Our Team
We are an interdisciplinary and highly collaborative team of post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and technical staff.
Principal Investigator
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Read More about Elizabeth A. Grice, Ph.D.Elizabeth A. Grice, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator, Full Professor, Department of Dermatology
Email Elizabeth A. Grice, Ph.D.
215-898-3179
Elizabeth A. Grice, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator, Full Professor, Department of Dermatology
egrice@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
215-898-3179
Elizabeth grew up in Iowa and Wisconsin and received her BA in Biology at Luther College in Decorah, IA. After moving to Baltimore, she received a PhD in Human Genetics from Johns Hopkins University, and did a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. Elizabeth joined the faculty of Penn Dermatology in 2012 and received tenure in 2018. She is currently also the Director of the Penn SBDRC, Vice Chair of Basic Research, and Vice Chair of the Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology Graduate Group. When she is not fixated on all things skin microbiome, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her daughter and husband and exploring all that the Philly area has to offer.
Staff
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Read More about Simon Knight, Ph.D.
Simon Knight, Ph.D.
Lab Manager
sknight@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
215-573-1095
I grew up in the UK and received my B.Sc. in Applied Biology from Bristol Polytechnic. Needing a change in scenery, I moved to Tucson where I obtained a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Arizona. After a “few years” of yeast genetics, I now manage the lab and help with projects. In my spare time I can be found fighting tyranny, riding my bike, or relaxing at the Cosmic Café.
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Read More about Sixia Huang, Ph.D.
Sixia Huang, Ph.D.
SBDRC Technical Director
sixia@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
ResearchGate
Currently, I work under Dr. Elizabeth Grice as a technical director at Penn Skin Biology and Diseases Resource-based Center (SBDRC). I am a cell biologist and feel honored to learn new things related to skin microbiome and immunology. I got my PhD degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China and did postdoc training with Dr. Rompolas at Penn Derm. Outside of the lab, I enjoy swimming, traveling as well as spending time with my family and friends.
Postdoctoral Fellows
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Read More about Sofía Murga-Garrido M.D., Ph.D.Sofía Murga-Garrido M.D., Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Email Sofía Murga-Garrido M.D., Ph.D.
ResearchGate
Sofía Murga-Garrido M.D., Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
sofia.murgagarrido@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
ResearchGate
I am a postdoc and a microbiome groupie in the Club Grice interested in elucidating the interactions between the host and its different microbiome communities that have an effect on health and disease. I am a Biologist and a Medical Doctor, both degrees awarded by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). For my Ph.D. I completed a combined training on gut microbiome variation and its effects on metabolism at the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) in Cuernavaca, México, and in the Rey-Lab at the University of Madison-Wisconsin, USA.
I am also a photographer, an amiss but passionate tennis player, a wife, proud mom, a sister, a friend, a defender of freedom, speaker against indifference, and 100% a dog person. -
Read More about Deborah Minzaghi, Ph.D.
Deborah Minzaghi, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
deborah.minzaghi@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
ResearchGate
I am a postdoc who joined the lab in October 2023. Originally from Luxembourg, I started my journey abroad by studying pharmacy at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. I then completed a Ph.D. at the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria in Prof. Sandrine Dubrac’s lab, where I investigated the impact of endocrine disruptors and other microplastic exposure on atopic dermatitis, using human epidermal equivalents. Besides focusing on the skin microbiome and atopic dermatitis. I love going to concerts and I enjoy the occasional run on sunny days, especially when followed by drinks on a terrace with friends.
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Read More about Tetsuya Ikawa M.D., Ph.D.
Tetsuya Ikawa M.D., Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
tetsuya.ikawa@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
ResearchGate
I started working as a postdoctoral researcher at Grice Lab in April 2024. I am a certified Dermatologist from Japan with a specialization in psoriasis and auto-immune diseases, particularly scleroderma. Prior to joining Grice Lab, I completed my Ph.D. at the University of Tokyo, and I worked as an assistant professor at both the University of Tokyo and Tohoku University. I am excited to expand my knowledge by exploring the relationship between skin microbiome and various skin diseases. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, trying out Philadelphia's delicious food scene, and playing curling.
Graduate Students
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Read More about Jamie Pan
Jamie Pan
Ph.D. candidate
ting-chun.pan@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
I am a PhD student in the Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology graduate group, interested in the homeostatic crosstalk between the skin microbiome and the skin resident cells. I obtained my B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from National Taiwan University and worked as a research technician at Yale University before coming to Philly for my Ph.D. degree. After spending years as a virologist, I made the decision to switch gears and delve into my newfound passion for the skin microbiome.
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Read More about Preeti Bhanap
Preeti Bhanap
Ph.D. candidate
preeti.bhanap@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
I am a PhD candidate in the Genomics and Computational Biology (GCB) program and my research focuses on the development of microbiome-based therapeutics for skin disease. I got my BS in Biology from Duke University, where I studied extremophilic archaea in Amy Schmid's lab. Outside of science, I love being outside, exploring Philly, college basketball, and making yogurt!
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Read More about Saba Tegegne
Saba Tegegne
MD/PhD candidate
saba.tegegne@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
I did my undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada and I'm currently in the MD/PhD program (in the immunology graduate group) here at Penn.
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Read More about Daniel Kim
Daniel Kim
Ph.D. candidate (honorary member)
kimdanny@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Twitter
I am a Ph.D. Candidate in the Cell and Molecular Biology graduate group in the Microbiology, Virology, Parasitology (MVP) program. For my dissertation research, I study epithelial inflammation during S. aureus colonization and infection in the Planet and Grice labs. Prior to graduate school, I obtained my bachelors in neuroscience and Spanish at Emory University followed by a research postbac in the IRTA Fellowship at the NIAID/NIH studying molecular virology. When I’m not at the bench pipetting extremely small volumes of liquids, I enjoy long hikes, F1, exploring Philly’s restaurant scene, and binge-watching horror movies with my cat Mr. Bean Purrito.
Undergraduate students
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Read More about Emily ChuEmily Chu
Undergraduate student
Emily Chu
Undergraduate student
Undergraduate student studying Health and Societies, concentrating on Bioethics and Society.
