Alex Ruthenburg, PhD

Neubauer Family Foundation Associate Professor, MGCB

Coffee connoisseur, likes argon/dislikes oxygen, paintball enthusiast, lover of eBay, most likely to use "Ruthen" as a prefix to anything

Postdoctoral Fellow chromatin biochemistry in the Allis Lab, Rockefeller University (2006-2010)

PhD chemical & structural biology in the Verdine Lab, Harvard University (2005)

BA chemistry in the Mohrig Lab, Carleton College (1999)

Amoldeep Kainth, PhD

Postdoctoral Scholar

Is really ~really~ good at experiments, in vitro transcription addict, phase separation enthusiast, MLL1 mastermind, always down to grill, moonlights as Hikaru Nakamura, the go-to grad student guru, intramural kickball coach, if you dont know you better ASK somebody

PhD biochemistry and molecular biology in the Gross Lab, Lousiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport (2017)

Gönen Memişoğlu, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Newly Appointed Grandma's Corner Governor and Chief Executive of Greenhouse Operations, order master - gives orders, takes orders, the true GOOSE, an absolute yeast-beast, holder of the lab's cleanest bench record, actually has 12 arms, RAGES AGAINST THE MACHINES, Ruthenlab's in-house tasseographer

PhD molecular and cell biology in the Haber Lab, Brandeis University (2018)

Jimmy Elias

CMB Student (8th Year)

Sir Jambo the Big Blue, warm water drinker, single-man band in the tissue culture room, #1 fan of The Matrix Trilogy, a man who enjoys himself some nice pies and hot dogs

BS biomedical/medical engineering in the Durham Lab, Johns Hopkins University (2014)

Amanda Keplinger

CMB Student (7th year)

The one and only Kep (AKA Keperina), fan of PBS (Potatoes, Blankets, Starbucks), important importer of important importin facts, this girl absolutely ROASTS CHICKENS, whipped cream aficionado, works under the aegis of the ceiling screwdriver, always in it to win it, MVP of everything

BS biochemistry (minors in mathematics and econonics) in the Militello Lab, SUNY Geneseo (2018)

Jelena Bogdanović

HG Student (6th year)

JETS, abstract western artist, 3D genome protégé, nuclear cytoskeleton fanatic, mother of the mESCs, maker of the strong covfefe, Ruthenlab's nominee for both figure skating and speed skating (of both the wheeled and bladed varieties), qubit lover, cross-linker, filament destroyer, gradient goddess, to reiterate - why walk when you can skate?

BS molecular biology and physiology, University of Belgrade (2018); prior work at the Institute Pasteur in the Marlow Lab

Gabi Haddad

GGSB Student (6th year)

Mother of birbs (fluent in birbwhispering), the long read queen reigning over her MinIONs, shrimp fanatic, rightful heir of a Grandma's Corner bench, supreme ruler of GLACIER and TUNDRA, noncoding RNA explorer, ^_^, major meme fan, ćevapi enthusiast, loves the color blue daba dee daba dai

BS molecular biology (minor in marine sciences) in the Benner and Heinz Labs, University of California San Diego (2018)

Rob Rodriguez

CMB Student (6th year)

Sensei Rob (AKA Berto; AKA Benjamin "Dialysis" Buttons), professional gel room spelunker, always sus, Grandma's Corner bench usurper, makes Phusion by the barrel, RuthenLab's only participant in the 5 a.m. lab gang, would fight H4 and light below 625nm if he could, actually Mothman, RuthenLab's totally rad radiation safety officer, is always trying to travel abroad, forever plagued by the intrusive thought to move the Black Orb outside of GCIS, auditioning guitarists for THSI and 2CC - new music coming soon on the *dark web*

BS biology (BA in Mandarin Chinese, minor in chemistry) in the Lamar Lab, University of Tulsa (2018)

Alec Buttner

CMB Student (4rd year)

Ruthenlab's Gen Z expert, Ruthentrip's chupacabra reincarnate, has also played your favorite obscure childhood game, ABSOLUTE CAT DAD (of the cutest kittens), *CONTENDER* for the cleanest lab notebook, has eyes equivalent to the low-res lab meeting projector, contender for best dressed, synthesizer of the sinful Sin histones, most likely to hire Soundcloud rappers to make meme songs

BS biochemisty in the Thévenin and Bertucci Labs, Moravian University (2021)

Michael Zelko

CMB Student (4rd year)

Zelks the dragon boat paddler, notorious (but loved) dictator of the Zelkonia Republic (народная республика желкония), the salvager, the bringer of broken PCR machines (for the 3rd time... and counting?), proud member of RNA gang, CRISPR-display protégé, excited by near death experiences, would survive a historically sinking ship (that's a ship that is sinking... historically), brings spirit to the volleyball court, #1 undergrad hater (written by an undergrad), isn't afraid to handle Trizol with a single glove, would swim in Lake Michigan in khaki pants if tempted

