Meet the team of the Wagner Lab, comprising postdoctoral, graduate, undergraduate, visiting researchers and learn more about their focus areas. You can also discover the pursuits of our alum members.
Current Members
![Tomasz Bieluszewski](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2023/10/tomas.jpg)
Tomasz Bieluszewski
Post-doctoral Researcher
bieltm@sas.upenn.edu
![Shalini Yadav](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2024/02/IMG_2730-e514d2a7e169f1a7.png)
Shalini Yadav
Post-doctoral Researcher
yshalini@sas.upenn.edu
![Sandhan Prakash](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2023/10/sandhan.png)
Sandhan Prakash
Post-doctoral Researcher
sandhanp@sas.upenn.edu
![Sarah Matar](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2023/10/sarah.png)
Sarah Matar
Post-doctoral Researcher
matars@sas.upenn.edu
![Xinwei Ma](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2023/10/IMG_3056.jpg)
Xinwei Ma
Research Specialist
xum91@sas.upenn.edu
![Tian Huang](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2023/10/tian.png)
Tian Huang
Graduate Student
ht54@sas.upenn.edu
![Peter Ishola](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2023/10/IMG_0058-e1699889077906.jpg)
Peter Ishola
Graduate Student
pishola@sas.upenn.edu
![Aditya Srinivasan](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2023/10/image-26.png)
Aditya Srinivasan
Master Student
asrin@seas.upenn.edu
![Reginald Kwarteng](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2023/10/reginald.png)
Reginald Kwarteng
Undergraduate Researcher
regkw@sas.upenn.edu
![Tony Le](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2023/11/image.png)
Tony Le
Undergraduate Researcher
leton@sas.upenn.edu
Alumni
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr THOMAS ROULE
Characterizing of chromatin remodelers activity during abiotic stresses. Currently pursuing his passion in Computational Biology Research at the Childrens Hospital in Philadelphia
![DR. THOMAS ROULE headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2022/02/IMG-20210706-WA000a9-e1644881361643.jpg)
Dr YANG ZHU
Identifying the upstream regulators of LEAFY. Currently Principal Investigator at Zhejiang University.
![YANG ZHU headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2017/01/Yangs-photo-for-web-1-3-1s2pdss-e1526600710439.jpg)
Dr JIANQIANG SHEN
Understanding the role of Polycomb in various plant species. Currently Assistant Project Scientist at the University of California, Berkeley.
![JIANQIANG SHEN headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2019/01/jianqiang-2kdoxei-e1547673145866.png)
Dr MIN WANG
Gene silencing by Polycomb in response to stress. Currently studing host pathogen interactions at the Sainsbury Lab in Norwich, UK.
![DR. MIN WANG headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2019/08/MIN-1.jpg)
Dr JUN XIAO
Understanding the identification of polycomb response elements in Arabidopsis. Currently Associate Professor at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences
![JUN XIAO headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/jun_0-22tyzwd.jpg)
Dr YUHEE CHUNG
Analyzing the auxin regulation of primordium initiation. Currently at GenKOre, Daejeon, South Korea.
![YUHEE CHUNG headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/CCS_9450-2aj8wu6-e1526600381833.jpg)
Dr CHEOL WOONG JEONG
Studying the identification of upstream regulators of LEAFY Currently Strategy Planning Lead at Farmhannong in Seoul, South Korea
![CHEOL WOONG JEONG headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/cheol_woong-1f6enq1.jpg)
Dr NOBUTOSHI YAMAGUCHI
Studying regulatory interactions that lead to the formation of the first flower in Arabidopsis. Currently Associate professor at NARA Institute of Science and Technology, Japan.
![NOBUTOSHI YAMAGUCHI headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/nobu-1av92nm.jpg)
Dr MIIN-FENG WU
Understanding the intersection between hormonal responses, plant development and chromatin remodeling. Currently Research Scientist at Monsanto/Bayer.
![MIIN-FENG WU headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/miin_1-24grgoq.jpg)
Dr AYAKO YAMAGUCHI
Analyzing the induction of LEAFY by the mir156/SBP age-sensing pathway. Assistant professor at Koyto University, mom and homemaker.
![AYAKO YAMAGUCHI headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/ayako_0-2ijdiny.jpg)
Dr YI SANG
Studying the role of SWI/SNF ATPases in development. Currently, data Scientist in the US.
![YI SANG headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/yi_0-1iu2dg2.jpg)
Dr STAVER BEZHANI
Characterizing transcriptional targets of SWI/SNF ATPases SPLAYED and BRAHMA in Arabidopsis. Currently Senior Lecturer UPenn Biology.
![STAVER BEZHANI headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/staver_0-1w09008.jpg)
Dr CHANG-SEOB KWON
Studying the role SWI/SNF ATPase SPLAYED in stem cell maintenance. Role of SWI/SNF ATPase BRAHMA in organ separation. Science education in South Korea.
![CHANG-SEOB KWON headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/changseob-2hx3151.jpg)
YANHUI SU research specialist
Characterizing the posttranslational Regulation of SWI/SNF ATPase SPLAYED activity. Nephrology Division Research Lab Manager, Medical University of South Carolina
![YANHUI SU headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/su2_copy-176a82y.jpg)
Graduate Students
Dr SAMANTHA KLASFELD
Developing a pipeline to improve signal enrichment in ChIP-seq in organisms outside of ENCODE. Currently Data Science postdoc with Pfizer.
