Training Program
Training Program in Organogenesis
The Training Program in Organogenesis represents a unique opportunity for PhD students to augment their training and research obtained through their PhD department or program with interdisciplinary research training in Organogenesis, and provides significant career development opportunities.
By participating in the Training Program in Organogenesis, students gain access to a thoughtfully designed training plan that complements their general training, emphasizes specialized training in Organogenesis, and provides career development and networking opportunities to equip students with the tools and knowledge necessary to cultivate professional skills and excel in their chosen field.
Fellowship Eligibility Criteria:
Predoctoral Trainee Fellowship Eligibility Criteria
Predoctoral trainees are eligible for appointment to the Training Program if they are:
- Training grant eligible (i.e. US citizen, national, permanent resident),
- Have chosen their PhD mentor,
- Have achieved candidacy within their PhD program (i.e., after passing qualifying exams) and are starting the 3rd year in their PhD program in the Summer or Fall, and
- Are pursuing a research project that falls within the scope of the Training Program. Trainees are supported for two years, contingent on demonstration of satisfactory progress as evaluated after the first year of training.
Non-Traditional Predoctoral Trainee Fellowship Eligibility Criteria
Non-traditional students (i.e. non-US citizens/non-permanent residents) will be considered for appointment to the Training Program if they are:
- Non-training grant eligible (i.e., international),
- Have chosen their PhD mentor,
- Have achieved candidacy within their PhD program (i.e., after passing qualifying exams) and are starting the 3rd year in their PhD program in the Summer or Fall, and
- Are pursuing a research project that falls within the scope of the Training Program. Trainees are supported for two years, contingent on demonstration of satisfactory progress as evaluated after the first year of training.
Funding for the Training Program is supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number T32HD114564 and broadly supported by several clinical and basic science units spread across the University, including the Medical School, School of Dentistry, and the School of Engineering.
QUESTIONS?
Contact us at [email protected].
Fellows
2025-2026
Gillian Davidson, Graduate Student
Research: Defining the role of the malate aspartate shuttle in embryonic development
Mentor: Costas Lyssiotis PhD, Professor, Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Jean-Pierre Pierantoni, Graduate Student
Research: Engineering a degradable microporous annealed particle system as a cell based therapy approach at subcutaneous transplant sites
Mentor: Maria Coronel PhD, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Madeline Sykes, Graduate Student
Research: The role of Fmo5 in the epithelial-mucosal interface
Mentor: Scott Leiser PhD, Associate Professor, Molecular & Integrative Physiology
Dajia Wang, Graduate Students
Research: Role of macrophage-neutrophil crosstalk in inflamed skin
Mentors: Pierre Coulombe PhD, Professor, Cell & Developmental Biology and Carole Parent PhD, Professor, Pharmacology
Manqi (Amanda) Wu, Graduate Student
Research: Elucidating mechanisms regulating alveolar type 2 (AT2) differentiation
Mentor: Jason Spence PhD, Professor, Internal Medicine
Zhiyuan (Stan) Yu
Research: Lineage convergence in development
Mentor: Idse Heemskerk PhD, Associate Professor, Cell & Developmental Biology
2021-2022 Alumni
Cell and Developmental Biology
Research: The role of nulear keratins in organ repair and cellular stress response
Mentor: Pierre A. Coulombe PhD, G. Carl Huber Professor and Chair Cell and Developmental Biology
Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology
Research: : Characterizing the role of anillin in junction remodeling during epithelial homeostasis and kidney disease
Mentor: Ann Miller PhD, Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology
General Surgery
Research: The role of WNT signaling in the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer
Mentor: Marina Pasca di Magliano PhD, Surgery
Internal Medicine
Research: A racially diverse living biobank to interrogate injury-repair in the human esophagus
Mentor: Jason Spence PhD, Gastroenterology
Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Research: Mechanisms of adipose tissue loss in a mouse model of familial partial lipodystrophy 2
Mentor: Ormond MacDougald PhD, Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Cell and Developmental Biology
