Contact: jmalamy@bsd.uchicago.edu

Job Title: Principal Investigator

From: Boston, Massachusetts

Credentials:
• Associate Professor in the Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology Department
• Master of the Biological Sciences Collegiate Division
• Associate Dean of the Biological Sciences Division and Deputy Dean of the College
• Whitman Scientist, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts
• Ph.D, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
• Post-Doctoral Research in Plant Science at New York University

Current Projects:
Overseeing the Malamy Lab.

Fun Facts:
In days gone by I used to swing dance many times a week, and I still miss it!

Contact: lailei@uchicago.edu

Job Title: Postdoctoral Fellow

From:  Mount Prospect, Illinois

Credentials:
• BS in Biological Chemistry from the University of Chicago
• BA in Chemistry from the University of Chicago
• BA in Biology with a specialization in Neuroscience from the University of Chicago
• PhD in Neurobiology from the University of Chicago

Current Projects:
My project focuses on understanding the influence of cell-matrix interactions on wound healing in Clytia hemisphaerica. This includes studying the role of BMP1 in wound healing as well as observing how wounds in the lower epithelial layer of Clytia heal.

Fun Facts:
I was the Captain of the 2019 IM Broomball Championship team, which is possibly my greatest achievement. I spend my free time baking, knitting, and volunteering at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Contact: zeeshanb@uchicago.edu 

Job Title: Research Scientist

From:  Kashmir

Credentials:
• BS in Biology and Chemistry
• MS in Biochemistry
• PhD in Host-microbe interactions

Current Projects:
I am currently working in a joint project with Jocelyn Malamy and Eduardo Perozo (Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics), trying to understand the mechanoelectrical transduction in Clytia hemisphaerica. This work broadly involves using Genetics, Cell and Molecular biology approaches to answer the scientific questions.

Fun Facts:
When I am not working in the lab or from home, I enjoy time with my children, Maryam and Issa.

Contact: ewatto@uchicago.edu 

Job Title: Research Specialist 3 / Lab Manager

From:  Freeburg, Pennsylvania

Credentials:
• BS in Biochemistry from Allegheny College
• Previously worked for three years as a Research Associate 2 at Cognition Therapeutics, Inc

Current Projects:
I help to maintain Clytia hemisphaerica and Hydra vulgaris colonies in the lab.  I am creating and various transgenic Clytia animals with fluorescent-tagged proteins to give an even clearer picture of cellular events in epithelial wound healing. I am additionally working on the joint project between the Malamy and Perozo Labs to understand mechanosensitive channels in Clytia and Hydra.

Fun Facts:
I love to play trivia, although I mostly peak in the Disney category.  In my free time, I enjoy baking, cooking, and most importantly, playing with my dog, Bonnie.

Contact: jaredlenn@uchicago.edu

Job Title: Undergraduate Researcher

From:  New York, New York

Credentials:
• BS in Biological Chemistry from the University of Chicago (expected June 2024)

Current Projects:
I’m working on part of a larger project to identify which P2X receptors in Clytia hemisphaerica are associated with wound healing in epithelial tissue. Specifically, I’m expressing Clytia’s four P2X receptors in heterologous systems and finding drugs that differentially suppress their activity using electrophysiology. I’m also working on characterizing how actin and myosin are involved in Clytia’s microwound healing response.

Fun Facts:
I speak a 2700 year old language and a 20 year old one.