. My graduate studies were focused on understanding the cellular and physiological roles of molecules, IP3 receptors and TRPC channels, that regulate cytosolic Ca2+ levels. I joined Dr. Lee’s lab as a post-doctoral fellow to pursue my interest in epigenetics by studying the molecular mechanisms that regulate X-chromosome inactivation in mammals and the role of nuclear compartmentalization in this process.
		Jing (Crystal) Zhao, Ph.D. I received my PhD in biology from Boston University. Afterward, I joined the Neuroendocrine Unit of MGH studying endocrine neoplasia. I worked on a maternal imprinted gene that encodes a non-coding RNA and developed a strong interest in epigenetics. I joined Dr. Jeannie Lee’s lab to study the epigenetic control of X chromosome inactivation.

VISITING FELLOW

Yuya Ogawa, Ph.D.

I received my PhD in biology from Osaka University in Japan. I then joined Jeannie's lab as a postdoctoral fellow. After working for about two years in Japan, I am working with Dr. Jeannie Lee again as visiting scientist.

My research interest is how non-coding RNAs are involved in gene silencing in XCI.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Janice Ahn

I received my BS from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and am currently a graduate student in the Molecular and Cellular Biology department at Harvard University.

I am interested in characterizing the kinetics of X-chromosome inactivation.

Jennifer Erwin

I received my BS from MIT and made the long move across the Charles River where I am currently a graduate student at Harvard Medical School.

I am interested in the mechanism of imprinted X chromosome inactivation and the role of noncoding RNAs in chromatin structure and silencing.

Johnny Kung

After receiving my H.B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Toronto, I followed the Brain Drain across the border to pursue graduate studies in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences / Leder Human Biology and Translational Medicine programs at Harvard Medical School. My current research interest is in the role of RNA-protein interactions in X-inactivation and other epigenetic / gene regulation events.

THE INDISPENSABLE CREW

		Montserrat Michelman Laboratory Manager I have a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Barcelona in Spain. My research career started at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. In 1995, I started working as a Research Specialist/Lab Manager in the Genetics Department in the laboratory of Dr. Philip Leder. In 2005, I met with Dr. Jeannie Lee, and was happy to start working here in the Lee Lab. My current duties include responsibilities as Lab Manager, and work with hES research projects studying X chromosome inactivation. I enjoy traveling, biking, hiking and cooking.
		Danielle Clift Mouse technologist I received my BS in Animal Veterinary Science & Technology from the University of Rhode Island. I was a veterinary technician for six years while attending school. Then after receiving my degree, I decided to expand my career to research. I started as a Research Technician for the Center for Comparative Medicine at MGH. I am currently working as a Research Technician for Dr. Jeannie Lee's lab. I am responsible for maintaining the lab's stock of various genetically engineered mouse lines, as well as assisting the researchers with maintaining their own colonies. I also hope to expand my knowledge of x-inactivation and mouse embryonic stem cells. Outside of the lab, I enjoy horseback riding, hiking, camping, and traveling.
		Jeanne Jackson Administrative Assistant I have worked as an administrative assistant in the medical and scientific community in Boston for over 20 years. After 14 years at Children's Hospital, I came to the Massachusetts General Hospital to work for Dr. Jeannie T. Lee. I also work for Dr. Jack Szostak in the Department of Molecular Biology. My outside interests include watercolors, oil painting, music and renovating my condo.