Research: Investigating how the distal-end centriolar protein, CEP162, regulates axoneme extension during ciliogenesis and its underlying role in retinal dystrophy
Mentor: Jillian N. Pearring PhD, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Research: Redox homeostasis and mitochondrial metabolism are required for pancreatic acinar cell dedifferentiation in acinar to ductal metaplasia (ADM)
Mentor: Costas Lyssiotis PhD, Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Co-Mentor: Yatrik Shah PhD, Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Research: The role of FMO-2/FMO5 to resist oxidative stress-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction
Mentor: Scott F. Leiser PhD, Molecular & Integrative Physiology
Cell and Developmental Biology
Research: Investigating dual roles for KIF17 in the developing cerebellum
Mentor: Benjamin Allen PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology
2020-2021 Alumni
Internal Medicine
Research: Role of the transcription factor Hhex in adrenal homeostasis and response to hormonal challenges
Mentor: Gary Hammer PhD, Internal Medicine
General Surgery
Research: Prevention of Traumatic Heterotopic Ossification via Modulation of Macrophage Migration and Function
Mentors: Marina Pasca di Magliano PhD, Surgery and Yuji Mishina PhD, Dentistry
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Research: Arginase 1 as a mediator of immune suppression in pancreatic cancer
Mentors: Marina Pasca di Magliano PhD, Surgery and Roman Giger PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology
Mechanical Engineering
Research: Spontaneous differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells to amniotic ectoderm cells and primordial germ cells in an in vivo-like system
Mentor: Jianping Fu PhD, Mechanical Engineering
2019-2020 Alumni
Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health
Research: Exploring the Roles of Manganese in Infammatory Bowel Disease
Mentor: Young-ah Seo PhD, Nutritional Sciences
Co-Mentor: Yatrik Shah PhD, Physiology
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB)
Research: Investigating Novel Roles for Hedgehog Co-Receptors During Craniofacial Development
Mentor: Benjamin Allen PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology
Co-Mentor: Vesa Kaartinen PhD, Biologic and Materials Science, School of Dentistry
Pathology
Research: Defining the role of Pax proteins in adult renal epithelial cells
Mentor: Greg Dressler PhD, Pathology
Co mentor: Sanjeev Kumar Patel PhD, Nephrology
Molecular & Integrative Physiology
Research: Establishing a role for intestinal telocytes in regulating the stem cell niche
Mentor: Linda Samuelson PhD, Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Biomedical Engineering
Research: Developing A 3D Niche Microenvironment To Improve hESC-Derived p-Cell Maturation For Treatment of Type l Diabetes
Mentor: Lonnie Shea PhD, Biomedical Engineering
Co-Mentor: Jason Spence PhD, Internal Medicine
2018-2019 Alumni
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Research: Hormonal regulation of the Drosophila accessory gland
Mentors: Laura Buttitta PhD, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and Russell Taichman PhD, Dentistry
Internal Medicine - Gastroenterology
Research: Using scRNA-seq to characterize the cellular make up of the human intestine and its stem cell niche
Mentor: Jason Spence PhD, Gastroenterology
Human Genetics Department
Research: Investigating the Contribution of Sperm Chromatin to Development
Mentor: Sue Hammoud PhD, Human Genetics
Molecular & Integrative Physiology
Research: TranscriptomicAnalyses of NAFLD and NASH at a Single Cell Resolution
Mentor: Jun Hee Lee PhD, Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Co-Mentor: Hyun Min Kang PhD, Biostatistics
General Surgery
Research: Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of early pancreatic neoplasia by Bmi1
Mentor: Filip Bednar PhD, Surgery
Co-Mentor: Marina Pasca di Magliano PhD, Surgery
2017-2018 ALUMNI
Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Research: Investigating the Roles of Wnt Signaling in Mature Adipocyte Function
Mentors: Ormond MacDougald PhD, Physiology and Robert Kennedy PhD, Chemistry
Internal Medicine
Research: Molecular function of the Trithorax group protein ASH1L in hematopoiesis
Mentor: Ivan Maillard PhD, Medicine
Co-Mentor: Yali Dou PhD, Medicine
The Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience (MBNI)
Research: Strategies for stimulating CNS repair in fish and mammals
Mentor: Daniel Goldman PhD, Neuroscience
Co-Mentor: Jack Parent PhD, Neurology
