BARTHEL LAB - Key Persons


Abubakr El Sobky

Job Titles:
  • Research Intern

Floris Barthel

Job Titles:
  • Principal Investigator
As an Assistant Professor at the Cancer and Cell Biology Division at the Translational Genomics Institute (TGen) and the Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine (DCQM) at the Beckman Research Institute (BRI) at City of Hope (COH), I lead a basic and translational research program utilizing state-of-the-art genomic approaches to study the development and evolution of glial brain tumors (gliomas). I am a full program member of City of Hope's Comprehensive Cancer Center affiliated with the Molecular and Cellular Biology of Cancer (MCBC) program. My lab has a particular interest in the fundamental role of telomere dysfunction in glioma development, but is generally interested in all aspects of tumor evolution, including, but not limited to, longitudinal studies of therapy response assessed by genomic analysis of tumor tissue and liquid biopsies. The lab has received both public and private philanthropic funding for several translational and basic science research projects in this domain.

Hersh Nanda

Job Titles:
  • Helios Scholar

Manasa Iyer

Job Titles:
  • Helios Scholar

Maria Kyriakidou

Job Titles:
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
I am a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Floris Barthel, at the Translational Genomics Research Institute. My previous training includes whole genome assembly and detection of structural variants using Next and Third Generation Sequencing data, analysis of ChIP-and RNA-sequencing data in plants and in cancer. My research interests include the integration of multiple omics data. During my free time, I enjoy running, hiking and baking.

Marisol Araiza

Job Titles:
  • Research Intern
I am currently a senior at Arizona State University, majoring in Biochemistry. I am interested in precision medicine because it makes it possible for the customization of healthcare for each individual and the choice to avoid expensive treatment that may not be the best course of action for certain patients. As a research intern in Dr. Barthel Lab, I look forward to pursuing this interest by working to investigate the role of telomere dysfunction in gliomas.

Maryam Jehangir

Job Titles:
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
As a postdoctoral fellow at Barthel Lab, my research centers on identifying genomic structural rearrangements and variants associated with disease development and genome instability. Before joining this position, my research focused on studying the origin and evolution of supernumerary chromosomes using genome sequencing and assembly techniques. Outside of my scientific endeavors, I cherish moments with my family, enjoy exploring my passion for cooking, and frequently participate in social and cultural events.

Michelle Padilla Soto

Job Titles:
  • Helios Scholar 2024

Mimi Mbegbu

Job Titles:
  • Research Associate II

Noelle Fukushima

Job Titles:
  • Senior RA

Rebecca Reiman

Job Titles:
  • Lab Manager
I have 16 years of genomics wet laboratory experience with a primary focus on 2nd and 3rd generation sequencing for research labs. I've worked for two different neurogenomics labs who study the genetics of aging, neurodegenerative diseases (AD, PD, ALS, FTD), and brain trauma (TBI, CTE, Concussions). More specifically in my current lab, I interrogate the contents of vesicles from non-invasive biofluids (plasma, urine, saliva) and cell culture supernatant as potential indicators of disease status or progression.

Riya Naik

Hello, I am Riya Naik. I am currently pursuing my biochemistry undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia. I am passionate about biological research. In my free time, I like to play music.

Ryan O'Hanrahan

Job Titles:
  • Undergraduate Student

Sarah Weiss

Job Titles:
  • Undergraduate Student
I am currently a student at Arizona State University majoring in Biological Sciences (Genetics, Cell, and Developmental Bio) and minoring in Studio Art. I have a special interest in the use of art in communicating difficult science concepts. Since my sophomore year, I have been an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Susanne Pfeifer's lab, working on a project investigating recombination rate evolution in rhesus macaques. I am excited to translate this evolutionary and bioinformatics background towards understanding telomere dysfunction in the Barthel Lab, and I am equally excited to be gaining wet lab experience.

Sharvari Mankame

Job Titles:
  • Graduate Student
I am a PhD student at the Molecular and Cellular Biology program at Arizona State University. I graduated from Rutgers University - New Brunswick with a double major in Biological Sciences and Psychology in May 2020. My previous research at the Pierce Lab at the Brain Health Institute in Piscataway NJ studied the neuronal and epigenetic mechanisms behind prolonged psychostimulant use. I'm looking forward to exploring a different field of neuroscience and learning more about telomere dysfunction in gliomagenesis at the Barthel Lab. Outside of the classroom and the lab, I like to use my free time to paint, read and spend time with family and friends. Having lived in New Jersey for most of my life, I hope to explore the west coast more over the next few years.

Shea Gallus

Job Titles:
  • Visiting Scientist
I am a pediatric hematology/oncology fellow currently in my second year at Phoenix Children's Hospital. During my dedicated research time with the Barthel Lab, I am completing a translation project analyzing tumor, CSF, and blood samples of our neuro-oncology patients.

Victoria Jimenez

Job Titles:
  • Helios Scholar

Yi-An Chen

Job Titles:
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
I am a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Floris Barthel at The Translational Genomics Research Institute. I did my previous postdoc in the Lab of Chia-Lin Wei at The Jackson Laboratory where I studied 3D Genomic in Cancers. During these years, I have learned various NGS technologies. My current research project is defining the regulatory landscape of functional and dysfunctional telomeric chromatin interactions. This project will use Telomere-C to address how telomere interaction shapes transcription. In addition to science, I'm interested in music (from classic to modern), Karate, Pingpong, and DIY car maintenance.

Yue Hao

Job Titles:
  • Computational Scientist
I am a computational scientist in both Floris Barthel lab and Michael Berens lab at the Translational Genomics Research Institute. I specialize in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics data analysis, also structural variation detection with long-read data. Previously, I was a postdoc in Michael Lynch lab at the Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, ASU Biodesign Institute where I worked on de novo assembly of both Daphnia and Paramecium genomes using PacBio HiFi data, and population genomics of Paramecium.