BS cell and molecular biology (minor in anthropology) in the Kwak Lab, Cornell University (2019)

Eva McCord

UChicago Undergrad (2021-2025)

Ruthenlab's resident journalist, forever TAing enthusiastically, Advanced Biology lifer, nuclear actin fanatic, the degron designer, always actin' up, mESC babysitter, collector of undergraduate awards, hater of blank western blots, owner of the goose bag, should have a side gig in hand-drawn scientific illustrations

BS biological sciences (minoring in the history, philosophy, and social studies of science and medicine) in the Ruthenburg Lab, University of Chicago

Prithi Srinivasan

UChicago Undergrad (2022-2026)

Importin purification BEAST, chicken leg actin purchaser, vegan but still nice to us lesser beings, founder of the RuthenKnit club, maybe a bit too down to try another pulldown, Keplandian diplomat to the Zelkonia Republic, the most serene pyrene assayer, proud *secret* member of the Kovar lab and spy to the Cummings second floor, has a great a cappella cover she could show you, hoping she doesn't get another mouse in her house, might strongly dislike the Vegas Sphere (unclear)

BS cellular and molecular biology and chemistry in the Ruthenburg Lab, University of Chicago

Sunny Bhagat

UChicago Undergrad (2022-2026)

Newest member of the RuthenCycling club, pope lore enthusiast, Doc Films spin doctor, devoted worshipper of luciferase, CRISPRa addict, definitely from San Francisco (..burbs), holder of the Earl Grey tea pie recipe (it's yummy!), self-proclaimed dandy, most likely to accidentally self-immolate in a corduroy-friction incident, a silly little guy

BS cellular and molecular biology (minoring in creating writing) in the Ruthenburg Lab, University of Chicago

Clarissa Ding

UChicago Undergrad (2023-2027)

*CONTENDER* for the cleanest lab notebook, has had eNURF of NURF, the ISWI TRUNCATOR, Ruthenlab's resident Twitch streamer, winner of the Best Food Instagram, North to Alec's Kim K, GenZ's *newest* ambassador to Ruthenlandia, giver of lab aura points, TikTok aficionado, will tell you you're old and she's probably right

BS neuroscience (minoring in chemistry and the history, philosophy, and social studies of science and medicine) in the Ruthenburg Lab, University of Chicago

Rohan Shah, MD PhD

UChicago Undergraduate (2014-2018) and MD/PhD Student (2018-2024)

Current: Ophthalmology Resident at Johns Hopkins Medicine

ICeChIP-qPCR enthusiast, reigning lab H3K4me3 signal to noise ratio champion, master of the qPCR schedule, "the computer guy," fake diplomat, consumer of daily crossword puzzles, frequently found knitting, very pro-cabinet, cheese curds afficionado

PhD genetics, genomics, and systems biology in the Ruthenburg Lab, University of Chicago (2022)

Jane Rosin

UChicago Undergrad (2020-2024)

Ruthenlab's record holder for the most Gibson Assembly reactions in a month, speaks softly but can carry a big schtick, top shelf and ruthless roaster, humor level 9000, probably communicates with ghosts, knows a little *too* much about Jimmy Buffet, provider of phenomenally potable, paternally-produced pints

BS biological sciences in the Ruthenburg Lab, University of Chicago

Paddy Liu

UChicago Undergrad (2019-2023)

Current: Graduate Student in the Nora Lab at the University of California San Francisco

Master marinator, cast iron curator, unifier of the yeast genome, personally owns at least 3 Michelin stars, GFP personified, least likely to sleep in a bucket, loop master, fire keeper, resourceful beyond belief, presumably the biggest antagonist to Eiffel 65's "Blue (Da Ba Dee)," rocks the sickest mane

BS biological sciences (BA philosophy) in the Ruthenburg Lab, University of Chicago

Yichen Hou, PhD

GGSB Student (2017-2024)

Current: Graduate Student in the Pan Lab at the University of Chicago

8th floor joint lab member, splicing afficionado, creator of crystal-based gifts with chemistry magic, husky fanatic

BS biochemistry, Australian National University

Bill Richter, PhD

CMB Student (2012-2021)

Current: Postdoctoral Associate in the Taatjes Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder

Nucleosome reconstitutions per month record holder, pineapple lover, paintball ringer, chief antagonist of blenneman, freegan, clip art connoisseur, purveyor of fine used toner cartridges, virulent cabinista

BA cell and molecular biology, University of Maryland (2002)

Claire Kokontis

UChicago Undergrad (2017-2020)

Current: Graduate Student in the Bondy-Denomy Lab at the University of California San Francisco

Resident Chicagoan, DIY fashion influencer, post-it artist, at the Forefront (and Tail-End) of Cas9 transfection, winner of Most Original Agarose Gel Purification Technique, late night ethanol precipitator, LB plate tower architect, Grandma’s Corner Executive Decorator and Chief Director of Greenhouse Operations

