Our Team

Paolo's research focuses on understanding the cellular biology of retrotransposons and the consequences of their de-repression and function in normal and disease contexts. Paolo made significant contributions in the study of LINE-1 retrotransposon, the only repetitive element still able to autonomously "jump" within the human genome. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Paolo helped creating Pandemic Response Lab (PRL), a company that performed millions of COVID tests through the use of a novel, automated, high throughput qPCR pipeline developed at NYU ISG and expanded and commercialized by PRL. Outside the lab, Paolo enjoys broadway, classical music, spending time with friends, chocolate and good bakery products.

Manjunatha pursued a PhD in Bioinformatics and Biochemistry at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, where he explored modern protein domain evolution through a synthetic biology approach, designing synthetic protein domains from protein fragments. At the FOM-Institute AMOLF in the Netherlands, he deepened the understanding of evolutionary design principles by studying Gene Regulatory Network (GRN) evolution using synthetic and systems biology approaches. He later expanded GRN research by rewiring cancer hub gene networks at the EMBL-CRG Systems Biology Unit in Barcelona, Spain. Building on this, he developed molecular technologies for therapeutic applications and probing fundamental biological processes at Imperial College London, UK. Currently, at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, he is advancing a technology to induce chromosome-specific mis-segregation, enabling the creation of cancer cell models to study chromosome gains or losses and their therapeutic potential for congenital genetic disorders. Outside the lab, Manjunatha enjoys exploring the creative side of 'night science’, practicing and teaching yoga, experimenting with hydroponics, and birdwatching.

Karan obtained his PhD in Evolutionary Genetics and Microbiology from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali. He has gained international recognition for his pioneering PhD research, particularly for discovering a new natural pathogen (Staphylococcus succinus spp. succinus PK-1) of Drosophila, significantly advancing the understanding of the evolutionary ecology of immunity. Karan's PhD findings have provided fundamental insights into the evolution of tolerance to cold shock in fruit flies, also exploring its consequences for resistance/tolerance to other stressors, such as pathogens. During his postdoc with Prof. Daniel Rifkin, he has uncovered a new dimension in our understanding of extracellular matrix proteins, particularly latent TGFβ binding protein 3 (LTBP3), revealing its role in stem cell differentiation into adipocytes and the early events of metastasis. Currently, he is investigating the genetic etiology of Down syndrome and exploring the relationship between chromosome-specific copy number alterations and tumorigenesis. Outside the lab, he enjoys gardening, making tea, and preparing halva. He also enjoys volunteering at the temple and teaching middle and high school students at City of Science.

Yufeng's research focuses on how chromosome instability in cancer contributes to suppressing cancer immunity. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, taking photographs, and traveling.

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Fabio's research combines computational tools and experimental approaches to study how the tumor genome evolves during cancer progression. He focuses on how DNA copy-number changes develop and are shaped by environmental stress conditions, such as the tumor microenvironment. When not in the lab, he enjoys taking pictures with his analog camera, playing the piano, going to music festivals, and exploring new cities.

Aleah is interested in the mechanisms of chromosomal instability and the role of chromosome-specific aneuploidy in tumorigenesis. Outside of the lab, she enjoys seeing broadway shows and baking cookies for her fellow lab members.

Elaine is interested in chromosome-specific aneuploidies and how they lead to cancer immune evasion in solid tumors. Outside of the lab, she enjoys going to the movies and watching sports.

Ze wishes to use statistics and machine learning methods to explore biomedical science. Since joining the Davoli lab, he has been using machine learning to reveal how interactions between cancer cells and immune cells result in cancer aneuploidies.

Pooja is interested in understanding the role of genome instability on immune evasion. She also studies how biophysical cues lead to genome instability in cancer. Outside the lab, she enjoys bouldering, playing the guitar, and live music.

Maria is interested in understanding the causes and consequences of specific aneuploidies in blood cancers. Her clinical interests are in pediatric genetics and hematology-oncology. She is involved in outreach through the STEP and RISE-UP programs for high schoolers at NYU Langone. Outside the lab, Maria enjoys baking, hiking, exploring different cities, and throwing dinner parties.

Helberth is interested in understanding how somatic mutations contribute to disease progression and genome instability. Outside the lab, he enjoys cooking, painting, shopping, and designing his own clothes

Angela is interested in studying the consequences and vulnerabilities associated with aneuploidy using isogenic cell models of aneuploidy and aiming to uncover the molecular mechanisms that confer survival advantages to aneuploid cells in tumor environments, potentially leading to targeted therapeutic strategies. When not in the lab, she enjoys weight lifting, cooking, watching Friends, and gaming.

Sally is gaining research experience as she explores different aspects of research and medicine and continues to develop her scientific interests. Her goal is to understand the role of aneuploidy in tumor development in various cell types. Outside the lab, Sally enjoys fishing, reading about current laws, psychology and economic books, watching Chinese historical dramas, and testing out recipes.

Jasmijn is interested in the intricate mechanisms that enable cancer cells to evade immune detection and suppression. She is currently investigating the impact of chromosome-specific aneuploidies on cancer immune evasion and immunotherapy response. When not in lab, she enjoys enjoys cooking, reading, and workout classes.

Nishara is an undergraduate at CUNY Hunter College as a Macaulay Honors Scholar and recipient of the John P. McNulty Scholarship. She currently investigates the role of chromosome-specific aneuploidies in cancer immune evasion.

Jenny is exploring different aspects of research, and she is specifically investigating cell surface proteins in cells with LINE-1 expression. Outside the lab, she enjoys playing piano and flute, traveling with friends, and horseback riding.

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Reeya is interested in bridging bench research to public health outcomes. In the lab, she is currently developing lentiviral production skills with the aim of studying gendered cancers in the future. Her previous work has focused on HIV uptake methods in the Bronx, Sexual and Maternal Morbidity and how that affects in-hospital breastfeeding efforts and research around male induced intimate partner violence. In her free time, she likes to knit and crochet and play the piano/sing. She is also a debater for NYU’s Policy Debate team and spends most of her free time talking!