Whited Lab

Jessica Whited studies limb regeneration in axolotl salamanders. Her lab develops tools to manipulate gene expression during limb regeneration, and explores signaling events following wound healing that initiate the regenerative process.

Duygu Payzin is a post-doctoral fellow in the Whited Lab at the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University. She earned her B.S. degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Bilkent University, and holds an M.S. degree in Molecular Biology from Koc University, and received her Ph.D from Harvard University in Biological and Biomedical Sciences.

Sangwon earned his B.S. degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and obtained his Ph.D. degree in Oral Biology from the University at Buffalo. He investigated the role of transcription factor p63 in salivary gland stem/progenitor cell fate decision, lineage commitment, proliferation, and differentiation in Rose-Anne Romano Lab. Sangwon joined the lab on June of 2021 and is interested in understanding biological network and pathways associated with limb regeneration.

Noah is a graduate student in the BBS program at Harvard Medical School. He received his B.S degree in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology at UCLA.

Steven came to the Whited lab as a bioinformatics fellow while still a student at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell.  He earned his B.S. in Biological Sciences, with a concentration in Bioinformatics before officially taking the role as the lab’s Bioinformaticist.  Steven is passionate about axolotl transcriptomics and uses his computer science background to solve problems using bioinformatic tools in the challenging axolotl model.  In his spare time he enjoys teaching ABE, mentoring STEM at the boys and girls club, and all kinds of fabrication like additive fabrication, tinkering, carpentry, and diesel engines.

Kelly is a Research Assistant whose main role is to manage the Whited Lab axolotl facility. She earned a BA in Environmental Studies from New York University and a MS in Marine Biology from Northeastern University, where she studied shark behavior. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, doing yoga, and scuba diving (when weather allows).

Shifa Hossain is a class of 2023 Harvard College undergraduate student. She was born and raised in LA and has had a passion in research since high school.  She enjoys spending time with family and friends and watching informational videos during her spare time, such as Ted-Ed and Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj.

Anika is a class of 2024 undergraduate student at Harvard College studying Neuroscience with a secondary in African American Studies. She is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and currently lives in Adams House. In her free time, Anika enjoys playing and watching soccer, reading, and doing anything outdoors. After graduation, she hopes to pursue an MD and eventually becoming a neurosurgeon.

Ryan is a class of 2025 undergraduate student at Harvard College, studying Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology, and Global Health and Health Policy. He is from New York, and he became especially interested in biology while working at the Central Park Zoo. Outside of the lab, Ryan provides legal assistance to individuals who have been denied health coverage by their insurance. In his free time, he enjoys making digital art, playing tennis, and playing piano.

​Nick Leigh earned his B.S. in Biology from Lafayette College, and obtained his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Roswell Park Cancer Institute/SUNY Buffalo. His research interest is the impact of the immune system on the initiation and progress of limb regeneration.

Burcu earned her B.S degree in Genetics and Bioengineering from Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey and received her PhD from the lab of Laura Anne Lowery at Boston College and studied how microtubule dynamics are regulated in the neuronal growth cone during axon growth and guidance in developing Xenopus laevis nervous system. Burcu’s research interest is peripheral nerve regeneration in axolotls. 

Victor is a French student at the Ecole Normale Supérieure. He was born and raised in Annecy, a small town in the French Alps. He enjoys rock climbing, hitchhiking, volunteering and picking delicious mushrooms in the forests of the Alps. He would like to pursue a career in regenerative and developmental biology research. He plans to use his internships to travel the world.

​Fallon Durant earned her B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience and Biomedical Physics from Northeastern University, and obtained her Ph.D. in Biology from Tufts University in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Levin. Fallon’s research interests center on understanding how ‘regenerative’ animals are able to prevent scarring. She believes that unveiling how axolotls innately antagonize fibrosis will lead to the discovery of new therapeutics that could help millions of people.

Madison is a University of Maine graduate with a B.S. in Marine Science. She has a wide range of knowledge about aquatic species. Her primary role in the lab is assisting with axolotl husbandry.

Rachel is an undergraduate at Harvard University in the class of 2019 studying Molecular and Cellular Biology.

​José Martinez Fernandez is an undergraduate at Harvard University studying Human Development and Regenerative Biology.

Jihee Han is an undergraduate student at Harvard College studying Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology, with a secondary in Germanic and Scandinavian studies.

Emily is a class of 2021 undergraduate at Harvard University, studying Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology.