TEAM
Thales Papagiannakopoulos, Ph.D.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
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> Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, NYU
> Postdoctoral Fellow with Tyler Jacks Lab, Koch Integrative Insitute for Cancer Research
> Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kenneth Kosik Lab, UC Santa Barbara, 2010
> B.S. Molecular Genetics, University of Sussex, UK, 2004
Thales is an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Molecular Oncology and Tumor Immunology Graduate Program.
Sahith Rajalingam
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
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> M.S. In Pharmacology and Toxicology, Long Island University, 2019
> Pharm-D, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, 2015
Sai is a research associate/lab manager, he joined the lab in September 2021. He ensures that the lab operates... Other things apart from his job, he likes to travel and cook.
Jozef Piotr Bossowski, Ph.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
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> Ph.D. in Biology at Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France, 2014-2018
Jozef joined the Team in 2019 after completing his PhD in France. His work is focused on Integrated Stress Response in lung cancer and its impact on tumor microenvironment. Working on stress response allowed him to develop his own strategies to deal with stress and successfully apply his findings to his life/work balance. Always cheerful and happy to collaborate and discuss scientific ideas.
Makiko Hayashi, Ph.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
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> The Uehara Memorial Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (2ys)
> Ph.D. in Medical Science, Masayuki(Masi) Yamamoto Lab, Tohoku University, Japan, 2020
Makiko is a postdoctoral fellow who joined the lab in July 2020. Makiko studies how disruption of circadian-rhythms affects lung cancer progression. Outside of science, Makiko loves art, she loves to draw. Makiko’s dream is to draw the cover illustration of her publication in Nature?
Ray Pillai, M.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
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> BSc in Pharmacology at University of British Columbia, 2008
> MD at University of Cincinnati, 2012
> Internal Medicine Residency at University of Southern California, 2015
Ray is a postdoctoral fellow and also a practicing physician. He joined the lab in 2017. Ray studies how common lung cancer mutations reprogram the immune microenvironment, promote immune evasion and resistance to immunotherapy.
Stefan Kotschi, M.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
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> MD at Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany 2022
Stefan joined the team in 2024 and is working on the intersection of cancer, neuroscience and systemic metabolism. Outside the lab, Stefan draws inspiration from New York’s vibrant cultural scene and applies his scientific skills on creating craft cocktails.
Michael Cross
MD/PHD - MSTP STUDENT
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> B.S. Biochemistry, University of Rochester
Michael is an MD/PhD student who joined the lab in March 2021. Channeling his inner Gordon Ramsay, Michael studies how diets impact systemic physiology in lung cancer. He hopes his work will someday convince Thales to avoid going keto. Outside of science, Michael devotes the majority of his time to supporting his one true love, Manchester United.
Yuan Hao, Ph.D.
SENIOR BIOINFORMATICS PROGRAMMER
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Ph.D. Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, University College Dublin.
M.Phil. Computational Biology, University of Cambridge.
Senior Bioinformatics Programmer at PCC/ABL, NYU Langone Health since 2020.
Taha Niazi
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
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Taha is a third year undergraduate student at NYU majoring in biology on the premed track. He joined the lab in January 2023 and works alongside Michael to study how diet interacts with tumor intrinsic mutations to promote cachexia. Outside of lab, Taha enjoys watching movies and working out.
Fedra Luciano, Ph.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
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Ph.D. in Biomedicine at Rovira i Virgili University, Tarragona, Spain, 2016-2019.
Fedra joined the team in 2024. She is focused on understanding how tumor development can affect the host's systemic metabolism. In parallel, Fedra is working with Michael to investigate how diet impacts systemic physiology in lung cancer. Outside the lab, Fedra adapts to the ever-changing weather of New York, finding comfort in the museums and bookstores in the city.
Mari Nakamura
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
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> B.A. Biochemistry, Middlebury College
Mari first joined the lab as a SURP student in June 2023 and now works as a lab technician assisting Sai while also working with Kat to investigate the role of ferroptosis in lung cancer tumor metabolism. Her passion for the intersection of scientific inquiry and clinical practice drives her as she pursues medical school. Coming from Vermont, she is excited to embrace city life, though she'll miss the mountains and skiing.
Katerina Ziogou
MASTERS STUDENT
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Katerina is a Master’s student at ETH Zurich, majoring in Molecular Health Sciences. She joined our lab in April 2024 to conduct her Master’s thesis, focusing on the role of ferroptosis and metabolism in lung cancer alongside Kat. Outside the lab, Katerina loves exploring the city and traveling.
Calliopé Lymberis
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
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Calliopé is a second year undergraduate student from ESTBB, in France, in biology, biochemistry and biotechnology.
Outside of the lab, Calliope likes to go around the city, and share with her family.
