Our lab is dedicated to understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate gene expression, chromatin state, and genome organization, including:
- Mechanisms and functions of long non-coding RNA: We are particularly interested in the long non-coding RNA XIST, which is the master regulator of X-chromosome inactivation. We investigate how XIST modulates gene expression and chromatin state across developmental stages in human and mouse models.
- Transcriptional control of cell fate: By leveraging cellular reprogramming, we study how transcription factors influence gene networks that determine cell fate decisions. Our goal is to uncover the mechanisms by which cells adopt and maintain specific identities, with implications for regenerative medicine and developmental biology.
- 3D genome architecture and chromatin dynamics: The three-dimensional organization of the genome profoundly influences gene expression. We explore the spatial arrangement of chromatin and its interactions with transcriptional regulation in various cellular contexts, aiming to unravel how these interactions impact cell function and identity.
Academic Education
2021 - 2024 Assistant Project Scientist, University of California, Los Angeles, USA. Plath lab, Department of Biological Chemistry.
2015 - 2021 Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, Los Angeles, USA. Plath lab, Department of Biological Chemistry.
2009 - 2015 Ph.D., Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Topic: “New computational approaches to study protein-nucleic acid recognition". Advisor: Prof. Yael Mandel-Gutfreund.
2011 - 2013 Visiting student, Molecular and Computational Biology Program, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA. Advisor: Dr. Remo Rohs.
2007 - 2009 B.Sc., Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Final project topic: “Assessing transcription factor motifs by comparing transcription factor expression to gene expression".
Awards
2014 Israel ministry of science - Women in science fellowship
2012 Irwin and Joan Jacobs fellowship
2011, 2013 Honorary excellence scholarship from the faculty of biology