
Current Lab Members

Dr. Alexey Veraksa, PI
I am fascinated with the mysteries of development. Our lab is using Drosophila to study how cells communicate to build a complex organism. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, photography, and playing the piano.

Swastik Mukherjee, PhD Student
Currently, my research focuses on some novel interactors of Hippo/Yorkie Tumor Suppressor pathway in the Drosophila model.
Khandan Ilkhani, PhD Student
I study the interaction between Capicua and ERK. I enjoy watching movies and cooking when I am not in the lab.

Joseph Rosen, PhD Student
I study the role of the minibrain gene in patterning the Drosophila brain. In my free time I enjoy live music, stand up comedy, and fitness.

Vanessa Locke, Undergraduate Student
I work with Khandan to study Capicua degradation by ERK signaling and the Capicua interactome. Outside of the lab I enjoy live music, entomotaxy, and hiking.

Emma Spiess, Undergraduate Student
I work with Swastik in studying novel regulators of the Hippo/Yorkie tumor suppressor pathway. Outside of the lab I enjoy music, art, and watching movies and shows with my friends.

Gebrellua Abebe, Undergraduate Student
I work with Joseph to study the role of the minibrain gene in Drosophila brain development. Outside of the lab, I enjoy board games and walks.
Previous Graduate Students

Sukanya Basu, MS 2010. Postdoctoral fellow, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Marla Tipping, PhD 2011. Associate Professor, Providence College

Wenjian Xu, MS 2012. Bioinformatician, Beijing, China

Niusha Nikkholgh, MS 2013. Dentist

Saima Anjum, PhD 2013. Lecturer, San Diego, CA

Katarzyna Piotrowska, MS 2014. Principal Scientist I, Novartis

Liu Yang, PhD 2016. Postdoctoral fellow, Princeton University

Fei Chai, PhD 2019. Postdoctoral fellow, UMass Chan Medical School

Sayantanee Paul, PhD 2021. Postdoctoral fellow, Genentech

Claire Jackan, MS 2021. Senior Research Associate at Jnana Therapeutics

Heya Zhao, PhD 2023. Postdoctoral fellow, UMass Chan Medical School

Nathan Strozewski, MS 2024. Research Associate at Tevard Biosciences

Melissa Brown, PhD 2024.