Meet our Team
We are an innovation hub dedicated to exploring and developing breakthrough systems biology tools and ideas. Come and meet our team!
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Sanja Vicković, PhD
Director, Technology Innovation Lab and Core Faculty Member @NYGC
Assistant Professor at Columbia University, Department of Biomedical Engineering (@CUBME) and Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics (@IICD)
Wallenberg Academy Fellow at Uppsala University
SciLifeLab Fellow at Science for Life Laboratory
PhD in Genetics from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Wallenberg Fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
I love all things tech and all things hockey. Developer of Spatial Transcriptomics (Visium 10X Genomics), High-Definition Spatial Transcriptomics, SM-Omics and Spatial Host-Microbiome Sequencing.
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Silas Maniatis, PhD
Associate Director, Technology Innovation Lab @NYGC
PhD in Neuroscience from Harvard University
My research interests are centered on development of scalable multimodal spatial-omics methods with creating accessible instrumentation, imaging, and sequencing based methods.
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Francesco Cambuli, PhD
Senior Scientist, Vicković Lab @NYGC
PhD in Molecular Biology from University of Cambridge, UK
My research interests are centered on understanding cellular heterogeneity and plasticity in the context of normal physiology and cancer, combining the profiling and modeling of tissues, and using analyses at the single-cell level and organoids.
Outside the lab, I am involved in science outreach activities. I enjoy writing, cooking, and exploring New York and its history.
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Daniel Domović, PhD
Program Manager, Technology Innovation Lab @NYGC
PhD in Computer Science from University of Zagreb
My research interest focus on hyper-heuristics, evolutionary algorithms and application of machine learning algorithms to real-world problems. At NYGC I will liaise with inter-institutional teams at NYGC and Columbia to coordinate and manage the activities between a network of collaborators while also overviewing day-to-day management of computational collaborative projects.
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Aidan Daly, PhD
Computational Scientist in Spatial Transcriptomics
PhD in Computer Science from Oxford University
My research interests are focused on computational modeling of tissue structure and spatial gene expression patterns across large, diverse experimental cohorts. I employ both deep learning and Bayesian statistics to the paired tasks of data integration via common coordinate registration and analysis of covariate-driven changes in tissue composition and function.
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David W. McKellar, PhD
Research Scientist, Technology Innovation Lab @NYGC
PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University
Post-baccalaureate Fellow at the National Human Genome Research Institute
My research is focused on developing new methods to study the spatial and chemical context in which gene regulation takes place.
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Maros Pleska, PhD
Light Microscopy Engineer, Technology Innovation Lab @NYGC
PhD in Systems Biology from IST Austria
I am interested in understanding how individual cells modify their internal state in response to changes in their environment and how these changes manifest at different scales of biological organization. To reach this goal, I develop and implement methods and instruments for extracting biological knowledge from large-scale microscopy data.
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Annie Zhang, PhD
Research Scientist, Technology Innovation Lab @ NYGC
PhD in Biochemistry from MIT
I am interested in how variations in spatial genome organization and modifications impact cellular behavior and shape distinct therapeutic responses. My goal is to utilize knowledge in the epigenomic landscape to refine disease treatments.
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Lukas Arnroth, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, Vicković Lab @UU @SciLifeLab
PhD in Statistics from Uppsala University
My research interests encompass Bayesian statistics from both theoretical and applied perspectives with a particular interest in finding the role of more classical statistics in the context of spatial transcriptomics. Specifically, I have a keen focus on areas such as linear mixed models, non-parametric methods, and quantile regression.
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Sara Fernandez, PhD
Staff Scientist & Lab Coordinator, Technology Innovation @NYGC
PhD in Neurosciences from the University of Barcelona
My research interest is focused on identifying novel mechanisms underlying neurological disorders, aimed to find innovative approaches to detect and early diagnose these conditions.
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Kunal Pandit, PhD
Senior Research Engineer, Technology Innovation Lab @NYGC
PhD in Chemical Engineering from University of Maryland, College Park
My interest are in developing subcellular spatially resolved multimodal omics methods. Innovating hardware, writing code, and adapting chemistries.
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Chao Yan, PhD
Research Scientist, Technology Innovation Lab @NYGC
PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Penn State University
I am a molecular biologist with a trong interest in exploring transcription regulation mechanisms. My current research aims at developing spatially resolved multi-omics assays for functional genomics.
I love sports and outdoor activities. I enjoy a bluebird day as well as a few nice rallies on the badminton court. Making progress in sports is as exciting as that in science.
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Soobeom Lee, PhD
Research Scientist, Technology Innovation Lab @NYGC
PhD in Biology from NYU
My research interest is centered on understanding genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of cancer evolution. I am focusing on developing tools for integrative profiling of multifaceted cancer characteristics. I am easily intrigued by the fascinating fact that every individual cell has its own world.
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Leslie Solorzano, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, Vicković Lab @UU @SciLifeLab
PhD in Computerized Image Analysis from Uppsala University
I am a computer scientist who works in the intersection of medicine and CS. I like to model and solve complex problems involving the characterization of diseases by finding commonalities in patterns from different image modalities and other types of data like different forms of gene expression.
