Current Lab Personnel
Dr. Sam sternberg
PRincipal investigator
Sam Sternberg is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Read more here.
Contact Sam: shs2107[at]columbia.edu
DR. Chance Meers
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow
I am a postdoc in the Sternberg Lab. I received my B.A. from Berry College and Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology, studying the ability of RNA to template DNA repair. Outside of the lab, I like exploring, hiking, and playing guitar.
Contact Chance: cm4064[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Dr. Diego Gelsinger
Postdoctoral Scientist
I am a biologist with extensive training in microbial ecology and bioinformatics. I received my B.S. in Microbiology with a minor in French at San Francisco State University. I carried out research in the lab of Dr. José de la Torre, where I studied the physiology, metabolism, and ecology of hyperthermophilic ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA) from Yellowstone, USA, and Yunan, China. I carried out field work at the foot of the Himalayas in southeastern China to investigate these extreme microbes. I completed my Ph.D. in the lab of Dr. Jocelyne DiRuggiero at Johns Hopkins University. In my Ph.D., I studied the increased resistance to oxidative stress via non-coding RNAs in extremophilic microbial communities from hyperarid climates like the Atacama Desert, Chile. Outside the lab, I enjoy traveling, backpacking, cooking, brewing beer, and biking.
Contact Diego: drg2165[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Dr. Tanner Wiegand
Associate research SCIENTIST
I’m an associate research scientist in the Sternberg Lab, focused on using computational methods to explore the diversity of mobile genetic elements. After graduating with a B.A. in Human Evolutionary Biology from Harvard in the Spring of 2014, I coached cross-country skiing for two years in my hometown of Bozeman, Montana. I then joined Blake Wiedenheft’s lab at Montana State University (MSU), where I researched adaptation in the type I-F CRISPR system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, studied the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, and helped develop a Type III CRISPR-based diagnostic tool. I received my Ph.D. from MSU in 2021. When I’m not writing code or scouring genetic databases, I enjoy skiing, running, camping, rafting, and reading.
Contact Tanner: trw2137[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Dr. Arpita Chakravarti
POSTDOCTORAL SCIENTIST
I am a Research Scholar in Dr. Dinshaw J. Patel’s lab at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and am collaborating with the Sternberg Lab at Columbia University. I received my M.S. degree in Life Sciences from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. My doctoral work in Dr. Raven Huang’s lab at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign focused on structural and functional studies on key proteins employed by eukaryotes and bacteria to defend against their viruses, mainly utilizing techniques like X-ray crystallography. In collaboration with the Sternberg lab, I am currently working on the biochemical and structural characterization of proteins involved in antiphage defense systems, using both X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. Outside the lab, I enjoy listening to Indian Classical music, reading novels, poems and mythology.
Contact Arpita: chakraa2[at]mskcc.org
Dr. Egill Richard
POSTDOCTORAL SCIENTIST
As a post-doc in the Sternberg lab, I study phage defense systems to provide a better understanding of the origin of immunity in higher eukaryotes. Originally from France, I obtained my B.S. and M.S. degrees in Genetics at the Université Paris Cité before moving to the Institut Pasteur for my Ph.D., where I studied integron cassette dynamics in Prof. Didier Mazel’s team. Apart from science, my passions include photography, cooking, and surfing.
Contact Egill: er2858[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Florian Hoffmann
Ph.D. Student
After working in the Sternberg lab in summer 2019, I have re-joined the group and am a third-year Ph.D. student in the Integrated Ph.D. Program. I grew up in Berlin’s enchanting suburb Potsdam, where I wrote my Abitur exam on CRISPR-Cas gene drives. I left Germany to pursue a B.Sc. in Biochemistry at University College London (UCL). My fascination for the rapidly advancing genome editing field led me to the U.S. and the Sternberg lab, where I am now studying the molecular requirements of CRISPR-transposons and how these adept systems can be harnessed as molecular tools. In my free time, I love ‘investigating’ my new home, New York City, in all its facets and unique views, playing the piano, hiking, and chasing the tennis ball.
Contact Florian: fth2104[at]cumc.columbia.edu
George Lampe
Ph.D. Student
I am a third-year Ph.D. student coming from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where I was a technician in the Massague Lab studying genetic pathways influencing metastasis and latency. I graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont, with a B.A. in Molecular Biology and minors in Mathematics and Spanish. I have a passion for uncovering novel methods of robust genetic engineering with CRISPR-Cas systems. Outside of the lab, I enjoy the outdoors by whatever means possible.
Contact George: gdl2108[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Matt Walker
PH.D. Student
I am from Toronto, Canada, and graduated from Harvard with an A.B. in neurobiology. After graduating, I worked on the genetics of C. elegans neuron development in the Chalfie Lab, where I became enamored with powerful tools for genome engineering. In my Ph.D. work, I am studying genome rearrangement in the ciliated protozoan, Oxytricha trifallax, in collaboration with Dr. Laura Landweber. I am passionate about natural systems of genome engineering and am interested in adapting mechanisms of genome integrity for targeted engineering. Outside of the lab, I am also an actor and enjoy rock climbing.
Contact Matt: mww2129[at]columbia.edu
Edan Mortman
PH.D. student
I was born in the U.S. but raised in Israel. Following a three-year military service, I received a B.Sc. in Biology from Tel Aviv University. As an undergrad, I used computational methods to study the evolutionary genomics of host-pathogen interactions. Currently I am a second-year Ph.D. student in the Genetics and Development program, with an interest in gene editing and tool development. Outside of the lab, I enjoy cooking, baking, and exploring NYC.
