Dr. Starita is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington and the Co-director of Brotman Baty Advanced Technology Lab. She earned her Ph.D. from Harvard Medical School before coming to the University of Washington to train in functional genomics with Stan Fields and Jay Shendure.

Having received a B.S. in Biology, with a focus on genetics and molecular biology from the University of Washington, Kathryn A. Barker is currently a Research Scientist 1 and an aspiring PhD student on the Brotman Baty Institute's Flubats team. There, she processes specimens for the analysis of viral pathogens, including Covid-19, RSV, and Influenza, and is studying R in order to learn how to better analyze the resulting data. Fluent in Japanese, she sometimes wonders if learning a coding language qualifies as being trilingual.

Flo is a joint graduate student between the Shendure and Starita labs in the department of Genome Sciences. After receiving her B.S. in chemistry at UC Berkeley, Flo spent three years at Genentech working in monoclonal antibody therapeutic development. She then started her PhD in the Fall of 2017. The focus of her PhD is developing novel multiplex single-cell and bulk functional genomics sequencing-based technologies to study and better understand gene regulatory architecture and the consequences of genetic variation in numerous different in vitro cell culture models. Outside of the lab, Flo spends a lot of time cycling and doing other outdoor activities including skiing and backpacking in the Cascades.

Moez is a MD/PhD student from the Baylor College of Medicine who came to the lab of Dr. Lea Starita with the goal of learning saturation genome editing (SGE) to study rare disease and mRNA surveillance. Moez would go on to redesign and optimize significant portions of the wet and dry bench workflows for SGE and write the foundational protocol set for the SGE Team. Moez has led the push for over 80+ SGE tiles through data production and analysis including PALB2 and its interactors, SDHD, and a variety of rare disease targets. Moez has been a steadfast peer mentor and has taught all phases of SGE to many team members along the way. He actively follows professional basketball and football, spends his time avoiding getting hit by cars, and on the rare occasion that he leaves the lab, he can be found in the lab.

A recent graduate of the University of Washington, Kim completed her B.S. in Microbiology with interests in immunology and genetics. She is an aspiring genetic counselor with particular interests in cancer genetics. Before joining the BBI, she worked in a clinical microbiology laboratory at the University of Washington Medical Center. Her role as a research scientist in the pathogen detection team includes specimen processing and preparation for analysis. Outside of the lab, she volunteers at Crisis Connections, Seattle’s 24 hour crisis hotline, crochets, and enjoys playing with her cats, Strawberry and Shortcake.

Before starting his PhD, Shawn worked as a genetic counselor at Brigham Women’s Hospital, where he experienced firsthand the difficulties that variants of uncertain significance (VUS) pose in the clinic. Unsatisfied with returning these VUS to patients, which cannot be used to guide medical management, Shawn decided to attack the problem by returning to graduate school where he works on: 1. Reclassifying VUS using high throughput functional data 2. Developing next generation saturation genome editing in iPSC differentiation systems 3. Rewriting the rules of using variant effect predictors for clinical variant interpretation Outside of the lab, Shawn can be found spending time outdoors riding his bike trying to find interesting birds.

Luis earned a BS in Marine and Conservation Biology from Seattle University. After a year boating through the Puget Sound for Washington Fish & Wildlife, he decided to trade in his life jacket for a lab coat. Luis joined the lab as a specimen processor in April 2020 at the onset of the pandemic. He now leads the OpenArray Assay and viral sequencing work for the lab, aiding the pathogen surveillance efforts for the Seattle Flu Alliance. Whether it's coordinating with partner labs or spending hours over a lab bench, Luis is passionate about doing all he can to provide quality data to all stakeholders. While he relishes tracking down specimens, Luis also enjoys going to Seattle Sounders games, watching the year’s Best Picture nominees, and finding cool breweries around the city.

Riddhiman Garge is a joint postdoc between the Shendure and Starita Labs in the Genome Sciences Department. Riddhiman is passionate about deciphering the large-scale organization of cellular systems and how their underlying genetics impact molecular function and/or disease. After earning his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin in 2021, he joined the Center For Multiplex Assessment of Phenotype (CMAP) where he develops and broadly applies omics based approaches to systematically profile stem cell differentiation and early development. Outside the lab, Riddhiman can be found playing drums in various gigs around Seattle. When he is not playing music, Riddhiman can often be found working toward his bucket list goals of visiting all US National Parks (18 so far!) and collecting vinyl records of his favorite musicians.

