PEOPLE

Principal Investigator

Gio is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry and a member of the Center on the Biology of Aging at Brown University. He received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Then, he moved to Boston to carry out his postdoctoral training at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. There, he was supported by Yerby and Aramont Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, as well as by the K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from NIH/NIA. Outside of the lab, Gio enjoys nature, workout, swimming, reading, and learning music.

gio@brown.edu

Lab Manager

Erica is the Lab Manager for the Silva-Garcia Lab. She attended Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, where she was part of an accelerated dual degree program. During her four years at Quinnipiac, she received both her BS in Biology and her MS in Molecular and Cell Biology. Her research interests include neurodegenerative disorders, the role of telomerase in aging, and the use of CRISPR. Outside of the lab, Erica enjoys reading and listening to true crime podcasts.

erica_dinneen@brown.edu

Postdoctoral Fellow

Purbasha hails from Siliguri, a small town in the Terai region of India. She did her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Zoology, followed by a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Berhampur in India. Purbasha is broadly interested in understanding the diversity in aging patterns across life forms. In her current post-doctoral research, she aims to achieve a deeper understanding of the epigenetic basis of aging. Outside of her scientific pursuits, Purbasha is passionate about food and travel and holds a great appreciation for literature and history.

purbasha_dasgupta@brown.edu

Postdoctoral Fellow

Avinash hails from Lucknow, a city renowned for its courtly manners and cuisines in Northern India. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Genetics and Genomics from the University of Lucknow, followed by a master's degree in Life Sciences from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, India. He did his Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology from the Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba-Israel. Avinash's research interests lie in exploring the molecular basis of aging. In particular, the role of E3 ubiquitin ligases in aging and their implications in neurodegenerative disorders. Outside his academic pursuits, Avinash enjoys macro photography, expressing creativity through drawing caricatures and writing poems and articles for his website.

avinash_sharma@brown.edu

Postdoctoral Fellow

Khairun obtained her Ph.D. from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, where she focused on the role of transcription factor MyoD/HLH-1 and its impact on muscle integrity and proteostasis in C. elegans. As a post-doc, she is working on investigating the complex inter-tissue signaling pathways between muscle and neurons to advance our understanding of how muscles contribute to maintaining neuronal proteostasis and health. She completed her Master’s degree from IISER Kolkata and a Bachelor’s from the University of Delhi, India. Outside the lab, she enjoys most outdoor activities, such as traveling, reading, and journaling.

khairun_nisaa@brown.edu

Undergrad Student

Sean is a current junior at Brown University studying Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Within aging, his interests include stem cell exhaustion, insulin resistance, and the role of transcription factors in aging mechanisms. After taking public health classes and learning more about comorbidities, Sean would like to contribute to findings that promote better quality aging, especially as individuals become more susceptible to age-related diseases. Outside of school, Sean is a certified EMT and a volunteer at a health clinic for the uninsured, and as a native Californian, he has enjoyed his new life on the East Coast very much.

sean_treichler@brown.edu

Undergrad Student

Sarvesh is a rising junior from Tamil Nadu, India, concentrating in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. His research interests currently lie in elucidating the molecular pathways that underlie epigenetic causes of aging and in exploring the lab’s devo-aging approach by uncovering signaling pathways that connect development and aging. In the future, he hopes to add a translational aspect to his research and also explore neurological disease. Outside of science and his other academic interests, he loves teaching, tennis, badminton, cooking, traveling, and learning languages.

sarvesh_rajkumar@brown.edu

Undergraduate Student

Ryan is a freshman from California studying Neuroscience and Philosophy at Brown University. His first exposure to research was in Dr. Thomas Clandinin’s lab at Stanford, where he studied neuronal plasticity at the cellular level. In the lab, Ryan is broadly interested in the molecular mechanisms that underlie the inevitable decline of function as we age. He is excited by questions like: How does neuronal signaling influence transgenerational epigenetic effects? And how are developmental pathways “hijacked” during aging? Outside of the lab, Ryan enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, running, and biking. He is still getting used to the deceptively sunny —but freezing cold— days.

ryanjlee@brown.edu

Post-Bacc Student

Lina hails from the vibrant island of Puerto Rico, where she earned her BS in Industrial Microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez. During her time there, she delved into topics such as metabolomics and proteomics, and most recently, she conducted research on the microbiome of the island’s invasive reticulated pythons. Her current research interests revolve around the tissue-specific effects of proteins on longevity. When she is not in the lab, Lina enjoys exploring the city, traveling, and discovering new food spots.

lina_blanco@brown.edu

Graduate Student

Huong is a graduate student from Germany, studying Quantitative Molecular Biology at Humboldt University of Berlin. She joined the lab to follow her passion in the field of aging biology and epigenetics. Her research interests lie in the role of aging processes in diseases, specifically cancer. Outside of scientific research, Huong is in love with food and sports, including volleyball, badminton, and table tennis.

mai_huong_to@brown.edu