Dr. Craig Nelson, Principal Investigator

Associate Professor, University of Connecticut (2005-Present)
Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2000-2005)
PhD, Genetics, Harvard Medical School
B.A. Biochemistry, Cornell University
craig.nelson@uconn.edu

Boyang Li, PhD Candidate

Education
M.S. Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo
B.S. Life Sciences, Nanjing University, China

Contact: boyang.li@uconn.edu

I'm currently using single cell sequencing technology to study mouse development, trying to build a mouse lineage map based on gene expression profile at single cell resolution. Interested in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology and Developmental Biology.

Alexis Parr, PhD Student

Education
M.S. Forensic Science, University of New Haven
B.A. Biology, Wesleyan University

Contact: alexis.parr@uconn.edu

I am interested in perturbing novel genes that our lab has found to be correlated with genes comprising known regulatory networks to test gene function.  I will achieve this by using CRISPR/Cas9 and RNAi in a murine cell line to knock-out, upregulate, or knock-down target genes.  My work also involves validating our single-cell RNAseq data by utilizing techniques such as LCM-qPCR, in situ hybridization, and cell culture.  Other interests include developmental biology, human genetics/counseling, and forensic DNA analysis.

Duran Gonzalez, Undergraduate Student

Continuing my experience in this lab as a McNair Scholar, I am observing and shadowing the many projects currently underway in single-cell sequencing and gene regulatory networks. I hope to attain the necessary knowledge and background to best serve the progress of this lab and field in the future. I joined the lab in the summer of 2017 because of my interest in stem cell and genomic research and the connection to the future of regenerative medicine.

Roddy Taing, Undergraduate Student

Physics and math double major