Cellular & Developmental Biology
Research: Measuring the progenitor potential of Hox11-expressing skeletal mesenchymal cells using a novel Hoxa11CreERᵗ² allele
Mentor: Deneen Wellik PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology
Co-Mentor: Ernestina Schipani MD, PhD, Orthopaedic Surgery
Biomedical Engineering
Research: Regeneration of Vascularized Bone on Novel, Injectable Nanofibrous Spongy Microspheres
Mentor: Peter Ma PhD, FBSE, Dentistry
Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry
Research: Identification of molecular mechanisms of Resting Chondrocytes in the Postnatal Growth Plate as a Novel Type of Skeletal Stem Cells
Mentor: Noriaki Ono DDs, PhD, Dentistry
Cell & Developmental Biology
Research: Investigating GLI function during pancreas homeostasis and neoplasia
Mentor: Benjamin Allen PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology
Co-Mentor: Marina Pasca di Magliano PhD, Surgery
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Mentor: Kenneth Cadigan PhD, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Co-Mentor: Gary Hammer, MD, PhD, Internal Medicine
2016 - 2017 ALUMNI
Cell and Developmental Biology
Research: Role of the microenvironment on maintenance of hematopoietic stem and progenitor populations in the bone marrow
Mentor: Lucas Daniel PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology
Surgery
Research: Targeting Inflammation and TGF- Signaling in Chondroprogenitor Cells of Heterotopic Ossification
Mentor: Benjamin Levi PhD, Surgery and Yuji Mishina PhD, Dentistry
2015-2016 ALUMNI
Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Research: Effect of Diet on Marrow Adipocyte Development
Mentors: Ormond MacDougald PhD, Physiology and Renny Franceschi PhD, Dentistry
Cellular & Molecular Biology
Research: New Insights into Epigenetic Regulators of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Mentors: Ivan Maillard MD, Internal Medicine and Salley Camper PhD, Human Genetics
Surgery
Research: Rescue of Diabetes by Direct Reprogramming of Human Intestinal Tissue into Pancreatic Beta-like Cells
Mentors: Jason Spence PhD, Gastroenterology and Daniel Teitelbaum PhD, Surgery
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Research: Patched Together: cis-Regulatory Logic of the Hedgehog Response
Mentors: Scott Barolo PhD, and Anthony Antonellis PhD, Human Genetics
Cellular & Molecular Biology
Research: Building White Matter: The Role of PI(3,5)P2 Biosynthesis in Myelin Formation, Stability, and Repair
Mentors: Roman Giger PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology and Miriam Meisler PhD, Human Genetics
Cell and Developmental Biology
Research: Semaphorin Receptor Function in Hedgehog Signal Transduction
Mentors: Ben Allen PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology and Roman Giger PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology
Cell and Developmental Biology
Research: Hox11 function in Region-Specific Adult Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells is Required for Fracture Repair
Mentors: Deneen Wellik PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology and Renny Francheschi PhD, Dentistry
Pharmacology
Research: Effects of SCN1A Mutations on Early Postnatal Brain Development in Dravel Syndrome
Mentors: Lori Isom PhD, Pharmacology and Jack Parent PhD, Neurology
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Research: Multigenerational Regulation of the C. elegans Chromatin Landscape by Germline Small RNAs
Mentors: John Kim PhD, Human Genetics and Patrick Hu PhD, Human Genetics
2014-2015 Alumni
Chemical Engineering
Research: Developing nanofibrous microsphere induced pluripotent stem cell carrier system for tissue regeneration
Mentor: Peter Ma PhD, Biologic and Materials Sciences
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Research: Hox6 function is Necessary for Endocrine Pancreas Development in vivo and in vitro
Mentors: Deneen Wellik PhD, Internal Medicine and Ben Allen PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Research: Building White Matter: The Role of PI(3,5)P2 Biosynthesis in Myelin Formation, Stability, and Repair
Mentors: Roman Giger PhD, General Surgery and Deborah Gumucio PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology
Pharmacology
Mentors: Lori Isom PhD, Pharmacology and Jack Parent PhD, Neurology
2013-2014 Alumni
Neuroscience
Research: The Role of Dentate Granule Cell Age and Morphology in Seizure-induced Plasticity
Mentors: Jack Parent PhD, Neurology and Geoffrey Murphy PhD, Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Neuroscience
