Lab Members

John I Murray

John Murray enjoys working with an amazing team of young scientists and mentoring them in C. elegans development, genomics and bioinformatics. He continues to strive for a unifying “genetic code of gene regulation,” and thinks about ways to adopt the latest technical advances to study this problem.  He bikes to work and loves cooking, swimming and his family.

Eli Preston

Eli has run the lab with John since its inception in 2010. Eli is the multi-tool of the lab - manages the lab, solves problems, finishes research, trains everyone and leads Green Labs for the university.  They are developing a rainbow worm to be used as a tool in identifying cell-fate changes in mutant worm embryos.  Eli has two biology degrees from University of Washington. Outside of lab, they are a multi-genre artist/ musician/ dancer, including being Artistic Director for the local eco-feminist original musical "Curious." Their only car is a bicycle.  They love reading with their elderly cats Emily & Sofi.

Chris Large

Chris is primarily interested in exploring the evolution of the transcriptional networks responsible for the development of a worm. When not in the lab, Chris enjoys spending time brewing beverages with his former favorite model system, yeast.

Rupa Khanal

Rupa is performing single-cell analysis of transcriptomic regulation in C.elegans.  What she loves to do besides science is kayaking, hiking, watching sunsets and sunrises from mountains and beaches, exploring new cities, going to second-hand bookstores,  and reading Russian literature. Rupa's dream is to go on a library/ bookstore tour across the world. 

Billy Wilkerson

Emily Jiang

At Penn, Emily is studying bioengineering and engineering entrepreneurship. Within the lab, she is working on a cell cycle regulation project while also doing basic upkeep. Outside of the lab, she enjoys learning various musical instruments, cooking, and is also pursuing photography.

Pierce Haider

Lab Hike 2018