BS biological sciences in the Ruthenburg Lab, University of Chicago

Charlotte Lewis

UChicago Undergrad (3rd year)

Bringer of optimism and smiles, avid swimmer (even in Lake Michigan at 45 F), formerly the newest and least jaded scientist in Ruthenlab, was convinced (then wasn't, and then was again) that aliens are real, lover of Tommy Bahamas children's menu spaghetti (and only that spaghetti), primary questioneer

BS biological sciences in the Ruthenburg Lab, University of Chicago (Expected 2021)

Ben Ratchford

UChicago Undergrad (2nd year)

RbBP5 binding domain sniffing dog, leaf water drinker, cat dad, RNA fan club member, French tuck devotee, thrifting specialist

BS biological sciences in the Ruthenburg Lab, University of Chicago (Expected 2022)

Lindsay Stolzenburg, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-2019)

Current: Scientist at Exicure

Best sterile technique, ΔΔCt sister, helpful and kind, has an awesome dog, punctual, Journal of Dairy Research enthusiast, scared of the espresso machine, votes undecided on cabinets, occupier of the haunted bay, latex glove humorist

PhD human molecular genetics in the Harris Lab, Northwestern University (2017)

Pallavi Sirjoosingh, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow (2015-2018)

Current: Lecturer at McGill University

Madame Radiation Safety Officer, board game lover, proponent of German boots, RNA in vitro binding chamption

PhD in the Bevilacqua Lab, Penn State (2014)

Mike Werner, PhD

CMB Student (2010-2016)

Current: Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Utah

TC messiah complex (able to breath life into dead cells), chromatin and rna guy

BA biology, Stetson University (2009)

Kate Malecek, PhD

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Student (2011-2016)

Current: Research Scientist at Evozyne

Project juggling, pig-brain proteome taming, elected representative of repressive ncRNA caucus, 2nd in the intrinsic counts-per-minute beta emission, virulent anti-anion exchange resin fanatic, sc-rabble rouser, poang owner’s club president

BA biology, Carleton College (2010)

Zhonglei Chen, PhD

Chemistry Student (2011-2016)

Current: Project Manager at Infinity Innovation, Inc.

Alkylation and maldi master, cysteine aficionado, wood scavenging

BS chemistry, Nankai University (2008)

Adrian Grzybowski, PhD

CMB Student (2012-2018)

Current: Scientist at Alamar Biosciences

Ruthenlab flag bearer/designer, ICeChIP inventor, voted most likely to have a UPC tattoo, linguistic pugilist, european cultural attache, consonant donor

MS biotechnology, Jagiellonian University (2011)

BS biotechnology, Jagiellonian University (2009)

Matthew Sullivan

UChicago Undergrad (2012-2016), Post-Bacc. Researcher (2016-2018)

Current: MSTP Student at the University of Pennsylvania

Tap dance enthusiast, oligo of the month club member, FedEX fanboy, designated raconteur, “eight replicates or it did not happen," not-so-secretly a goose, transitioning away from solid foods, "why do 6 litres when you can do 18?"

BS biological chemistry in the Ruthenburg Lab, University of Chicago (2016)

Richard Huang

Lab Manager (2010-2014)

Current: Researcher at Abbott Labs

Chromatin remodeling, yoga, latte art, skateboarding over potholes, organization guru, lab feng shui engineer, punk rocker, poang owner's club treasurer

BA biology, Carleton College (2010)

Nick Popp

UChicago Undergrad (2012-2013)

Current: MSTP Student at the University of Washington

WDR5 in vitro binding aficionado, elder undergrad statesman

BS biological chemistry, University of Chicago (2013)

Shufei Wang

UChicago Undergrad (2011-2014)

Current: MSTP Student at the University of Virginia

Inaugrual nucleosome core particle reconstitution prizewinner, fps guru, remodeling activity re-animator, mean sleep onset latency of <1 minute, engineer of relative remodeling experiments, hunter-gatherer of woodland raspberries and murine wrestler

BS University of Chicago (2014)

Sarah Watanaskul

UChicago Undergrad (2013-2016)

Current: Medical Student at the University of California, San Francisco

Multicolor pen cultist, WDR5 protein engineer

BS biology, University of Chicago (2016)

Joey Glynn

UChicago Undergrad (2011-2012)

Pig brain DNA modification binding impresario, cold room goblin, jello auteur, fellow liberal (norther indiana butcher district), yamato homogenizer smoothie dietician, gel automatic transmission technician, fan of only one man or astroman track

BA University of Chicago

Harvey

The Ruthendog

An always welcome morale boost

The Slayer

Espresso machine

Slayer Espresso Single Group with telescope-looking grinder

The Speedster (R.I.P)

Espresso machine

Kees Van Der Westen Speedster