CURRENT MEMBERS

Nicole J. Francis, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator, Biochemistry of Epigenetic Inheritance research unit ​

  • Associate IRCM Research Professor
  • Associate Research Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Université de Montréal
  • Adjunct Professor, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University
​Nicole.Francis@ircm.qc.ca
(514) 987-5558

Élodie Boulier

Research Assistant

 
​Elodie.Boulier@ircm.qc.ca

Tim Gemeinhardt, M.Sc.

Ph.D. Student

 Hometown: Fulda, Germany
Background: Biochemistry (Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany)​
Based on my interest in molecular mechanisms of epigenetics and developmental biology, I started my PhD in Dr Francis' lab in 2020. Guided by experimental and computational approaches, I hope to contribute to our understanding of the biochemistry and biophysics that govern the inheritance of epigenetic information. My research focusses on the role of phase separation in epigenetic inheritance by Polycomb Group proteins.

tim.gemeinhardt@mail.mcgill.ca
LinkedIn
​​

Djamouna SIHOU, M.Sc.

Ph.D. Student

Background: M.Sc in Biochemistry (University of Bordeaux, France). 
Hometown: Reunion Island, France
I joined the Dr. Francis lab in May 2018. My research project focuses on interactions between a Polycomb protein (Pc) and chromatin during mitosis in order to have a better understanding of epigenetic inheritance during the cell cycle.  To achieve this aim, I use a split SNAP tag protein complementation assay to visualize Pc-histone interactions in microscopy. This tool is under development to be used in living cells and track Pc-histone interactions during dynamic cell cycle events with a high temporal resolution.
PandimadeviDjamouna.Sihou@ircm.qc.ca

Ibani Kapur

M.Sc. Student

Background: B.Tech Nanotechnology
Hometown: Mumbai, India
I joined Dr. Francis' lab as a Master student in 2019. My research focuses on understanding how different regions in the Polyhomeotic protein ( from the PRC1 complex) affect SAM dependent phase separation and analyzing whether or not the foci formed due to phase separation is epigenetically inherited

Ibani.Kapur@ircm.qc.ca
LinkedIn

Jyoti Sharma

M.Sc.  Biochemistry Student, UdeM

Background: BSc. Zoology (University of Delhi)​
Hometown: Delhi, India
​My research involves the understanding of Polycomb protein and nucleoporin (Nups) interactions in the cell cycle. This project is going to be insightful towards the mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance. Before joining Francis Lab in winter 2021, I studied physical aspects of nucleosome-protein interactions and detection of structural conformations using solid-state nanopores at RRI, Bangalore. In 2017, I earned my bachelor’s degree and got research training at IGMM-CNRS for six months. Subsequently, I studied the regulation of mitochondrial DNA damage response and repair ​at NCBS, Bangalore.

​You can find me birding, watching planet documentaries, or learning the French language in the leisure time.
jyoti.sharma@umontreal.ca
LinkedIn

ALUMNI

Research Associates:
Elias Seif
Research Assistants:
Christine Munger
Victoria Chiwara
Julien Malette
Aurélie Huang Sung
​Postdoctoral fellows:
Nazar Mashtalir
Yoon Soon Kang
Jin Joo Kang
PhD students:
Célia Alecki
Masters students:
Osvaldo Arias Pérez
Radmir Sarsenov
Karthik Eswara​
Aurélie Huang Sung
Interns:
Mélanie Dominique
Undergraduate students:
Kane Nguyen
Alexander Kaltashov
Vincent Lapointe-Roberge
Hannah Cho
Shivneet GIll
Charles Sasseville
Masoud (Rana) Masuduzzaman
Calvin Kwok
David Feiter
Joseph Yang
​Serene Yu