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Audrey Hamm is an undergraduate student studying molecular, cellular, and developmental biology and art history at the University of Washington. She joined the Starita lab in 2022 and works primarily with the Saturation Genome Editing team. Her main roles include contributing to lab maintenance, learning biological techniques under the supervision of her colleagues, and pursuing her own projects. When she’s not at school or at the lab, you can find Audrey drawing on procreate or working as an apprentice optician at Warby Parker (let her know if you’re interested in fun facts about eyeballs or ever need a discount on glasses)!

Peter Han joined the lab in 2018 with a background in population genetics and wildlife biology from his M.S work at Central Michigan University studying sea lions. With the sudden onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020, Peter’s role expanded to supervise a larger staff in our clinical-grade research laboratory. Peter coordinates with partner labs to facilitate assays and research into genomics and new molecular technology. When not in the lab or the office Peter spends his time outside with his dog, collecting photos to share on Slack.

Sarah earned her Master’s degree from Sonoma State University, with a focus on population genetics and ecology. In April of 2020, she left her BSL3 job studying tuberculosis to join the Seattle Flu Study at the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Her work in the Starita lab focuses on performing validation studies, QA/QC measures to ensure the lab stays in clinical compliance, and laboratory/personnel safety. Outside of work, you can find her sport climbing at local crags, backpacking out in the mountains, or stomping around the woods looking for delicious mushrooms.

Evan earned his B.S. in Neurobiology from the University of Kansas while concurrently exploring an interest in molecular biology. He joined the Starita Lab at the onset of the pandemic after shifting from a specimen collection role with the Seattle Flu Study. With a focus on efficiency and pattern recognition, Evan now plays a leading role in Research & Development for the Flu team; he co-led the development and deployment of a new triple-test assay for SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and influenza. He also supports viral sequencing and data review efforts. When he’s not doing science, Evan’s cardiovascular health is being tested by KU basketball or by one of the various sports he plays. He enjoys trivia, Rocket League, heavy music, and visiting different MLB ballparks (35 total so far). Evan strives to make a positive impact on human health and improve the quality of life. He will be a graduate student in the Genome Sciences PhD program at the University of Washington starting Fall 2023.

Ana recently graduated from Stony Brook University with a BS in Biology and a minor in studio art. By day, she utilizes her biology degree as the quality control queen - if your samples are degraded, she will not let you pass onto a sci-production run. By night, her art minor comes in handy in crocheting, which she does while enjoying some reality TV with her cat.

Diana is the resident sample processor and master of exploding cells to isolate nuclei for single cell sequencing. She can gender type random fruitflies as they fly around the house, not to mention dissect their tiny brains, thanks to her Doctorate at the Univeristy of Texas. In her spare time, you can find her at McDonald's with her 2 kids.

Mary is the herder of sciBATS, bridging the wet and dry lab team members and operations. Her interest in infectious diseases and population genetics has taken her to labs around the world and coincidentally expanded her palette. She attributes her success in completing a Ph.D. and postdoc to the cheap, accessible, and delicious ice cream made at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and the many wines and cheese she encountered while at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France. She is excited for the aid of one of her first addictions - coffee - in advancing single-cell technologies the sci-team can offer the scientific community of her alma mater and beyond.

A graduate of the University of Washington, Jordan earned her BS in Biology while also pursuing pre-med. Working for several years in medical scribing cultured her interests in pathology and the public’s knowledge of medicine (or lack thereof), which led her to start her research career just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. She now does everything from sample intake to PCR; she additionally wrangles staff, manages space and inventory, and despairs over trying to fit so many freezers in the lab. She often uses the glass on her biohazard hood to practice her drawing and write ideas for new cocktails based on characters in her favorite media

In the lab Mason does a lot of gels, PCRs, Quibits, ampures, maxis, DNA extractions, RNA extractions, thawing cells, freezing cells, blasting cells, transfecting cells, selecting cells, washing cells, trypsinizing cells, harvesting cells, replating cells, and making cells green. He also spends time curating and gathering data on clinically relevant genes as potential targets for SGE. He has a near complete collection of the national park quarters. He was once very close (~20 feet or so) from being struck by lightning in a park in New Mexico. In his sleep, he grinds his teeth vigorously and goes through a mouthguard about once every couple of years. The most important thing he did in the last year was move from North Carolina to the bustling metropolis of Seattle. He especially cares about riding his bike really far and taking in the sights along the way.

Leslie joined the Pathogen Detection Lab in December of 2020. She graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in BS Biochemistry and the intent of going to medical school. The onset of the pandemic caused her to take a detour from her path towards medicine and explore the world of research. Prior to joining the lab, Leslie worked as a Medical Scribe. She also made incredible coffee for thousands of tourists as a Barista at the 1st Starbucks in Pike Place Market. She is now a Supervisor that aids in specimen processing and testing, data analysis for Open Array, and maintaining organization for the lab. She plans on savoring every last bit of freedom before preparing to apply to medical schools in 2024. Outside the lab, you can find Leslie reading a book, exploring wine bars, or hanging out with her dogs Kona and Kai.

