Lab News

Tijana Nikic received her MSc in Human Biology from LMU Munich, completing her thesis in 2022 with Prof. Dr. Stefan Stricker on understanding astrocyte cell identity and optimizing their reprogramming to neurons. Tijana joined the Corn Lab as a PhD student to investigate the mechanisms of organelle clearance during reticulocyte maturation. Her research interests include functional genomics, unraveling molecular mechanisms driving cellular processes, and advancing genome editing technologies for therapeutic applications.

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We are thrilled to announce that Lilly has successfully defended her PhD! Her research focused on monitoring genome editing by visualizing DNA repair. She developed a high-throughput off-target identification method, enabling tracking of off-targets for thousands of human guide RNAs. A huge congratulations, Dr. van den Venn!

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Young earned his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Seoul National University (South Korea) in 2023, where he worked in Dr. V. Narry Kim’s lab, focusing on the molecular and structural insights of siRNA and miRNA production by human Dicer. In November 2024, he joined the Corn Lab as a postdoctoral researcher, with a research focus on leveraging CRISPR technology to address fundamental biological questions.

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Erik Basha received his Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Bern in 2023.  Erik joined the Corn Lab in October 2024. He is currently working on his Master’s thesis, focusing on the characterization of unexplored interactions between genes involved in DNA damage repair and other essential cellular mechanisms.

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Our warmest congratulations to Charles on successfully defending his PhD! His commitment and hard work have undoubtedly led to this well-deserved achievement. He developed an innovative, high-sensitivity in situ/in vivo system for monitoring homology search during DNA double-stranded break homology-directed repair (DSBR/HDR). Well done, Dr. Yeh!

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Huge congratulations to Marija on completing her PhD! Her dedication and hard work have paid off! Using a genome-wide CRISPR screen, Marija identified mediators of enucleation in red blood cells. We’re thrilled she’ll continue in the lab as a postdoc- here’s to more amazing accomplishments, Dr. Banovic!

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Jenna Rode received her Bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley in 2023, working in the lab of Professor Gary Karpen on the role of heterochromatin binding proteins in nuclear organization. Jenna joined the Corn lab in September 2024. She is currently working on her Master’s thesis, focusing on discovering novel mechanisms of DNA-protein crosslink degradation.

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On September 18-19 2024, the Corn Lab hosted an engaging in-person DDREAMM team retreat in Zurich, bringing together researchers for two days of scientific presentations, fruitful discussions, and the exchange of fresh ideas. The event highlighted synergies between the Jackson/Corn lab and fostered brainstorming sessions focused on the latest technologies, scientific advancements, and the evolving landscape of publications in the era of AI and preprints.

Participants also enjoyed valuable networking opportunities, including a scenic hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg, offering breath-taking views of Zurich and its surroundings.

The retreat was highly effective, sparking new collaborations.

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The Corn lab  held an exciting retreat in Unterwasser (Toggenburg region, St. Gallen) on September 10th and 11th, offering a perfect blend of productivity and engagement. The retreat featured focused writing workshops, sessions on scientific illustration tools, and in-depth discussions on career development, including negotiation skills. Lab members had a valuable opportunity to network, share ideas, and explore future career paths, all while enjoying the beautiful surroundings.

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