Behind the Scenes

Vivian Yi, MD

I received my MD from Fudan University School of Medicine in 1995, Shanghai, China. I have more than 10 years’ experience as a lab manager. My academic training and research experience involves in molecular biology, biochemistry, and immunology. After I joined the TCSL, I have expanded my knowledge in immunotherapy and spatial biology. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, traveling, and planting.

Irina Kulikovskaya M.Sc., MB(ASCP)CM

Irina Kulikovskaya holds a M.Sc. and is a certified technologist in Molecular Biology (ASCP). She graduated from Lomonov Moscow State University and then worked in the Institute of Medical Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Moscow. She followed this with research on recombinant gene expression at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom and on protein purification and characterization at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. She joined the University of Pennsylvania in 1999 and TCSL in 2010. Irina has broad expertise in research laboratory techniques including molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, and protein chemistry. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, camping, hiking and skiing.

Danuta Jarocha, PhD

Dr. Danuta Jarocha graduated in 1999 from Jagiellonian University, Medical College with a degree in Medical Analytics. Her studies continued at Pomeranian Medical University, where she received a Ph.D. in Medical Biology in 2007. Her graduate work combined clinical work related to hematopoietic stem cells transplantation with academic research. As a post-doctoral fellow and cell based-therapies passionate led by Dr. Marcin Majka at the Jagiellonian University in Poland, Dr. Jarocha work resulted in the development of methodology for the isolation and expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells that contributed to the initiation of multiple, successful, medical experiments and clinical trials in Poland.

In 2014, Dr. Jarocha came to USA to join Dr. Poncz lab at CHOP as a Visiting Scientist to explore the possibilities of using induced pluripotent stem cells as a source to produce donor-independent platelets transfusion units. Between 2019-2021 she spent two years working in a gene therapy group in Dr. Rivella supporting work related to all projects. She successfully combined advanced cell culture methodology with the newest molecular techniques including digital PCR and deep sequencing to develop new assays to perform ALS20 ß-globin clinical vector analysis including the percentage of the full transcript containing lentiviral particles, viral transcriptome sequence identity and transducibility of CD34⁺ clonogenic progenitors. Her short, CRO-based industry experience built a deep understanding of new assay validation processes and requirements.

In 2022, Dr. Jarocha joined the TSCL as Senior Research Investigator to support molecular assay development and molecular group operation. Her high-impact findings have been published in Blood, Blood Advances, Hematologica, Transfusion, Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Cell Transplantation, and others. 

Outside of work, she enjoys gardening and cooking.

Sonia Ndeupen, MSc

Sonia Ndeupen obtained her master's degree in Immunology and Microbiology from Thomas Jefferson University. Her master's research thesis focused on the in vivo analysis of Daxx function in mice with lymphoproliferation disease. Since then, she has spearheaded and conducted numerous research projects, such as investigating the immunogenicity of the new mRNA SARS-COV2 vaccine platform while working as a research assistant. Her work has been published in high-impact journals such as PLoS Pathogen, and she was the recipient of an AAI (American Association of Immunologists) trainee abstract award in 2021. Outside work, she enjoys reading books and taking trips to new places with her partner.

Margaret Patchin, MSc

Margaret Patchin graduated from Bryn Mawr College with her undergraduate degree in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry; while at Bryn Mawr, she studied RNA: protein complexes in the lab of Dr. Susan White. Margaret attained her Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences for Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine; she studied platelet signaling in the laboratory of Dr. Satya Kunapuli and completed coursework in platelet biology, immunology, and cancer biology. Margaret has also worked in the laboratory of Dr. Brenda Casper at the University of Pennsylvania and at Goeppert, LLC. Outside of work, Margaret enjoys running road races, reading, and following Philadelphia sports teams.

Fang Chen Ph.D.

Dr. Chen studied Biology at Peking University before coming to the US.  After 7 years of Ph.D. and postdoctoral training, she joined Merck Research Laboratories as a senior scientist/research fellow and stayed for about 14 years.  In 2009, she left Merck and joined cancer biologist Dr. Wafik El-Deiry Lab at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.  She had to join a few other labs before becoming a member of TCSL in 2013 due to the departure of Dr. El-Deiry from Penn.