![Dr. SAMANTHA KLASFELD headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/CCS_9445-2b9auw2-e1526600526995.jpg)
Dr RUN JIN
Chromatin remodeling and pioneer transcription factors. Currently Data Scientists at McKinsey.
![RUN JIN headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2019/01/IMG_0110-27qlkig.png)
Dr UN-SA LEE
Understanding the epigenetic regulation of inflorescence and flower development.
![UN-SA LEE headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/CCS_9457-1g1pguz-e1526600461724.jpg)
Dr SOON-KI HAN
Charachterizing the role of chromatin remodeling in stress and hormone responses. Currently Assistant Professor, Ajou University, South Korea.
![SOON-KI HAN headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/soon-ki2-2408z5y-e1526493719476.jpg)
Dr CARA WINTER
Understanding the application of genome-wide approaches to identify direct LFY targets at two developmental stages. Currently Research associate, Philip Benfey Lab, Duke University.
![CARA WINTER headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/cara2_2009-1bqt9zi.jpg)
Dr JENNIFER PASTORE
Characterizing the regulation of flower primordium formation downstream of LEAFY. Currently at Pastore orchards, New Jersey.
![JENNIFER PASTORE headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/jen_2005b-1xmic0p.jpg)
Dr MAXWELL REBACK
Studying the role of LEAFY in Biotic stimulus response, browse to display LEAFY genomewide binding. After Medical School now a Critical care physician and pulmologist in Hartford CT.
![MAXWELL REBACK headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/max-1p3n7yq.jpg)
Undergraduate Students
MODESOLA OLANIYI
Measuring transcriptional repressor activity. Now taking a gap year to do research.
![Modesola Olaniyi headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2021/02/Image-from-iOS.jpg)
PRABH KAUR
Understanding the function of LEAFY.
![PrabhKaurHeadShot headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2023/12/PrabhKaurHeadShot.png)
GABRIELA BLANDINO
Understanding the function and additional targets of TFL1. Received chair’s research prize in Biology. Currently attending medical school at BU.
![GABRIELA BLANDINO headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2021/02/IMG_7244-2-e1613486755857.jpg)
RENEE HASTINGS
Studying how the biophysical properties of disordered proteins coordinate stress responses. Currently Biophysics Graduate Student at Stanford University.
![RENEE HASTINGS headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2019/01/707AE698-BA15-4A71-8403-EB197F59D934-1-1bmql7b-e1547649338251.png)
ADAM KONKOL
Characterizing disordered proteins Currently Churchill Scholar at the University of Cambridge in Biological Physics.
![Adam Konkol headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/CCS_9516-1gi72t2-e1527004747713.jpg)
CECE CHEN
Learning about gene regulatory networks and plant immunity.
![CECE CHEN headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2019/01/IMG_8301-1l22pfh-e1547748592543.jpg)
ANDREA LIMPUANGTHIP
Analyzing the role of LMI2 MYB transcription factor downstream of LEAFY. MD U Maryland. Practising in Pennsylvania.
![ANDREA LIMPUANGTHIP headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/andrea-1g022qh.jpg)
LAUREN MALASPINA
Characterizing the role of direct LEAFY targets in the switch to flower formation. MD UCSD Albert Einstein College. Practising in California.
![LAUREN MALASPINA headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/lauren-1mniony.jpg)
LOUIS SADDIC
Studying the regulatory network downstream of LEAFY in the switch to flower formation. MD PhD Stanford. Practising In Cailifornia.
![LOUIS SADDIC headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/lou2-2gg3r1k.jpg)
DILUSHA WILIAM
Understanding genomewide identification of direct LFY targets. MD PhD UPenn, Practising in Minnesota.
![DILUSHA WILIAM headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/dilusha-1vvjpw2.jpg)
MARIYA KOSTIV
Undergraduate Researcher
![MARIYA KOSTIV headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/CCS_9446-1tvrw1i-e1526600934367.jpg)
ALEXANDER GONZALEZ
Undergraduate Researcher
![ALEXANDER GONZALEZ headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/CCS_9436-1qtp2l0-e1526601191932.jpg)
JANA KRIEN
Undergraduate Researcher
![JANA KRIEN headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/Jana-rf7pfn-e1526601186386.jpg)
INDEARA COGDELL
Undergraduate Researcher
![INDEARA COGDELL headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/Indeara-2-vjp891-e1526601165124.jpg)
Visiting Scholars & Technician
YESEUL KIM
Understanding the mechanism in which genes are regulated by upstream binding of LFY. Crreuntly PhD with Jan Lohmann EMBL Heidelberg.
![YESEUL KIM headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2021/10/beauty_20191225120249.jpg)
SUJUAN CUI
Studying the role of chromatin remodeling in plant development and growth. Faculty Hebei Normal University, China.
![SUJUAN CUI headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/sujuan-1ytyagj.jpg)
ALFONSO MOURIZ VILLAR
Understanding the role of histone modifications and histone variants in reproductive development in Arabidopsis.
![ALFONSO MOURIZ VILLAR headshot Modesola Olaniyi](https://web.sas.upenn.edu/wagner-lab/files/2016/10/alfonso-1xtfx1y.jpg)