Lab Members
You? We are recruiting!
We seek highly motivated students, postdocs, and research scientists with an interest in studying cellular organization and engineering cellular compartments.
We are building an inclusive and stimulating environment and would work with you to help you make discovery, grow as a scientist, and achieve your professional goals.
We welcome those with backgrounds in computational biology, bioengineering, biochemistry, biology, and physics who are interested in studying and engineering cellular compartments.
Scripps graduate students
Please email Keren about a rotation.
Postdocs
Please email Keren your CV, a short description of your research interests, and contact information for three references.
Microbiology research assistant
The Lasker lab is searching for a highly motivated and creative Research Assistant III to investigate the biology of membraneless organelles in bacteria.
Cell biology research assistant
The Lasker lab is searching for a creative and highly motivated Research Assistant III to engineer synthetic organelles for biophysical assays and therapeutic applications.
Keren Lasker
Lab head
Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology
Keren Lasker - Lab Head
Research interests: I love tackling complex challenges that require creative problem-solving, often involving unexpected connections between various pieces of the problem. For me, condensate biology represents the ultimate puzzle.
Education: I obtained a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Computer Science, followed by an M.Sc. in Computer Science, both from Tel Aviv University (TAU) in Israel. During my Ph.D., in Computer Science from TAU, I developed methods for integrative structure determination under the guidance of Andrej Sali (UCSF) and Haim Wolfson (TAU). For my postdoctoral training, I join Lucy Shapiro's lab at Stanford, where I studied biomolecular condensates in the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus.
Favorite Activities Outside of the Lab: Embarking on imaginative adventures with my kids
Random fact: I played the piano from childhood and took a break when I turned 20. I performed a few recitals back in the day, and I still remember most of the tunes. I’m hoping to play Rachmaninov’s pieces again soon –he’s my favorite composer.
Anamika Avni
Postdoc associate
Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology
Anamika Avni - Postdoc Fellow
Research interests: My work primarily focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of selective entry within PopZ condensate. I will also study various factors that can potentially influence the signaling reactions and pathways essential for DNA replication, chromosome segregation, and cell division in C. crescentus.
Education: I completed my Bachelor's (B.Sc.) and Master's (M.Sc. in Chemistry) from Panjab University, Chandigarh, India, in 2015 and 2017, respectively. I earned my Ph.D. in 2023 from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, India, and worked with Prof. Samrat Mukhopadhyay.
Favorite Activities Outside of the Lab: I enjoy a cup of coffee/tea with a nice book or a show.
Random fact: I am a self-taught cook who loves to watch cookery shows and try new recipes.
Jordan Barrows
Postdoc associate
Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology
Jordan Barrows - Postdoc Fellow
Research interests: I am interested in bacterial cellular organization and developing non-traditional organisms as model systems.
Education: Johns Hopkins University, PhD in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology (2023) with Dr. Erin Goley
Favorite Activities Outside of the Lab: Graphic design, 3D printing, playing board games, playing volleyball/racquetball/frisbee
Random fact: I don't like potatoes. 🙂
Andrea Colarusso
Postdoc associate
Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology
Andrea Colarusso - Postdoc Fellow
Research interests: My interests revolve around technology development for the characterization and exploitation of proteins and microorganisms in both basic and applied research.
Education:
2023: Postdoc at Laval University, Québec City, Canada. PI: Vincenzo Di Marzo
2019-2022: Postdoc at Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
2015-2019: PhD in Biotechnology at Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy. PI: Maria Luisa Tutino
2011-2013: MSc in Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology at Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
2008-2011: BSc in Biomolecular and Industrial Biotechnology at Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
Favorite Activities Outside of the Lab: Reading, watching films, visiting new places
Random fact: If I could reincarnate, I would like to be a dog
Anthony Gurunian
Rotation student
Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology
Anthony Gurunian - Rotation Student
Research interests: I am broadly interested in the biophysics of selective partitioning and permeability in the cell. In particular, I am currently studying the partitioning of molecules inside PopZ condensates using TurboID.
Education: University of Rochester, Biomedical Engineering, class of 2021.
Favorite Activities Outside of the Lab: Playing piano, chess and tennis.
Random fact:I visited 3 of Franz Liszt’s house-museums.
Ashley Hunt
Research Assistant
Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology
Ashley Hunt - Research Assistant
Research interests: I'm interested in the interface of chemistry and biology and understanding how mammalian cells use biophysics. I aspire to explore how these mechanisms can be repurposed and designed to find new therapeutics to improve human health.
Education: I received my Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona in 2015. In 2018 I completed my Master of Science in Biochemistry also from Arizona State University.
Favorite Activities Outside of the Lab: Outside of the lab you can catch me trying out new recipes in the kitchen or reading up on philosophy.
Random fact: I'm an animal lover that has cared for dogs, cats, fish, chickens, rats, and even a pet cockroach.
Asma Khan
Postdoc associate
Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology
Asma Khan - Postdoc Fellow
Research interests: I'm excited about researching biomolecular condensation patterns in extremophilic bacteria that thrive at high and low temperatures and how they can be harnessed to design novel therapeutics.
Education: I completed my Bachelor's (B.Sc.) and Master's (M.Sc. in Zoology) from the Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India, in 2008 and 2010 respectively. I earned my Ph.D. in 2021 from the Oakland University, Rochester, MI under the mentorship of Dr. Sara E. Blumer-Schuette.
Favorite Activities Outside of the Lab: I enjoy cooking desi food, working out and binge-watching crime thriller shows.
Random fact: I can't swim but I want to learn. Every summer I look up swimming classes, call in and get all the information but never enroll. Still waiting for the summer when I'll make it to the pool!
Daniel Scholl
Postdoc associate, joint with the Deniz lab
Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology
Daniel Scholl - Postdoc Fellow
Research interests: : I’m fascinated by the mechanisms nature comes up with to make organisms thrive and evolve, especially linked to regulation and fine-tuning. My main interests are protein conformational dynamics, allostery, intrinsic disorder, and entropy.
Education: Ph.D. in Molecular Biology at Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, 2020, PI : Cédric Govaerts.
Favorite Activities Outside of the Lab: Folding clothes with people inside (jiu-jitsu), surfing, gulping beers, reading, telling people that hikes are overrated.
Random fact: I repeated the last year of kindergarten because I liked to play too much (no regrets).
Alex Stevens
Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology
Alex Stevens
Research interests: : Leveraging designer biomolecular condensates as a platform for targeted protein degradation.
Education:
University of California San Diego , Biological Sciences, Ph.D., Samara Reck-Peterson
Washington and Jefferson College, Biology, B.A., Spanish, B.A.
Favorite Activities Outside of the Lab: Gardening, Hiking, Cooking, Hot Yoga, Traveling
Random fact: The best experience of my lifetime has been venturing deep into the Amazon rainforest to spend time with the Huaorani people. I learned lots of amazing things about the rainforest and one of them is that some ants taste like lime juice!
Ishan Taneja
Graduate Student
Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology
Ishan Taneja - Graduate student
Research interests: Understanding the molecular recognition modes of PopZ to its numerous partners using molecular dynamics simulations
Education: B.S in Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Favorite Activities Outside of the Lab: Listening to music
Random fact: I have the flexibility of a tree trunk
