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Eszter Posfai, Ph.D.
Assistant professor [email protected] Eszter received her M.S. degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Szeged in Hungary and her Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Basel in Switzerland. Intrigued by the earliest events of mammalian development, during her Ph.D. she studied the role of epigenetic mechanisms in the germ line and how they impact the development of the next generation. For her postdoctoral work she joined the lab of Dr. Janet Rossant at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada and explored how the earliest cell fate decision is made in the mouse embryo. She also co-developed a new CRISPR/Cas9-based editing method to generate genetic tools to query these processes at a single cell resolution. Her current research at Princeton University focuses on understanding the dynamics of molecular and cellular events underlying early embryonic development. |
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Bradley Joyce, Ph.D. Research Specialist [email protected] Bradley received a Ph.D. in Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics from Oxford at the Laboratory of Prof. Shankar Srinivas studying the molecular mechanisms of AVE cell migration. Brad then moved to the US to undertake a postdoctoral research position with Dr Danelle Devenport to study planar cell polarity in the skin and the control of hair follicle morphogenesis. Bradley has a broad interest in genetic technologies and is currently working to adapt type-I CRISPR systems for use in genome editing in mammalian systems. Bradley also manages the production of new mouse models for the Posfai lab and other labs at the university and is able to consult on project design as well as undertake mouse model creation. New collaborations are always welcome, so be sure to reach out to him for some expert guidance. In his spare time Brad enjoys spending time outdoors, DIY around the home and coaching judo at the Princeton YMCA. |
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Rebecca Kim-Yip, Ph.D. Postdoctoral fellow [email protected] Rebecca received her PhD from the University of California, San Francisco. She is broadly interested in how isogenic populations of cells acquire heterogeneous patterns of fate during development and the signaling pathways that control this process. Rebecca is using optogenetics to probe the signaling dynamics during cell fate acquisition in the early mouse embryo. Outside of the lab she enjoys discussions about model organisms, knitting and playing her violin. |
Tiffany Roach, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow
[email protected]
Tiffany received her PhD in Biology at Drexel University. Working in Dr. Kari Lenhart’s lab, studying gametogenesis in fruit flies, solidified her interest in pursuing a career in reproductive science. She is now exploring new insights to somatic and germ cell interactions within mammalian gonads. Outside the lab, she enjoys spending time with her family, pets, friends, and plants.
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Alana Bernys
Graduate student, Molecular Biology [email protected] Alana received her undergraduate degree in molecular biology at Dartmouth College, where she researched sister chromatid cohesion in Drosophila oocytes. In the Posfai Lab, she is interested in studying embryonic growth and the zygotic aspects of the MZT. When not in lab, she can be found doing lots of yoga, trying to keep plants alive, and catching up with her bookclub. |
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Isabella Leite
Graduate student, Quantitative & Computational Biology (joint with the Shvartsman Lab) [email protected] Isabella received her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University. In the Posfai Lab, she is interested in studying the dynamics of germline cyst formation, as well as developing computational tools for the quantification of live imaging datasets. Outside of the lab, she enjoys listening to music, sewing, and learning to play piano. |
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Samantha Ye
Graduate student, Molecular Biology [email protected] Samantha received her undergraduate degree in Wuhan University, China, where her research interest was long non-coding RNA in human stem cells. In the Posfai Lab, she is interested in the role of germline cysts in mammalian oogenesis and its applications. Outside of the lab, you can find her experimenting in her kitchen or at the Princeton Garden Theatre on random weekday evenings. |
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Denis Faerberg Graduate student, Quantitative & Computational Biology (joint with the Shvartsman Lab) [email protected] I’m a QCB graduate student joint between the Posfai and Shvartsman labs working on understanding the mechanisms by which an early embryo makes different cell types in reproducible ratios. My favorite thing to do in the lab is genotype mice. In my free time I enjoy yodeling, artistic swimming and competitive dog grooming. I am also currently working on improving my response time when asked (repeatedly) for my picture and short bio. |
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Nivedita (Niv) Kanrar
Graduate student, Quantitative & Computational Biology (joint with the Shvartsman Lab) [email protected] Niv received her undergraduate degree in Bioengineering from the California Institute of Technology. As a joint student between the Posfai and Shvartsman labs, she is interested in studying the biochemical and physical factors that drive the earliest fate decisions in mammalian embryogenesis. When she’s not in lab, you can find Niv playing sports, exploring local farmer's markets, or catching up on her favorite Britbox shows. |
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Lindsay McBride
Undergraduate, Molecular Biology [email protected] Lindsay is a sophomore from Haverford, PA majoring in molecular biology. In the Posfai lab, she is working to understand the role of FGF/FGFR signaling in inner cell mass lineage establishment and fate acquisition. Outside the lab, Lindsay can be found creating crossword puzzles, planning a hike, or training for her next half marathon. |
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Kate Boer
Undergraduate, Molecular Biology [email protected] Kate is a molecular biology concentrator, minoring in cognitive science in the class of 2026. She’s from Greenwich, Connecticut and loves playing ice hockey in her free time. In the Posfai Lab, she’s interested in uncovering whether meiotic factors are shared among cells in germline cysts. Outside of the lab, she enjoys tutoring, giving tours of Princeton, and running. |
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Frankie DeFaria
Undergraduate, Molecular Biology [email protected] Frankie is a molecular biology major and minor student in Global Health and Health Policy and Values and Public Life in the class of 2026. She grew up in Princeton, NJ and attended Princeton High School. In the Posfai Lab, she’s interested in investigating the presence of directed cytoplasmic transfer in oogenesis. Outside the lab, Frankie is in the Princeton Wildcats a capella group and a captain of club lacrosse. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, going on runs, and baking. |
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Georgia Post
Undergraduate, Molecular Biology gp8793@princeton.edu Georgia is a member of the class of 2026 majoring in molecular biology and minoring in music performance. In the lab she investigates early genetic regulators of oocyte specification in germline cysts. Georgia plays viola in the Princeton University Orchestra, gives campus tours with Orange Key, and enjoys Broadway music and running. |
Faculty Assistant
Alumni
Madeleine Chalifoux Graduate student, CBE 2020-2025 Research Centre at the Uni of Montreal, FitzHarris lab, Postdoc (starting 2026)
Ezra Levy Graduate student, MOL 2020-2025 IMP Vienna, Pauli lab, Postdoc
Oyshee Lahiry Undergraduate, MOL 2024-2025
Senna Aldoubosh Undergraduate, MOL 2024-2025 Rutgers Medical School
Yonit Krebs Undergraduate, MOL 2022-2024 Harvard, Molecules, Cells and Organisms Graduate Program
Aaron Cohen Undergraduate, MOL 2022-2023 Bar-Ilan University, McS Student
Charles Tseng Postdoctoral Fellow 2020-2023 St Jude Research Hospital, Senior Scientist
Zsombor Gal Undergraduate, MOL 2020-2022 Harvard, Medical School
Abraham Kohrman Postdoctoral Fellow 2020-2022 Bruker, Microscopy Specialist
Rohan Gupta Undergraduate, MOL 2020-2021
Alison Kickuth Visiting Master's student 2019 Max Planck Institute - CBG, PhD student