Stem Cell Research Laboratory
Department of Biological Sciences
The University of Texas at Dallas
Purna A. Joshi, PhD | Assistant Professor | Principal Investigator
Email: purna.joshi@utdallas.edu
Twitter: @PurnaAJoshi
Google Scholar | Pubmed
Purna obtained her Hon. BSc, MSc and PhD from the University of Toronto. She completed her postdoctoral training at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center with a fellowship award from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. She joined the Biological Sciences faculty at UT Dallas as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2021 with a Rising STARs award from the University of Texas System. The overarching goal of her research program is to advance fundamental knowledge of stem/progenitor cells and niche interactions governing epithelial regeneration and cancer that will enable the development of novel regenerative and cancer therapies. Outside of research, she is a mom of four and has a penchant for running, rock music, baking and traveling.
Jacqulene Sunder Singh | PhD Student
Jacqulene is a PhD student and GRACE Fellowship awardee in the Joshi Lab. She investigates the role of mesenchymal progenitors in breast cancer progression. She lived in Abu Dhabi for most of her life and completed her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Biotechnology in India. Prior to joining the lab, she was involved in research examining the effects of nitrosative stress on mesenchymal stem cells and worked briefly in a lab in Poland where she explored the effects of gene polymorphisms on litter size in sows. She also loves to teach and is currently a Biochemistry Teaching Assistant. During her free time, Jacqulene enjoys reading, photography and playing the piano. She also likes exploring new places and cultures and trying different types of food.
Sharon Kwende | PhD Student
Email: sharon.kwende@utdallas.edu
Sharon completed her BS and MS in Biology at Texas Southern University in Houston where she was involved in research studying potential markers for triple negative breast cancer. She is a PhD student in the lab investigating the effects of obesity on adipocyte progenitors in the mammary gland. She is passionate about understanding diseases that disproportionately affect African/African American women, and teaching and mentoring young scientists. Sharon is the graduate biology mentor for four high school students in the Young WISE Investigator program. Her favorite pastimes are Pinterest cooking and baking.
Umar Patel | PhD Student
Email: umar.patel@utdallas.edu
Umar Patel completed his Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Minor in Neuroscience at UT Dallas. He is a PhD student in the lab and his project focuses on understanding mesenchymal cell dynamics in the oviductal microenvironment during regeneration and cancer. Additionally, he is the co-Vice President of the Biology Graduate Student Council at UT Dallas. In his free time, he likes to take long walks in parks and spend time with family and friends.
Subhajit Maity | PhD Student
Email: subhajit.maity@utdallas.edu
Subhajit is a Ph.D. student in the Molecular and Cell biology program at UT Dallas. He has a MS in Microbiology from St. Xavier’s College and a BS from the Institute of Genetic Engineering in Kolkata. In previous research positions, he has studied the role of carbonic anhydrases in B-cell lymphomagenesis and mammalian hippo signaling regulation in cancer. He is a recipient of the UTD GRACE Fellowship. Subhajit’s research in the lab explores the regulation of mammary stem/progenitor cells by understudied niche elements during regeneration and cancer. In his spare time, he likes to watch a lot of documentaries, movies, culinary shows, and sitcoms. Apart from that, he likes to try out new cuisines and attempt replicating them in his kitchen.
Hsin-Jung Tien | PhD Student
Email: hsin-jung.tien@utdallas.edu
Hsin-Jung graduated from Tzu-Chi University in Taiwan with a Master’s degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Cell Biology. After graduation and prior to coming to UT Dallas, she worked as a research assistant at the National Taiwan University Hospital where she focused on leukemia research. She is currently a PhD student in the lab engaged in research on identifying immature cell populations in the oviduct that are likely involved in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. Her favorite drink is boba tea, and in her spare time she likes to read books about historical fantasy, visit museums and cook.
Dibyo Maiti | PhD Student
Email: dibyo.maiti@utdallas.edu
Dibyo is a first year PhD student in the lab, where he is studying the role of the prostate stem cell niche during regeneration and cancer. Dibyo hails from Kolkata, India, and has a B.Tech. degree in Genetic Engineering. Before joining the Joshi Lab, he was a visiting student researcher at the University of Washington where he used CRISPR-Cas9 to knockout genes involved in ameloblast differentiation and Amelogenesis Imperfecta. He has also utilized computer-designed proteins to modulate stem cells as well as neutralize SARS-CoV2 infection. Dibyo loves hiking, reading books, exploring new places, and playing the string to destress himself. He is a Seattle fanatic who is falling in love with Dallas.
Akshita Krishnan | MS Student
Akshita is a MS student in Molecular and Cell Biology. She received her Bachelor’s in Molecular Biology from UT Dallas when she was an undergraduate researcher in the lab. Akshita is working to characterize stem cell niche elements and their molecular mechanisms in the mammary gland during growth and regeneration using mouse models and cell lines. Outside of the lab, she is a Team Leader at the Student Success Center and works as an Organic Chemistry & Biochemistry tutor; in her free time, she enjoys cooking, going on walks in nature, and spending quality time with friends & family. Akshita is an aspiring researcher who hopes to become a professor and run her own lab in the future.
Sami Frascoli | MS Student
Email: sami.frascoli@utdallas.edu
Sami is a MS student in Molecular and Cellular Biology. He has a Bachelor’s in Biology and a minor in music from UT Dallas. He has previously worked with UTI isolated pathogens to characterize two strains of staphylococcus. Currently, he is contributing to research in the lab to dissect the role of stromal progenitors in the normal mammary gland and in breast cancer. Sami likes to spend most of his free time playing music, as both a jazz trumpet player and a solo piano player, or writing his own music with friends and for solo projects.
Kloma Cardoza | MS Student
Email: kloma.cardoza@utdallas.edu
Kloma completed her Bachelor of Science in Genomics and Molecular Genetics at Michigan State University. After graduation, she worked as a Research Technician focusing on ER+ Breast Cancer at Baylor College of Medicine. At UT Dallas, Kloma is working to complete her MS in Bioinformatics and Computation Biology while contributing to obesity and breast cancer research in the Joshi Lab. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, watching tv, and spending time with her cat.