Graduate Student
Aashita Singh Rajput
Staff
Lab Manager
Aashita grew up in Connecticut and Georgia. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from UNC-Chapel Hill, with minors in Neuroscience and in Health and Society. During her time in undergrad, she worked on the molecular epidemiology of COVID-19 and vector borne diseases at the Infectious Disease Ecology and Evolution Lab. Aashita spends her days in the lab making sure everything is running smoothly and furthering our quest to learn about everything liver regeneration! Outside the lab, she enjoys making art with her friends, cooking, and spending time with her cat.
Won Yoon
Staff
Research Assistant
she/her
Won spent half of her life in South Korea, the other half in India. She completed a double major in Biology and Psychology. She loves spending time in the lab, engaging in academic discourse and exploring the intricacies of liver regeneration! Outside the lab, Won loves knitting and reading non-fiction books.
Berfin Azizoglu
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology
she/her
Berfin grew up in Istanbul, Turkey. After completing her Bachelor’s at Bogazici University, she trained as a developmental biologist focusing on organogenesis with Ondine Cleaver at UTSouthwestern. As a postdoctoral fellow with Roel Nusse at Stanford University, she specialized on the liver and its vascular biology. Outside the lab, Berfin enjoys traveling to new places, spending time in nature, and trying out new food.
Maruma the Cat
Pets
Instructor of cat-yoga
Maruma was born in Eugene, Oregon, and grew up in Mountain View, California. He enjoys watching birds and resting in the sun.
Fonsi the Cat
Pets
Master’s in jumping jacks
Fonsi was born in Eugene, Oregon, and grew up in Mountain View, California. He spends most of his time chasing anything and everything.
Emily Jeannette Hernandez
Undergraduate researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Emily grew up in Charlotte, NC. She is a junior majoring in Biology with a minor in Anthropology. She is very excited to get involved in research and have a hands-on experience while learning more about the liver. Some of her research interests include organ regeneration and immunology. Outside the lab, she enjoys crocheting, baking, and hiking.
LAB ALUMNI
Ekta Shah
Alumni
Undergraduate Researcher
Ekta grew up in Greenville, North Carolina. She is currently a senior at UNC-CH, pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with minors in Chemistry and in Health and Society. She’s previously done clinical research in cardiology at UNC Medical Center and now looks forward to exploring liver regeneration in the lab! Outside the lab, Ekta loves cooking new dishes, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.