Contact Edan: eem2198[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Stephen Tang
M.D./PH.D. STUDENT
I am an M.D./Ph.D. student at Columbia University and doing my thesis work in the Sternberg lab. Originally from Virginia, I graduated from Yale University with a B.S. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. Before arriving at Columbia, I worked as a research associate at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute, where I applied genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screening to identify genetic vulnerabilities of prostate cancer. I am interested broadly in the biology of immunity, from phage defense in bacteria to the tumor-immune interface in humans. Outside of the lab, I conduct the CUIMC Symphony Orchestra, play violin and viola, and cook (i.e., do benchwork with edible reagents).
Contact Stephen: st3362[at]cumc.columbia.edu
RIMANTĖ ŽEDAVEINYTė
PH.D. STUDENT
I am a second-year Ph.D. student in the Integrated Program at Columbia University. My scientific journey started in my hometown of Vilnius, Lithuania, where I got my B.S. and M.S. in Biochemistry. During these years I’ve studied miniature CRISPR-Cas nucleases and their potential for human genome editing. I am fascinated by the dynamics of the DNA within cells and interested in uncovering the mechanisms employed by mobile genetic elements. In my free time I enjoy going for long walks, stargazing, and chasing squirrels.
Contact Rimantė: rz2610[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Americo Casas Ciniglio
Ph.D. Student
I’m a Ph.D. student in the Genetics & Development program at Columbia University. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Miami with a B.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and minors in Microbiology & Immunology and Chemistry. As an undergraduate, I worked in Dr. Richard S. Myers’ lab, where I studied interactions between bacteriophage λ viral recombinases and host ATPases in the context of DNA double-strand break repair via homologous recombination. In my Ph.D. work, I have great interest in exploring the fascinating biology behind bacterial-bacteriophage interactions and bacterial defense systems, as well as a broad interest in mobile genetic elements. Outside of work, I am a big basketball/sports fan, and I love to watch movies and drink lots of coffee.
Contact Americo: aac2282[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Hilina Bekele
Ph.D. Rotation Student
I am a first-year PhD student in the Genetics and Development program doing my rotation in the Sternberg lab. I am originally from Ethiopia and I graduated from Jacobs University, Bremen, Germany, with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. During my undergraduate years, I worked in Dr. Matthias Ullrich's lab where I investigated diverse zinc resistance mechanisms of cultivable marine bacteria. Following that, I joined Dr. Binyam Mogessie’s lab at Yale University where I explored different areas of mammalian reproductive health, notably understanding retrotransposon driven genes that contribute to female reproductive aging in collaboration with Dr. Luke Berchowitz. I am broadly interested in understanding bacterial-MGE co-evolution. In my free time, I enjoy baking, crafting, and tailoring my outfits.
Contact Hilina: hab2177[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Matt Armstrong
Ph.D. Rotation Student
I am a first-year PhD student in the Genetics and Development program rotating in the Sternberg lab. I grew up in Boston and did my undergrad at Dartmouth College studying Biological Engineering. I have spent the last 3+ years working at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Lab helping develop genetic therapies for people with CF. I love RNA biology and mobile genes, and am excited by the cool ways that bacteria defend themselves. Outside of the lab I enjoy hockey, hiking, music, and hanging with friends and family.
Contact Matt: ma4680[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Josephine Ramirez
Research Associate
I am originally from Minnesota. My undergrad was at MIT, where I received my B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Biology. While there, I worked both in a computational chemical engineering lab (Green Group), as well as a biological engineering lab (the Esvelt lab). I am interested in the incredible diversity of biological pathways, especially antagonistic interactions between organisms, and the potential to understand and engineer these systems. I hope to explore these topics using both experimental and computational methods. In my free time, I love to play music and sing with friends, go long distance running or cycling, and read a wide range of literature.
Contact Josephine: jr4574[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Adriana Palmieri
Research Associate
I am originally from New York, and graduated from Cornell with a B.A. in Chemistry. As an undergrad, I developed polymer synthesis strategies in the Fors Lab and studied food microbiology in the Gibney Lab. I also spent a semester at Beam Therapeutics working on applications of their base-editing technology. I am broadly interested in studying mobile genetic elements and discovering how to harness and further apply biological systems toward medicine and disease. In my free time, you can find me on coffee runs with friends, spending time outdoors, or doing the NYT crossword.
Contact Adriana: ap4713[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Sky Kang
Research Associate
I’m a research associate interested in exploring novel mobile genetic element mechanisms as well as engineering these systems to work in mammalian cells. I recently graduated from MIT with a B.S. in Biological Engineering. During my undergrad, I also worked at Tessera Therapeutics exploring new methods of inserting long DNA sequences into the genome. Outside of work, I enjoy weightlifting, watching K-dramas, and going out with my friends.
Contact Sky: sk5577[at]cumc.columbia.edu
Daniel Moon
Undergraduate student
I’m currently a junior studying biochemistry and math at Columbia College. I am interested in both the fundamental science behind mobile genetic elements and also the potential technological applications of such systems for genome engineering and therapeutics. In my free time I enjoy going to the gym, trying new restaurants out in the city, and picking up random hobbies (currently trying to learn how to play poker).
Contact Daniel: ydm2105[at]columbia.edu
Ariella Garren
Undergraduate student
I am an undergraduate at Columbia College studying chemistry and applied math. I’m fascinated by genomics and phage-host interactions. By applying experimental and computational methods to novel CRISPR systems, I hope to provide tools to accelerate human understanding and therapeutics. Outside the lab, I lead Columbia’s Chabad student organization, and I love reading and talking science with my little siblings.
Contact Ariella: arg2265[at]columbia.edu