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

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
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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

Jian Qi (Steven) Luo

BSc Student, McMaster University, Canada

Background: Molecular Biology & Genetics
Hometown: Chengdu, China
I find the mechanisms driving epigenetic inheritance intriguing. After joining Dr. Francis’s lab in January 2022 for an undergraduate research project, I am following up on an RNAi screen done by Aurelie Huang-Sung that identified new genes that control Polycomb protein binding to chromatin. Among all the hits, I find Tst, and Unk especially interesting to study since they are predicted to be cytoplasmic proteins, making their role in regulating PcG protein binding to chromatin intriguing.

JianQi.Luo@IRCM.qc.ca​

Asma Khamis

BSc Biochemistry Student, McGill

Hometown: Toronto, Canada
I'm currently investigating a novel topoisomerase like activity of the Polycomb protein PSC. Specifically, I am to determine which sequences and residues are required for topoisomerase activity and covalent complex formation with DNA in vitro and in cells.
asma.khamis@mail.mcgill.ca

ALUMNI

Research Associates:
Elias Seif
Research Assistants:
Christine Munger
Victoria Chiwara
Julien Malette
Aurélie Huang Sung
Elodie Boulier
​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
​Ibani Kapur
​Jyoti Sharma
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