Research: Fibroblast Growth Factor receptors sculpt excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the Hippocampal neural circuit
Mentors: Hisashi Umemori PhD, Biochemistry and Jack Parent PhD, Neurology
Pediatric Surgery
Research: Disruption of EGF/TLR transactivation signaling leads to intestinal mucosal atrophy in a mouse model of TPN
Mentors: Daniel Teitelbaum PhD, Pediatric Surgery and Jason Spence PhD, Surgery
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Research: Mechanisms of Gene Transcription Across the Hedgehog Signaling Gradient
Mentors: Scott Barolo PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology and Kenneth Cadigan PhD, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Cell and Developmental Biology
Research: Mechanisms Underlying Early Mouse Embryonic Development
Mentors: Deborah Gumucio PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology and Santiago Schnell PhD, Molecular and Integrative Physiology
2012-2013 Alumni
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Research: The Role of Oncogenic Kras in Pancreatic Cancer Progression and Maintenance
Mentors: Marina Pasca di Magliano PhD, Surgery and Andrzej Dlugosz PhD, Dermatology
Internal Medicine
Research: New insights into the regulation of hematopoietic stem cell self -renewal
Mentors: Ivan Maillard MD, PhD, Internal Medicine and Sean Morrison PhD, Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine
Research: Molecular, Cellular, and Pathophysiological Control of Thyroid Gland Growth
Mentors: Peter Arvan PhD, Internal Medicine and Katy Keegan PhD, Internal Medicine
2011-2012 Alumni
General Surgery
Research: Cancer Stem Cells in Genetically Engineered Mouse Models of Pancreatic Adeno-carcinoma
Mentors: Diane Simone PhD, Surgical Immunology and Marina Pasca di Magliano PhD, Surgery
Molecular and Cellular Pathology
Research: Understanding Pattern Recognition Receptor Signaling and its Effect on Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Mentors: Gabriel Nunez PhD, Pathology and Sean Morrison PhD, Internal Medicine
Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Research: The Dynamic Regulation of Intestinal Stem Cells by Notch Signaling
Mentors: Linda Samuelson PhD, Molecular and Integrative Physiology and Santiago Schnell PhD, Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Research: Investigating the Mechanism that Links Dosage Compensation to Cell Fate Decisions
Mentors: Gyorgyi Csankovszki PhD, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and Yukiko Yamashita PhD, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Research: Regulation of Adipocyte Differentiation and Metabolism by Artificial Sweeteners and Sweet Taste Receptors
Mentors: Ormond MacDougald PhD, Molecular and Integrative Physiology and Robert Kennedy PhD, Chemistry
2010-2011 Alumni
Human Genetics
Research: Mutations in RBP4 and SOX3 underline two novel forms of congenital eye malformations
Mentors: Thomas Glaser PhD, Internal Medicine and Donna Martin PhD, Pediatrics
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Research: Effect of Dicer Inactivation in the Developing Mouse Adrenal Cortex and Micro-RNAs in Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Mentors: Gary Hammer PhD, Internal Medicine and John Kim PhD, Radiology
Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Research: The Role of Bc16, a Novel Transcriptional Regulator in Adipogenesis
Mentors: Jessica Schwartz PhD, Molecular and Integrative Physiology and Jiandie Lin PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology
Internal Medicine
Research: The Role of SCF-Kit Signaling in the Regulation of Adult Neural Stem Cell Function
Mentors: Sean Morrison PhD, Internal Medicine and Jack Parent PhD, Neurology
2009-2010 Alumni
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Research: Evidence for New Model of Intestinal Morphogenesis
Mentors: Deborah Gumucio PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology and Sally Camper PhD, Human Genetics
Surgery
Research: Distraction Enterogenesis: Molecular Mechanisms of Intestinal Growth Control
Mentors: Daniel Teitelbaum PhD, Surgery and Deborah Gumucio PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology
Cell and Developmental Biology
Research: The role of insulinsignaling in theregulation ofgermline stem cell
Mentors: Deneen Wellik PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology and Renny Francheschi PhD, Dentistry
Neuroscience
Research: Transcriptional Control of Interneuron Development in the Central nervous System
Mentors: Bennett Novitch PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology and Donna Martin PhD, Pediatrics
