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

Elias Seif, Ph.D.

Research Associate

I finished my PhD in biochemistry at the Université de Montréal studying the evolution of the RNA subunit of mitochondrial Ribonuclease P. I am interested in studying the biochemistry and structure of protein/nucleic acids complexes. I joined the laboratory of Dr. Francis in 2015 as a research associate, and I am currently studying the mechanism of chromatin compaction by Polycomb proteins. 
Elias.Seif@ircm.qc.ca

Jin Joo KANG, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Background: Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (University of California, San Diego/San Diego State University)
Hometown: Seoul, Korea
I joined the Dr. Francis lab in Oct. 2017 as a postdoctoral fellow.
My research currently focuses on determining functional and structural mechanism of Polycomb Repressive Complex (PRC1)-chromatin interaction through cell cycle in Drosophila Melanogaster by using acetylation-based protein footprinting assay, CX-MS, cryo-EM and other biochemical approaches.
Hobbies: Traveling, Studying history of art, Reading comic books
JinJoo.Kang@ircm.qc.ca

Célia ALECKI, M.Sc.

Ph.D. Student

Hometown: Bordeaux, France
After a master degree in molecular and cellular genetics in Bordeaux, France, during which I discovered my deep interest in the mechanisms behind the regulation of gene expression, I joined this lab in September 2014 as a Ph.D. student in biochemistry.
I am currently working on
  • determining how R-loops are involved in the recruitment of PcG proteins to their targeted sequences using both in vitro and in vivo systems
  • understanding what is the relationship between PRC2, ncRNA and R-loops formation
  • determining how PRC1 modifies DNA topology
Celia.Alecki@ircm.qc.ca
alecki.celia@gmail.co

Djamouna SIHOU, M.Sc.

Research Intern

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

Aurélie HUANG SUNG, B.Sc.

M.Sc. Student

Background: B.Sc in Biological Science
Hometown: Lyon, France
My research project aims to understand a fundamental question in epigenetics, how chromatin-based information can be propagated through mitosis. To this end, I am working on the identification of factors involved in the chromatin binding of PcG proteins via a high throughput imaging-based RNAi screen. ​
Aurelie.Huang.Sung@ircm.qc.ca

Alexander (Sasha) KALTASHOV

Undergraduate Intern, Chemical Engineering student, McGill University

Alexander.Kaltashov@ircm.qc.ca
​Alexander.Kaltashov@mail.mcgill.ca

ALUMNI

Research Assistants:
Christine Munger
Victoria Chiwara
Julien Malette
​Postdoctoral fellows:
Nazar Mashtalir
Masters students:
Osvaldo Arias Pérez
Radmir Sarsenov
Karthik Eswara​
Undergraduate students:
Hannah Cho
Shivneet GIll
Charles Sasseville
Masoud (Rana) Masuduzzaman
Calvin Kwok
David Feiter
Joseph Yang
​Serene Yu