Training opportunities in different fields of biological sciences are available:

• Genetics: trainees will benefit from enriched genetics experimental setting in the lab as well as Genetics education that is offered through JAX Education program. Trainees will be immersed in learning about the different facets in creating genetics mouse models to study the role of a global gene knock out or a tissue-specific deletion of a gene in an observed phenotype.
• Chromatin, Epigenomics, and Gene Expression: our lab is interested into the exciting area of gene regulation, and part of the training in the lab will be to train predocs and postdocs on the broad array of methodologies to study gene regulation, chromatin structure and dynamics, including both state-of-the-art and well-developed methods. Among the methods trainees will learn are chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), ChIP-seq, reporter assays of enhancer activity, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), as well as chromatin assembly techniques.
• Our lab has very rich multiomics dataset generated that is available to be explored to answer exciting and fundamental biological questions. Joining our lab will give you the opportunities to get both wet lab and dry lab experiences!

• Blood proteomics assay will be part of the research portfolio in the lab as well!
• Experimental design to study both rare and common diseases: The lab will provide opportunities to study monogenic rare disease such as Sickle Cell Anemia as well as common disease such as chronic kidney disease in addition to exploring biological mechanisms that change with aging. More importantly, we will provide training to student to learn how to leverage finding from rare disease to generate hypothesis to treat common disease and vice-versa!
• Working with clinical samples. Our work will involve the handling of patients’ samples and therefore interacting with physicians. This will be a great learning environment for MSTP students as well!
• Grant writing opportunities: in our lab, we will be expecting trainees to apply for internal fundings as well as external private or public funding mechanisms. The PI, Raf will be available to assist and work the trainees throughout the grant writing process.

Teaching and training philosophy

My previous roles as a teaching assistant, instructor, guest lecturer, and mentor have been overwhelmingly positive. This teaching role coupled with my undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral experiences in which I was a student have formed my teaching philosophy. In short, my philosophy is to foster an environment that promotes: (1) enthusiasm, (2) life-long learning, (3) connection to the real world, (4) organized study, (5) student and teacher accountability, and (6) confidence building. I have great enthusiasm for science, and I am engaged in teaching/training both traditional courses in the Genetics of rare diseases, anemia and mineral metabolism diseases. Knowing through experience the profound impact that one good teacher can have toward a student’s overall development, I will strive to incorporate my teaching beliefs, principles and interests, into day-to-day routines and my overall teaching/training plan.

I believe as a molecular and cellular biologist and a teacher/trainer, it is my responsibility to challenge and support my students/trainees, in pursuit of four learning goals: (1) keep in mind that scientific concepts or theories may change with the discoveries over time; (2) confront misconceptions about crucial biological ideas; (3) learn basic biological concepts; (4) cultivate an interest in science and an understanding of how we do science. Further, while the focus of my teaching will always be to educate the students, I also hope to continue my own education through my teaching experiences. I will strive to create an atmosphere of trust and honesty with my trainees and students, so trainees in the lab will be open to share with me how they feel my approach to explaining complex biological concepts could be improved.