Principal Investigator
Crystal S Conn, PhD (AKA Crys; they/them)
Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology
CV; Training: PostDoc- UCSF Cancer Center, PhD- Cornell MBG 2013, BS- PennState BMB ‘07
UPenn Graduate Group Affiliations: Cell and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, & Pharmacology;
Selected Honors and Awards:
2024 Michael P. Nusbaum Graduate Student Mentoring Awardee
2023 Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, Idea Development Award
2017 AACR-Bayer Prostate Cancer Research Fellow
2014 American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow
Member: Trainee Advocacy Alliance (TAA); founding member - Radiation Oncology Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
Outside Lab-> live music/concerts, running, hiking, food explorations, house restoration; MBTI- INTJ (Architect)
Nora Kiledjian, CAMB PhD Candidate -Genetics & Epigenetics
BS: Cell Biology & Neuroscience; Rutgers University 2020; interest in all things RNA
NIH NCI F31 -scored 1%; rotated Fall 2021; Joined July 2022!
Outside Lab-> hiking, skiing, puzzling, cooking, baking, trying to keep plants alive
MBTI- ISTJ (Logistician)
Morgan McGrath, CAMB PhD Candidate -Cancer Biology
BS: Biological Sciences; Fordham University, 2022; Ψ focused
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship honoree 2022; rotated ‘22; Joined April 2023!
Outside Lab-> Crocheting, Concerts, Spending time with friends
MBTI- INTJ (Architect)
Dr. Sayantani Das, Postdoctoral Scholar
PhD: University of Calcutta, India 2023 -> working with miRNA mediated regulation of metastasis and cellular death in breast cancer cells. I am fascinated with post-transcriptional gene regulation & RNA-regulatory elements instrumental in cancer progression.
Outside Lab-> Reading fiction, dancing, painting & amateur nature photography
MBTI- INFJ (Advocate)
Marissa Howard, Research Specialist
BA: Biology, Minor(s): Education; Arcadia University 2023
Outside Lab-> Hiking, crafting, baking, photography & traveling
MBTI- ENFJ (Protagonist)
Contact: Marissa.Howard@Pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Dr. Qiuxian Zheng, Postdoctoral Scholar
PhD: Zhejiang University, China 2022
2022-2024 postdoctoral researcher @The Wistar institute - investigating the epigenetic mechanisms governing cancer development within the TME
2025- postdoctoral researcher, focusing on understanding the influence of selective translation in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression
Outside Lab-> enjoy hiking, food, and visiting galleries
MBTI- INFJ (Advocate)
Vinny Dong, PURM Scholar ‘24, Undergraduate Researcher
Sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania: Molecular & Cell Biology major and prospective Master's in Biology sub-matriculation graduate. Currently chasing an unwavering curiosity for understanding cancer and its mechanisms of adaptation in the human body.
Outside Lab-> piloting a Diamond DA40 across the country, cooking four-course meals for friends, and playing guitar
MBTI- ENTP (Debater)
Joann Miller, AAS, CVT; in vivo Research Specialist
(Part-time)
Christina Hong, CAMB Graduate Student -Cancer Biology
Postbaccalaureate Fellow- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
BS: Biology, Emory University, 2019: Honors thesis: “Reprogramming the Immune Phenotype of Rb-deficient Prostate Cancer Cells via BET Inhibition”; Associate of Arts: Oxford College of Emory University, 2017
Outside Lab-> Singing, reading, biking, gaming, cooking, piano
MBTI-
Sarah Esther Ortiz-Polanco, FERBS Fellow Summer’25, Undergraduate Researcher
Rising Senior at the University of Pennsylvania: Candidate for Biology Major, Class of 2026
Outside Lab->
MBTI-
Lab Almuni::::
Brian Hochstuhl, Lab Assistant ‘21
Next position- Business Manager @CHOP
Caleb Lines, SUPERS Scholar ‘21; Research Specialist 2022
Next position- MD/PhD program @WashU
Tanis Dorwart, Research Specialist, Lab Manager
Next position- CAMB CB Graduate Student
Ashley (Qihua) Yang, Master’s Student 2023-’24
Next position- CAMB CB Graduate Student
Summer Scholars:
SUIP Scholar 2021
Next position- Biology Junior @Farrmingdale State University; intern Stanford ‘22
Julia Fiedor, Undergraduate Researcher,
full-time Summer ‘22
Mariaassumpta Ezedimma, SUPERS Scholar 2022
Next position- Senior in Biochemistry & Mol. Bio, @Fisk University
Lucy Kamlewechi, SUPERS Sscholar 2023
Next position- Junior in Biomedical Engineering @Alabama State Univ.
Keiko Luke, SUPERS Scholar ‘24
Next Position- Senior at University of Maryland - Baltimore County
Hemanta Adhikari, PURM Scholar ‘24,
Next Position- Sophomore @UPenn
2022-2024 Rotating Graduate Students:
2022:
Romie Azor, BMB PhD candidate; Joined- Stoffers Lab
Ellen Lavorando, BMB PhD candidate; Joined- Lui Lab
Maya Foster, Cancer Biology PhD candidate; Joined- Murphy Lab
Ashvathi Raghavakaimal, CB PhD candidate; Joined- Chodosh Lab
2023:
Eleanor Sams, G&E PhD candidate; Joined- Paralkar Lab
Anna Thickens, Rotation Student Fall ‘23, CB graduate student, Joined -Beatty Lab
2024:
Ian Yannuzzi, Rotation Student ‘24, CB graduate student, Joined -Hamilton Lab
Growing Team -Join Us!
The lab is looking to expand with passionate researchers including postdocs, graduate students, undergraduate and research technicians.
Please review Open Positions below and contact Dr. Conn if interested.
PostDocs & Senior Specialist
We are looking for Postdoctoral researchers in molecular and RNA biology with an interest in cancer or metabolic research. Post highlighted here. Please send a cover letter and your CV to CSConn
Graduate Students
We accept graduate students from Cell and Molecular Biology (CAMB), Biochemistry (BMB), & the Pharmacology programs. Students in other programs are also encouraged to reach out & rotate with us.
Research Specialist
It all begins with a goal. If you are interested in molecular & cell biology, learning translational concepts for applied science, e-mail me to share your interest. Currently, we are not hiring for this position but am happy to connect.
