Thawani Lab
Team
Dr. Akanksha Thawani
Principal Investigator
I am an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Read more here.
Email: at4137[at]columbia.edu
Dr. Francisco Tenjo-Castaño
Jane Coffin Childs Postdoctoral Fellow
I received my PhD from the University of Copenhagen, where I studied CRISPR-associated transposons in Guillermo Montoya’s group. My current research in the lab focuses on retrotransposons, exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying their mobilization and their potential applications as gene editors.
Email: ft2657[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Dr. Hemant Goswami
Postdoctoral Fellow
I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Thawani lab. I received my PhD from Florida State University and Van Andel Institute working on CRISPR-Cas systems with Dr. Hong Li. I am interested in all things retrotransposons and structural biology.
Email: hg2793[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Sean Wang
PhD Student
I am a PhD student joint between Thawani and Lomvardas labs. I grew up in Beijing and did my undergrad at Carnegie Mellon University. Previously, I worked in the Ramani lab at Gladstone Institute on long-read sequencing methods for chromatin biology. I’m interested in exploring the regulation of retrotransposon mobilization and its connection to olfactory reception evolution. Outside of the lab, I enjoy good music, the outdoors, rowing, skating, gym, and movies.
Email: sw4111[at]columbia.edu
Ashley Heng
Research Associate
I am a recent graduate of UC Berkeley. I am interested in genome engineering and the biology of retrotransposons, particularly how mobile genetic elements influence genome regulation. I enjoy contributing to collaborative, discovery-driven research and supporting the development of new experimental approaches.
Email: ah4523[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Daniel Shneider
Research Associate
I am a recent graduate of Columbia University. I am interested in leveraging retrotransposons and RNA molecular biology for translational applications towards gene engineering. When not in the lab, I can be found gallery hopping around NYC, and trying to find great restaurants, though I never say no to good bad takeout.
Email:dws2137[at]columbia.edu
Ashley Zhong
Summer Undergraduate Student
I am currently studying Biology and Economics at Brown University and a visitor in the lab for the summer. I am interested in understanding the biology of retrotransposons and their functions in human cells.
Email: ashley_zhong[at]brown.edu
You!