The Laboratory of Chromatin
Biology and Cancer Epigenetics

Yadira Soto-Feliciano is a Howard S. (1953) and Linda B. Stern Career Development Professor at MIT. After earning a BS in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, she completed a PhD in Biology from MIT. There, working in the laboratory of Prof. Michael T. Hemann, her research focused on mouse models of leukemia with in vivo functional genomics approaches to study mechanisms of cell identity and lineage plasticity. Yadira then completed her postdoctoral training at the Rockefeller University in the laboratory of Dr. David Allis, combining cancer biology and functional genomics with traditional chromatin biology and biochemistry. In 2022 she joined the MIT faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology and an Intramural Member of the Koch Institute. Yadira is the recipient of the 2022 V Scholar Award and the 2023 AACR Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award and is also a scientific advisor for Scaffold Therapeutics. In her free time she loves to eat oysters and watch tennis!

Originally from Iran, Alireza grew up in Toronto, Canada. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 2021, before joining the lab as a graduate student. His main biological interest is in the mechanisms of gene regulation and how that relates to pathogenesis. His work focuses on the chromatin scaffold protein, UTX, and its role in development and disease; specifically, in how UTX short isoforms differ in functionality from the full length protein. Outside of the lab, he spends his time watching soccer, reading, and playing video games. He also loves to spend time with his bunny called Mocha!

Hailing from Ipswich, Massachusetts, Maggie graduated from St Olaf College in 2019, before starting as a graduate student. With a focus in cancer and molecular biology, her research focuses on the role of cancer-associated mutations found in the chromatin adaptor protein Menin. Additionally, she is interested in how these mutations impact neuroendocrine tumor formation as well as development. In her free time, she loves to run, read and play the cello!

Shandon was brought up in Norfolk, Virginia with her two dogs, Hudson and Aspen, and then studied at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she graduated in 2021. Her primary biological interest is on the protein-protein interactions that regulate chromatin. Her project focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which the chromatin adaptor TRIM28 functions as both a co-activator and co-repressor in leukemia. Outside of the lab, she enjoys cooking, ballet, and writing poetry!

Raised in New Jersey, Renee graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2022. As a graduate student, her main interest is in protein-protein interactions, chromatin regulator complexes, and dysregulation in cancer and other diseases. Her project focuses on investigating the action of the Rixosome as a transcriptional co-regulator with mammalian chromatin regulator complexes. In particular, she is interested in its role in the context of Menin-MLL1 function and inhibition in acute myeloid leukemia. In her free time, she loves to play board games, dance, watch movies, play piano, bake, and listen to movie scores!

Joe is originally from Chongqing, China and started as a graduate student after graduating from Johns Hopkins University in 2021. His main focus is in Cancer Biology and his project aims to comprehensively investigate the multifaceted effects of histone mutations on chromatin properties in cancer context, including nucleosome stability, recruitment of regulatory proteins to chromatin, and large-scale chromatin structure rearrangements. In his spare time, he enjoys running, skiing, and playing video games!

Originally from Tianjin, China, Zeyu studied at the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2016 with his Bachelors. He continued his education there, receiving a PhD in Xeudong Liu’s Lab, focused on fundamental interactions between cells and how various signals are communicated. His post-doctoral research will focus on using proteomics and sequencing to understand chromatin modifications in disease, with the hope of finding therapeutics to better treat those diseases. When he’s not in the lab, he enjoys playing guitar, fishing, snowboarding, and weightlifting.

Hailing from Istanbul, Turkey, Ipek is a recent graduate of California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, where she studied Biomedical Engineering. Currently working alongside Joe and Renee, her work focuses on identifying the factors mediating the Menin-UTX switch. She hopes to one day be able to help engineer drugs and therapies to treat patients with a more targeted approach. Outside of the lab, she loves to spend time outdoors, whether hiking or rock-climbing. When the weather is bad, she does arts and crafts, including crocheting and sewing.

Born and raised in Sparta, New Jersey, Natalie is a recent graduate of MIT, finishing in 2024. She has been working with the Lees Lab as a UROP for 3 years, before joining the Soto-Feliciano Lab as a Lab Technician. Her main interest is in epigenetics and she will be mainly assisting Maggie with her project on Menin truncations. Outside of lab, she enjoys cooking and working out.

Mirika joins us from Harvard University’s class of 2027 as a UROP researcher. She will be mainly assisting Maggie with her research into Menin. She is originally from Basking Ridge, New Jersey. When she’s not at school or in the lab, she loves to spend time outdoors and has a lofty goal of visiting all of the National Parks! She’s passionate about music, especially live music, and loves to play her cello!

Sophia hails from Barrington, Illinois, and is currently an undergraduate student. She is actively working on the UTX project. Her research role is focused on the short isoforms of UTX and how they impact the tumor suppressor role of the gene. When she isn’t in lab, she enjoys playing flute, whether by herself or with the MIT Symphony Orchestra, and also enjoys writing and drawing.

Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, Marvel grew up in Huntington Beach, California, before making the cross-country journey to start her college career at Harvard University. She works alongside Shandon to investigate the role of TRIM28 as a novel epigenetic dependency in acute myeloid leukemia. Her personal interests focus on the intersection between oncology and technology. In her free time, she enjoys playing the viola, hiking, and learning languages.

Claire was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, before heading east to Wesleyan University in Connecticut. She received both her Bachelors and Masters in Neuroscience. She now works as the Lab Manager for the Soto-Feliciano Lab, along with the Sanchez-Rivera Lab.

Paul was educated at Southeastern Mass University, which is now known as UMass Dartmouth. He loves listening to music from heavy metal to Mozart to Earth, Wind and Fire. He spends his free time enjoying Jamaican, Spanish, and Italian food. He also strongly believes that the Koch Institute is the best place to work at MIT!