Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University
đź”—LinkedIn
👋🏾 Hi, I’m Alex - a biologist interested in the molecular details of how genomes interact with their physical world.
Generally speaking, I’m a genomicist with a strong background in both molecular biology and computational analysis. I have worked in a wide range of model systems including mice, human cell culture, C. elegans, and fruit flies. Questions that excite me are typically asked about molecular mechanisms of heritable gene regulation. My PhD work indicates that heterochromatic H3K9 methylation and HP1a are required to maintain global 3D genome organization.
Now in my postdoctoral research at Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute, I study the molecular details of Lemarckian inheritance, or how a parent’s experiences influence the biology and behavior of their children.
↓ Check out the publications I’ve been a part of below! You can click on each one to learn more.
Oral Presentations
“Interrogating a role for extracellular vesicles (EVs) in mediating intergenerational memory of stress” Park City Winter Conference on Learning & Memory, January 2, 2025
“Heterochromatic 3D genome architecture is directed by H3K9/HP1-dependent and independent mechanisms” Fragile Nucleosome Seminar Series, June 21, 2023
“Heterochromatic 3D genome architecture is directed by H3K9/HP1-dependent and independent mechanisms” Genetics Society of America Drosophila Conference, March 1-5, 2023
“H3K9-mediated HP1 binding is required for heterochromatic genome organization” UNC Chromatin & Epigenetics Symposium, March 3, 2022
“Determining the role of the heterochromatic histone mark H3K9me3 in fruit fly 3D genome organization” Invited Seminar, UNC Asheville Department of Biology, September 30, 2021
“How and When to Add Voices” Rosalind Franklin Society Virtual Meeting: Labs, Leaders, and Critical Connections, December 16-17, 2020
“The Creation of Black in Genetics and the Call to Action to Combat Systemic Racism in Science”, American Society for Human Genetics Annual Meeting, October 29, 2020
“Lamin A/C is required for maintaining the structure and function of mature cardiomyocytes”, Midstates Consortium for Math and Science, St. Louis, MO. November 10-11, 2017
Selected Poster Presentations
“Interrogating the Role for Extracellular Vesicles in Intergenerational Inheritance of Olfactory Fear Conditioning”, The Society for Neuroscience Conference (SfN), San Diego, CA. November 15-19, 2025
“Determining the molecular mechanisms of heritable stress-induced bias in olfactory neuron identity”, The Society for Neuroscience Conference (SfN), Chicago, IL. October 5-9, 2024
“Interrogating the role of the histone mark H3K9me3 in D. melanogaster Genome Organization and Gene Regulation”, The Allied Genetics Conference (TAGC), Online. April 22-25, 2020