Her project areas range from glycoprotein hormones, nuclear receptor superfamily, obesity, bone biology, and cancer research to engineered T-cell therapy.  Her research experiences cover academic research, small molecule/biologics/T cell drug discovery and development, and biomarker identification/validation.  She has extensive knowledge and hands-on experience with many of the technologies developed for genome research, and post-genomic research, such as primary cDNA library construction and screening, various microarrays, genotyping, and multiplexing.  She has extended her expertise into CAR T cell research, such as γ/δ T cell engineering via CRISPR/Cas9/AAV system, T cell profiling via flow cytometry, and procedures optimizing healthy T cell expansion.  She has built many assays to support the CAR T clinical development and trials at Penn or other organizations, such as many of the protein assays based on Luminex or various ELISA, long-read sequencing via PacBio/Nanopore to evaluate genomic DNA integrity post gene editing, TCR γ/δ repertoire study via constructing high-quality 5’-RACE library and sequencing via PacBio.   She is also strong in new assay establishment/automation and streamlining the workflow and information flow.  She has published 16 first-author papers, many co-author papers, and several patents throughout the years in different research fields.  She created/taught a course (The Art of Making Modern Medicine, BIOM 503) at Penn for three semesters.  She also has many years of experience in recruiting/supervising staff and students.

Rong Xu, MSc

Rong currently is a lead of the Flow Cytometry Assay and Technology Development (FCATD) group within TCSL. Her work focuses on the development and validation of flow cytometry-based assays using clinical samples for CAR T cell therapy clinical trials. Specifically, her responsibilities include designing and performing flow cytometry assay (up to 30 colors polychromatic flow cytometry panel), data analysis (Flowjo and FCSE) and interpretation; presenting the data to the project leaders/PIs; overseeing routine flow cytometry activities, proper training of staff in flow cytometry and maintenance of flow cytometers. She joined the TCSL in 2020. Prior to joining TCSL, she worked as a research specialist in the Department of Surgery and the Department of Physiology of the University of Pennsylvania, respectively. Outside of work, she enjoys family life, hiking, and reading books.

Fengjuan (Jane) Zhang, PhD

Fengjuan (Jane) majored in bioinformatics and obtained her Ph.D. degree in June 2019 from the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (SIBCB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). During her Ph.D. study in Dr. Ligang Wu's lab, she focused on the profiles and functions of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) in mammalian spermatogenesis and oogenesis by using high-throughput sequencing methods such as small RNA-seq, polyA+ RNA-seq, and CLIP-seq. She investigated the rapid evolution of a unique X-linked miRNA family, named spermiRs, that is predominantly expressed in the early meiotic phases, and demonstrated an intriguing co-evolution between spermiR and its targets in mammalian spermatogenesis.

During her two-year postdoc training in Dr. Ligang Wu's lab, she collaborated with colleagues and developed a method that could simultaneously profile mRNAs and small non-coding RNAs in a single cell. Using this method, they first uncovered the essential role of PIWI/piRNAs in female germ cell generation, using the golden hamster as an animal model. They also used the method to investigate how proliferating cells use miRNAs and alternative polyadenylation to orchestrate mRNA levels during the cell cycle.

In January 2022, she joined Dr. Bin Tian's lab as a postdoc. During her postdoc training in Tian lab, she learnt the knowledge and computational skills to identify novel poly-A sites using 3’READS+ and quantify poly-A site usage changes to evaluate alternative polyadenylation (APA) regulation. She investigated how Pol II CID domain-containing genes, such as RPRD1A/1B/2 and CHERP, regulate transcription cycles by coupling with alternative splicing and polyadenylation events.

Kathleen Alexander, BS

Tatiana Mikheeva, PhD

Yolette (Tina) St. Fort, MSc

Caleb McIntosh, BS

Analyn Sil, BS

Elina Thai, BS

Andrew Huff, BS

Alexandria Raday, BA

Emmanuel Muriuki, BA

Yael Day, BA