Eloise earned her B.A. in Biology from Seattle University, with experience in bioinformatics and an interest in Microbiology. She is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Genetic Epidemiology at the University of Washington. Her thesis project is a genomic sequence analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in UW students based on samples collected from Husky Coronavirus Testing and integrating a demographic analysis based on phylogenetic clusters. Prior to beginning her graduate school endeavors, she worked as a Research Scientist for the Seattle Flu Study. Her roles consist of accessioning samples, running samples through Swab Express and extraction, as well as performing PCR. While progressing in graduate school, she continues to support the lab as a part-time employee. Outside of the lab and graduate school, Eloise enjoys swimming (specifically snorkeling and jumping off cliffs), finding brunch spots around Seattle and can be found running a mile to beat her personal record (4:30!)

Obsa comes from a background in Genetics and Cell Biology from Washington State University. He is currently pursuing his Master’s in Data Science from the University of Colorado Boulder online. In the pathogen detection lab, he is responsible for preparing specimens for testing and processing samples for assays in the pathogen detection lab. He returns to Ethiopia every couple of years to volunteer at his brother's pharmacy, where he gained valuable experience and made a difference in the community. In his free time, he writes poetry and has had the opportunity to perform at the 5th Avenue Theater.

Between applying high throughput techniques to mutational scanning assays and keeping the lab organized, Nahum supports both the Saturation Genome Editing team and Lea’s academic trainees. Enthusiastic about baking desserts and building customized keyboards, Nahum can often be found describing his newest cookie adaption or preaching about ergonomics. Nahum cares deeply about making science easier for everyone, whether that’s brewing the day’s second pot of coffee or being recruited for a cloning project – some claim he’s the E. coli equivalent of a ‘green thumb’.

Megan is the liaison between the Shendure Lab and BBI, transferring knowledge at every step into the sci-lab. In the last year, she graduated from UW (2022) with a BS in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and a minor in Data Science, but her secret talent is making a carrot cake so good even those who don’t like carrots will love it (including herself).

Before embarking on her journey at UW Genome Sciences as a graduate student co-advised by Dr. Lea Starita and Dr. Douglas Fowler, Malvika pursued a Molecular and Cellular Biology degree at UC Berkeley. Within the realm of research, Malvika is driven by a passion for pioneering new deep mutational scanning technologies through protein sequencing and developing innovative algorithms for reinterpreting variant effects. In the lab, she crafts lines of code to dissect variant effect data, compute the likelihood of pathogenicity for diverse variants, and strive for the democratization of MAVE data interpretation. Her enthusiasm extends beyond the laboratory, as she harbors a keen interest in the art of science communication. She is deeply committed to fostering scientific curiosity in others and co-leads Genome Hackers, a program designed to impart introductory coding skills and wet lab techniques to high school students. Beyond her academic pursuits, Malvika wears the proud hat of a devoted dog mom. She enjoys quality time with her family and friends, often venturing beyond the confines of the lab, and occasionally indulging in marathon sessions of K-drama binge-watching.

A recent graduate of the University of Washington’s Bioengineering program, Cameron is passionate about protein design, genetics, and using the design process to meet the needs of a population. Using his design skills, one of Cameron’s design projects included participating in an interdisciplinary capstone project with HuskyADAPT, which helped to create a head-controlled device to facilitate collaborative play between a 2-year old with cerebral palsy and her older sister. In the Pathogen Detection Lab, Cameron’s responsibilities include specimen processing, lab maintenance, troubleshooting issues with samples, and assisting with lab projects. In his personal time, Cameron enjoys adventuring through the outdoors using a variety of means of movement, including skiing, trail running, and thru hiking. For his next outdoor project, Cameron will be training for a 50 mile trail race near Mt. Hood during the summer of 2023.

Though she has an advanced degree in marine biology, Melinda’s experience with molecular techniques brought her to the SGE team last year. Her oceanic expertise is still being put to good use – she is also working on using a marine tunicate (Ciona robusta) as a model organism for deep mutational scanning. After she’s done troubleshooting experiments for the day, she can be found outdoors either hiking or volunteering as a beach naturalist for the Seattle Aquarium.

Ivan is an undergraduate currently studying biochemistry at UW who is passionate about clinical application. He joined the lab in 2022 and works mostly with the SGE team. Intrigued by molecular biology, Ivan can be frequently found working with senior scientists around the lab as well as making progress towards his own projects. Outside the lab, Ivan tries his best to not stress too much about coursework and can be frequently found watching the birds around campus or embracing his musical side on the piano (let him know if you need a pianist)!