Post Doc Researchers

Joined the lab as a Post Doc

Research focuses:

  • RXRa mediated cell signaling and molecular networking during melanocyte homeostasis
  • Role of VDR signaling in melanocytes in controlling DNA damage, DNA repair, and melanomagenesis

Joined the lab as a Post Doc

Research focuses:

  • CTIP2 mediated cell signaling and molecular networking during dermal homeostasis
  • Role of keratinocytic CTIP2 in wound healing
  • Role of biosynthetically engineered novel pactamycin analogs in prevention of head and neck cancer in melanoma prevention

Joined the lab as a Post Doc

Research focuses:

  • Stem cells and wound healing

Joined the lab as a Post Doc

Research focuses:

  • Transcriptional control of cutaneous wound healing

Joined the lab as a Post Doc

Research focuses:

  • CTIP2 mediated cell signaling and molecular networking during epidermal homeostasis
  • Role of keratinocytic CTIP2 skin inflammation
  • Hair cycling

Joined the lab as a Visiting Scholar

Research focuses:

  • Biomarker development and the HNSCC
  • Identification of novel biomarkers for lung, cervical, and prostate cancer

Joined the lab as a Visiting Scholar

Research focuses:

  • Melanocytic RXRa signaling in melanocyte homeostasis and UV induced melanomagensis

Graduate Students

Joined the lab as a Pharm. D. student

Research focuses:

  • Role of HGF and ET-1 signaling in UV induced melanomagenesis

Joined the lab as a graduate student

Research focuses:

  • Nuclear receptor signaling in the tumor microenvironment during melanomagenesis
  • Role of endothelin signaling during UV induced melanocyte activation
  • Transcriptional network in regulating keratinocyte-derived paracrine signaling

Joined the lab as a graduate student

Research interests:

  • Transcriptional regulation of epidermal lipid metabolism and barrier functions
  • Role of novel natural compounds on epidermal homeostasis and barrier maintenance

Joined the lab as a graduate student

Research focuses:

  • Nuclear receptor signaling in the tumor microenvironment during melanomagenesis
  • Role of natural compounds in targeting melanoma stem and progenitor cells

Joined the lab as a graduate student

Research focuses:

  • Characterization of a pair of monoclonal antibodies against nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT)

Joined the lab as a graduate student

Research focuses:

  • Transcriptional regulation of adult skin homeostasis
  • Cross talk between epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts

Joined the lab as a Rotation Graduate Student

Research focuses:

  • Characterization of solar UV induced melanoma in a novel preclinical murine model
  • Screening and identification of novel natural compounds with anticancer effects against HNSCC

Graduate Student, Ph.D. Graduated 2022

Research interests:

  • Melanocyte physiology in the context of the prevention and treatment of melanoma
  • Anti-cancer drug screening
  • Reduction/oxidation signaling in melanocyte homeostasis and melanomagenesis

Undergraduate Students

Joined the lab as an undergraduate student

Research focuses:

  • Bio-informatics based approaches for analyzing ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data obtained after next generation sequencing

Joined the lab as an undergraduate student

Research focuses:

  • Immunohistochemical characterization of melanoma tumors in preclinical animal models

Joined the lab as an undergraduate student

Research focuses:

  • UV and ET-1 mediated paracrine regulation of melanocyte homeostasis

Joined the lab as an undergraduate student

Research focuses:

  • Role of CTIP2 in cutaneous wound healing

Joined the lab as an undergraduate student

Research focuses:

  • Expression studies of nuclear hormone receptors in pre-clinical melanoma models and in human melanomas

Research Staff

Joined the lab as a Faculty Research Assistant

Research focuses:

  • Maintenance of genetically engineered mice
  • Training undergraduate and graduate students in practical hands-on techniques
  • Technical support for ongoing projects