I enjoy being involved in all stages of a project, from planning, preprocessing, analysis, to visualization.
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Karan Dhingra, MSc
Associate Research Scientist II, Vicković Lab @NYGC
MSc in Biomedical Engineering from University of Ottawa
I’ve channeled my curiosity into microfluidics ever since my junior year of undergraduate education. Having the opportunity to learn and collaborate with professors and peers all around the world in the cutting edge field of lab-on-chip technology, my passion lies in bridging bioengineering with clinical research. When I’m not spending endless hours in the clean room, I am always down to have a heated conversation on soccer (football!), video games or try out new restaurants.
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Salvatore Caruso, MSc
PhD Candidate with Prof. Tsang @CUBME
Visiting Researcher with Prof. Vicković @NYGC @CUBME
MSc in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University
BSc in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Johns Hopkins University
My interests are in studying genetic diseases and developing translational genomic therapies. At the innovation lab, I am involved with applying spatial technologies to uncover disease mechanisms and assess therapeutic interventions.
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Cody Slater, MSc
Medical Student @Columbia VP&S
PhD Candidate with Prof. Qi Wang @Columbia BME
Visiting Researcher with Prof. Vicković @NYGC
MSc in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University
My work focuses on coupling programmable, synthetic neurobiology with single-cell sequencing and in-vivo neural recordings to understand how the genomic landscape gives rise to the dynamic information processing and storage capabilities of the brain. In general,
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Roy Ghosh, MSc
PhD Student Researcher, Vicković Lab @NYGC @CUBME
MSc in Biology from Stanford University
My research interest involves optimizing multi-omics technologies and leveraging such tools with the aim of identifying translatable therapeutic targets critical to disease networks.
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Ruiyang He, MSc
PhD Student Researcher, Vicković Lab @NYGC @CUBME
MSc in Systems Biology from Cambridge University.
I’m interested in integrating advances in spatial transcriptomics technologies with novel computational and statistical methods to dissect how spatial patterning arises in biological tissues and how spatial organization influences development and disease.
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Craig Fouts, MSc
Associate Computational Biologist II, Technology Innovation Lab @NYGC
MSc in Applied Mathematics from Columbia University
My interests span the theory and applications of dynamical systems, computational genomics, and emergent artificial intelligence, all of which manifest in my ongoing research with self-organizing systems and artificial life. I am also passionate about using these themes to showcase the artistic capabilities of differentiable programming.
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Emmanuel Cordina, MSc
Associate Computational Biologist II, Vicković Lab @NYGC @IICD
MSc in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University
My research interests are in developing computational methods in order to analyze and improve multiomics data. At the tech innovation lab, I am involved with deconvolving low resolution images into high resolution images.
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Selma Marrakchi, MSc
Associate Research Scientist II, Vicković Lab @NYGC
MSc in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University
My interests revolve around leveraging powerful biological and computational tools to uncover the landscapes of disease mechanisms and progression. I am excited about the impact of genomics research on the development of novel therapeutics in this era of precision medicine.
Outside the lab, I love to climb, cook, play music and explore the city for hidden gems.
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Sarah Rodwin, BSc
Associate Computational Biologist, Technology Innovation Lab @NYGC
BSc in Computer Science from Yale University
My research interests focus on the implementation of computational tools to solve problems in biological research. I am passionate about utilizing machine learning techniques to enhance analysis of biological datasets.
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Matthew Smith-Erb, BA
Associate Computational Biologist, Technology Innovation Lab @NYGC
BA in Computer Science, Carleton College
My research interests include harnessing statistical and machine learning models to better understand various diseases at the cellular level. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing board games, ultimate frisbee, and cooking.
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Tina Liu
Undergraduate Researcher, Vickovic Lab @NYGC @CUBME
BSc in Biomedical Engineering Candidate from Columbia University
My research interests lie in building computational tools to process genomic data. I am passionate about designing methods to streamline, analyze, and decode genetic information.
Alumni
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Peter Smibert, PhD
Vice President of Biology, 10X Genomics
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Marlon Stoeckius, PhD
Co-Director of R&D Stockholm, 10X Genomics
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Elena Mimitou, PhD
Associate Director, Single Cell Technologies, Immunai
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Brian Houck-Loomis, PhD
Innovation Lab Manager, Center for Molecular Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
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William Stephenson, PhD
Senior Scientist, Genentech
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Harold Swerdlow, PhD
Alumni
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Ivan Raimondi, PhD
Senior Research Scientist, WCMC
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Suma Jaini, PhD
Genomics Research Scientist, Clinical Genomics and Genetics, Bristol-Myers Squibb
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Harm Wessels, PhD
Alumni
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Ashley Kim
Alumni
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Tommy Ly
Undergraduate Student, Computer Science, Columbia University,
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Chengcheng Fu, BSc
Alumni
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Jagjit Singh. MSc
Alumni
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Valeria Sanchez Estrada
Alumni
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Jacob Vider, BSc
Alumni
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Marcela Alvia, MSc
Alumni